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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFellow passenger who did CPR on Portland stabbing victim has two important messages for people
'He didn't die alone': Man who performed CPR on Trimet attack victim speaks
PORTLAND, Ore. -- When crowds started running away from the scene during the brutal MAX train stabbings on Friday, Michael Kennedy ran toward it.
Kennedy, a former paramedic, was there on the train, one car away. He sprung into action and started helping Rick Best, one of the two victims who ultimately passed away.
snip
The former paramedic knew it was bad. He said both men had their throats slit near the carotid artery. Best appeared to be in worse shape, so Kennedy, inside that train, knelt beside him and worked to clear his airways.
snip
Eventually firefighters arrived at the scene, confirming what Kennedy already knew. Rick Best, a veteran and city employee who was attacked for standing up again hate, was gone.
Taliesin Namkai Meche died at the hospital. Micah Fletcher is expected to survive.
Kennedy said he hasn't slept since.
On Sunday, he wanted to share two messages. First and foremost, to Best's family.
"He was surrounded by people who were soothing him and caring for him," he said. "He did not die alone."
Second, Kennedy has a message to and about the man charged with this horrific attack.
"I worry about the hundreds of people who are impacted like this. And I hope that it is labeled what it is. It was a terrorist attack. I want that to be clear," Kennedy said.
We reached out to Best's family today and spoke via phone to his 19-year-old son. He said the family is requesting privacy, but wanted people to hear a phrase his dad said a lot during his life.
"I can't stand by and do nothing."
Video at link - interview with Kennedy starts at 2 minute point.
He really wanted the family to know Best died surrounded by caring people.
And he is adamant it was a terrorist attack and should be labeled as such.
http://www.kgw.com/news/local/he-didnt-die-alone-man-who-performed-cpr-on-trimet-attack-victim-speaks/443814912
tallahasseedem
(6,716 posts)These men bravely served their country, only to be killed in cold blood at home.
Disgusting.
AgadorSparticus
(7,963 posts)ck4829
(35,084 posts)Hard working individuals who stood up for what is right and spent their lives gaining wisdom slashed to death by a criminal scumbag who is shocking for the sake of being shocking and that believes that him simply being a white male means he should be at the head of the line.
(Full disclosure, I am a white male myself)
Wounded Bear
(58,698 posts)America's biggest problem right now is it's inability to see things for what they are. The media doesn't help much.
Amaryllis
(9,525 posts)preaching to the choir.
Although some Muslims are white. But if they are wearing a hijab...
forgotmylogin
(7,530 posts)MFM008
(19,818 posts)Chipper Chat
(9,686 posts)If they would just "git out of his country" things like this wouldn't happen.
Efilroft Sul
(3,581 posts)"Those girls asked for it dressed the way they were."
"You're in America, so assimilate."
"Christian defended himself from three other men."
Deflect. Deflect. Deflect.
Deplorable.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)IronLionZion
(45,514 posts)so any deplorable act they do is just self defense. A lot of terrorists think this way.
luvMIdog
(2,533 posts)retrowire
(10,345 posts)Mme. Defarge
(8,040 posts)K&R!
Leghorn21
(13,526 posts)make sure the family of Rick Best knows that Rick did not die alone, and was surrounded with caring people who soothed him as he passed from this earth. OH.
Yes, that was a terrorist attack.
In these days and times, though, I do wonder if Mr. Kennedy is going to hear some foul, threatening noise from people like the murderer himself. Would you be surprised? Me either...hope not, though.
Hekate
(90,774 posts)It's a bad day in The Neighborhood when I have to quote Mr. Rogers to console myself, but sometimes you have to go back to basics. After 9-11 he did a special broadcast just for parents on how to help their little ones through that dreadful time (basically turn off the damn tv until after the little ones go to bed). In his regular program he told his young audience that when he was little and something bad happened like a horrible accident on the freeway, his mother would say, "Look for the helpers" -- which in the case of 9-11 were the firefighters and masses of volunteers searching the rubble.
So, this. Michael Kennedy, who ran toward and not away. Who wanted to tell the family of Rick Best: "He did not die alone."
That brought me to tears. Just when I am ready to give up on humanity, I'm reminded of compassion and courage...
Amaryllis
(9,525 posts)so many people. This seems to be the nature of humanity; capable of unspeakable horror and yet also extraordinary selflessness and compassion.
lastlib
(23,271 posts)...and promote it, bear the FULL responsibility for this heinous act.
Duppers
(28,125 posts)Yes, it was a terrorist attack. Had it been a Muslim man, that how it would've been reported.
GulfCoast66
(11,949 posts)The other patrons must be curious about my tears.
We all lose something when a good man or woman is take early like this.
heaven05
(18,124 posts)nikibatts
(2,198 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,625 posts)The Montana thug assaulting a reporter(and he still won), immigrants afraid to call police for fear of being deported, and now this. True heroes die while defending an immigrant. I dare the Donald to acknowledge the crime let alone admit it may have been influenced by him.
lunasun
(21,646 posts)That was the killer's assumption
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/video/2017/may/29/teen-portland-train-thanks-men-who-intervened-video
IronLionZion
(45,514 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,625 posts)Anyway, the 3 people who tried to help are real heroes. I hope that others won't hesitate helping innocent victims of hate in the future. With the Donald in charge sowing an atmosphere of hate and violence I'm sure we'll see more of it in the future.
IronLionZion
(45,514 posts)but one of the two young ladies isn't even Muslim. She's just black and American.
The attacker assumed they came from some other country and should go back.
FailureToCommunicate
(14,020 posts)Micha Fletcher
Mahalo, Michael Kennedy and Amaryllis~
Warren DeMontague
(80,708 posts)I'm trying to keep that in mind.
spanone
(135,861 posts)chwaliszewski
(1,514 posts)What an absolute waste of decent human lives because of a hateful demon turd.
catbyte
(34,433 posts)She was just as bewildered as the rest of us at the hatred that creep began spewing at her, and feels guilty that 2 men are dead and one seriously injured because of her. She was extremely grateful because she said she'd probably be dead, but she's just shattered. I can't imagine having to process something like that, but she's a completely innocent victim in all of this.
I hate 45* for many things, but most of all I hate him for this, for creating a climate that makes the bigots and haters comfortable with lashing out. I hope everybody who isn't a hardcore Drumpfcultist who voted for that evil asshole because "they just couldn't vote for Hillary" has a Come to Jesus Moment because they played a part in this.
MrPurple
(985 posts)There's a shocking number of deplorables, weighing in that the killer did the right thing and that he must have been defending himself from the Muslims, so good for him. And, claiming that the killer was a Bernie supporter who hated Trump - which is probably as truthful as their self defense claim, which ALL the eyewitness testimony shows is blatantly false.
Obviously, online comments boards are a cesspool that overrepresent a small percentage of twisted people, but some of these comments were drawing 40-50 likes. There's an active group of truly sick people out there and I've looked through Youtube videos for 10 years - this is clearly a bigger phenomenon since Trump came on the scene.
Amaryllis
(9,525 posts)AllaN01Bear
(18,353 posts)they love to hide behind the felgercarbe, and when i call their bluff they come out yelling or other . tank you tank you dear sir for careing for the victoms who are silent keys because of this so and so. and why does murder always have to be the " final solution" who in the fuck made you god.?