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The bully pulpit

Posted

To the editor:

For years Donald Trump has hurled invective at immigrants, accusing them of invading the U.S. and poisoning its blood. His words speak hate and have severe consequences as we have seen before.

Bullying is an epidemic in America. On Feb. 8, Jocelynn Rojo Carranza of Gainesville, Texas died by suicide. She was 11.

According to her mother, who found her unresponsive at home, Jocelynn was bullied by classmates who told her they were going to call immigration to take her parents away and she would be left alone.

Anti-immigrant bias is accepted now by many particularly due the demeaning and dehumanizing barrage of public vitriol against immigrants communicated by elected leaders into American homes daily. Jocelynn’s bullying was the result of that hateful rhetoric.

In an ad praising Donald Trump’s deportation policy, Secretary of Homeland Security Christi Noem promised, ”we will hunt you down.”

Secure borders and safe communities are essential and the majority of Americans agree with deporting immigrants that are violent criminals. But deportation is one thing and spreading a message that detests, loathes and dehumanizes people is another. And it’s exactly that dehumanizing message that prompts the multitude to hate immigrants.

But it’s easier to deport and bully people you hate.

On Feb. 14, the White House posted a Valentine’s Day message on social media that read, “Roses are red, violets are blue, come here illegally, and we’ll deport you.” The poetic threat designed to mock, frighten and intimidate immigrants also featured side-by-side photos of Trump and border czar Tom Homan. 

Sadly, Jocelynn will not be the last child to die by suicide due to bullying.

Stop the hate.

Marc Bullaro

Comments

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  • nycchief

    Severe TDS. I understand , 30 years in coba,cca and dw/adw association can do that to you. I try to focus a little more on what a terrible job our city council has been doing in NYC and of course the terrible decisions made that impact the department that I am sure you were a valuable member of. As far as National politics, I may not be a big fan of the Presidents communications however even a ardent Trump hater at this point has to admit Biden was not running this country and the democrats failed miserably by going to Harris instead of letting Americans select a candidate as has been the democratic practice for the past 50 years. Of course the delegates selected Harris, American voters would not have. If that were the case perhaps our President would not have so overwhelmingly defeated the democrat party selected candidate, perhaps a democrat would be president.

    Thursday, February 27 Report this

  • Marc Bullaro

    Severe cult mentality: Your anonymous comment should have been submitted to 'The Chief' for publication with your signature like my comments are. Nonetheless, my letter to the editor discussed the tragic death of 11 year Jocelynn who died by suicide due to bullying regarding her family's immigration status partly due to the dehumanizing stance against non-white immigrants by "our President". Yet, you ignored the issues and did not comment on my letter. What are your anonymous thoughts on this tragedy?

    Friday, February 28 Report this

  • reenjoe

    77+ million Americans vote for a twice convicted, serial *** abuser who stole classified documents, incited a riot that resulted in 5 dead Cops and millions in damage to the Capitol, pressured State officials to alter election results, created fake electors in a failed attempt to overturn a legitimate election and those who won't go along with this miscreant suffer from "derangement syndrome".

    Trump ducks every primary debate, refuses interviews with any news outlet not called "Fox", dusks a second debate with Harris and she is the one who was "anointed".

    MAGA followers know very well there wasn't time for a primary, a process that traditionally lasts 6 months from January through June. Biden dropped out on July 21, roughly three months before the general election. Please stop the BS. You all would have voted for Trump regardless of who ran against him.

    Sunday, March 2 Report this

  • Marc Bullaro

    Well said, Joe.

    Monday, March 3 Report this