The short letter says the writers have come forward because they understand the power of words, and how they can be used or misused. The statements says they oppose the Trump candidacy "Because we believe that knowledge, experience, flexibility, and historical awareness are indispensable in a leader."
The six Ohio authors who signed include Dinty W. Moore and Becca J.R. Lachman of Athens, Michelle Herman, David Baker and Margot Singer of the Columbus area, and Philip Metres of Cleveland.
Philip Metres is a poet, translator, essayist, and scholar who works at John Carol University as a professor in the English Department. Metres says he signed the letter because of his concern for the country and where it is heading.
“I am deeply disturbed by the rise of Donald Trump, a man with no political experience, very little self-reflectiveness, and a rhetoric that is divisive and hateful.”
Metres states, he tries to educate himself on the issues and candidates and would almost always prefer a third party candidate.
Margot Singer is a literary fiction and nonfiction writer who is the Director of Creative Writing at Denison University in Granville. She decided to sign the letter because she values “the honest, careful and truthful use of language” and feels that “Trump's lying rhetoric undermines the basis of democratic civil discourse.”
Singer says she is not usually active in politics and for the presidential nominee she supports Clinton.
We have reached out to Trump’s campaign and have not received a response.