Washington, DC – U.S. Sens. Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley praised the Senate’s passage of their joint resolution to honor Oregon heroes Rick Best, Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, and Micah David-Cole Fletcher.
Best and Namkai-Meche were fatally stabbed on May 26 defending two young women targeted by threatening anti-Muslim hate speech on the MAX train in Portland. Fletcher was seriously wounded in the attack.
“These three Oregonians stood up courageously against terrorism – and for core American values of tolerance and freedom,“ Wyden said. “This resolution properly honors their bravery in confronting hate and commits all of us as Americans to fighting hate, violence and terrorism every chance we get.”
“What happened on that train was a horrific act of hate. But in the days that followed, Oregon came together with a message: While there is evil in this world, there is still far more goodness — the same goodness that Rick, and Taliesin, and Micah bravely exhibited on that train,” Merkley said. “This resolution recognizes that, and I thank my colleagues for joining with me to honor these heroes.”
The joint resolution now goes to the House for its consideration. If the House passes the joint resolution, it would go to the president for his signature.
