To the Editor:

During the May 16 Board of Education meeting to further discuss the book bans, one speaker gave a speech that Republican leadership has characterized as an attack on Christians. They also push the false narrative that there was an unruly crowd and a single board member showing enthusiastic approval.

I was at that meeting, and I do not recall this. I remember someone mentioning Christo-Fascists and being thrilled to hear someone call this out.

I reviewed the recording of the meeting. What I found was while the speaker did not qualify all references to Christians as Christo-Fascists, it was clear from the frequency of the use of the word “fascist” that this was his intent.

The speaker started his speech with a reference to “fascist Christian Nationalists.” Christian Nationalists, also referred to as Christo-fascists, are people who believe that the United States was founded as a Christian nation. They are wrong.

Article 11 of the Treaty of Tripoli, ratified unanimously by Congress in 1797 and signed by President John Adams, states specifically, “the United States of America is not, in any sense, founded on the Christian religion.” As a treaty, this is the “supreme Law of the land.” Signed by members of the founding generation, this is “original intent.”

Beyond the fact that their premise is false, Christian Nationalists, like any nationalist movement, believe power should be structured where only those of the identity they promote (Christians) belong. All others are tolerated. Second-class citizens.

This is an exceedingly dangerous trend. And for those of us who watch out for these things, having sitting members of Congress who openly profess that they are Christian Nationalists is terrifying.

Nationalists unify nations by attacking people based on not having the approved identity. They get you to agree with them and support them by providing scapegoats for why your life isn’t as shiny as you’d thought it should be. They get you riled up and angry. They make you afraid of potential factional violence so that you take measures to protect yourself, thus dramatically increasing the likelihood of violence.

They divide. So they can conquer.

Before you understand what they’re doing, you find yourself in a position where you can’t back out without putting yourself in danger of being turned in by your neighbor. After all, up to this point, their values matched yours.

Right now, Christo-fascists are coming down hard on the LGBTQ population. Their tactics are right out of the Nazi handbook. Nazis came after not only Jews but Roma, the mentally disabled, political dissidents, the queer community, and others. This is how fascist movements work. There must always be an “other” that is a threat to be neutralized. You focus on suppressing enemies more than policies.

The national book-ban effort is seen by many, myself included, as forwarding a Christo-fascist agenda.

Dear Republican leadership, not all Christians are Christo-fascists. Stop suggesting that this is what was being discussed. It appears to align you with fascists.

Linda O’Sullivan

Sandy Hook