'You've no safe place', Portland white supremacist tells court

'You've no safe place', Portland white supremacist tells court
The sole suspect in a Portland stabbing which left two men dead shouted 'death to the enemies of America' during a rant in his first court appearance.
2 min read
31 May, 2017
Jeremy Joseph Christian describes himself as a white nationalist [Portland Police]

The man accused of killing two men who were defending a pair of young women from his anti-Muslim tirade in the US city of Portland appeared in court on Tuesday, where he disrupted proceedings with several nationalist and anti-Muslim outbursts.

Jeremy Joseph Christian, 35, made his first appearance in the Multnomah County courtroom for two counts of felony aggravated murder, among other indictments.

"Free speech or die, Portland! You got no safe place. This is America. Get out if you don't like free speech!" Christain shouted as he entered the courtroom.

Once behind the glass barriers of the defendants' area, he declared: "Death to the enemies of America. Leave this country if you hate our freedom. Death to Antifa! You call it terrorism, I call it patriotism! You hear me? Die."

Dozens of anti-fascist protesters could he heard yelling from outside the courtroom as Christian finished his statement.

Investigators say Christian stabbed three men who attempted to intervene as he verbally abused two women, one of whom was wearing a hijab, on Friday while aboard a train. Two of the stab victims, 23-year-old Taliesin Myrddin Namkai-Meche and 53-year-old Rick Best, were killed, while 21-year-old Micah Fletcher survived his wounds.

Authorities say there were three other men who attempted to intervene along with the stab victims.

The defendent told police that he has no mental health issues, no income and cannot recall the last time he had a permanent address.

According to court documents based on Christian's interview while in custody, he would become animated and agitated when talking about the suppression of what he described as "free speech".

Records show that Christian has three prior felonies.