To The Reader’s Forum:

I was disgusted by a recent commentary by a member of the bar on Trump’s extrajudicial murders of suspected drug smugglers. Is this what justice in America has become? A single man following his violent, vengeful instincts while presenting no justification, no evidence, no indication of who they were or what they were carrying just ‘takes them out’ with the approval of his cruel and hate-filled supporters. Is this how conservative Christians interpret the teachings of Christ? Can lawyers just suspend the law when it suits them?

This is an increasingly fascist administration. It is almost daily, violating the Constitutional rights of US citizens as well as the human rights of citizens and non-citizens alike. Trump has already called ‘the left’ and Democrats his enemy. When Trump’s paramilitary forces can’t pick off any more drug dealers (or immigrants), who are they going to go after next?

Authoritarians exploit grievances rather than end them. They manipulate their followers by appealing to their base instincts. One may get satisfaction from slapping the mosquito that just landed on your arm but there are millions more, and you can’t kill them all. Killing four mosquitos won’t end a malaria epidemic.

This is a dark time in America. Anyone, anyone who still supports this illegitimate president is a disgrace to the ideals of our country. Anyone who didn’t sleep through law school should know this. Robert H. Jackson would be ashamed that this individual is from Jamestown.

Tom Meara

Jamestown