'In the face of hate he did not hesitate to act with love': A letter to Trump about Oregon stabbing

The mother of one of the Portland stabbing victims has written to US President Donald Trump. Photo / AP

Last weekend, two men were stabbed to death and one seriously injured on a light-rail train in Portland, Oregon, after they tried to intervene when another passenger began "ranting and raving" and shouting anti-Muslim hate speech at two young women.

Yesterday, the grieving mother of 23-year-old Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche, one of the two slain victims from the attack, penned a letter to US President Donald Trump asking him to formally condemn the incident as an act of violence resulting from hate speech and hate groups.

Though Trump did acknowledge the attacks in Portland in a tweet yesterday, a family representative told the Washington Post that they were dismayed it took the President so long to speak out - and that the message came from Trump's lesser-followed @POTUS account rather than @realDonaldTrump.

The account tweeted, "The violent attacks in Portland are unacceptable. The victims were standing up to hate and intolerance. Our prayers are w/ them. - President Trump (@POTUS)"

Below is the letter Asha Deliverance, Namkai Meche's mother, wrote to the President.

Dear President Trump,

I'm writing to you today, Memorial Day, to share my heart after losing my son.

Taliesin died a hero, like many other Americans who have died defending freedom. He was just 23, a year out of college with a degree in economics, working, had just bought his first home and was thinking about starting a family. Our family grieves, but we are proud that through his selfless action he, along with the other two men, has changed the world, when in the face of hate he did not hesitate to act with love.

Two precious lives were lost this Memorial Day weekend in Portland and one more, nearly so. All three were strangers to each other, and to those they were defending. They fearlessly risked their lives for two young women who were threatened by an act of bigotry and terror. These brave men saw the immediate injustice and didn't hesitate to act. They recognised the truth: we are more alike than we are different. To ride the train home without being assaulted because of the colour of your skin or your religious beliefs, is an inalienable right.

Sad yet moving story of standing up to racism.... https://t.co/g5fzL1iNhP

— Wael Eskandar (@weskandar) May 30, 2017

You have said that you will be President for all Americans. So, I ask you Mr President to take action at this time. Your words and actions are meaningful, here in America and throughout the world.

Please encourage all Americans to protect and watch out for one another. Please condemn any acts of violence, which result directly from hate speech & hate groups. I am praying you will use your leadership to do so.

It would deeply honour Taliesin's sacrifice, which has been amplified by the millions of voices who have supported our family in response to this tragedy.

With Peace In My Heart,

Asha Deliverance