When I read Katherine Edwards’ letter in your Sept. 26 edition, I felt I must write in rebuttal. The owners of Bahaar Pakistani Food restaurant have been very good to me during the past five years that I have come into contact with them. They are kind and generous people who would never do anything to project a feeling of harassment, even to someone like Jeff Saulnier with a history of mental illness.

Regardless of Saulnier’s credentials as a father, he has a history of mental health [problems] and apparently is a veteran. Surely he felt mixed emotions during this tragic time, but dealt with them in a poor fashion. Admittedly, we are all angry for what happened, but the owners of Bahaar Pakistani Food had nothing to do with the situation. They are, instead, receiving the brunt of this anger based on their ethnicity. If that isn’t racism, what is? Don’t punish the innocent.

Perhaps Edwards should meet these wonderful people. It may change her view of what she notes as “media looking for news in a tragic situation.”

Rebekkah Martin

Winterport