Is anyone paying attention to what is happening in this country? President Trump is displaying many of the characteristics of a dictator, including:

• He discredits the media. Does that sound familiar? According to Trump, everything is fake news, even when people see and hear it come out of his mouth.

• Scientists and government agencies have been silenced because Trump has stopped or limited funding. And he thinks the attorney general is his personal savior. The attorney general belongs to the entire nation. This is the United States of America, not Russia.

• From what I have seen in various media, hate crimes in the U.S. have increased recently. I believe the man in the White House is a racist.

• Wealthy supporters have bought up media outlets. And look what happened with the National Enquirer recently. Although the Enquirer doesn’t have a great reputation for truth, many people believe in it. The public must fight back and demand the truth and not be intimidated by the threats of blackmail or extortion.

I am afraid, for my children, my grandchildren and my great-grandchildren. I am afraid for my friends who are gay, transgender and for people of color. I am afraid for what is happening to the nation’s environment and whether my grandchildren will be able to breathe clean air and drink clean water.

I am afraid of where it will end if people don’t stand up to what is taking place in Washington, D.C.

Virginia Starbird, Leeds