Freedom of the press

Of all the statements President Trump has made since his election, the most outrageous is that the press is the “enemy of the people.”

The founding fathers of this nation felt freedom of the press is so important that it is part of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Every tyrant in history has attempted to control the press, the free exchange of information, or any criticism of the ruling party. Once the free press was eliminated, the next step was to attack the courts and put an end to rule by law. Once the press is silenced and the courts corrupted, the people have no recourse.

I call upon Congress to speak up about these issues. To do its duty to protect the free press, to assure respect for the courts, and to call upon the president to cease his rhetoric and abide by the oath of office which calls upon him to protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. GRACE WATT

Springdale