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The man accused of killing two men in Portland, Oregon, as they protected women from anti-Muslim abuse has appeared in court.
As Jeremy Joseph Christian arrived in the courthouse in Multnomah County he launched into an outburst:“Free speech or die Portland, you’ve got no safe place, this is America, get out if you don’t like free speech.”
Portland stabbing accused Jeremy Joseph Christian in courtroom outburst https://t.co/UBxXuzHm43 pic.twitter.com/l1BKcwFyTT
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) May 31, 2017
The 35-year-old unemployed, homeless man continued his tirade:
“Death to the enemies of America. Leave this country if you hate our freedom. Death to Antifa. You call it terrorism, I call it patriotism, you hear me? Die.”
Authorities say Jeremy Joseph Christian started verbally abusing two young women, one wearing a hijab as they travelled on a train.
Three men came to the aid of the women, Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, 23, and fifty-three-year-old Rick Best were fatally stabbed, Micah Fletcher survived with knife wounds to the neck.
This is Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche. He was stabbed to death by a White Supremacist while defending Muslim women on a train in Portland. pic.twitter.com/sbq705eZh2
— (((Trope o. Phobe))) (@Tropophobe) May 27, 2017
Rick Best was an Army veteran, father of 4. He died defending teens from a racist tirade. Hero of the highest order. https://t.co/G8YHXxyp5f pic.twitter.com/L8dX0jP7IG
— Bradd Jaffy (@BraddJaffy) May 28, 2017
The surviving #Portland hero. Micah Fletcher, 21, won a 2013 poetry competition w/ a poem condemning Islamophobia. In hospital w/stab wounds pic.twitter.com/zxZt4L3flL
— Tarek El-Messidi (@Elmessidi) May 28, 2017
A crowd of around 30 anti-fascist protesters gathered outside the courthouse and jeered Christian’s every word.
He is charged with two counts of felony aggravated murder and other charges.