The murder suspect in an alleged hate speech stabbing made repeated outbursts during his appearance in court on Tuesday.
Jeremy Joseph Christian, who was being charged with aggravated murder, attempted murder, second-degree intimidation and felon in possession of a restricted weapon, repeatedly made references to the First Amendment and free speech in his outbursts.
“Free speech or die, Portland. This is America, get out if you don’t like free speech,” Christian shouted.
Christian is accused of stabbing Ricky John Best and Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche to death after they tried to step in on behalf of two women that Christian was shouting hate speech at. One of the women was wearing a hijab. A third man, Micah Fletcher, survived being stabbed but had to listen to Christian shouting things like “Death to the enemies of America. Leave this country if you hate our freedoms” while sitting in court.
“He basically turned to my son and said horrible things, and my son just grabbed his father’s hand and squeezed it so tight, that my husband hoped he wouldn’t break it,” said Margie Fletcher, Micah Fletcher’s mother.
Christian continued to shout and rave during his court appearance, at one time yelling, “You call it terrorism. I call it patriotism. You hear me? Die,” before he was taken back to jail.
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