A 32-year-old man in Portland, Oregon, is being remembered by household and pals as an individual who stood up for what’s proper, even in his final moments.
Colin Smith is being celebrated as a protector, after dropping his life whereas defending a buddy from harassment.
He was fatally stabbed outdoors The Excessive Dive Bar on July 2, 2023. A person approached Colin and his pals, making homophobic feedback, touching two members of the group with out consent, and particularly focusing on one in all Colin’s pals for being LGBTQ+. Colin jumped to motion, which value him his life.
Colin’s ex-girlfriend, Paulina Solis, wasn’t current through the altercation on the bar, but she exclaimed that he “died being the person who all of us knew him to be.”
Solis emphasised Colin’s abiding sense of justice and compassion. “I believe Colin, simply generally, has at all times had actually robust values round supporting the underdog, simply searching for individuals who perhaps acquired neglected,” she stated. Solis additionally acknowledged, “We would like individuals to know that this stemmed from a hate crime, and Colin was there to, in fact, get up for his buddy.”
On July 7, 2023, Rahnique Jackson was arrested by members of the US Marshals Service. He has been charged with second-degree homicide, illegal use of a weapon, and second-degree bias crime, which is taken into account a hate crime below Oregon regulation.
Solis recounted tales of her experiences with Colin that highlighted his inherent compassion, saying, “After I went out to eat with Colin or once we went out into public, I really feel like he at all times took time to simply actually genuinely join with individuals, whether or not it’s servers, I imply, particularly the service trade staff, your grocery retailer clerks, homeless individuals.”
She continued, explaining, “Colin noticed individuals as individuals.”
Within the wake of Colin dropping his life whereas defending a buddy, he is being remembered for his robust sense of justice and compassion.
Colin’s loss is being mourned not solely by his shut household and pals, but additionally by the members of the Portland service trade group, as Colin was a beloved server at Ox Restaurant.
Photograph: Paulina Solis
Greg Denton, the proprietor of Ox Restaurant, defined how Colin’s acts of kindness reverberated all through the office.
“Colin embodied the true definition of hospitality,” he stated. “With out thought, he put others’ wants earlier than his personal, whether or not that was selecting up a shift for a coworker, bringing the kitchen staff drinks on a scorching night time within the kitchen, or making a visitor really feel that they had been in variety, educated, and pleasant arms.”
“His presence at Ox will proceed to dwell on, and his time right here will eternally encourage waves of compassion and positivity amongst us,” Denton concluded.
In an announcement made to Individuals Journal, Julie Smith, Colin’s mom, praised her son as “humble, easy and grounded within the gentle of goodness and love.”
“I misplaced my boy when he was defending a buddy,” Julie wrote. “A fast motion that was spontaneous and innate to his selfless character.”
The grieving mom additional described her son as “a tremendous individual. Was he good? No. However I at all times stated that even when Colin was unhealthy, he was good. As a result of he was sincere.”
It’s clear that as Colin’s family members mourn him, they’re additionally working to uphold his reminiscence, and make sure that his life wasn’t misplaced in useless.
“There’s nothing any of us can do now, besides to honor his legacy,” Julie defined. “Make a dedication to do one thing good for anyone, even when which means simply smiling as you’re strolling down the road.”
A GoFundMe has been established in Colin Smith’s identify.
Alexandra Blogier is a author on YourTango’s information and leisure crew. She covers the LGBTQ+ group, popular culture evaluation and all issues to do with the leisure trade.
