Commissioners' actions promote fear, prejudice

As a brown-skinned person of East Asian descent living in Bonner County, the recent proclamations by the sheriff and the county commissioners publicly voicing their opposition to welcoming any refugees is disturbing in no small degree.

Given that the statements by these, our elected officials, have no legal weight in actually stopping any refugees from settling in Bonner County I have to ask what purpose they actually serve? It seems to me that, political grandstanding aside, they unfortunately serve as public affirmations in support of xenophobia and racism.

STEPHEN AUGUSTINE

Sandpoint

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