Letter to the editor: Trump, protesters threaten democracy

I angrily watched the armed thugs protesting in Michigan on April 30, demanding the opening of businesses even before the CDC guidelines had been met.

There they were in their paramilitary garb brandishing their semi-automatic weapons, some carrying Confederate flags, most wearing no facial masks, and others shouting into the faces of state police sent to guard the Michigan Capitol. How revolting that so many should care so little for their own health yet alone the well-being of police and the general public.

It is a bewildering sight watching these armed lawbreakers openly carrying their assault weapons and waving Confederate flags for which thousands of Union soldiers died in order to prevent Confederate desecration of liberty and justice.

Of course, our divisive president, much of whose pandemic response has been to deny, delay, deceive and downplay, applauded their actions while some state legislators felt compelled to don bulletproof vests just in case. Unfortunately, even a bulletproof vest could not save a security guard shot dead trying to prevent someone refusing to wear a facial mask from entering a Family Dollar store in Michigan on May 1.

These attempts to intimidate and disrupt, fomented by Trump’s call to “liberate” states like Michigan, threaten our democracy and show further why this unstable leader must go.

Ron Slabe

Oakmont