To the editor:

It seems that I am now a domestic terrorist, according to Trump and his minions. They certainly have plenty of evidence. I have spent countless hours standing by roadsides with signs criticizing the Trump administration for its unconstitutional and unlawful actions. Several of my letters arguing against Trump’s actions, policies and corruption have been published in this newspaper. I have attended several rallies and demonstrations. And maybe the most incriminating evidence is that I have donated to the ACLU, NPR and several independent journalism organizations; subscribe to the New York Times, and am a member of Indivisible, one of the organizations Trump has vowed to destroy.

I also strongly oppose fascism, which Trump seems to conflate with support for past violent actions of the antifa movement. Are we supposed to be pro fascist?

All this time I thought I was a patriotic American exercising my constitutional rights of free speech, press and assembly. How absurd to hear that I am a domestic terrorist, the enemy within, fomenting violence against the government and its agents. I have never hurt anyone, do not condone violence, or support organizations that do, and my most serious crime was forgetting to renew my vehicle registration.

Just days ago, Attorney General Pam Bondi declared that Trump will go after domestic terrorists and the enemy within the same way he is going after the drug cartels. Knowing this, I guess I should not take my canoe out on the water, should keep a watchful eye on the sky for hovering drones and be wary of masked goons in the streets.

Think about this: the people that violently assaulted police officers, vandalized and ransacked the Capitol, and hunted down members of congress and the vice president are heroes and patriots, and people like me are terrorists, the enemy within.

Up is down, black is white, wrong is right. Alice in Wonderland has come to America.

John Monroe

Saranac Lake