Letters to the editor

Protesting tyranny I would like to give a huge shoutout to those who participated in Saturday's "No Kings" protest. People from every profession, political party, race, ethnicity, religion, sexual orientation, age, etc. came together in a mutual exchange of an orderly, organized, calm, respectful, peaceful and nonviolent manner to express their U.S. Constitutional rights to free speech and assembly. They marched, shouted, sang, chanted in unison to express a shared aversion to the irrational and illegal actions of our current president. The message was clear against having an authoritarian government and wanting to stand behind our Constitution in order to advocate for democracy and against what is perceived as the administration's overreach of power, thus the term: "No Kings."Everyone is in agreement with deporting known criminals, but the current immigration raids and the deportation of innocent people including children has been over the top. The deployment of the National Guard and Marines to LA and elsewhere is indeed an outreach. Laws MUST be adhered to by the president and his administration. Trump is NOT a king, thus the reason for the 50-state protest. If all non-white people are targeted for deportation, who is going to do the work that Americans refuse to do: pick produce, food services, roofing, hospitality workers, etc.? Small businesses and farmers will go bankrupt and consumer prices will soar due to shortages and unnecessary extravagant tariffs. Why is the concentration on enriching the already billionaire class? Why are cuts in the works to eliminate healthcare to millions of workers? Why is foreign aid cut to countries that are starving to death due to climate, wars, gang violence, etc.? Foreign aid can be used to promote regional stability and counter terrorism, thereby enhancing the security of donor countries. Those who follow the teachings of Jesus are being misled. Jesus was not American, not white, was poor and wanted to help all strangers as quoted in Exodus 22:21: "Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt." Our country is in serious disarray and civil rights and freedoms must be upheld if our democracy is to survive. We left England to avoid a tyrant king, so why in the world would be want to go back? We are ALL immigrants. The land we stand on did not belong to us; we stole it from native peoples. Stand up for our rights and against all tyranny! Speak up and defend our democracy before it's too late. Salena Maazaoui Findlay