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State, national leaders decry killing of men who defended girls Sunday May 28, 2017 at 6:15 PM Vickie Aldous Mail Tribune @VickieAldous State and national leaders are decrying the killing of two men — including an Ashland High School graduate — who were stabbed to death by an extremist who had been threatening two teen girls, one of whom was wearing a Muslim hijab head covering. Taliesen Myrddin, 23, who graduated from AHS and Reed College, and Happy Valley resident Ricky John Best, 53, died of stab wounds Friday, while Portland resident Micah David-Cole Fletcher, 21, was hospitalized after also being stabbed. The trio tried to intervene Friday when extremist Jeremy Joseph Christian, 35, reportedly was yelling racist and anti-Islamic slurs at the two teens riding a MAX light-rail train in Portland. Christian, a violent criminal who has praised Nazis, Adolf Hitler and Oklahoma City bomber Timothy McVeigh, is being held without bail on two counts of aggravated murder, one count of attempted murder, two counts of intimidation in the second degree and one count of possession of a restricted weapon as a felon. Democratic Gov. Kate Brown said she was heart-broken by the loss of two brave, compassionate men who acted as good Samaritans.  Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., said he was deeply saddened by the horrific attack that took the lives of two men and seriously injured another. He said the incident sounds the alarm about the violence that follows hate speech. "Hate speech and violence have no place in Oregon, or anywhere in our nation," he said. "Simply put, we will not stand down in the face of hate. We must come together as one to call it out and combat it. With these three heroes in mind, we will recommit to fighting hate and violence every chance we get." Sen. Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., said the state and nation must stand together to defy hate. "This was a terrible tragedy. Champions of justice risked and lost their lives. With all Oregonians, I stand with the families of those heroes," he said. "And we all stand with our Muslim brothers and sisters who have had to face discrimination and fear. Actions and words of hate are unacceptable, and un-American." Oregon House Republican Leader Mike McLane, R-Powell Butte, called on people to keep the slain men and their families in their thoughts and prayers, and to work toward peace and healing. "Evil struck the city of Portland last night and ripped a hole in the heart of Oregon and her people," he said. "The Oregonians who lost their lives standing up against hatred will be remembered by many as heroes." Oregon Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum also called the three men heroes. She thanked witnesses and police officers who worked together to track down and apprehend the assailant. After the stabbings, witnesses ran after Christian, who allegedly confronted them with a knife. They then pointed a police officer toward Christian, who was eventually taken into custody by a group of officers, according to those on the scene Friday night. Rosenblum said anyone who is the victim of a hate crime, or who knows of someone who has been a victim, should report the incident to local police, a county sheriff's office or the Oregon State Police. Hate crimes can also be reported to the Oregon Department of Justice at justice.oregon.gov/crimereporting/hatecrime. "The Oregon Department of Justice will ensure your report is passed on to the appropriate authority for investigation," Rosenblum said. A host of national groups also spoke out against the attack. The Anti-Defamation League, founded to defend Jewish people against hate and prejudice, said the two men who lost their lives and the man who was injured stood up courageously against hate. The ADL works for improved interfaith relations and fights bias against other groups, including Muslims. "The scourge of ideologically motivated violence of all kinds, no matter where it happens or in what form, is one of the key issues of our time," ADL Chief Executive Officer Jonathan Greenblatt said.  Reach staff reporter Vickie Aldous at 541-776-4486 or [email protected]. Follow her at www.twitter.com/VickieAldous.