ohy_coll785.xml Guide to the Berhanu v. Metzger trial transcript 1990-1992 Berhanu v. Metzger trial transcript Jeffrey A. Hayes Oregon Historical Society, Davies Family Research Library 2019
1200 SW Park Ave. Portland, OR 97205 libreference@ohs.org https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2019-03-25. English Finding aid based on DACS ( Describing Archives: A Content Standard), 2nd Edition. 2026 August Revised to include link to Gonzaga University research guide on hate groups and social justice. English Oregon Historical Society, Davies Family Research Library
1200 SW Park Ave. Portland, OR 97205 libreference@ohs.org https://www.ohs.org/research-and-library/
Berhanu v. Metzger trial transcript Oregon. Circuit Court (Multnomah County) Coll 785 0.72 cubic feet 2 letter document cases 1990-1992 Trial transcript from the 1990 civil case of Berhanu v. Metzger in Multnomah County Court. Engedaw Berhanu sued Tom and John Metzger, leaders of the White Aryan Resistance, for the wongful death of his son Mulugeta Seraw, who had been fatally beaten by members of the Metzger's organization.

On November 12, 1988, Mulugeta Seraw, an Ethiopian exchange student, was fatally beaten with a baseball bat by Kenneth Murray ("Death") Mieske, Kyle Brewster, and Steve Strasser in southeast Portland, Oregon. Mieske, Brewster, and Strasser were members of the white supremacist organizations East Side White Pride and White Aryan Resistance. Mieske stated that Seraw's murder was racially motivated. Brewster and Strasser were subsequently convicted of manslaughter and assault, and Mieske was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder.

In October 1990, Seraw's father, Engedaw Berhanu, represented pro bono by lawyers from the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-defamation League, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Tom Metzger, leader of the White Aryan Resistance, and his son John. Berhanu was awarded $12.5 million.

This collection, as well as other collections in the United States and western Canada relating to hate groups and social justice, is listed in Gonzaga University's Hate and Social Justice Research Guide https://researchguides.gonzaga.edu/Hate-Groups-Social-Justice/.

The collection consists of the transcript for the civil trial of Berhanu v. Metzger, wherein Ergendaw Behanu, represented by Southern Poverty Law Center lawyers Morris Dees, Elden Rosenthal, and Richard Cohen successfully sued Tom and John Metzger for the wrongful death of Berhanu's son, Mulueta Seraw. The collection also includes filing notices and certificates.

Box 1 contains filings and certificates, transcripts of the proceedings for October 8-15, 1990, and associated court reporter's certificates. Box 2 contains transcripts of the proceedings for October 16-22, 1990, and associated court reporter's certificates.

This collection is open for research.

Berhanu v. Metzger trial transcript, Coll 785, Oregon Historical Society Research Library.

The Oregon Historical Society owns the materials in the Research Library and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. The Society does not necessarily hold copyright to all materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners.

Gift of Elden Rosenthal, January 8, 2019 (RL2019-007)

 Seraw, Mulugeta, 1960-1988 Metzger, Tom Metzger, John Berhanu, Engedaw White Aryan Resistance Hate crimes--Oregon--Portland Trials--Oregon--Portland Wrongful death--Oregon--Portland Civil Procedure and Courts Transcripts