Documentary explores racist murder in 1980s Portland

New film examines how Mulugeta Seraw's death impacted the city and nation

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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A new documentary from Oregon Public Broadcasting explores the story of the 1988 murder of Mulugeta Seraw, an Ethiopian immigrant, the regional and national forces that led to his death, and how Portland and the country changed in the aftermath.

Why it matters

Seraw's murder was a tragic example of the racist violence that plagued Portland and other parts of the country in the 1980s, and the film examines how his death sparked important conversations and changes around confronting hate and promoting diversity and inclusion.

The details

The documentary, titled "Remember Mulugeta: Confronting Hate in Portland", delves into the circumstances surrounding Seraw's killing and the broader social and political context that enabled such acts of violence to occur.

  • Mulugeta Seraw was murdered in Portland in 1988.

The players

Mulugeta Seraw

An Ethiopian immigrant who was murdered in a racist attack in Portland in 1988.

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The takeaway

Seraw's tragic death served as a painful but important catalyst for Portland and the nation to confront the realities of racism and hate, leading to increased efforts to promote diversity, inclusion and justice in the years that followed.