It's true, but it really has to start with an open mind on their end. In my experience, I find that people who have racist beliefs often see differing viewpoints as the enemy - the first breach being simple consideration of a new perspective. That's not a good place to be in terms of personal growth.

Unfortunately, any sort of hate group's views are damaging to society as a whole, and the larger community has to balance understanding and tolerance (with the aim of eventual conversion) with the need to immediately condemn it. I view it as a societal disease that must be curbed.

Sometimes I worry that too much understanding is as bad as none at all. Supremacy of one group of living things over another (including animals vs humans) simply cannot be legitimized to any extent.