David Egan’s Feb. 2 letter to the editor [“Question the Motives”] struck a chord with me. He was responding to an earlier letter [“This Simple Truth,” Jan. 19], signed by a dozen local clergy, that was alleging a recent increase in local hate crimes.

I would like to see their evidence for this allegation, if it exists, as I believe we live in as benign a community as can be found. The exception is if you are a conservative.

Locally we saw the left at work during the recent election. There were Trump yard signs stolen, signs at polling places removed, bumper stickers defaced, and even suspected damage to my wife’s car. My wife and I were also the subject of much verbal abuse when holding Trump signs on the roadside.

When looking for hate crimes and intimidation, we need to be realistic as to its source.

David Roberts

Guilford

Editor’s note: As we pointed out with David Egan’s letter, the Jan. 19 letter in question did not state that hate crimes occurred in Madison or Guilford. Hate crimes have been reported regionally, including Nazi graffiti in Branford on Nov. 15, 2016.