DEAR EDITOR:

The recent killing of Minnesota State Senator Melissa Hortman and her husband as well as the shooting of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife must clearly be laid at the feet of President Donald Trump. He may occasionally give a cursory statement condemning violence but his actions and further comments say otherwise.

For example, his pardoning of the Jan. 6th protesters who injured police officers and did severe damage to the Capitol and then his even going on to call them patriots, his constant name-calling, his verbal attacks on judges and then ignoring the MAGA threats that follow, his ceaseless trash talk, his acceptance and courting of violent extremist groups, his making jokes about the Paul Pelosi attack, his creating fear in people by making up stories about immigrants eating cats and dogs, his making degrading comments about Democratic governors and others he doesn’t like and the list could go on.

All this sends the message that violence on his behalf is not only acceptable but is rewarded. And his supporters who refuse to speak out, try to justify his words or even just remain silent are complicit in these actions. You may agree with his political views but you certainly can’t approve of his hateful rhetoric. He is supposed to be the President for all of us.

Time to hold him accountable for his words!

CAROLYN GREENWOOD

Canfield