In the days after the election there was a spike in hate crimes and other harassment of minority individuals. What no one seemed to be talking about was the lack of response from Donald Trump. He spent 18 months spreading fear and lies and endorsing hatred and violence, so it’s no surprise that his election validated the most hateful Americans out there. Yet, he said nothing to condemn them or get to them to stop. So, I wrote this letter to him. The goal was to get it published on Huffington Post or some other news outlet, so that maybe Trump or someone close to him would see it, but that didn’t go so well. So instead I’m posting it here. Maybe you guys can help me spread the word. Thanks for reading! ~Lianna

Dear Mr. Trump,

You said in your victory speech that it is time for Americans to unite together. You said that you want to be the President for all Americans. Has anyone ever told you that actions speak louder than words? Your comments since the election have been that it’s unfair that people are protesting… Yet, you’ve said nothing and done nothing about the increased hate crimes we’re seeing around the country.

Open a newspaper and see the chaos and hatred you have unleashed. All over the country, people are committing hate crimes in your name. People are painting swastikas on public spaces, abusing Muslims, threatening Hispanics, gays, and just about everyone else who isn’t a white straight Christian male. Honestly, the list goes on too long to explain all the horrific things that are occurring in your name. You normalized this kind of hatred. I do not hate the people committing these crimes. I think it’s terribly sad that they weren’t raised better than this. I think it’s sad that their parents and teachers and political leaders didn’t teach them how to respect their fellow humans. But, I do not hate them for this. I know they have been failed by the system. Rather, I directly blame you every time someone gets insulted, made fun of, hurt, abused, or terrorized. This is your fault. However, I have forgiveness in my heart. If you show me that you can make this right, I’ll forgive you. You probably don’t deserve forgiveness. After all, you have demonstrated dislike or disrespect to literally every group of American except the straight, white, Christian males;  but I’ll consider forgiveness if you show me that you can move forward from this in the right direction. If you show me that you can help heal the country, I’ll forgive you for saying that my only value is that of a sex object.

So, do you want to show me that you can be my president too? Do you want to show me that you truly believe in unifying America?

If you do, condemn this violence and hatred. You need to come out and make a very public and very loud statement that people can not terrorize their fellow humans, abuse their fellow humans, or commit hate crimes. You need to apologize for all the hateful crap you spewed during your campaign.

I’m sad to say that you opened a can of worms that you may not be able to close. You may not be able to quiet these people. You normalized their hateful actions and no matter what you do, they may not be silenced. But you can at least act remotely presidential by condemning them.

You think Syrian refugees and Muslims are the terrorists of the world? Well, I hate to break it to you but the definition of terrorism is “the use of violent acts to frighten the people in an area as a way of trying to achieve a political goal.” Your white, Christian, American supporters are the terrorists today.

I’m a white woman, so half of my identity will protect me. I will not be attacked because I am white. But I am still terrified of the other half of my identity. If a man gropes me without my permission, how do I even begin to tell him that what he’s doing is wrong, when the President-elect of The United States of America says it’s okay? How?

So, Mr. Trump, if you want to show that you can be the POTUS, you need to walk out of Trump Tower today and go make a statement. Go apologize for all the horrific things you said and did during the campaign season. Go tell the monsters perpetrating hate crimes to stop. Make a REAL attempt to unify this country, because your flimsy victory speech doesn’t count for jack if you don’t back it up by condemning these people and their actions and imploring them to stop. Maybe then I’ll take you seriously. Maybe if you attempt to stop this violence and hatred I’ll respect you as my future President. Right now, all I see is a bigoted white man who is too cowardly to protect the people he is supposed to serve come January 20th.

Sincerely,

An American who is terrified of your America

Ps. I’m scared that just in writing this letter I’ll be making myself a target. I’m trusting you to take the target off my back. I’m trusting you to actually act like the POTUS and to protect me.