I would like to encourage my fellow citizens to join me in contacting our elected officials at the local, state and federal level to demand an immediate end to the pro-Hamas, anti-American activities on college campuses across the country. The federal government designated Hamas an international terrorist organization. It is illegal for anyone in the United States to support a terrorist organization.

I retired from the U.S. Air Force in 1993 after 23 years in uniform. After the 9/11 attacks, I returned to service with the department of the Air Force and served another 13 years. During that time, I deployed four times in support of the Global War on Terrorism, serving in the first Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. I am appalled to see college students across the United States shouting, “Death to Israel,” “Death to the United States” on the evening news and openly proclaiming themselves to be members of Hamas.

I feel that this is not speech protected under the First Amendment. Regardless of your political party affiliation, regardless of your religion, regardless of how you feel about United States foreign policy in the Middle East, I hope you can join me in ending these attacks upon our democracy and upon the civil rights of our fellow Americans.

Chris M. Mayse, Butler