Portland observer., November 14, 2018, Page Page 6, Image 6

Page 6
November 14, 2018
Brown, Hardesty Victorious Remembering Mulugeta Seraw
C ontinueD froM p age 3
all. It wasn’t big money. Big money tried
to shut us down, but big people stood up.”
Mondainé added that he was proud of
Hardesty’s victory and thinks his predeces-
sor will do a good job as a city councilor.
Portland voters also said yes to taking
big money out of future city elections. A
campaign finance limit measure for future
city elections was approved 87 percent to
33 percent.
Voters in Portland and statewide ap-
proved a measure to allow local govern-
ments to finance affordable housing proj-
ects and a Metro regional government
bond for affordable housing construction
in Multnomah, Clackamas and Washing-
ton counties passed with over 50 percent
of the vote.
A statewide measure to restrict the
ability of Oregon lawmakers to raise
taxes and fees, requiring a three-fifths
majority in both chambers, was defeated
65 percent to 35 percent. Democrats also
picked up three seats in the Oregon House
in the election, giving them 38 of the 60
seats, a so-called supermajority.
Another statewide measure to ban taxes
on soda and other groceries was defeated.
--Danny Peterson also contributed to
this story.
City looks back on hate crime 30 years past
An Ethiopian refugee, Mulugeta Ser-
aw, who was killed by a racist skinhead
in Portland 30 years ago, is being honored
this week in multiple events.
Seraw was remembered Tuesday during
a conference sponsored by the Urban
League of Portland and Portland State Uni-
versity that included Engedaw Berhanu,
Seraw’s uncle as a special guest, and three
lawyers who successfully brought a civil
lawsuit against notorious California white
supremacist Tom Metzger in connection to
the murder.
Seraw was killed, and another Ethiopian
man was attacked in southeast Portland by
Ken Mieske and two others with baseball
bats on Nov. 13, 1988. The assailants were
members of a racist skinhead gang called
East Side White Pride.
On Wednesday, commemorative street
sign toppers will be introduced into the
Kerns neighborhood where the 28-year-
old Seraw had lived while attending grad
school. Urban League of Portland, SE Up-
lift Neighborhood Coalition, and Trans-
portation Commissioner Chloe Eudaly
will participate in the placements, one at
Southeast 31st and Pine, the location of the
attack.
The City Council Wednesday will also
consider a proclamation declaring each
November 13th as Mulugeta Seraw Day in
Portland.
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Mulugeta Seraw
The proclamation, as well as a resolu-
tion introduced into Congress by Oregon
U.S. Sen. Ron Wyden, highlighted the facts
behind Seraw’s murder and how it forced
Portland to confront racism, an issue still
sadly prominent for many in the city.
“This horrific case galvanized the city,
as well as the State of Oregon, to stand up
to hate crimes and acts of violence by the
neo-Nazi movement in the Pacific North-
west. While this brutal slaying happened
30 years ago, it remains fresh in the minds
of many who lived through that time and
for people who still experience discrimina-
tion and hate today,” Wyden said.
Wheeler said Portland’s progressive
reputation often hides its lack of diversity.
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