More Than 500 Top Writers Sign Petition Protesting Trump

More than 500 top writers — including Stephen King, Dave Eggers, Colm Toibin, Jonathan Lethem and Curtis Sittenfeld — have signed a petition opposing Donald Trump's candidacy for president.

The petitioners say as writers, "we are particularly aware of the many ways that language can be abused in the name of power."

The petition says Trump "deliberately appeals to the basest and most violent elements in society, who encourages aggression among his followers, shouts down opponents, intimidates dissenters, and denigrates women and minorities."

"As a matter of conscience, oppose, unequivocally, the candidacy of Donald J. Trump," it concludes.

Other writers on the petition include: Richard Russo, Junot Díaz, Tobias Wolff, Jane Smiley, Claire Messud, Francine Prose, Meg Wolitzer, Andre Dubus III, Lily King, Nicole Krauss, Ha Jin, Edmund White, Jennifer Egan, Cheryl Strayed, Amy Tan and Lauren Graff.

Stephen King — author of such horror classics as "The Dead Zone," Carrie" "Pet Sematary" and "The Shining" — has been one of the nation's most vocal writers against Trump.

Last December, King declared on Twitter:

I can no longer tweet about Trump. That anyone in America would even CONSIDER voting for this rabid coyote leaves me speechless.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) December 9, 2015

Donald Trump is like the crazy, ranting uncle you hope your friends will never meet.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) December 6, 2015

And last August, King said:

Donald Trump: There hasn't been a novelty act this annoying since Alvin and the Chipmunks.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 6, 2015

How's this for a Trump campaign slogan: IF YOU'RE WHITE, YOU'RE ALL RIGHT! ANY OTHER HUE, I DON'T TRUST YOU.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) August 5, 2015