It Did Happen Here - podcast cover

It Did Happen Here

It Did Happen Here is an independently produced podcast that documents the fight against Portland Oregon based racist white skinheads in the 1980’s and 90’s after the murder of Mulugeta Seraw. The 11 episodes feature interviews with many people who worked together in those days and reveal the unlikely collaboration between groups of immigrants, civil rights activists, militant youth and queer organizers who came together to successfully confront neo-nazi violence and right wing organizing in the Rose City.
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Episodes

Fight the Power, Do No Harm

Fight The Power, Do No Harm: The Story of the Black Cross Healthcare Collective There were lots of opportunities in the late 90s in Portland Oregon and the Pacific Northwest to get pepper sprayed by the police. Before the World Trade Organization protests took place in Seattle in 1999, there wasn’t an effective antidote to pepper spray that was well known, easy to use on the street, and affordable. The Black Cross Healthcare Collective was a group of health care workers who lived in Portland, Or...

Apr 28, 20241 hr 14 min

Bonus Episode: no. NOT EVER

Kate Boyd and Cristien Storm of the Seattle-based collaborative group If You Don’t They Will discuss “no. NOT EVER”, an interactive, immersive presentation of cultural resistance to white nationalism practiced by rural and suburban groups in the Pacific Northwest throughout the 80s and 90s. Transcript Show Notes Credits Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Mic Crenshaw Editors: Erin Yanke and Icky A. Story editors: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Icky A., Mic Crenshaw, Moe Bowstern Visual archivist:...

May 28, 202122 min

Bonus Episode: More Fighters

In this episode we hear from antiracist street fighters: Iran, Jackson, Pan and Tom. The four veterans recount their experiences fighting Portland neo Nazis, how it affected them and where we should direct our energy to continue the fight. transcript show notes Credits Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Mic Crenshaw Editors: Erin Yanke and Icky A. Interviewer for this episode: Mic Crenshaw Story editors: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Icky A., Mic Crenshaw, Moe Bowstern Visual archivist: Julie Pe...

May 14, 202134 min

Bonus Episode: The Holocaust Denier and the CHD

This episode features Coalition for Human Dignity activists Steve Wasserstrom, Jonathan Mozzochi and Abby Layton. In this bonus episode we look at how the meticulous collection of data mined for opposition research contributed to a world-famous trial to debunk fascist Holocaust denier David Irving. Transcript Show Notes credits Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Mic Crenshaw Editors: Erin Yanke and Icky A. Interviewer for this episode: Claire Rischiotto and Celina Flores Story editors: Celina...

Apr 23, 202116 min

Bonus: Racist Recruitment through You Tube

In this bonus episode, we hear from Coalition for Human Dignity veteran Devin Burghart, now Executive Director of left wing think tank Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights. Burghart talks about the role of YouTube personalities in the effective radicalization of white nationalists, especially younger viewers. Transcript Show Notes credits Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Mic Crenshaw Editors: Erin Yanke and Icky A. Interviewer for this episode: Ceina Flores Story editors: Ce...

Apr 09, 202111 min

Bonus Episode: Scot Nakagawa and Eric Ward at the Multnomah County Library

Scot Nakagawa and Eric Ward talk together at " It Did Happen Here: Nothing is Final", recorded March 4, 2021 at an event sponsored by the Multnomah County Library. Scot was the founding staff person of the Coalition for Human Dignity, and is co-founder and Senior Partner of ChangeLab , a national racial equity think/act lab promoting innovation in racial equity advocacy. Eric Ward founded and directed a community project to expose and counter hate groups and respond to bigoted violence with the ...

Apr 02, 20211 hr 20 min

Bonus Episode: Cultural Organizing with Maximum Rocknroll

We talk to Martin Sprouse, former shitworker and coordinator Maximum Rocknroll about the role of the long-running punk rock zine as a cultural organizing tool for many groups, including Anti Racist Action. Show Notes Transcript Credits Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Mic Crenshaw Editors: Erin Yanke and Icky A. Interviews for this episode: Erin Yanke Story editors: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Icky A., Mic Crenshaw, Moe Bowstern Visual archivist: Julie Perini Photo: Cammie Toloui IG:@cammiet...

Mar 26, 202116 min

Bonus Episode: It Did Happen Here: Histories of Fighting White Supremacists

It Did Happen Here: Histories of Fighting White Supremacists was recorded on February 25, 2021. This was a panel discussion with one of the podcast participants China, Producers Celina Flores, Mic Crenshaw, and Erin Yanke, and moderated by Eliza Canty-Jones. The event was sponsored by the Oregon Historical Society.

Mar 20, 20211 hr 25 min

Bonus Episode: Minneapolis Baldies and ARA Part Two

It Did Happen Here returns to the Midwest for deeper conversations with veterans of the Minneapolis Baldies and Skinheads of Chicago (SHOC) about what it means to be a Black, Brown or Indigenous person in a predominantly white movement, a woman in a male-dominated movement, how we direct our anti-racism as middle-aged activists, with deep discussion on how experiences with a violent youth have shaped political and personal philosophies. Interviews with Lorraine, Gator, Malachi/Mickey, Marty, Gat...

Mar 11, 202140 min

Episode Eleven - Nothing is Final

In the 11th episode of the podcast we hear about the end of Portland Anti Racist Action, the consequences of being a SHARP, and other reflections by the punks; we also hear words of wisdom offered in hindsight, with love from the now-middle aged activists. Show Notes Transcript Credits Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Mic Crenshaw Editors: Erin Yanke, Icky A. Interviews for this episode: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke , Mic Crenshaw Story editors: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Icky A., Mic Crenshaw...

Jan 29, 202122 minEp. 11

Episode Ten - Less Booted, More Suited

In this episode we look at the Coalition For Human Dignity’s move to Seattle, the merger with the Northwest Coalition Against Malicious Harassment and financial collapse. We hear reflections on the good, the bad and the ugly, with advice on moving forward today. Show Notes Transcript Credits Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Mic Crenshaw Editors: Erin Yanke and Icky A. Interviews for this episode: Annette Newelle, Celina Flores, Ender Black, and Erin Yanke Story editors: Celina Flores, Erin ...

Jan 22, 202135 minEp. 10

Episode Nine - The Story of Jon Bair

On December 31, 1992 SHARPs and neo-Nazis met up on icy streets, with fatal results. Episode 9 tells the story of the New Year’s Eve that changed the life of SHARP member Jon Bair and shifted the balance of the battle to take Portland’s streets back from racist skinheads. Featuring interviews with Jon Bair, Jason and Michael Clark. Show Notes Transcript Credits Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Mic Crenshaw Editors: Erin Yanke and Icky A. Interviews for this episode: Erin Yanke Story editors...

Jan 15, 202122 minEp. 9

Episode Eight - SHARPer Times

In this episode we hear from the former SkinHeads Against Racial Prejudice. SHARPs share their experiences on how they came to hold the front lines in the fight against neo-Nazi violence on the streets of Portland. Featured in this episode are interviews with former SHARPs Michael Clark, Pete Little and Jon Bair; former punks Chyna and Jorin; IDHH narrator Mic Crenshaw; music journalist Patrick Mazza; former CHD activists and researchers Jonathan Mozzochi, M Treloar and Steven Gardiner; and the ...

Jan 08, 202136 minEp. 8

Episode Seven- A Research Capacity: The Work of the Coalition for Human Dignity

In Episode Seven we learn about the surveillance wing of the Coalition for Human Dignity. Interviews were with Jason, Devin Burghart, Jonathan Mozzochi, Leonard Zeskind, Abby Layton, Seven Gardiner, M Treloar and Cecil Prescod. Show Notes Transcript Credits Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Mic Crenshaw Editors: Erin Yanke and Icky A. Interviews for this episode: Annette Newell, Claire Rischiotto, Ceina Flores, and Erin Yanke Story editors: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Icky A., Mic Crenshaw, M...

Jan 01, 202144 minEp. 7

Episode Six -House Defense

In this episode, members of the Coalition for Human Dignity (CHD) describe defense strategies. Working together with ARA, SHARP, individuals and families under threat from racist skinhead violence they co-developed the support strategy they called House Defense; they also trained themselves in security and offered basic support to local groups. The mutual aid that was established created a community-wide bond many still feel today. Show Notes Transcript Credits: Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Ya...

Dec 19, 202028 minEp. 6

Episode Five - They Thought We Were Everywhere: Portland Anti Racist Action

In this episode we return to the Rose City as Portland punks solidify an anti-fascist stance and square off. No more mingling with spiky-haired punks one night and racist skinheads the next; the chronic bypassing of casual racism becomes confrontational. We hear from punks Chyna, Jason, Kelly and Jorin, activists Scot Nakagawa, M. Treloar, and Jonathan Mozzochi, and journalist Patrick Mazza about different tactics for organizing across different groups and the surprising effect it has on the sce...

Dec 11, 202027 minEp. 5

Episode Four: The Minneapolis Baldies and Anti Racist Action

In this episode, we join narrator Mic Crenshaw and his old friends Jason Nevilles aka Jay aka Gator, Marty, Nissa and Jibari - all midwestern anti racist skinheads. They were interviewed to talk about why they joined together, what motivated and influenced them, the politics and social pressures in which they operated and how they ultimately formed the national network known as Anti Racist Action that laid the foundations for today’s Antifa consciousness. Show Notes Transcript Producers: Celina ...

Dec 04, 202034 minEp. 4

Episode Three: Building Community Defense

At the end of 1988 racist skinheads flexed power on the streets and in the show spaces of Portland. This episode is about Portlanders who came together in response to neo-nazi violence after the 1988 murder of Mulugeta Seraw and formed the Coalition for Human Dignity. Show Notes Transcript Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Mic Crenshaw Editors: Erin Yanke and Icky A. Interviews for this episode: Annette Newelle, Celina Flores, Claire Rischiotto, Ender Black, and Erin Yanke Story editors: Cel...

Nov 27, 202038 minEp. 3

Episode Two: The Murder of Mulugeta Seraw

Late one night in November 1988 racist skinheads attacked a group of Ethiopian immigrants in the working class Kerns neighborhood of Southeast Portland. 28-year-old Mulugeta Seraw died from his wounds inflicted by a baseball bat and multiple kicks from the steel-toed boots of the 3 assailants, all members of East Side White Pride, a racist skinhead crew. Show Notes Transcript Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Mic Crenshaw Editors: Erin Yanke and Icky A. Story editors: Celina Flores, Erin Yan...

Nov 20, 202019 minEp. 2

Episode One: Setting the Scene - Portland, Oregon

In the late 1980s, Portland was a known haven for racist skinheads. They roamed the core of Portland unhindered. This episode is about Portland back then, in the before, when Portland was a skinhead stomping ground. Show Notes Transcript Episode One credits Producers: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Mic Crenshaw Editors: Erin Yanke and Icky A. Story editors: Celina Flores, Erin Yanke, Icky A., Mic Crenshaw, Moe Bowstern Visual archivist: Julie Perini Mastering: Colin Casserd Music: (in order of appea...

Nov 13, 202031 minEp. 1

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Nov 06, 202028 min
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