A mother has shared a touching tribute after her son was killed while trying to intervene in a racist attack.
Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche and Ricky John Best were both fatally stabbed by alleged white supremacist, 35-year-old Jeremy Joseph Christian, on a train in Portland.
Christian is reported to have been verbally assaulting two young Muslim women, but when other passengers stepped in Christian lashed out, slashing Meche, Best and another man named as Micah David-Cole Fletcher, who is being treated for non-life-threatening injuries.
The mother of Meche, a 23-year-old economics graduate, took to Facebook to share an emotional tribute.
She wrote:
Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche, my dear baby boy passed on yesterday while protecting two young Muslim girls from a racist man on the train in Portland.
He was a hero and will remain a hero on the other side of the veil.
Shining bright star I love you forever.
The residents of Portland are also trying to help the victims’ families, and a GoFundMe page has been set up to raise funds.
The page reads:
Two men were killed today because they stood up for two Muslim women who were being harassed on Tri-Met by a racist. Another was injured.
They are heroes, yet their families are not only going to be faced with the pain of losing people they love, but with financial hardships from their passings.
So far $210,000 of the $250,000 target has been raised and our thoughts are with the family and friends of all those affected.
