Earlier this week, two Portland men were killed while defending two women from a man on an Islamophobic rant. Since the tragedy, many have stepped up to help the Portland heroes and their families through donations. If you're inclined to do the same, there are several ways to donate to the families of the fallen heroes, as well as to the third young man, who survived the incident but is severely injured.
The gruesome incident took place on Friday, when a man on a Portland MAX train began yelling what police described as "hate speech toward a variety of ethnicities and religions" at two teenage girls on the train — Destinee Mangum and her friend, who is Muslim. As the man verbally attacked the girls, three men intervened to try to stop him. The attacker pulled out a knife and stabbed all three, fatally wounding two of them — 53-year-old Ricky John Best, a veteran, and 23-year-old Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche, an environmental consultant. Micah Fletcher, a 21-year-old poet, was seriously injured, but is recovering.
There are multiple online fundraisers to assist the surviving Portland hero, as well as the families of the two deceased heroes. The Muslims United for Portland Heroes fundraiser was launched by two Muslim nonprofit organizations. The fundraising page notes that funds will firstly be used to assist with the immediate needs of the deceased heroes' families, including funeral expenses. They will also be used to cover medical expenses for Fletcher. After short-term needs are addressed, donations will then be used to address the long-term needs of the families of the deceased, including assistance for Ricky Best's wife and four children. You can donate to this fund by clicking "support" on the campaign's website.
There are also two GoFundMe campaigns for the deceased and surviving victims. The fundraiser "Tri Met Heroes" is raising money for the families of Best and Namkai-Meche to pay for funeral and additional expenses. Another, called "Tri Met Hero Recovery," is raising funds to cover Fletcher's hospital and recovery expenses. You can donate to both of these campaigns directly on their respective campaign pages.
Finally, there is also a fundraiser on You Caring to support the two teenage girls who were targeted by the assailant and witnessed his horrific assault on the three men.
The Portland heroes bravely stood up in the face of hate, and they, along with their families, could certainly use some financial support during this trying time. If you're capable, consider making a donation to any or all of the important campaigns described above.
