Dear Editor:
As I read about the illegal protests in St. Paul, San Francisco, Oakland and Atlanta; as I read about the vandalism that occurred, the attacks police officers and the blocking of interstate highways, I wondered if it was time for society to build some "fences." (Even if the protesters had a permit to assemble they certainly didn't have an OK to block an Interstate highway.)
Our governor started this ball rolling with his pitiful reaction to vandalism, looting and the blocking of St. Louis interstates after Michael Brown was killed as he attacked a police officer. These actions now seem to have become the "new norm" for acceptable behavior. Are we now going to accept that every time some group thinks themselves wronged they can block Interstates, vandalize property and attack police officers with relative impunity? If this has now become the norm what can the next generation expect as their normal? I suggest that it is time for society to demand an end to this illegal behavior.
No reasonably intelligent person supports the murder of innocent people, no matter what their race or religion. If a policeman murders someone that officer should be prosecuted by the justice system. He/she should not be figuratively lynched by Obama and other politicians.
Reasonably intelligent people also must recognize that blacks commit crimes at a much higher rate than other races. (No doubt some just labeled me as a racist for stating this fact.) There are approximately 6 times as many white Americans as there are black Americans yet blacks commit over 50 percent of all murders. 90 percent of black victims were murdered by a black person. In 2013, 27 police officers were "feloniously killed." Fifteen of the alleged murderers were white and 11 of them were black. Would anyone seriously suggest that police officers should be able to ignore the fact that they are much more likely to be assaulted or murdered during and interaction with a black person than during an interaction with a white person?
The FBI reported that 2,491 blacks were murdered in 2013, 67 percent of the victims were women. 2,245 of the murderers were black. For comparison purposes 3,005 whites were murdered.
Criminals must be prosecuted and punished no matter whether they are black, white or purple; no matter whether they are police officers or civilians. We must refuse to allow politicians to jump on the PC bandwagon and we must force politicians to get serious about addressing the root causes for the high crime rates in black communities. Until we are willing to have open discussions about the root cause of the high crime rates in black communities history has clearly shown us that no amount of taxpayer dollar band aids will resolve the problem.