To the editor:

Jesus said that a house divided against itself will not stand.

In the past few years, America has become extremely divided. After the election and the inauguration of the 45^th president, Americans are being called to unite, regardless of how they view the new president.

While unity is a good thing, the question that many of us are pondering is how can we as Americans unite when all we have heard from the new president is divisive rhetoric.

How can we unite under someone who has expressed his stereotypical rhetoric about immigrants, whether Hispanic or Muslim, and made fun of a disabled journalist in front of hundreds of people on national television?

That is why people are protesting.

How can we unite under someone who has said some inappropriate things about women, including his own daughter? That is why the Women’s March on Washington took place.

The main goal of the Women’s March on Washington’s main goal was not to be vulgar or disrespectful. Its main goal was to make it known that women are still being disrespected and deserve to be treated as equal individuals who have potential, dignity, strength and value, and not be treated as trophies.

The protesters do not want themselves, their friends, their families or others to be targets of hatred and prejudice because they speak a different language, live in another country, look different or practice another religion.

Most of us refuse to go back to a time where minorities are seen as second class.

Throughout the eight years of Barack Obama’s presidency, groups like the Tea Party expressed how they felt about Obama, noting that the First Amendment grants them freedom of speech and freedom to assemble.

Today’s protesters have the same rights, whether they support the new president or not. It’s their turn now.

Kenya Smith

Suffolk