Tom Metzger

Metzger was prosecuted for his role in a ceremony in which three crosses were burned in the Los Angeles area. In 1991, the jury found him guilty of misdemeanour unlawful assembly but could not reach a verdict on the more serious conspiracy charge. He began serving a six-month prison sentence in January 1992.

State of the evidence

Established by a court

Attribution

Directly implicated

After Ethiopian student Mulugeta Seraw was murdered by skinheads in Portland, his family sued Tom Metzger, his son and WAR. Lawyers argued that WAR had sent an organiser to the local group and encouraged violent confrontations. The jury awarded $12.5 million in damages, with Tom Metzger personally liable for $5 million.

Attribution

Institutional responsibility

Tom Metzger and his son John organised the first Aryan Fest in Oklahoma, a musical gathering attracting racist skinheads from several factions. The event was part of WAR's strategy to recruit young people into the white supremacist movement.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Metzger and several members of his organisation attended a Louis Farrakhan rally in Los Angeles with reserved seats and donated $100 to the Nation of Islam. Metzger explained that he shared Farrakhan's concern for racial separation and certain common political enemies.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

After another unsuccessful Senate candidacy in 1982, Metzger transformed the White American Political Association into White Aryan Resistance (WAR). The organisation became a major centre of white supremacist propaganda and connections with the racist skinhead movement.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Metzger led several dozen Klan members to a rally in Oceanside, equipped with helmets, bats, chains, weapons and dogs. The confrontation with counter-demonstrators escalated into violence and several people were injured.

State of the evidence

Documented

While leading the Klan in California, Metzger unexpectedly won the Democratic primary in California's 43rd district. The Democratic Party refused to support him and the San Diego County central committee unanimously expelled him, finding white supremacist doctrine incompatible with its principles. He subsequently lost the general election by a wide margin.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated

Metzger participated in the 'Klan Border Watch' campaign, in which Klan members patrolled the US–Mexico border, claiming to identify irregular migrants. The heavily publicised patrols were armed and also served as propaganda and recruitment operations.

State of the evidence

Documented

Attribution

Directly implicated