Letters: Police officer's actions justified, Black women key to voting rights
Writer wrong to defend man who confronted police officer at gas station
The July 27 letter, "Changing the person in charge of a flawed system won't get us to our goal," from Virginia Vogts supports a man with a lengthy criminal history who assaulted a Columbus police officer and a store clerk. She states that “another Black man” was beaten up and charged with offenses that will “alter his life permanently.”
More:Letters: Changing the person in charge of a flawed system won't get us to our goal
Vogts doesn’t like that Police Chief Bryant is standing behind a Columbus police officer for doing what he was trained to do: serve and protect.
Vogts states that Bryant “has taken the position of defending a police officer before an investigation has taken place.” Where have you been, Virginia?
Mayor Andrew Ginther and others immediately take the position of not defending police officers before investigations take place. Bryant is doing exactly what she was hired to do. Your description of the “cop in the gas station waiting to grab you, especially if you’re Black” is spot-on disgusting.
Speedway has officers at that location because since January, there have been over 95 assaults, thefts and other criminal activity. The police are not there to “grab Black men.”
More:Columbus police chief: Officer in viral fight video did 'exactly the right thing'
I expect Chief Bryant to stand behind her officers when they are doing what they were trained to do.
The 1½-minute viral video that you are drooling over does not show the Black man punch the officer and tear his shirt, which Fox 28 aired. It seems that you, Virginia, are supportive of and would invite 'another Black man who has underlying problems' into your home after he punches you then tears your blouse because, after all, he has 'underlying problems.'
If you think you can do better policing than Chief Bryant, have at it.
Carmen Sauer, Columbus
More:How to submit a letter to the editor for The Columbus Dispatch
Black women must stand up to make sure voting rights are protected
National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Central Ohio stands with Rep. Joyce Beatty and other Black women who marched to urge Congress to pass voting rights legislation.
More:Letters: Joyce Beatty and voting rights, Joe Deters and bail reform
Battles women fought for constitutional rights and against discriminatory Jim Crow laws in the South echo across this nation in 2021 as Black women continue to work against voter suppression. Poll taxes and literacy tests have been replaced with restrictive voter ID requirements, early-voting and drop-boxes eliminated, absentee applications prohibited and distributing water a crime. Since the 2020 election, a number of states have passed restrictive voting laws. Nearly 400 voter suppression bills have been introduced across 48 states.
Black women are a powerful voting block and substantially contributed to the victories of the first Black president. Black women make up the majority of essential workers impacted by COVID-19; however, not essential enough to have our voting rights protected.
More:Rep. Joyce Beatty arrested by Capitol police during voting rights demonstration
On Jan. 6, thousands of insurrectionists stormed the Capitol with no arrest.
Twent-five Black women marched including Rep. Beatty peacefully in the Hart Building on July 15. Nine were jailed.
Our vote is our voice.
More:YWCA Columbus' annual Women of Achievement event honors 12
Women must mobilize to education, register and vote. Congress must act to enforce voting rights legislation. Call Congress to urge passage of the For the People Act. We cannot watch our rights being chipped away. Black women can’t wait, it is our time to rise!
Linda Kanney, president, National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. Central Ohio
