In a letter last week, Gary Price called Port Townsend a “bastion of hate” because some locals celebrated Biden’s inauguration and denounced Trump’s failed Capitol coup. Price complained that “five people died in D.C., but what about the hundreds the BLM and Antifa killed and murdered.”

The actual number of people killed in 2020 BLM protests was 19. BLM slew none of those people; Antifa killed few.

Right-wing agitators like the Boogaloo Boys and the Kenosha shooter killed several.

About 20 million Americans protested in 2,000 cities over several months. More than 93 percent of BLM protests proved entirely peaceful. The exceptions involved a few rogue cops, plus some extremist agitators and opportunistic thugs who ignored the peaceful instructions of BLM leaders.

Price falsely claims Democrats have “encouraged four years of riots, looting, arson, killings, property destruction.” In fact, Democratic elected officials have consistently urged protesters to remain peaceful while denouncing violence, vandalism, and looting.

As opposed to Trump, who spent months duping supporters with baseless lies about nonexistent electoral fraud.

Then, he summoned a mob to DC, whipped them into a frenzy, and sicced them on Congress in a last-ditch effort to overturn the sacred verdict of American voters.

Price’s letter parroted many other big lies peddled by Fox, OAN, Newsmax, and other pro-Trump propaganda outlets.

Space does not permit a full correction.

The facts don’t care about Price’s feelings. He is entitled to his own opinions, but not to his own facts. 

I laud The Leader for printing letters representing a wide spectrum of political opinion, but letters spewing obvious, toxic lies should be followed by responsible fact checks.

Brian MacKenzie
PORT TOWNSEND