600 U.S. Writers Sign Open Letter Denouncing Donald Trump

Some of the greatest American writers are standing up to oppose presumptive Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump. An open letter to the American people published on Tuesday declares:

Because, as writers, we are particularly aware of the many ways that language can be abused in the name of power;

Because we believe that any democracy worthy of the name rests on pluralism, welcomes principled disagreement, and achieves consensus through reasoned debate;

Because American history, despite periods of nativism and bigotry, has from the first been a grand experiment in bringing people of different backgrounds together, not pitting them against one another;

Because the history of dictatorship is the history of manipulation and division, demagoguery and lies;

Because the search for justice is predicated on a respect for the truth;

Because we believe that knowledge, experience, flexibility, and historical awareness are indispensable in a leader;

Because neither wealth nor celebrity qualifies anyone to speak for the United States, to lead its military, to maintain its alliances, or to represent its people;

Because the rise of a political candidate who deliberately appeals to the basest and most violent elements in society, who encourages aggression among his followers, shouts down opponents, intimidates dissenters, and denigrates women and minorities, demands, from each of us, an immediate and forceful response;

For all these reasons, we, the undersigned, as a matter of conscience, oppose, unequivocally, the candidacy of Donald J. Trump for the Presidency of the United States.

The Los Angeles Times notes that the signers include “Stephen King, Junot Diaz, Cheryl Strayed and Dave Eggers… Lauren Groff, Francine Prose, Michael Chabon, Karen Russell, Peter Ho Davies… and Tobias Wolff.”

The writers have also launched a petition, stating “if you agree with us—whoever you are, whatever you do, wherever you live—we hope you’ll join us by adding your name and the state you live in and help us spread the word.” The petition currently has over 15,000 signatures.

You can read the complete list of names signed to the original open letter here.

—Posted by Emma Niles