This is Taliesin Myrddin. He was 23 years old. He passed away last night in Portland Oregon along with another hero while defending two muslim girls from hateful abuse from a white supremecist on the MAX train. The media has a lot of information to give you about the asshole that took their lives, but I want to share Taliesin and eventually the other hero too. They are the ones who deserve to be known, they are the ones who literally died to do what was right. They are the true spirit of Portland Oregon, not the evil man who did this to them.
This is Rick Best. He was 53 and a veteran of the army. He had three teenage sons and a 12 year old daughter. He also gave his life to defending two muslim girls on the MAX train last night. He also deserves to be known. Thank you Talisein and Rick. You are symbols of the good in this world and true heroes to your city. I am so sorry for what happened to you and send all my love to your grieving families and loved ones
a third person, micah david-cole fletcher who is 21 is in the hospital with serious but non life threatening injuries. micah won a poetry contest in 2013 for a poem condemning prejudice against muslims and last year (photo above) did a poetry reading on a max train with other young poets interested in social justice. (source)
you can make monetary donations to these men’s families. there’s one set up for taliesin and rick’s loved ones and another one is for micah’s medical expenses and recovery. the bilal masjid, a mosque located in beaverton oregon, has an option on its website to donate to the families.
hopefully the young ladies these men protected are also getting the support they need as well.
A Middleground 