L&T Publisher Earl Watt
I appreciate Sheryl Hall writing in to share why she believes in the No More Kings movement. It’s important that people who disagree politically can share their different views. It is healthy to be able to respond and react, and I encourage anyone who disagrees with a column to feel free to write a letter to the editor.
There are some areas where I would like to clarify some of Ms.Hall’s statements.
Hall states my “article misrepresented” those who took part in the protest.
My column clearly printed on the page labeled “Opinion.” Articles are printed in the “News” section. I’m sure Ms. Hall is not claiming that my opinion is wrong since it is my own any more than I would claim her opinion to be wrong.
She also said she didn’t see me interview anyone. I came to take photos. Our reporter Elly Grimm interviewed Hall and did a news article in the June 19 edition.
I don’t write every story. As the publisher, I oversee the staff as well as cover sports and write my editorial. I would hope since Ms. Hall was quoted as were others that she isn’t trying to insinuate the event was not fairly and adequately covered beyond my editorial last week.
There is a nuance between my opposition to open borders and her statement that “no one supports wide open borders.” I caught the “wide” open as opposed to “open.”
If a group that does not support kings opposes a “wide open” border, where were they when Joe Biden allowed the border to be “wide” open? More than 10 million illegal immigrants entered the country during Biden’s presidency. There are laws that prevent that from happening, but King Biden chose to ignore them. Where were the No More Kings then?
When border security was falsely characterized as whipping illegal immigrants, where were the No More Kings advocates? They sure didn’t defend those security agents.
I believe opposing “wide” open borders is a way to skirt real border security. For example, you could detain one out of 100 illegal immigrants and claim the border is not “wide” open. That’s bad policy, which is why I said the group advocates for bad policy.
Ms. Hall also points out that 250 men were returned to El Salvador and characterizes the prison as “hellish.” She also claims 75 percent of them had no criminal history.
If they were illegally in the United States, they have a criminal history. And 25 percent did something worse which also qualifies them for deportation. If even one was a rapist or a murderer, it is one too many.
Larisha Sharrell Thompson, a black mother of two in South Carolina, was brutally murdered in her car by six illegal immigrants between the ages of 13 and 21. None of them should have been here, and Thompson lost her life, and her children lost their mother. Where were No More Kings activists marching against these criminals? How many victims of crimes are acceptable?
Many like to refer to due process being violated because the media said Kilmar Abrego Garcia, an El Salvador national, was illegally deported.
The law states that “Noncitizens who do not establish a legal basis to remain in the United States will:
• be promptly removed to their home country or a third country.
• face at least a five-year ban on re-entry, and
• confront possible criminal charges for subsequent lawful re-entry.”
President Donald Trump had enacted the Alien Enemies Act of 1798 and deported the man who already faced charges for domestic violence as well as being stopped on suspected human trafficking. In the case of trafficking, the Tennessee police who caught him called King Biden’s Department of Justice who said to let Garcia go. Where were the No More Kings advocates then?
It wasn’t until the Supreme Court ruled that the Alien Enemies Act did not apply that Trump then had Garcia returned to face trafficking charges. Can anyone explain what that entire transaction represents? It’s called due process. That’s exactly how the justice system works and how it is supposed to work. Anyone holding a sign claiming that due process was violated doesn’t understand due process.
The law says “immediately deported” for those who do not have a legal standing.
And Garcia had already been established in multiple court appearances to not have standing.
Kings don’t listen to court rulings. Like King Biden when he attempted to forgive student debt without Congress, and the Supreme Court ruled he could not forgive the debt, he continued to do so.
Where were the No More Kings people then?
Trump has complied with every court order during his presidency. Because he is not a king nor acting as one.
Anyone with a third grade education would know America’s system does not allow such authority to any one person.
Ms. Hall’s further proof of Trump being a “king” is his statement about shooting someone in the leg. I must also be a king wannabe, because I have also thought of the same thing. But law enforcement will tell you that when they have to use their weapon it is to kill. There is no thought of wounding someone who is threatening bodily harm.
But only a “king” would ask for a less deadly action? I googled “shoot to incapacitate” and came up with 120 million results. Clearly a lot of people have thought about that.
To pull at heartstrings, Ms. Hall claims Trump wants to cut funding for starving children and cancer patients.
What Trump has proposed is cutting waste so that more funds are available for starving children and cancer patients. Instead, those who oppose Trump seem to be content with wasting tax money on those who are not eligible but cheating the system with fraudulent claims, which takes resources away from those who truly need it.
And unlike King Biden who used regulatory agencies to promote his far left agenda, President Trump is working through Congress.
If I held a poster claiming to be your neighbor but I was not in the country legally, my very presence is unlawful.
I have a proposal for that, and I invite Ms. Hall or anyone to stop by my office and review it. Democracy starts with us.
