Views in brief
My sons won't forget their friend
IN RESPONSE to They treated him like a statistic": First of all, I'm very sorry for this family's loss. My sons were friends of Derrick's--my son even mentioned that Derrick had visited our home the afternoon of the day he was killed. I didn't get the chance to meet Derrick, but from what everyone is saying, he was kind, respectful and got along with everyone.
I was outraged when I found out what happened. That evening, I was on my way home and saw that they had everything taped and blocked off, and the only thing that kept going through my mind was the thought of one of my sons being the South San Francisco Police Department's next victim.
Our youth aren't safe, not only from the growing gang violence, but from our own police officers who have sworn to serve and protect. I say this because my family has been harassed numerous times by the same officer who shot and killed Derrick. This officer needs to be punished for what he has done and have his badge burned, because he is far from what a police officer should be. I have even had the South San Francisco police at my home several times in the last month. They are manipulative liars and don't represent what our community needs.
Something needs to be done. They are abusing their badge and constantly intimidating fellow citizens. I personally have experienced the way they abuse their badge--it's frustrating, and above all, they cause a great amount of stress and emotional distress. I feel I'm not safe in my own home because you never know what else the police are capable of doing.
We as a community need to speak up and fight for what's right: Stop the abuse! My sons have a t-shirt with Derrick's picture on it, along with several rosaries and a piece of wood with his name on it, which they kept from one of the gatherings at the Arco station where he was killed. My sons say they will continue to show their respect, and they most definitely will never forget their friend.
Rosa Dubon, South San Francisco, Calif.
Where's the strike fund going?
IN RESPONSE to "A struggle put on hold?": I'm also a Verizon employee and CWA member. Our union leaders' unwillingness to strike may be due to not wanting to deplete the strike fund. If the unions didn't waste our money by giving it to the pro-wealthy Democrats, that wouldn't have been a concern.
In fact, we're long overdue for an increase in the strike fund if we do walk. Presently, our fund only gives us $50 a week for the first two weeks, then a few hundred a week if a strike continues.
A Verizon employee and CWA member, Woodside, N.Y.
Convening in an anti-union bastion
THANKS FOR the article by Ben Smith on "Why the Dems chose Charlotte." I live in Charlotte, and it's a disaster for working-class folks who want to unionize. People are terrified of being fired for even discussing unions and organizing.
The law that prohibits public workers from organizing is a travesty. The reactionary state assembly will never repeal it. Hopefully, pressure will expose it as a violation of international law, or it will be voided as unconstitutional.
Mike, Charlotte, N.C.
Why won't he shut his yap?
WHILE I'M not surprised that Missouri Republican Todd Akin thinks this way ("Akin speaks for them all")--he is, after all, a representative of the conservative element in capitalist society--what surprises my is that the Republican Party would chose this fool to represent them. Surely there must be someone in that gang of capitalist jerks who know when to shut his damn yap.
The Republicans want Americans to believe they can run the U.S. when they can't even control fools like Akin. This whole sad story only serves to reinforce the fact that the capitalist parties are bankrupt--what with Romney's choice of an Ayn Rand disciple as a running mate and now Akin letting the cat out of the bag on women's rights. Best not ask Mr. Akin his thoughts on workers' rights.
Johns S. Boone, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
