letter to the editor

Perspective about racial tensions

Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer, has been charged with 2nd-degree murder after pressing his knee into George Floyd’s neck and holding it there until he died. Chauvin will face a trial and sentencing, as we are a country based on the rule of law, although you wouldn’t know that by watching the evening news.

We see looting and burning of businesses, and tearing down statues, not just of Confederate leaders but also the 26th President of the United States. We haven’t been informed of what Teddy Roosevelt’s sin was, but his statue is to come down. We saw police cars being destroyed, attacks leaving police officers injured and former African American retired St. Louis Police Department Capt. David Dorn killed trying to defend a business from looters.

We also see young people wearing T-shirts with the letters BLM on them while they march with fists in the air in solidarity with this movement. Do the young people know what Black Lives Matter really stands for, and do they care?

Learning a little about the movement, you associate yourself with might be a wise decision.

Black Lives Matter Foundation, Inc. was founded in 2013 by Opal Tometi, Alicia Garza and Patrisse Khan-Cullors. This foundation is a global organization in the United States, UK and Canada, and its mission is to eradicate white supremacy according to blacklivesmatter.com.

The founders of BLM have a vision of reconstituting the Black Liberation movement. Those in the liberation movement include Assata Shaku, a self-described Marxist revolutionary who stated in her original letter “To My People” she had declared war on the rich … and the heartless robots (police) who protect them and their property.”

The hatred of the rich is seen in the constant criticism of President Donald Trump. Trump earned his wealth through his own hard work.

This sentiment was not lost on BLM. This movement did not discriminate between black and white business owners and preceded to loot and burn down businesses under the guise of racist dogma.

Our representatives should not change laws based on a movement that chants for the death of police officers.

Yes, George Floyd deserves justice, and so do those who lost businesses — and especially for the police officers, and their families, who were injured and killed during the Floyd riots.



Brenda Miller

Farragut