Just hours before the start of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, on board a train in the US city of Portland, Oregon, a man began shouting at two young women.
Witnesses say the pair appeared to be Muslim, with one wearing a hijab.
Witness Evelin Hernandez says the assailant yelled ethnic and religious slurs at the women.
"Get off the bus, get out of the country because you don't pay taxes here. And he doesn't like Muslims, because they're like criminals. I haven't seen this in my life. Just in the movies."
Fifty-three year-old Ricky John Best, 23 year-old Taliesin Myrddin Namkai Meche and 21 year-old Micah David-Cole Fletcher were stabbed when they tried to intervene.
Only Mr Fletcher survived.
Witness Chase Robinson says the men did what they thought was right.
"I go to reach out to start pulling people apart and then I see that there is just blood everywhere. Again, it happened so fast, but it looked like every punch that I saw was actually a stab. Everybody like stood up for what they believed in and what they believed in was a decent thing, it was a good thing and I think that means a lot."
Police identified the suspect as 35-year-old Jeremy Joseph Christian.
They say he had no known affiliation with a criminal gang, nor any history of mental health issues.
He was arrested on charges of attempted murder, intimidation and being a felon in possession of a weapon.
In a post on Facebook, the Council on American-Islamic Relations called on US President Donald Trump to denounce the rising tide of violence toward Muslim Americans, laying part of the blame at US President's feet.
In a statement, the Council's National Executive Director, Nihad Awad, said Mr Trump had provoked anti-immigrant sentiment "through his numerous statements, policies and appointments that have negatively impacted minority communities."
Speaking at a vigil for the victims, Democratic Senator Jeff Merkley agreed with Mr Awad's assessment.
"We've heard from a certain presidential campaign, a message of hate and division, hate and division, and hate and division, and it reverberates in all kinds of ways, and that means that when anyone, whether it be a person on the street or a leader in high office, attacks immigrants, we have to stand with immigrants."
That sentiment was also endorsed by Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler.
"There is too much hatred in the world right now and far too much violence. Our current political climate allows far too much room for those who spread bigotry. Violent words can lead to violent acts."
