House Speaker Mike Johnson criticized the “No Kings” protests labeling them as “Hate America” rallies and accusing participants of promoting anti-American ideologies. He linked the protests to groups like Antifa and pro-Hamas factions aimed at undermining American values.

As a participant in the protest, I would like to share with you the background of the people protesting who were around me. There were veterans, retired special education teachers, retired guidance counselors, retired public schoolteachers, retired steel workers and retired state workers.

They are people who volunteer to maintain the trails in Preston Park, donate and organize and run fundraisers for the Butler Symphony and Preston Park. They fundraise and pack backpacks with food for less fortunate children in our community. They support and work at community dinners for the less fortunate. They volunteer to assist students in our public schools. They volunteer to serve as mentors for veterans in veterans court and assist less fortunate veterans in multiple ways. They have created and endowed college scholarships. In short, they willingly give their time, skills and resources to make America better.

Does this sound like people who are undermining American values?

Retired Col. Dave Roberts, U.S. Army, Butler Township