The election has now come and gone and there are still riots in the street, angry protests and people getting beat up for their political views. There have been death threats, burning of the American flag, people asking that Trump be killed on twitter and no one is doing a thing about it. This is not what America is. America is the land of the free and the home of the brave. Divided we fall, but together we will stand.

No matter who you wanted to win, you should respect the other side. Trump supporters should respect Hillary supporters and the other way around. We aren’t different, we are all flesh and bones. Our opinions may differ from one another but that doesn’t mean we should go riot and cause chaos.

It breaks my heart the pain people are causing each other – the pain inflicted upon one another and also on ourselves. No matter who you wanted to win, it’s not okay causing other people pain.

I am 15 years old, growing up in a world where there is hate seeping out of people rather than love. It’s hard watching friendships be torn apart by political views. It’s hard watching people having to hide because they don’t feel safe in our country anymore. It’s hard watching people cover up who they are and what they believe in because they are scared of being beaten. It’s hard knowing that our children may grow up in a world full of hate.

I am not writing this to bash anyone or make anyone feel bad. I am writing this to tell people that we need to choose love. We need to respect each other. We need to disagree without being violent and hateful. My generation needs to start making a difference.

“I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

• Martin Luther King Jr.