To regain the black community’s trust, police departments must change how they operate

To quell unrest, treat the root cause

Every time a police officer kills a black man, we hear calls for peace and understanding. Mayors and police chiefs promise more community involvement by officers, as if that’s all it takes to pacify the black community. Like the saying goes, repeating the same thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity. When words fail, people turn to violence. This has been true since the Boston Tea Party.

Trying to improve relations between the black community and the police is treating the outcome and not the root cause. Until rules regarding police engagement and use of deadly force are changed, the violence will continue.

Stephen Holcomb, Charlotte

Seeing through a biased lens

When Colin Kaepernick knelt in a silent protest because of police brutality, whites saw it as unpatriotic and offensive to law enforcement. Where’s this group outrage for police officer Derek Chauvin who knelt on a black man’s neck for almost nine minutes? Where’s the outrage for a man’s life?

Even protesting is seen thru biased lenses. Blacks are “thugs” while other protesters can armed themselves with guns, intimidate police and say they’re not going to obey certain laws.

I feel that in the end these Minneapolis officers will be found not guilty and the saga of police brutality will continue. At least Kaepernick kneeling did not kill anyone or infringe on anyone’s civil liberty rights.

Mabel Polynice, Charlotte

This wasn’t just a rogue police officer

The tragic murder of George Floyd and ensuing protests have shaken Americans. The black community is understandably outraged, sick and tired of perceived racism by police and the brutality.

However, this case transcends race. All reasonable Americans, of good faith, and even most police, know this was not just a rogue cop who overused police force. It was an ugly example of what real torture without due process looks like. Floyd was literally tortured for close to nine minutes before he died. It was torture beyond waterboarding, culminating in murder.

Do not let the concept of excessive police force or even looting and rioting, blind us to what actually happened here. The police forces of this country need to get their act together – not tomorrow and not over the next five or 10 years, but right now. They should use this video as a key training tool to show trainee officers what not to do once a suspect is restrained.

The clear message should be that you, officer, will most certainly be prosecuted and sent to jail, or even get the death penalty, for torturing and murdering any fellow U.S. citizen under subdued custody.

Curtis Elliott, Charlotte

Winston did not show leadership

Charlotte City Council member Braxton Winston appears to be an opportunist and more focused on his street “cred” than providing needed assistance as an elected official. His arrest during the protest Friday night is sad and predictable. He said he went out to provide leadership. What you did, sir, was not leadership. Look it up.

Earl Leake, Charlotte

Such rhetoric from Trump is wrong

I was an adolescent growing up in Birmingham in the ‘60s while there were race riots and children killed in bombings. I knew it was wrong. I am hearing the same rhetoric from our president that Bull Connor used.

Such rhetoric coming from the president is wrong. We must accept responsibility for the current racial injustice and disparity and for institutional discrimination. I urge us all to begin to find common ground in our country. Hatred, fear and anger bring nothing meaningful to this country. Each of us has a responsibility to begin to redefine us as a nation with the attributes this country was founded upon.

Donna Travis, Charlotte

Cooper shouldn’t allow RNC in August

Gov. Roy Cooper should not allow the RNC to happen in Charlotte. The letter from the Republican National Committee listing safety protocols doesn’t even include wearing masks or social distancing. Health surveys, questionnaires, and thermal scans are not good enough safety measures.

The CDC reports that 35% of infections are asymptomatic and for those who do present with symptoms, they report a mean of six days from time of exposure to onset of symptoms.

To allow the convention to happen, especially in Mecklenburg where we already have the highest number of COVID cases in N.C., is reckless endangerment. Both the RNC and DNC should be virtual.

Kimberly Kaufman, Charlotte

Gaston needs to act in beating case

Regarding “Video of Gaston County teen being beaten in class goes viral,” (June 1):

Kudos to Theoden Janes for a great story about a courageous young man in Gaston County. The county’s incompetence in scheduling and respecting victim’s rights is unconscionable. I hope this story sheds enough light so the perpetrator is forced to get some help; otherwise he may attack again and the results could be worse.

David Wooten, Charlotte

This story was originally published June 1, 2020 at 3:03 PM.