Require masks in public in Charlotte. Start today. All businesses should mandate them.

Businesses and city must require masks

Require masks! Enough suggestions, recommendations, guidelines, etc. Require them for all employees and customers. All public places. Retail businesses of all sorts. No mask, no entry. I don’t care what your corporate policy says. Require masks. Starting today. Charlotte mayor and city council, act now to save lives. Sound extreme? It is. So is COVID-19. Check the curve.

Michael A. Watson, Charlotte

Virus cases are up; reinstate closings.

We need to go back to being more strict about closing. Coronavirus is spiking too high. Opening too soon is even affecting President Trump’s campaign staff. Close things before it’s too late. I am a concerned senior, 80 years young.

Anna Marie Wyant, Charlotte

Remove Jackson’s name from US 74

It has troubled me for years, and being 70 I hope that now is time for a name deletion on U.S. 74.

Given President Andrew Jackson’s propensity for discrimination against American Indians, his name should be removed from signage and maps, especially noting the fact that another, adjacent section of the same highway is named American Indian highway. I’ll leave it to my N.C. lawmakers to take up this issue with the federal government about racist Jackson, along with his visage adorning our currency.

Wally Lingerfelt, Iron Station

Let history stand so we learn from it

Slavery should never have happened. These monuments should stand to show it will never happen again. I am white, but when I see the monuments I see history that I want to make sure never happens again. I want my children’s children to know what a tragic thing happened in those days so they can insure it never happens again. Let history stand.

Gerald Gibson, Lincolnton

Charlotte must end racial injustice

Regarding “Charlotte marchers take to street after 3 dead, 11 injured,” (June 23):

I applaud Sheriff Garry McFadden, Rev. Clifford Jones Sr., Mario Black and the others. We have to be colorblind in all matters crime. Even though it was a “moment of silence” march, with no chanting, we heard you loud and clear.

I’m a snow-capped senior citizen white guy. My last march was in the Woodstock era, but individually we have to end racial injustice in this great country. My remedy to alleviate poverty is a federal program that’s part education, part job skills, part job placement. Let’s live in peace and love.

Randall Lemly, Charlotte

Weak-kneed Supreme Court judges

Every election Republican voters are told how important it is to elect solid conservative judges who will uphold the Constitution. Yet, over the years George H.W. Bush appointed David Souter, who often sided with the liberals. Sandra Day O’Connor and Anthony Kennedy were always swing votes on important cases. Now, we have John Roberts, a George W. Bush appointee, who votes with the opposition far too often. President Trump was confident the high court would rule in his favor on DACA, but Democrats win again over our weak-kneed Supreme Court justices.

Jim Cherry, Charlotte

Find a way to help DACA recipients

The news has been full of stories about people’s rights. Black lives matter. Gay and lesbian rights are reaffirmed under anti-discrimination laws. Same-sex marriage is now possible. I agree with this movement towards fairness and equal rights, but am saddened by one huge denial of basic rights and fairness. I am referring to DACA children and TPS recipients who’ve lived here legally for way too many years and yet we still don’t offer them the possibility of permanence or the right to become residents and, someday, citizens. Each year they must reapply and hope they’ll be allowed to stay another year. When do we stop this racism?

Jack Berryhill, Charlotte

This vet supports kneeling to protest

I am a military veteran who served two tours in Vietnam. I was wounded in 1968 and witnessed the death of fellow soldiers. I understand the cost required to preserve what our flag represents.

When the NFL kneeling protests started a few years ago, I wasn’t sure it was the right venue. But after much soul searching, I asked myself, why not? Kneeling is a solemn position, a sign of homage. Sure, it’s a protest. But it’s a very respectful protest.

Where I see disrespect is when some members of our society are not afforded “liberty and justice for all.” Let’s be honest. It’s not now, and has never been, an even playing field. Taking a knee to request our nation live up to its values and ideals is a patriotic act I can stand behind.

Patrick McLaughlin, Charlotte

This story was originally published June 23, 2020 at 3:28 PM.