Alan Berg facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alan Berg
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| Born |
Alan Harrison Berg
January 18, 1934 |
| Died | June 18, 1984 (aged 50) |
| Cause of death | Murder |
| Resting place | Waldheim Jewish Cemetery, Forest Park, Illinois |
| Occupation | Lawyer, radio show host |
Alan Harrison Berg (born January 18, 1934 – died June 18, 1984) was an American talk radio host in Denver, Colorado. He was known for his strong opinions and direct way of speaking. Berg was an atheist, meaning he did not believe in God. He also held liberal views, which often means believing in social equality and government action to help people.
Sadly, Berg was murdered by members of a white supremacist group called The Order. This group believed in hateful ideas, like wanting to harm all Jewish people and send all Black people to Africa. They targeted Berg because he was Jewish and spoke out against their views. Two people involved in the killing, David Lane and Bruce Pierce, were found guilty of violating Berg's civil rights. They were sentenced to many years in prison.
Early Life and Education
Alan Berg was born in Chicago, Illinois. His family was Jewish. He went to the University of Colorado Denver and then the University of Denver. When he was 22, Berg became one of the youngest people to pass the Illinois state bar examination. This meant he could practice law in Chicago.
Later, Berg had a health issue that required surgery. After the surgery, he recovered fully. For the rest of his life, he wore long bangs to cover the scars from the operation.
Becoming a Radio Star
Before radio, Berg worked in a shoe store. He then opened a clothing store in Denver. There, he met a talk show host named Laurence Gross. Gross was impressed by Berg and invited him to be a guest on his radio show several times. When Gross left his job, he suggested Alan Berg take his place.
Berg started his radio career at a station called KGMC. The station later changed its name to KWBZ. Berg then moved to another Denver station, KHOW. After being fired from KHOW, he returned to KWBZ. When KWBZ changed to playing only music, Berg lost his job again.
He was then hired by KOA (AM) radio station. His first show there was on February 23, 1981. He worked at KOA until he died. His radio program was so popular that people could listen to it in more than 30 states.
Berg was known for his strong liberal views. He often challenged callers who had hateful or extreme ideas. He would sometimes upset callers, but he focused on people who promoted hatred. For example, he challenged white supremacist groups who openly hated Black people, Jewish people, and other minority groups.
In 1982, Berg had a difficult interview with a woman named Ellen Kaplan. During the call, Berg called her "a vile human being." He also praised someone who had attacked her. After the interview, the radio station received complaints. As a result, Berg was suspended from work for a few days. When he returned, he tried to be a bit less harsh in his interviews.
The Murder of Alan Berg
On the evening of June 18, 1984, Alan Berg was returning home after dinner. As he got out of his car, he was shot twelve times. The weapon used was a powerful gun called an Ingram MAC-10. The FBI later found the gun at the home of a member of The Order.
People believed Berg was on a "death list" because he was Jewish. He also challenged the beliefs of the Christian Identity movement, a group that held hateful views. At the trial for his murder, prosecutors said he was killed because he was Jewish and because his personality angered white supremacists. A founding member of The Order, Denver Daw Parmenter, said Berg was targeted because he was seen as "anti-white" and was Jewish. Berg was buried at the Waldheim Jewish Cemetery in Forest Park, Illinois.
Four members of The Order were accused of crimes related to Berg's murder. Only David Lane and Bruce Pierce were found guilty. They were convicted of crimes like racketeering and conspiracy, and for violating Berg's civil rights. Lane was sentenced to 190 years in prison, and Pierce was sentenced to 252 years.
David Lane was a former member of the Ku Klux Klan. He later joined a neo-Nazi group called Aryan Nation. Lane always said he was not directly involved in Berg's murder. However, he also said he was not sad that Berg was dead. He once said that Berg no longer spread his "hate-whitey propaganda" on the radio.
Lane died in prison in 2007 at age 68. Bruce Pierce died in prison in 2010 at age 56. The leader of The Order, Robert Jay Mathews, was believed to have been involved in the shooting. He died in a standoff with federal authorities in December 1984.
See also
- List of journalists killed in the United States
