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You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/dec/03/donald-trumps-racist-retweets-are-offensive-to-all-of-us
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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Donald Trump’s racist retweets are offensive to all of us | Donald Trump’s racist retweets are offensive to all of us |
| (25 days later) | |
| We wish to express our profound shock and condemnation of the actions of President Donald Trump in retweeting video messages produced by the extremist far right group, Britain First (Report, 29 November). | We wish to express our profound shock and condemnation of the actions of President Donald Trump in retweeting video messages produced by the extremist far right group, Britain First (Report, 29 November). |
| The videos are gratuitously offensive to all sections of our communities. They have been produced with the clear intention of sowing hatred and division. Had President Trump tweeted this material in error, he has had ample opportunity to retract it and to apologise. Instead, he has reacted to measured criticism of his actions by the prime minister, Theresa May, and the British government, by attacking them and deepening the offence caused. The president’s actions are also extraordinary and unfathomable, not least because the United States and the United Kingdom have had such long, strong and deeply cordial ties. His actions have been described as unorthodox in some quarters. Most right-thinking people think they are plain offensive. | The videos are gratuitously offensive to all sections of our communities. They have been produced with the clear intention of sowing hatred and division. Had President Trump tweeted this material in error, he has had ample opportunity to retract it and to apologise. Instead, he has reacted to measured criticism of his actions by the prime minister, Theresa May, and the British government, by attacking them and deepening the offence caused. The president’s actions are also extraordinary and unfathomable, not least because the United States and the United Kingdom have had such long, strong and deeply cordial ties. His actions have been described as unorthodox in some quarters. Most right-thinking people think they are plain offensive. |
| We appreciate that the vast majority of Americans do not share the views and attitudes of a president who is rapidly becoming a global pariah. | We appreciate that the vast majority of Americans do not share the views and attitudes of a president who is rapidly becoming a global pariah. |
| Unless he apologises unreservedly for promoting a video posted by a racist which has been shown to be false by the Dutch government, in our considered opinion, the invitation extended to Donald Trump by the prime minister for a state visit to the UK should be withdrawn.Cllr Ohid AhmedKen LivingstoneLord Nazir AhmedRevd John Hayes Tower Hamlets Methodist ministerLeon Silver President, East London Central SynagogueNozmul Hussain CEO, East London MosqueSef Townsend Ba’al Tefillah Beith Klan Yisrael Founder, Community of Jews and MuslimsIan Richard Watkins Salvation Army, StepneyHafiz M Saeed Hashmi Head Imam, Shah Jahan Mosque Nana Asante Africans for Jeremy CorbynAmanda Sebestyen Feminist ForumSimon Woolley Director, Operation Black VoteCllr Oliur Rahman Leader, Tower Hamlets Independent groupChristine Shawcroft Labour Party NECJohn Rees Stop the War CoalitionSuresh Grover Director, The Monitoring GroupLindsey German Stop the War CoalitionCllr Mahbub Alam Deputy leader, Tower Hamlets Independent groupPaul Hanes Chair, East London People’s AssemblyLee Jasper BlaksoxShahagir Bakth Faruk British Bangladesh Chamber of CommerceCllr Maium MiahRuth Appleton Holborn and St Pancras CLPEafor Ali President, British Bangladesh Caterers AssociationAbdur Rahman Madani Minister of Religion, LondonMuhammad Abdul Quadir President, Khilafat Mojlish, UKS Kawsar Da’watul Islam UK & EireB Uddin Darul Ummah Mosque, LondonMarlene Fernandes Vice-chair, PCS unionJim Fagan UnisonSylvia Finzi Professor Dr. Hasanat M. Husain Convenor, Voice for JusticeDr Glyn Robbins United East EndJill Baker Principal, George Green’s SchoolNazir AhmedHafiz Moulana Shamsul Hoque Chair, Council of Mosques, Tower HamletsNaomi Wimborne-IdrissiAnn Goodburn | Unless he apologises unreservedly for promoting a video posted by a racist which has been shown to be false by the Dutch government, in our considered opinion, the invitation extended to Donald Trump by the prime minister for a state visit to the UK should be withdrawn.Cllr Ohid AhmedKen LivingstoneLord Nazir AhmedRevd John Hayes Tower Hamlets Methodist ministerLeon Silver President, East London Central SynagogueNozmul Hussain CEO, East London MosqueSef Townsend Ba’al Tefillah Beith Klan Yisrael Founder, Community of Jews and MuslimsIan Richard Watkins Salvation Army, StepneyHafiz M Saeed Hashmi Head Imam, Shah Jahan Mosque Nana Asante Africans for Jeremy CorbynAmanda Sebestyen Feminist ForumSimon Woolley Director, Operation Black VoteCllr Oliur Rahman Leader, Tower Hamlets Independent groupChristine Shawcroft Labour Party NECJohn Rees Stop the War CoalitionSuresh Grover Director, The Monitoring GroupLindsey German Stop the War CoalitionCllr Mahbub Alam Deputy leader, Tower Hamlets Independent groupPaul Hanes Chair, East London People’s AssemblyLee Jasper BlaksoxShahagir Bakth Faruk British Bangladesh Chamber of CommerceCllr Maium MiahRuth Appleton Holborn and St Pancras CLPEafor Ali President, British Bangladesh Caterers AssociationAbdur Rahman Madani Minister of Religion, LondonMuhammad Abdul Quadir President, Khilafat Mojlish, UKS Kawsar Da’watul Islam UK & EireB Uddin Darul Ummah Mosque, LondonMarlene Fernandes Vice-chair, PCS unionJim Fagan UnisonSylvia Finzi Professor Dr. Hasanat M. Husain Convenor, Voice for JusticeDr Glyn Robbins United East EndJill Baker Principal, George Green’s SchoolNazir AhmedHafiz Moulana Shamsul Hoque Chair, Council of Mosques, Tower HamletsNaomi Wimborne-IdrissiAnn Goodburn |
| • While having every sympathy for Brendan Cox as a widower, it is necessary to take issue with his article attacking Donald Trump (Trump is promoting hatred, says husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, theguardian.com, 30 November). That is not because Trump should not be denounced for his monstrous, racist scapegoating and demonisation. But what is this notion of “British” decency and tolerance being purveyed except the same nationalist particularism that feeds all the most backward prejudices in the first place? Declaring other people to be less tolerant and decent (by implication at least) is feeding intolerance.Adrian GreemanLondon | • While having every sympathy for Brendan Cox as a widower, it is necessary to take issue with his article attacking Donald Trump (Trump is promoting hatred, says husband of murdered MP Jo Cox, theguardian.com, 30 November). That is not because Trump should not be denounced for his monstrous, racist scapegoating and demonisation. But what is this notion of “British” decency and tolerance being purveyed except the same nationalist particularism that feeds all the most backward prejudices in the first place? Declaring other people to be less tolerant and decent (by implication at least) is feeding intolerance.Adrian GreemanLondon |
| • Ian Cobain suggests we shouldn’t worry too much about Britain First, given its “minute membership” of about 800 people (Behind the incoherent policies, there’s not a lot to see, 1 December). That sounds like a disturbingly large number to me. | • Ian Cobain suggests we shouldn’t worry too much about Britain First, given its “minute membership” of about 800 people (Behind the incoherent policies, there’s not a lot to see, 1 December). That sounds like a disturbingly large number to me. |
| In the late 1970s and early 1980s, I lived in northern Italy, where terrorism was rife, particularly the leftwing variety. At one point, it was estimated that the Red Brigades had about 200 fully active members. They almost succeeded in bringing the state to its knees. | In the late 1970s and early 1980s, I lived in northern Italy, where terrorism was rife, particularly the leftwing variety. At one point, it was estimated that the Red Brigades had about 200 fully active members. They almost succeeded in bringing the state to its knees. |
| Perhaps there is a danger of underestimating the fragility of liberal democracy? A few hundred fanatical, violent individuals can cause enormous damage.Ian LebeauLondon | Perhaps there is a danger of underestimating the fragility of liberal democracy? A few hundred fanatical, violent individuals can cause enormous damage.Ian LebeauLondon |
| • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com | • Join the debate – email guardian.letters@theguardian.com |
| • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters | • Read more Guardian letters – click here to visit gu.com/letters |