Alan Berg

Alan Berg

On eighteen June 1984, controversial Jewish radio talk-show host Alan Berg was assassinated inwards the driveway of his Denver home. Berg’s belligerent, confrontational means was carried past times Denver’s KOA radio together with reached thirty-eight states during the eve hours.

The eclectic attain of topics included subjects such every bit gun control, homosexuality, race relations, together with Christianity. Always willing to enrage the caller every bit good every bit his listeners, Berg became i of the close pop radio personalities inwards the country. He likewise became i of the close hated men inwards the province past times the conspiratorial white supremacist movement.

In the outpouring of 1984, a militant subgroup of the Aryan Nation led past times Robert Mathews, known every bit the Order or the Silent Brotherhood, began what it referred to every bit “Step 5,” a code refer for its assassination hitting list. The listing began amongst Morris Dees of the Southern Poverty Law Center, followed past times Norman Lear, the liberal tv producer, together with so Alan Berg. Berg’s radio present gave him a nightly platform to belittle Aryan Nation together with its cause, together with thence made him a prime number target.


On eighteen June Berg recorded a radio present questioning the pope’s comment that sexual activity for pleasance is sinful. Berg argued that zilch inwards the Bible supported this claim, together with although he purposely misinterpreted the pope’s statement, he used it every bit the reason for an hour-long gear upwardly on on Catholics together with the pope inwards his common controversial style. During the show, Mathews together with his men arrived inwards Denver.

Weeks earlier, Mathews had sent i of the few women he trusted to KOA radio station nether the pretext of writing a college paper. While there, she acquired data on Berg’s appearance, his schedule, what type of machine he drove, where he parked, together with where he lived. The conception was simple: ambush Berg at his home.

Mathews together with 2 of his followers, David Lane together with Bruce Pierce, parked across the street from Berg’s dwelling together with waited for him to return. At only about 9:20 P.M., Berg pulled his VW Beetle into his driveway. As he was getting out of the car, Lane pulled inwards behind Berg’s car, blocking him in. Mathews opened the raise door for Pierce, who opened sack amongst a .45-caliber MAC 10, killing Berg. Mathews together with Pierce jumped dorsum into their machine together with Lane sped downward the street.

In Dec 1984, afterward a massive manhunt, the FBI cornered Mathews inwards a household on Whidbey Island, off the coast of Washington. After a two-day standoff the FBI fired an M-79 Starburst inwards the house, causing a fire. Defiantly, Mathews remained inwards the burning household firing his gun until he succumbed to the flames. The other members of the Order were eventually captured together with inwards Nov 1987 David Lane together with Bruce Pierce were institute guilty of the murder of Alan Berg together with sentenced to 150 years inwards prison.