Setting down a firm marker

Sir, - In reply to Mr Thomson of Kinglassie, I would like to respond that the anti-Trump demonstrations were not futile.

I do, however, agree with Mr Thomson’s point that the US election “was clearly a vote against the establishment by the American people and an indictment of the political elite”.

But Donald Trump is not apart from the establishment as he and the Republicans are, like the Conservatives in the UK, representatives of big business interests and the capitalist system as a whole.

In fact, far from “draining the swamp”, he is filling it up with his billionaire pals who by no stretch of the imagination represent the working class of America.

The anti-Trump demonstrations in Scotland’s major cities were called by the Stand Up To Racism Campaign to object to the clearly racist statements and policies.

Mr Trump has blamed Muslims for being responsible for terrorism and Mexican immigrants for being rapists and criminals.

Of course, we didn’t change the outcome of his being inaugurated as president, but globally, the protesters set down a marker for Mr Trump that his racism, misogyny and bigotry is being resisted from day one of his presidency. Jim Barlow. 35 St Nicholas Place, Dundee.