Today's letters: Campaign to mislead voters on single-member districts is shameful

Letters to the editor present the opinions of readers on news stories and other pieces published by The Sun.

Twisting the truth

The injustice, corruption and mockery perpetrated on Alachua County voters by the so-called Social Justice PAC is shameful. Their mailers and palm cards supporting single-member districts in Alachua County twists truth in a most inflammatory manner.

In truth, this is an “Injustice PAC” funded by the Republican Party. They are paying young Black men and women to carry these lies to the homes of African-American voters. They tell the residents that two of their most trusted leaders, Chuck Chestnut and Rodney Long, are in favor of single-member districts. The truth is both have stated their opposition to the ballot initiative promoted by Ron DeSantis, Keith Perry and Chuck Clemons.

The “Injustice PAC” also quotes the NAACP. As president of our local chapter, I find this particularly offensive. If one looks deep into all that has been written by our parent organization, many statements can be taken out of context.

The NAACP was founded by Blacks and whites working together. The path to true justice is difficult. We have persevered together to create a better society. We have stood up to enemies before. Let us prove we will not be fooled by those who want to divide and weaken us.  

Evelyn Foxx, president, Alachua County NAACP 

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Stop lying

It was not too long ago, during the height of the pandemic, that teachers and school boards were applauded for trying to make the best of an unprecedented worldwide health crisis. Then, things changed.

Teachers and school boards became the victims of violence, abuse and threats for trying to keep children and themselves safe. A terrible health crisis became a political football. MAGA politicians and followers took advantage of the grievances and white supremacists further stocked violence and threats against school boards and teachers.

Lies and disinformation began to make its rounds like, “Teachers are teaching five-year-old kids gender identity.” Having taught elementary school for 32 years, not one elementary school that I know of ever taught kindergarteners through third graders gender identity. So, stop the lying!

We were too busy making sure our 5-year-old kids knew their ABCs, numbers, colors and shapes. We were too busy making sure our 5-year-old kids learned reading skills – comprehension, vocabulary, decoding skills; how to write; how to get along with others; computer skills and other required subjects.

Lying about what schools and teachers are teaching 5 year olds may get you a few votes, but at what price for your soul?

DeBorah Denson McCray, Gainesville 

Mural city

Recently, more than 10 artists from around Florida decorated the Northwest 34th Street Wall with art for Halloween. This has been a tradition for many years. In November, they will return to paint again and the theme will be about Christmas.

The memorial panels to the students we lost in 1980 and to Tom Petty are also on display.

Gainesville is blessed with artistic murals in many places. One can see animals including a gator, lions, tigers and a zebra. There are musicians playing music as well as portraits of Tom Petty, our local famous personality. Flowers can be seen. Modern art is also on display.

Gainesville has been known as a Tree City. It deserves another title. It is the mural city.

Larry Schwandes, Gainesville 

Indict Trump

It is extremely discouraging and worrisome to see the lack of leadership in our country by the Department of Justice currently and when Special Counsel Robert Mueller concluded that a sitting president cannot be indicted. Donald Trump publicly encouraged Russia to help him get elected and it is astonishing that the Russians may have actually succeeded in getting Trump elected.

Here we are again: Merrick Garland is still allowing Trump to get away with his criminal behavior. It is clear by what Trump said publicly leading up to Jan. 6 and the evidence presented at the Jan. 6 hearings that Trump caused the insurrection, took illegal actions to try to overturn our election by putting pressure on officials and almost got our vice president hung! How is this possible that he has not been charged?

Why did Robert Mueller take almost two years to produce his results and thereby allow Trump to walk away without accountability? And now, almost two years after the Jan. 6 insurrection, DOJ is still taking its time and, in the process, allowing him and the extremist election deniers to be emboldened.

The DOJ has allowed Trump to get away with enough — all of us need to call or write Attorney General Merrick Garland to do his job and indict former president Trump.

Terry Rodriguez, Gainesville

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This article originally appeared on The Gainesville Sun: Letters on single-member districts, Trump, Gainesville murals, more