It Did Happen Here: An Antifascist People’s History

by Moe Bowstern, Mic Crenshaw, Alec Dunn

Portland, Oregon, 1988: the brutal murder of Ethiopian immigrant Mulugeta Seraw by racist skinheads shocked the city. In response disparate groups quickly came together to organize against white nationalist violence and right-wing organizing throughout the Rose City and the Pacific Northwest.

It Did Happen Here compiles interviews with dozens of people who worked together during the waning decades of the twentieth century to reveal an inspiring collaboration between groups of immigrants, civil rights activists, militant youth, and queer organizers. This oral history focuses on participants in three core groups: the Portland chapters of Anti-Racist Action and Skinheads Against Racial Prejudice, and the Coalition for Human Dignity.

Using a diversity of tactics—from out-and-out brawls on the streets and at punk shows, to behind-the-scenes intelligence gathering—brave antiracists unified on their home ground over and over, directly attacking right-wing fascists and exposing white nationalist organizations and neo-Nazi skinheads. Embattled by police and unsupported by the city, these citizen activists eventually drove the boneheads out of the music scene and off the streets of Portland. This book shares their stories about what worked, what didn’t, and ideas on how to continue the fight.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Politics, American History, Sociology, Social Justice

304 pages, Paperback

Published May 2, 2023

Reviews

[brinley · Rating 5 out of 5]

a lot of good insights and history in here, very much recommended

[Ryan · Rating 5 out of 5]

History is important. If more people took an active role in discovering the history of where they live, their lineage, and the world in general, we'd be in a much better place as a society. People's histories, in my opinion, are the best, most reliable, and easiest to digest because we're reading a variety of voices telling stories in their own words about experiences they've had. A good editor will tie them all together in a way that tells a linear tale and helps the reader to learn and grow. The editors and contributors to It Did Happen Here did a great job of this.

This book takes places in the '80s and '90s, mostly in northwestern Oregon, though it ties in stories of other anti-racist groups from Minneapolis and Chicago. It was fascinating to hear this history, these stories of regular young people who get tired of being pushed around by nazis and other pieces of shit. The organize in a variety of ways—from street fights to intelligence to politics—and eventually drive the growing movement underground. The editors did well in including a wide range of voices and opinions from the people on the ground at the time, without giving voice to anyone from the other side, cause why do we need to hear from them?

It Did Happen Here is important always, but especially in this time of white supremacy rearing it's ugly head once again, coming out from their hiding places. It gives us a chance to study tactics and realize how they all fit together. Nazis and other white supremacists need to be confronted physically, they need to also be detoxed at their places of work and homes. Anti fascists need to be in the streets making scenes, getting attention; and we also need to be educating those who haven't yet picked a side.

This book also helps give a better understanding of what happened between the time this story take place, and when everything came back to the surface. Many contributors talk about falling into the trap of publicly debating people with these far right opinions, how the media attention allows for the normalization of these horrible politics. Reading about the anti-racist movement kind of fizzling out, both because they thought they had won and because many of them were sucked into mainstream politics, is helpful for the present as well. When nazis and other racists get brought into mainstream politics they don't have to change their beliefs, only their words. They have a huge representation in local, state, and national governments and the police. It's different for the radical left though. When we're fooled into believing that we can fix the problem for the inside, we're forced to change, to become more centrist and make unacceptable compromises.

Enough annoying preaching by me. Read this book then go punch a nazi.

[Bek (MoonyReadsByStarlight) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have a huge soft spot for oral histories -- and have recently seen some really great and some not as successful ways people have put them together. It Did Happen Here is definitely the former! I've spent the bulk of my reading time this month focused on this and I'm really glad I did.

This is a history of antifascist activism in Portland, largely focused on subculture in the 1980's and 90's. This is full of input from people across these scenes at various points during this time. The chapters each focus on a different event, group, or issue that was big during its time including the murder of Mulugeta Seraw, outside communities organizing with Portland, and individual groups like Skinheads Against Racism and the Coalition for Human Dignity.

Going in, I had a vauge idea that Oregon had a racist past, but didn’t fully understand how intense it was in recent history. I had a much better understanding of racism and the radical right of the South, but clearly (as the title suggests) it definitely did happen here as well. It was really enlightening to see how people did react to that and seeing the reflection of what worked and what retrospectively was really missing.

This is absolutely a book that remains relevent, especially with the political turmoil of today. The insights on organizing here is vital and can be translated in so many other areas and types of groups.

This was a fascinating and well-done book. And to make things better, they have all of the interviews in full on a podcast! So, I have something to listen to as well that can add to what they were able to include here.

[Claire · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a compilation of oral histories, the comments grouped thematically into chapters. It is a useful format for completing the record, but it is rather hard to read with all the repetitions. From whatever source I'd found the book, I'd gotten the impression that there would be more about the murder of Mulugato Seraw than there was. Mostly the killing was summarized and presented as the moment that brought groups into coalition, thus beginning the history of the antifascist movement.

The brawling takes up about half of the space, various attitudes toward it, complaining that police considered it mere gang action while participants considered it important antifascist action, to discourage fascist recruiting in Portland. Though members spoke of that as political, later in the evaluations, participants spoke of a need for wider political awareness to create an alternative narrative. The portions I found most useful were the chapter on varied tactics, the one on Jon Bair's experience, and the evaluations at the end.

"Fascism can't be defeated by a subculture if the subculture places militance over politics--politics being development of critical capacities of all participants in the movement to engage whatever potential they have, and also the ability to collectively evaluate and engage in tactics and strategy" (Peter Little 240).

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow.

This is a careful oral history (it began as podcast) of locals banding together to (successfully!) stop the rise of racist skinheads (supported by national interests) in 80s and90s Portland, OR. And it had to be done without the help of local government and police, all of whom kept minimizing/ignore\ing increasing acts of violence.

The details are amazing - and some can be imitated - but the writers warn that exactly their problem is unlikely to repeat, as the national racists interests have adopted a "suits not boots" strategy. That means we all need to be looking at the more subtle ways the racists are coming for our police departments, school boards, and other local appointed/elected authorities.

[David Verzwyvelt · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading the interviews, and it's an important history that more people need to know about. I had always heard about skinheads in Portland, and I know the last few years there has been a lot of instability in the area. Prior to this I read Shame Burley's collection: No Pasaran, and it gives contemporary coverage of fascism in that territory. What was particularly cool in IDHH was that it traced the history of racism in Oregon all the way back to the 19th century. I had no idea that there is a substantive heritage of hate there, and that it has a specific source: dreams of an explicitly white protestant homeland. Keep fighting the good fight!

[Marleen · Rating 2 out of 5]

This includes essays by different members of the punk rock anti racist movement. It seems many are teenagers or young adults who clashed sometimes violently with the racist skinheads. Unfortunately there is a Neo Nazi Movement among young adults I found the book a little confusing since many of the groups use acronyms like WAR for White Aryan Resistance. This is a story about how some young people were able to dismantle the power of these racist, anti-Semitic groups. THE murder of Mulugeta Seraw served as a wake-up call.

[adelaide · Rating 5 out of 5]

history is a really big thing for me, and something i think i’ve gotten more into in the recent years. reading history books is something i really want to do more of, and this is definitely one i’d encourage people to read. the format is really effective, telling multiple people’s firsthand accounts, and i found it really educational on a topic i knew next to nothing about. i now want to learn more. there’s a lot of wisdom here, things i’m going to be thinking about.

[Toby Mustill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book delivers on exactly what it promises: an oral, people’s, history of antifascism in Oregon in the 1990s.

I started writing a 3-4 star review. I was going to say that the formatting isn’t great and neither is the scope of the book. Then I took a second and stepped back and realized it does exactly what it says on the tin. It’s not exactly what I look for in a book. But even for me it’s an important read that has deep, consequential meaning.

[Rick Jones · Rating 3 out of 5]

While a valuable look at White Supremacy and the work undertaken by the 'street' to remove them from the city of Portland, the interviews and writing lacked depth and coherence. It's good enough, as a document of record, but not a pleasure to read, more like work you have to do.

[Hope · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some really great parts and some great insight. I realize the different organizations/groups are relevant to the history but sometimes it causes me to glaze over. So many acronyms etc, so that can get boring/tedious (to me)

[foxfire · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautiful living history of a chapter of Portland I was completely unaware of. We owe the inclusion and tolerance of today's Portland to these 90s activists

[Vanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I listened to the podcast when it came out (excellent, highly recommend), but the book offers something new, and the photos, maps, flyers, and other images enrich the book. this is a book I'd recommend to everyone, but especially people who have lived or are living in Portland.

This is one of three 80s/90s histories I've been reading this week, and the different pieces of shared and different subcultures and fights fit together so well. one thing that all of them agree on: diversity of tactics. we don't have to fight the fight the same way, but we benefit from all the different ways we do it.