There’s no denying that Donald Trump is what’s wrong with America, and his slogan “Make America great again” is the exact opposite of what he’s doing. Many people have pointed it out, but there are others who have repeatedly glossed over his racist rhetoric. But that’s not what the owner of the popular website Humans of New York is doing.
On Monday, Brandon Stanton penned an open letter to Trump on Facebook about his racist propaganda. Stanton said that he’s been following Trump’s words and the images he chooses to share across his social media platforms. Stanton specificially pointed out the racism the GOP presidential front-runner has spewed against people from various Islamic countries and said that he’s interviewed numerous Muslims and refugees, and it’s Trump who’s the racist one, not Muslims.
Read his letter below:
Mr. Trump,
I try my hardest not to be political. I’ve refused to interview several of your fellow candidates. I didn’t want to risk any personal goodwill by appearing to take sides in a contentious election. I thought: ‘Maybe the timing is not right.’ But I realize now that there is no correct time to oppose violence and prejudice. The time is always now. Because along with millions of Americans, I’ve come to realize that opposing you is no longer a political decision. It is a moral one.
I’ve watched you retweet racist images. I’ve watched you retweet racist lies. I’ve watched you take 48 hours to disavow white supremacy. I’ve watched you joyfully encourage violence, and promise to ‘pay the legal fees’ of those who commit violence on your behalf. I’ve watched you advocate the use of torture and the murder of terrorists’ families. I’ve watched you gleefully tell stories of executing Muslims with bullets dipped in pig blood. I’ve watched you compare refugees to ‘snakes,’ and claim that ‘Islam hates us.’
I am a journalist, Mr. Trump. And over the last two years I have conducted extensive interviews with hundreds of Muslims, chosen at random, on the streets of Iran, Iraq, and Pakistan. I’ve also interviewed hundreds of Syrian and Iraqi refugees across seven different countries. And I can confirm—the hateful one is you.
Those of us who have been paying attention will not allow you to rebrand yourself. You are not a ‘unifier.’ You are not ‘presidential.’ You are not a ‘victim’ of the very anger that you’ve joyfully enflamed for months. You are a man who has encouraged prejudice and violence in the pursuit of personal power. And though your words will no doubt change over the next few months, you will always remain who you are.
Stanton has received unwavering support for his letter on Facebook. And many Muslim followers of the site have thanked him for speaking up for them and against Trump’s rhetoric.