A dad who wrote a post-election letter to his daughters is making people tear up after he shared it online.
Joel Levin’s daughters, Josie and Ellie, had asked him to wake them up and let them know who won the election, but after Donald Trump’s presidency win, he couldn’t bring himself to do it.
Instead the dad, from New York City, US, wrote the result in a letter, which he shared on Facebook on Wednesday 9 November.
“Mum and I are very upset by this and we know you will be, too,” Levin wrote. “But we want you to know a few things.”
”We are not alone,” Levin listed as the first point.
“Millions and millions of people voted for Hillary Clinton. They share our shock and disbelief this morning.
“You do not need to be afraid,” was his second point.
“Even though you have heard hateful things about Trump and his supporters, there are always people that will stand up to that hate.
“And together we will protect each other and the values we find important.”
Levin then reminded his daughters there is still a lot to be hopeful for.
“If you look at the progress that we have made as a country (and as a planet), you will see that there is much to celebrate,” he continued.
“This kind of setback happens often and we usually bounce back even stronger.”
Levin used the opportunity to teach his daughters that it is always worth fighting for things you believe in.
He encouraged them to speak up when they see something they think is wrong, and share their passions to accomplish “great things”.
“Days like this are hard,” he ended the note. “But they are also great reminders for how important it is to keep fighting for what is right.”
Levin’s letter was shared nearly 300 times on Facebook within 24 hours and was retweeted more than 600 times on Twitter.
Users replied to Levin on Twitter to say his letter had brought them to tears.