Sir — This refers to the editorial, “Hitting the right notes” (March 3). Although White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer has suggested that it would be absurd to claim any connection between US President Donald Trump’s statements on both, immigrants and Muslims, and the shooting in Kansas, certain facts are clear.
The actions and words of the new administration can be perceived as emboldening the perpetrators of hate crimes. The resentment at the so-called browning of America, anger at foreigners stealing American jobs, have received the presidential seal of approval. The idea of making ‘America great again’ was a dream of Republican candidate Donald Trump, which was crafted, perfected and sold to a whole lot of disgruntled Americans. If Kansas shooting suspect Adam Purinton’s fanaticism is America’s reality, so is shooting survivor Ian Grillot’s selflessness and humanism. This is what is propelling the new politics of resistance in the US.