New York City police officer should be indicted for murder; Black leaders persist with race mongering; Police officers need body cameras

New York City police officer should be indicted for murder

The refusal of an indict- ment against a police officer in New York again proves our justice system is falling apart. A man died. A man died at the hands of a police officer who placed a choke hold on this man.

He did so because the man was selling loose cigarettes. In my opinion this was a petty offense.

This officer should have had a murder indictment placed against him. I feel for the victim’s family.

What next? So, beware you may be next. Just for spitting on the sidewalk, which is about as petty as selling the loose cigarettes.

America is really going down the shoots and tubes. This is too much.

Edward A. Dobran, Youngstown

Some race-mongering black leaders persist with allusions to slavery

After 80-some years of expe- riencing racial discord in this country, I’m absolutely and unequivocally tired of it. Neither I nor any of my family or ancestors ever owned slaves. You could not pay us enough to own slaves.

There are millions of white Americans and others who feel the same. We have given, and given, and it is never enough. Slavery was abolished in 1865, 149 years ago. Get over it.

There is not a person alive in America today that legally owns slaves. Some who complain need to get their house in order. Stop having children out of wedlock. Get an education, get off the dole. Stop killing each other. All life is precious.

Was the Ferguson, Mo., killing handled incorrectly? Probably. Would a jury trial have come to the same conclusion? Probably. Some would have rioted anyway. Many of them came to burn, destroy, and steal. Those are criminal acts.

Years ago when O.J. Simpson was acquitted of two killings, was there any rioting, burning, and looting by whites? No, zero, none — see the difference?

We are a country of laws; be part of it. Quit listening to race-mongering leaders; their goal is to keep you in a self-imposed form of slavery.

Am I anti-black? Yes and no. Am I pro-black? Yes and no. Would I give a black man another chance to be president? Yes, if his name is Dr. Ben Carson. Dr. Carson is an awesome individual. Learn about him, read the books he has written. He will give you hope.

Tom Page, Boardman

Don’t let special interests thwart momentum for body cameras

The massive public reaction to the tragic deaths of three black teens at the hands of white police officers has led to a national call for use of body cameras to record and prevent any future mistreatment of suspects.

There is ample precedent. Animal protection activists have used body cameras to document egregious atrocities and safety violations by workers in the meat, dairy, and egg industries. The resulting videos have led to a number of corrective actions, as well as felony convictions, meat recalls, and even a $500 million civil settlement.

How ironic it is then that agribusiness interests in seven states (Idaho, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Montana, North Dakota, and Utah) have now enacted “ag-gag” laws imposing severe penalties for using body cameras in their agricultural facilities. The language is typically drafted by the anti-consumer American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

Let’s hope that other vested interests do not impose similar restrictions on the use of body cameras by law enforcement officers.

Albert Drago, Youngstown