An open letter to Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake:

Thank you for having the courage during the campaign to oppose Trump’s immature, divisive, bullying rhetoric. Our country needs you to act boldly now and encourage other Republicans to join you. We aren’t a dictatorship and we don’t deal in “alternative facts.” He must be stopped!

Trump has taken many ill-considered stances during his first week, but the ones that really frighten me are those that attack and restrict the press; restrict sharing of information and research by scientists and the EPA; build a wall on our Southern border; and restrict travel from seven predominately Muslim countries. These actions are seen as counterproductive by terrorist experts, are attacks on our constitutionally protected rights, and send a horrible message to the world that we’re no longer a beacon of hope and freedom.

It was the last straw when Trump appointed Steve Bannon, a self-described Leninist and white supremacist, as a permanent member of the National Security Council at the same time that he rescinded the membership of the heads of the Department of National Intelligence and the Joint Chiefs of Staff (people who actually know about terrorism and intelligence and traditionally serve on this council). This is extremely chilling and appears to be a tough guy’s march toward Fascism.

When Hitler rose to power, few people stood up to him as he scapegoated Jews and restricted speech, assembly and basic freedoms. He used fear, hatred and division just as Trump does.

Senators, this man is obviously not emotionally or intellectually suited to lead our nation and control our nuclear weapons. He is too enamored with strong-arm leaders such as Putin and way too obsessed with his own ego and popularity.

For the sake of our world, please oppose this dangerous man.