Commuter heroes

It turned out badly.

Three men tried to protect two frightened young girls from a racist assault. They were on a light rail commuter train in Portland. The girls, both black with one wearing a hajib, were accosted by a man full of hate.

Witnessing the tirade, other men moved to defend the girls.

Suddenly, the confrontation turned ugly and violent. The attacker killed two of the men and injured the third with a knife, slashing his throat.

This is not how the incident should have ended. The three good Samaritans ideally would have defused the situation and brought the attacker under control.

The...