My letter in The New York Times about racism coming out in the open

The following is a letter to the editor that I wrote about the recent emergence of the alt-right, a group that espouses hatred, bigotry and intolerance, which appeared in the November 23, 2016 edition of The New York Times:

When Racism Comes Out in the Open

November 23, 2016

To the Editor:

Re “Alt-Right, Exulting in Election, Salutes Winner: ‘Heil Victory’ ” (front page, Nov. 21):

The alt-right’s recent conference in Washington is a sad and stark reminder that racism is alive and well in America.

The unabashed denigration of Jews, African-Americans, immigrants and other minorities by the alt-right is a means by which it can peddle and propagandize the prejudice and hatred that have kept it on the fringe for much of its existence. President-elect Donald Trump’s victory should not and cannot give license to racism, and the alt-right’s use of his electoral win to come out of the shadows and feel emboldened is appalling and frightening.

At a time when our nation desperately needs to come together and bridge the divide, hate-mongering by the alt-right counteracts the healing.

The alt-right’s impudence in opposing the tenets of our democratic society in an open forum should serve as a cause for alarm for every American who values equality and social justice.

N. AARON TROODLER

Bala Cynwyd, Pa.