Reed College Grad Killed Defending Muslim Women, Says His Mother

Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche was among the two men who killed in MAX train attack. Reed College professors mourn the loss of "thoughtful, humble, smart, inquisitive, and compassionate" former student.

A memorial at the Hollywood Transit Center on May 26, 2017. (Joe Riedl)
By Rachel Monahan

According to his mother's Facebook post, Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche, who graduated from Reed College in 2016, died in yesterday's attack on a MAX train.

The alleged murderer and a known white supremacist, Jeremy Joseph Christian, began harassing two young woman with anti-Muslim slurs when bystanders intervened, according to witness accounts.

"My dear baby boy passed on yesterday while protecting two young Muslim girls from a racist man on the train in Portland," wrote Asha Deliverance, of Ashland, Oregon.

"He was a hero and will remain a hero on the other side of the veil. Shining bright star I love you forever."

Namkai Meche graduated last year from Reed with a degree in economics.

"He was thoughtful, humble, smart, inquisitive, and compassionate," says Professor Kambiz GhaneaBassiri in a letter to the Reed Community from president  John R. Kroger. "He was a wonderful human being. As good as they come. And now he is a hero to me."

Noelwah R. Netusil, Professor of Economics, and Taliesin's thesis advisor, describes the man as "a very caring person, smart, hardworking, and with such a bright future," according to  the same letter.

Police have yet to names the victims of yesterday's MAX train attack. Joseph Christian, of North Portland, is being charged with aggravated murder, among other felonies.

More than 19,000 people have reacted to Deliverance's post on Facebook.

Full letter from Reed College President:

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