Mulugeta Seraw
Encyclopedia
Mulugeta Seraw was an Ethiopian
student and father who went to the United States
to attend college. Seraw was killed in November 1988, at age 28, in Portland
, Oregon
by three racist skinhead
s. His father and son successfully filed a civil lawsuit against the killers and an affiliated organization, holding them liable for the murder.
(WAR), were driving around Portland with their girlfriends, headed home. The three confronted two black men, including Seraw, who had been dropped off in front of his apartment. Subsequently, Seraw was beaten to death with a baseball bat
on Southeast 31st Avenue. The three perpetrators and their girlfriends left Seraw in a puddle of his own blood.
Seraw died in the early-morning hours of the following day. Mieske said he and the two others killed Mr. Seraw "because of his race." In response, hundreds of people turned out for rallies against racism. Meanwhile Tom Metzger
, head of WAR, said the skinheads did a "civic duty" by killing Seraw.
After one week of investigation, Mieske, Brewster, and Strasser were arrested. Brewster and Strasser were convicted of manslaughter
and assault. Brewster was released in November 2002, but in 2006 violated parole and was sent back to prison.
In 1990, Mieske was convicted of first-degree murder and was serving a life sentence when he died July 26, 2011 at the age of 45. At the time of his death, he was still being referred to as a "Prisoner of War" by white power groups.
In October 1990, Seraw's father and son, represented at no cost by the Southern Poverty Law Center
and the Anti-Defamation League
, won a civil case against White Aryan Resistance
's operator Tom Metzger
and his son John Metzger for a total of $12.5 million. The cost of trial, in the hundreds of thousands of dollars was absorbed by the SPLC and the ADL. Metzger being unable to cover the damages, the Seraws' lawyer decided to file legal documents in order to have his Fallbrook, California
home and his assets seized. As a result, the house was transferred to Seraw's estate for a value of $121,500; Metzger was allowed to keep $45,000 under California's Homestead Act. Metzger was warned that any damage caused to the house would result in a lawsuit; he still left it "a mess" with cracked windows, but without serious damage. The Metzgers declared bankruptcy but WAR continued to operate. Metzger himself was forced to move into an apartment and collect welfare. He still makes payments to Seraw's family.
and Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith
. A fifteen-hundred-person rally took place in 1990, about 18 months after Seraw's death, along the South Park Blocks
. Among the participants were assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Brown
, prosecuting deputy district attorney Norm Frink, Margaret Carter
, Bud Clark, and several city commissioners, as well as at least five members of Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice
. 150 police officers were on hand, as up to 300 skinheads were expected to oppose the rally; previously, the largest numbers of police officers needed for Portland events were an Elvis Presley
concert in 1957 (90 officers) and a Run-DMC concert in 1987. Bomb disposal squads, bomb-sniffing dogs, riot police, and a police helicopter were used, but the rally occurred without major incident.
In 1990, members of the Oregon chapter of the American Leadership Forum formed an "experiential" anti-discrimination youth camp in response to Mulugeta's death. Operating from 1990 to 2002, Camp Odyssey facilitated a week-long journey for teenagers in the Pacific Northwest, examining systems of oppression and fostering communication amongst a widely diverse group of participants. In early 2010, a small group of alumni formed a not-for-profit organization called The Piece, overseeing the revival of Camp Odyssey, which is projected to occur in the summer of 2011.
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
student and father who went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to attend college. Seraw was killed in November 1988, at age 28, in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
by three racist skinhead
Nazi-Skinheads
White power skinheads are a white supremacist and antisemitic offshoot of the skinhead subculture. Many of them are affiliated with white nationalist organizations....
s. His father and son successfully filed a civil lawsuit against the killers and an affiliated organization, holding them liable for the murder.
Background
On the night of 12 November 1988, Ken "Death" Mieske, Kyle Brewster, and Steve Strasser, members of groups known as East Side White Pride and White Aryan ResistanceWhite Aryan Resistance
White Aryan Resistance is a neo-Nazi white separatist organization founded and led by former Ku Klux Klan leader Tom Metzger. Part of the American far right, it is based in Warsaw, Indiana and is incorporated as a business....
(WAR), were driving around Portland with their girlfriends, headed home. The three confronted two black men, including Seraw, who had been dropped off in front of his apartment. Subsequently, Seraw was beaten to death with a baseball bat
Baseball bat
A baseball bat is a smooth wooden or metal club used in the game of baseball to hit the ball after the ball is thrown by the pitcher. It is no more than 2.75 inches in diameter at the thickest part and no more than 42 inches in length. It typically weighs no more than 33 ounces , but it...
on Southeast 31st Avenue. The three perpetrators and their girlfriends left Seraw in a puddle of his own blood.
Seraw died in the early-morning hours of the following day. Mieske said he and the two others killed Mr. Seraw "because of his race." In response, hundreds of people turned out for rallies against racism. Meanwhile Tom Metzger
Tom Metzger
Thomas Metzger is an American white nationalist who founded White Aryan Resistance . His far-right activist groups, including WAR, have been monitored by the Southern Poverty Law Center, an American organization that tracks hate groups...
, head of WAR, said the skinheads did a "civic duty" by killing Seraw.
After one week of investigation, Mieske, Brewster, and Strasser were arrested. Brewster and Strasser were convicted of manslaughter
Manslaughter
Manslaughter is a legal term for the killing of a human being, in a manner considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is said to have first been made by the Ancient Athenian lawmaker Dracon in the 7th century BC.The law generally differentiates...
and assault. Brewster was released in November 2002, but in 2006 violated parole and was sent back to prison.
In 1990, Mieske was convicted of first-degree murder and was serving a life sentence when he died July 26, 2011 at the age of 45. At the time of his death, he was still being referred to as a "Prisoner of War" by white power groups.
In October 1990, Seraw's father and son, represented at no cost by the Southern Poverty Law Center
Southern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...
and the Anti-Defamation League
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
, won a civil case against White Aryan Resistance
White Aryan Resistance
White Aryan Resistance is a neo-Nazi white separatist organization founded and led by former Ku Klux Klan leader Tom Metzger. Part of the American far right, it is based in Warsaw, Indiana and is incorporated as a business....
's operator Tom Metzger
Tom Metzger
Thomas Metzger is an American white nationalist who founded White Aryan Resistance . His far-right activist groups, including WAR, have been monitored by the Southern Poverty Law Center, an American organization that tracks hate groups...
and his son John Metzger for a total of $12.5 million. The cost of trial, in the hundreds of thousands of dollars was absorbed by the SPLC and the ADL. Metzger being unable to cover the damages, the Seraws' lawyer decided to file legal documents in order to have his Fallbrook, California
Fallbrook, California
Fallbrook is an unincorporated community in northern San Diego County, California. The Fallbrook census-designated place population was 30,534 at the 2010 census, up from 29,100 at the 2000 census....
home and his assets seized. As a result, the house was transferred to Seraw's estate for a value of $121,500; Metzger was allowed to keep $45,000 under California's Homestead Act. Metzger was warned that any damage caused to the house would result in a lawsuit; he still left it "a mess" with cracked windows, but without serious damage. The Metzgers declared bankruptcy but WAR continued to operate. Metzger himself was forced to move into an apartment and collect welfare. He still makes payments to Seraw's family.
Reaction and Response to his death
After the men were sentenced in 1990, white supremacists Tom Metzger and his son John Metzger were sued civilly on behalf of the Seraw Family, by the Southern Poverty Law CenterSouthern Poverty Law Center
The Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...
and Anti-Defamation League of B'nai B'rith
Anti-Defamation League
The Anti-Defamation League is an international non-governmental organization based in the United States. Describing itself as "the nation's premier civil rights/human relations agency", the ADL states that it "fights anti-Semitism and all forms of bigotry, defends democratic ideals and protects...
. A fifteen-hundred-person rally took place in 1990, about 18 months after Seraw's death, along the South Park Blocks
South Park Blocks
The South Park Blocks form a city park in downtown Portland, Oregon. The Oregonian has called it Portland's "extended family room", as Pioneer Courthouse Square is known as Portland's "living room"....
. Among the participants were assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Brown
Michael Brown
-Politics:*Michael Brown , current mayor of Grand Forks, North Dakota*Michael Brown , former British Conservative MP, now a political journalist...
, prosecuting deputy district attorney Norm Frink, Margaret Carter
Margaret Carter
Margaret L. Carter was a Democratic member of the Oregon State Senate, representing the 22nd District from 2000 to 2009...
, Bud Clark, and several city commissioners, as well as at least five members of Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice
Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice
Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice are anti-racist skinheads who oppose neo-Nazis and other political racists, particularly if those racists identify themselves as skinheads....
. 150 police officers were on hand, as up to 300 skinheads were expected to oppose the rally; previously, the largest numbers of police officers needed for Portland events were an Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
concert in 1957 (90 officers) and a Run-DMC concert in 1987. Bomb disposal squads, bomb-sniffing dogs, riot police, and a police helicopter were used, but the rally occurred without major incident.
In 1990, members of the Oregon chapter of the American Leadership Forum formed an "experiential" anti-discrimination youth camp in response to Mulugeta's death. Operating from 1990 to 2002, Camp Odyssey facilitated a week-long journey for teenagers in the Pacific Northwest, examining systems of oppression and fostering communication amongst a widely diverse group of participants. In early 2010, a small group of alumni formed a not-for-profit organization called The Piece, overseeing the revival of Camp Odyssey, which is projected to occur in the summer of 2011.
Further reading
- Morris DeesMorris DeesMorris Seligman Dees, Jr. is the co-founder and chief trial counsel for the Southern Poverty Law Center , and a former direct mail marketeer for book publishing. Along with his law partner, Joseph J...
. Hate on Trial: The Case Against America's Most Dangerous Neo-Nazi. Villard, (February 23, 1993) ISBN 067940614X (280 pages)
External links
- Berhanu v. Metzger case document of The Southern Poverty Law CenterSouthern Poverty Law CenterThe Southern Poverty Law Center is an American nonprofit civil rights organization noted for its legal victories against white supremacist groups; legal representation for victims of hate groups; monitoring of alleged hate groups, militias and extremist organizations; and educational programs that...