Attack vs. Protest

Dear Editor,
In response to Larry Penner’s “Two kinds of riots” dispatch on July 22, does Mr. Penner deny that the January 6th violent attack on our elected leaders, Vice President Michael Pence, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and the Capitol police who courageously tried to defend them, although outnumbered against a violent armed organized mob needs a laser-focused investigation?
Comparing the attack on Congress, which was in the process of certifying the presidential election results certified by state officials, to the demonstrations following the murder of George Floyd in May of last year is not valid. It is a ploy to deflect attention from what happened on January 6.
Mr. Penner is engaging in “whataboutism.” He wishes to change the subject, conflating the Black Lives Matter demonstrations and the January 6th Capitol riot. This is a tired repetition of a weak line of counterattack.
If democracy survives, it will be because we have nothing to fear when it comes to uncovering the facts about the January 6th riots.
Sincerely,
Janet James
Maspeth

Two bills

Dear Editor,
In his letter last week, Dispatcher Larry Penner tries to equate the January 6th Capitol riot with the protests that took place after what he refers to as the unfortunate death of George Floyd.
First of all, the “unfortunate death” was murder. He’s right that taxpayers were “stuck with the bill” to clean up after the protests, but what is “the bill” to be paid after Donald Trump incited white supremacists to attempt an insurrection of our democracy?
Penner complains of a bill that needs to be paid, yet looks the other way regarding an attack on the Constitution of the United States.
Sincerely,
Robert LaRosa, Sr.
Whitestone

Two kinds of riots

Dear Editor,
Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s commission to investigate the January 6th Capitol riots merits consideration if the scope is expanding to include other violent protests that occurred around the nation as well.
What about Antifa and the nightly demonstrations that frequently turned into chaos in Minneapolis, Seattle, Portland and other major cities after the unfortunate shooting and death of George Floyd?
Taxpayers were stuck with the bill to clean up afterwards. Many minority-owned businesses in these communities were destroyed and will never reopen. How many thousands of jobs have been permanently lost as a result of this anarchy?
Sincerely,
Larry Penner
Great Neck

Riot refusal

Dear Editor,
How wonderful that both parties were able to unite in celebrating the heroism of fallen veterans on Memorial Day. It’s too bad Mitch McConnell and senate Republicans blocked a bill to investigate the January 6th attack on the Capitol.
They chose instead to laugh in the face of Gladys Sicknick, the mother of fallen Capitol police officer Brian Sicknick. They believe it’s more important to prevent a Mexican from picking your strawberries then it is to investigate Donald Trump’s white supremacists beating a Capitol police officer with a fire extinguisher in an attempt to overthrow the government at his request.
This was the worst attack on the Capitol since the War of 1812 and the worst act of insurrection in United States since the Civil War. Why would Republicans not want to get to the bottom of such horrific violence?
Sincerely,
Robert LaRosa, Sr.
Whitestone

Fill the Form for Events, Advertisement or Business Listing