Murder of Mulugeta Seraw

{{Short description|Racially motivated murder in Portland, Oregon}} {{Patronymic name|1=Mulugeta|2=Seraw|3=his}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Mulugeta Seraw | image = Mulugeta Seraw.jpg | image_size = | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|1960|10|21}} | birth_place = Debre Tabor, Ethiopian Empire | death_date = {{death date and age|1988|11|13|1960|10|21}} | death_place = Portland, Oregon, United States | death_cause = Blunt trauma from baseball bat | known_for = Killed by members of East Side White Pride and White Aryan Resistance | occupation = | title = | term = | predecessor = | successor = | political_party = | boards = | spouse = | partner = | children = 1 | relatives = | website = | footnotes = | employer = | height = }}

'''Mulugeta Seraw''' ({{langx|am|ሙሉጌታ ስራው}}; October 21, 1960 – November 13, 1988) was an Ethiopian student who traveled to the United States to attend community college. He was 28 when he was murdered by three white supremacists in November 1988 in Portland, Oregon. They were convicted. Mulugeta's father and son, who was six years old, filed (and won) a civil lawsuit against the killers and an affiliated organization White Aryan Resistance (known as WAR) holding them liable for the murder.

==Background== Mulugeta was a student at Portland Community College.<ref>{{cite web|last=Langer|first=Elinor|url=https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/seraw-mulugeta/|title=Mulugeta Seraw (1960–1988)|work=Oregon Encyclopedia|publisher=Portland State University/Oregon Historical Society|date=2026-02-20|access-date=2026-04-21|archive-date=August 14, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240814210536/https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/seraw-mulugeta/|url-status=live}}</ref>

On the night of November 12, 1988, Kenneth Murray "Death" Mieske, Kyle Brewster, and Steve Strasser, members of groups known as East Side White Pride and White Aryan Resistance (WAR), were driving around Portland with their girlfriends, intending to return home. The three confronted three black men, including Mulugeta, who had been dropped off in front of his apartment.<ref>{{Cite news |date=November 21, 1988 |title=Three Are Charged in Attack Attributed to Neo-Nazi Gang |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1988/11/21/us/three-are-charged-in-attack-attributed-to-neo-nazi-gang.html |access-date=September 18, 2007 |work=The New York Times |publisher=Associated Press |page=A16}}</ref> As he tried to break up the fight, Mulugeta was beaten with a baseball bat on Southeast 31st Avenue by Mieske.<ref>{{Cite news |date=October 24, 1990 |title=Lawyer makes racists pay |newspaper=USA Today |location=McLean, Virginia |url=https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/56028630.html?dids=56028630:56028630&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+24%2C+1990&author=&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&edition=&startpage=02.A&desc=Lawyer+makes+racists+pay |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071001000257/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/USAToday/access/56028630.html?dids=56028630:56028630&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Oct+24,+1990&author=&pub=USA+TODAY+(pre-1997+Fulltext)&edition=&startpage=02.A&desc=Lawyer+makes+racists+pay |url-status=dead |archive-date=October 1, 2007 |access-date=September 18, 2007}} - [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/196025010/ Clipping] at Newspapers.com.</ref> The three perpetrators and their girlfriends left him in a puddle of blood. He died the next day.

Mieske said he, Brewster, and Strasser killed Mulugeta "because of his race."<ref>{{Cite news |date=May 3, 1989 |title=Guilt Admitted in Racial Killing |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/05/03/us/guilt-admitted-in-racial-killing.html |access-date=November 18, 2007 |newspaper=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press |page=A23}}</ref> In response, hundreds of people turned out for rallies against racism. Meanwhile, Tom Metzger, head of WAR, said the supremacists did a "civic duty" by killing the Ethiopian student.<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=October 22, 1990 |title=Making War on WAR |magazine=Time |url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,971437-2,00.html |url-status=dead |access-date=September 18, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081108075115/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,971437-2,00.html |archive-date=November 8, 2008}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Herzog |first=Boaz |date=2006-05-20 |title=Man in infamous hate-crime killing arrested on violation of parole terms |url=http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/dcj/oregonlivemanininfamoushate-crime052006.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930224350/http://www.co.multnomah.or.us/dcj/oregonlivemanininfamoushate-crime052006.pdf |archive-date=2007-09-30 |newspaper=The Oregonian}}</ref> Brewster was again released, and has been documented at Proud Boys rallies and fighting alongside them in brawls.<ref>{{Cite web |date=January 18, 2021 |title=Kyle Brewster, convicted in notorious 1988 hate crime killing, seen at pro-Trump rallies in Salem, Portland |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2021/01/kyle-brewster-convicted-in-notorious-1988-hate-crime-killing-seen-at-pro-trump-rallies-in-salem-portland.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210119133721/https://www.oregonlive.com/news/2021/01/kyle-brewster-convicted-in-notorious-1988-hate-crime-killing-seen-at-pro-trump-rallies-in-salem-portland.html |archive-date=January 19, 2021 |access-date=January 26, 2021}}</ref>

In 1990, Mieske pleaded guilty to murder and was sentenced to life in prison. He died in prison on 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.<ref name="Oregon Live">{{Cite news |last=Denson |first=Bryan |date=2011-07-27 |title=Ken Mieske, skinhead imprisoned in notorious Portland hate crime, dies in Salem hospital |url=https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/07/ken_mieske_a_former_skinhead_imprisoned_for_beating_a_group_of_ethiopean_men_in_portland_dies_in_pri.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191228013444/https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2011/07/ken_mieske_a_former_skinhead_imprisoned_for_beating_a_group_of_ethiopean_men_in_portland_dies_in_pri.html |archive-date=2019-12-28 |access-date=2025-05-26 |newspaper=The Oregonian}}</ref>

In October 1990, Mulugeta's father and son, represented at no cost by the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League,<ref name="sharp" /> won a civil case against White Aryan Resistance's operator Tom Metzger and his son John Metzger for a total of $12.5 million.<ref>The jury divided the judgement against the defendants as follows: Kyle Brewster, $500,000; Ken Mieske, $500,000;, John Metzger, $1 million; WAR, $3 million; Tom Metzger, $5 million; in addition, the jury awarded $2.5 million for Mulugeta's unrealized future earnings and pain and suffering.</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=London |first=Robb |date=October 26, 1990 |title=Sending a $12.5 Million Message to a Hate Group |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/10/26/news/sending-a-12.5-million-message-to-a-hate-group.html |access-date=September 18, 2007}}</ref> The cost of the trial, which measured in the hundreds of thousands of dollars,<ref>{{Cite book |last=Dees |first=Morris |url=https://www.google.com/books/edition/Hate_on_Trial/wpnS_AkDynIC?hl=en&gbpv=0&bsq=067940614X |title=Hate on Trial: The Case Against America's Most Dangerous Neo-Nazi |last2=Fiffer |first2=Steve |date=1993 |publisher=Villard Books |isbn=978-0-679-40614-3 |pages=116 |language=en}}</ref> was absorbed by the SPLC and the ADL.<ref>Morris Dees and Steve Fiffer. ''Hate on Trial: The Case Against America's Most Dangerous Neo-Nazi''. Villard Books, 1993. page 277</ref> As Metzger was unable to cover the damages, the lawyer of Mulugeta's family decided to file legal documents in order to have his Fallbrook, California home and his assets seized.<ref>{{Cite news |date=December 25, 1990 |title=Assets of White Supremacist Are Target of Legal Maneuver |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/12/25/us/assets-of-white-supremacist-are-target-of-legal-maneuver.html |access-date=September 18, 2007 |newspaper=The New York Times |agency=Associated Press}} - The article states "But James McElroy, the lawyer who represents Mr. Seraw's family[...]" although Seraw is not in fact a family name.</ref> As a result, the house was transferred to Mulugeta's estate for a value of $121,500; Metzger was allowed to keep $45,000 under California's Homestead Act.<ref name="homemess">{{Cite news |date=September 19, 1991 |title=Metzger Leaves Former Home a Mess, but It's Undamaged |page=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/196024804/ F3] |newspaper=The Oregonian|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Metzger was warned that any damage caused to the house would result in a lawsuit; nonetheless, he chose to leave the property "a mess" with cracked windows, but apparently did not cause any serious damage.<ref name="homemess" /> The Metzgers declared bankruptcy, but WAR continued to operate. Metzger himself was forced to move into an apartment and collect welfare. As of 2007, he was still making payments to Mulugeta's family.<ref name="PE">{{Citation |title=The Press-Enterprise: "Hate-crime case award will be hard to collect, experts say" |url=http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_D_hate25.3563952.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520022304/http://www.pe.com/localnews/rivcounty/stories/PE_News_Local_D_hate25.3563952.html |access-date=August 25, 2007 |archive-date=May 20, 2011}}</ref>

==Reaction to the murder== Approximately 18 months after Mulugeta's death, 1,500 people attended a rally along the South Park Blocks.<ref name="rally">{{Cite news |last=Snell |first=John |date=October 8, 1990 |title=1,500 rally against prejudice |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/196024313/ A01], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/196024476/ A05] |newspaper=The Oregonian}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rollins |first=Michael |date=October 4, 1990 |title=Police brace for turbulence at white supremacist trial |pages=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/196024549/ D01], [https://www.newspapers.com/clip/196024607/ D13] |newspaper=The Oregonian|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> 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.<ref name="sharp">{{Cite news |last=Rollins |first=Michael |date=October 6, 1990 |title=Police greet Sharp five, expect more skinheads |page=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/187037454/ C02] |newspaper=The Oregonian|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref name="rally" /> There were 150 police officers on hand, as up to 300 skinheads were expected to oppose the rally; previously, the largest number of police officers required for an event in Portland were the 90 officers in attendance at an Elvis Presley concert in 1957, and a Run-DMC concert in 1987.<ref name="rally" /> Bomb disposal squads, bomb-sniffing dogs, riot police, and a police helicopter were used, but the rally occurred without any major incident.<ref name="rally" /><ref>{{Cite news |last1=Manzano |first1=Phil |last2=Rollins |first2=Michael |last3=Gilbert|first3=Holley |date=October 8, 1990 |title=People from melting pot that makes America rally against bigotry |page=[https://www.newspapers.com/clip/196024113/ A05] |newspaper=The Oregonian|via=Newspapers.com}}</ref>

Also in 1990 in response to Mulugeta's death, members of the Oregon chapter of the American Leadership Forum formed an experiential anti-discrimination youth camp based on the National Conference for Community and Justice "Anytown, U.S.A." curriculum. 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, which achieved designation as an Oregon Solutions project and oversaw the revival of Camp Odyssey which ran again from 2011 through 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Camp Odyssey – Oregon Solutions |url=https://orsolutions.org/osproject/camp-odyssey |website=orsolutions.org |accessdate=July 11, 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CAMP ODYSSEY: REVIVING THE DREAM FOR A NEW GENERATION |url=https://orsolutions.org/docs/Camp%20Odyssey%20Brochure_Overview_3.2011%20Draft%202.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250526161437/https://orsolutions.org/docs/Camp%20Odyssey%20Brochure_Overview_3.2011%20Draft%202.pdf |archive-date=2025-05-26 |access-date= |website=orsolutions.org |publisher=Portland State University}}</ref>

==See also== * List of homicides in Oregon

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Further reading== *Morris Dees. ''Hate on Trial: The Case Against America's Most Dangerous Neo-Nazi''. Villard, (February 23, 1993) {{ISBN|0-679-40614-X}} (280 pages) * {{cite journal|last=Rosenthal|first=Elden|url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.5403/oregonhistq.120.4.0588|title=White Supremacy and Hatred in the Streets of Portland: The Murder of Mulugeta Seraw|journal=White Supremacy & Resistance|date=Winter 2019|volume=120|issue=4|pages=588–605|publisher=Oregon Historical Society|doi=10.5403/oregonhistq.120.4.0588|jstor=10.5403/oregonhistq.120.4.0588}}

==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070930180731/http://www.splcenter.org/legal/docket/files.jsp?cdrID=11&sortID=0 Berhanu v. Metzger] case document of The Southern Poverty Law Center *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120817152328/https://www.npr.org/2012/08/17/158926181/a-murder-a-secret-and-a-mothers-attempt-to-atone NPR-Storycorps] An interview with J. Belec, one of the "girlfriends," who was a minor and witnessed Mulugeta's murder. The interview was conducted with National Public Radio's project.

{{Lynching in the United States}} {{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Seraw, Mulugeta}} Category:1960 births Category:1988 deaths Category:1988 in Oregon Category:1988 murders in the United States Category:African-American history in Portland, Oregon Category:American people of Ethiopian descent Category:Deaths by person in Oregon Category:Ethiopian-American history Category:Ethiopian people murdered abroad Category:History of Portland, Oregon Category:Murder in Oregon Category:Neo-fascist terrorist incidents in the United States Category:November 1988 crimes in the United States Category:People from Portland, Oregon Category:Racially motivated violence against African Americans in Oregon Category:Terrorist incidents in Oregon Category:Terrorist incidents in the United States in 1988 Category:White nationalism in Oregon