Letters

It is disheartening to see how political demonstration and discourse have devolved since Donald Trump became an active participant in American politics and government.

Name-calling, profanity and attacking one’s nationality have all become a part of the body politic. Rather than addressing the issue, Trump attacks the person bringing the issue forward.

Last week’s episode in Newark, where the mayor was arrested for trespassing, is a prime example. Roughed up by thugs posing as law enforcement officials, armed with a mandate to stop dead in its tracks any civil unrest that would put Trump’s policy in question, they handcuffed the mayor and roughed up a congressional representative from New Jersey.

The mayor was subsequently released, and now the member of Congress has been wrongly indicted, simply for standing up for the rule of law and a colleague.

Absolutely absurd actions were undertaken by law enforcement against the American people that day. I think back on the attempt to overthrow the government by thousands of renegades attacking the Capitol building, only to be pardoned by Trump — people convicted of felonies and serving jail terms, lauded by some as heroes.

How does a member of Congress merit this manhandling and physical attack at the hands of Trump’s masked, paid vigilantes? It defies logic and decorum and the tenets of American law and liberty.

The reason for the attack on the representative was not due to political affiliation or stance, or any illegal actions that were taken that day. It was due to the fact that she was a Black woman.

William R. Kearns

East Quogue