Letter to the editor:

Rep. Bryan Steil (R-WI) recently spoke in Kenosha alongside Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance.  Steil emphasized “the importance of standing with the men and women of law enforcement,” and he praised former president Donald Trump for doing so.

Let’s remember that there were over 100 injuries to police officers during the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, and a comprehensive review of police bodycam video revealed “approximately 1000” assaults on law enforcement on that day.   

Yet, in one of the greatest acts of revisionism in U.S. history, Trump calls the Capitol attackers hostages and patriots and promises to pardon them on day one of his presidency.  He also defends rioters’ “Hang Mike Pence!” chants, calls January 6 “a beautiful day” and has started his rallies with a version of the National Anthem performed by January 6 prisoners.

Imagine how officers who were assaulted and their families feel when they hear Trump say “They were there with love in their heart,” or when the officers are mocked by Fox News.   According to Terry Fanone, the mother of D.C. police officer Michael Fanone, “It’s outrageous. It’s so dehumanizing, It’s so devaluing.”  And regarding the lack of criticism of Trump’s remarks by Republicans, she asserts, “The silence is palpable.”

Donald Trump needs to rethink what he means when he talks about “making America great again.”  Certainly, a great nation continues to honor the sacrifices of its police officers even when it’s not politically convenient to do so.

Terry Hansen

Milwaukee