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| 11/29/2007 7:00:00 PM | Email this article • Print this article | White Supremacist Featured In Cable Documentary
Daniel Riordan
Times-Union Staff Writer
Tom Metzger, leader of the White Aryan Resistance movement, moved back to Warsaw two years ago.
Last week, Metzger was featured on the National Geographic channel in a documentary titled "American Skinhead." Metzger, 69, was contacted by the Times-Union and agreed to an interview.
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Metzger says he doesn't recruit. He doesn't stand outside of schools or factories trying to get his message out.
But he does run a Web site and hotline, has a radio show and newspaper and has appeared on national television shows among other things.
He also frequently writes letters to the editor of the Times-Union.
Metzger was born in Kosciusko County before moving to California after a stint in the U.S. Army. After attempts at elected office, including a run for Congress in California, Metzger became a member of the Ku Klux Klan in California and became the Grand Dragon for California.
Metzger won the democratic nomination for the U.S. House of Representatives in the San Diego-area but was disavowed by the Democrats.
In the early 1980s, after leaving the Klan and forming the White Aryan Resistance, Metzger was featured on talk shows such as Geraldo Rivera and Oprah.
Metzger and his son John Metzger were found civilly liable in connection with the death of Ethiopian immigrant Mulugeta Seraw.
Seraw was beaten to death in 1988 in Tacoma, Wash., by three suspects who had ties to WAR.
Morris Dees and the Southern Poverty Law Center filed a suit against the Metzgers alleging those charged with murdering Seraw were connected to Metzger's organization.
Metzger said he didn't know any of the suspects in the case and characterized the incident as a street fight that was not racially motivated.
Metzger claims he was unjustly targeted in the case.
The lawsuit resulted in a $12.5 million judgment against Metzger. Metzger said he lost his home and his work truck and was forced to rent an apartment and go on welfare. Most of WAR's profits go to paying off the judgment.He said he never filed for bankruptcy.
During an interview that lasted nearly 1-1/2 hours, he never used a racial slur, though he did compare illegal aliens to locusts.
This is a much different Metzger than the one on his pre-recorded hotline where he freely uses the "n-word."
Metzger said that he doesn't have rallies and that he has no plans to "bring a big deal to town."
"I'm not a dictator. I don't tell people to do anything," said Metzger.
In fact, the only documented meeting Metzger has held locally was filmed at a hotel in Warsaw for the "American Skinhead" documentary.
Metzger said the only reason he organized the meeting was for National Geographic to have something to film.
He said he doesn't use violence to get his message across but his Web site does contain video game simulations such as "Border Patrol" with a description underneath stating "Don't let the spics cross the border."
Metzger said the video games and overt racist rhetoric on his Web site can be characterized as "shock value."
Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department said they have had no reports or complaints against Metzger on file, though Metzger himself has complained about the traffic along his home on Ferguson Road.
Along with being a white supremacist, anti-Jewish and a staunch opponent of illegal immigrants, Metzger also said he has disagreememts with some Christians and identifies himself as an atheist.
Metzger also spoke about his dislike for both Republicans and Democrats and the policies of President George W. Bush.
While Metzger speaks to many different issues such as politics, the environment and the economy, he continues to focus on race.
"When it breaks down, it's all racial," Metzger said.
When asked of his thoughts on what the future of this country would be he compared it to the movie "Mad Max."
"When the whites get going, oh boy," said Metzger. "Whites tend to go along to get along but when they go bananas, watch out."
Metzger said his movement is growing.
"It grows because people e-mail me and say, '20 years ago I thought you were crazy and nuts but now I've changed,'" Metzger said.
"I became a racist by education," said Metzger. "People ask me if somebody stole my bicycle. That's not how I became a racist."
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