Letters to the editor: SLO protests, systemic racism, American flags and ‘little green men’
More proof of systemic racism
I was stunned by Sheriff Ian Parkinson’s assertion that there is no systemic racism in SLO County. He is either incredibly naïve, or willfully ignorant. As one counterexample, I offer the following excerpt from the deed for our property in Atascadero, which was part of the original colony of Atascadero. Among the CCRs, the deed says: ”That the said parcel herein described, or any part thereof, shall not be conveyed, transferred, deeded or let to, or held, occupied, resided on, or owned by any person other than one of the white or Caucasian race…”
In a later section, the deed stipulates that although many of the CCRs will expire on January 1st, 1925, the restriction on race “shall continue in force forever.” The original deed was recorded in 1919. We purchased our property in 2010, and this language was still in the deed. There is no disclaimer that such discrimination is unlawful, although based on the California Fair Employment and Housing Act (which I believe was passed in 1959), such a restriction is illegal. Nevertheless, the deed still contains that language.
Judith Hemenway, Atascadero
Little green men
For those of you feeling left out because the president is not sending little green men to San Luis Obispo, never fear! We have our own homegrown little green men right here in the happiest place on earth.
In the days following the arrest of two protesters, taking a page from the Chad Wolf playbook, Sheriff Ian Parkinson deployed his little green men to proactively patrol the streets of the city of San Luis Obispo in search of anyone who might be contemplating damage to the county courthouse. Military attire? Check. Riot gear? Check. Unmarked vans? Check. Patches with Sheriff on them? Check. Batons? Check. Zip ties? Check. Tear Gas? Check
What? No one to tear gas first and ask questions later? No one to arrest first and ask questions later? No one to shoot first and ask questions later? No one to torture and disappear in the county jail and ask questions later? No, only some earnest young activists standing in solidarity for their compatriots. Guess they’ll just have to go finish off those donuts the Tea Party left in the breakroom.
Susan Ladrie Mackey, Cambria
Yes to American flags
Kudos to letter writer Dean Thompson for the suggestion that we reclaim our flag as the symbol of our commitment to equal rights and justice for all. I hope protesters will consider this idea and show a sea of peaceful American flag-waving patriots as they demonstrate against bigotry and racism. Police and troops lobbing tear gas, beating and/or shooting rubber bullets into this crowd of patriots would be a very bad look indeed.
Carolyn Harvey, Arroyo Grande
Thankless job?
I wonder if all the protesters/rioters who are anti-police realize that they are causing the best officers with the most experience to retire and leave the force? Who will replace them? With all the hate aimed at them, who would want to be a police officer right now?
Shelby Rinck, Los Osos
‘Convoluted’ editorial
Following your convoluted, agenda-driven editorial (“Police must do a better job”) logic, this is where we really find ourselves:
The police, damned if they do or don’t, are at fault. They should allow protests without interference, yet should interfere when, in violation of their agreement not to, a “fluid” protest obstructs a public highway. Though a law violation and dangerous to do so, as even the vaunted Washington Post agrees, it’s really OK, to be expected and tolerated.
Drivers who are legitimately using said highway must be satisfied to go with the fluidity of the moment. Their lawful use of the roadway in no way gives them the right to proceed along it. If in doing so, protesters impede their movement, the motorists are necessarily at fault when injury or property damage results.
Police action should never include “snatching” (arresting) anyone responsible for unlawful protest action, nor offering any explanation that does not conform with the version that protesters promote and you want to believe.
It is always easy to criticize the police. Sometimes they need to do a better job. Let’s see you set an example. Do a better job yourselves. Start by committing yourselves to providing a balance of information.
Gary J. Brennan, Arroyo Grande
Get a job!
Nothing like a little push back from law enforcement to get the lawless socialist dissent element and the local Dem columnists’ shorts in a wad.
It’s obvious that these local protesters want to be seen and heard. A gathering in the park simply won’t do for these types.
They want disruption, they want to be noticed. “Hey, look at us America!” is the mantra.
Go back to school, get to work!
A citizen driving down the freeway with family in tow, mind you, simply minding their own business on a taxpayer funded thoroughfare gets usurped by a bunch of lawbreakers.
Ms. Arata, if anything, should be fined and forced to do community service like picking up garbage along the highway, for one.
Ken Sutliff, Cambria
‘Evil’ statements
I was saddened by the statement from Randall Jordan, chair of the Republican Party of SLO County, published in the Tribune on Wednesday, July 22. Disbelief was my first reaction, so I read the quote several more times. At the very end of the article regarding Sheriff Parkinson’s campaign speech to his Tea Party supporters, Randall said he agrees “with everything said by Sheriff Parkinson.”
And then it gets evil. He adds, I “also agree that Black Lives Matter protests are another vehicle to undermine our society and change the power base in our country.”
“Our group will fight this effort as vehemently as we can.” The Tribune reports these are written comments. I assume they were well chosen before he started typing. Clearly he wants to keep the “power base” status quo; white, rich and mostly male. How dare people of color speak up! Which brings us full circle to the sheriff’s statement, he’s “never seen any indication that systemic racism exists in this county.” You were in the middle of the devil’s lair. Open your eyes.
Chris Hoffman, San Luis Obispo
Here are the facts
As members of Cal Poly Women’s Basketball who attended the protest in SLO on Tuesday, we were deeply saddened and frustrated to see SLO PD’s Instagram post and KSBY’s article, which omitted key facts about the damaged vehicle on Highway 101.
We were standing roughly 10 yards from the incident when the vehicle drove on the shoulder to pass the other cars. A protester, peacefully standing in front of vehicles to protect others, moved to block the path of this car.
The driver and passenger yelled and ran directly into him, continuing to drive about 10 to 15 feet with the man still on the hood. The damages caused to the hood were from the car running into the protester — not people just deciding to throw things — and the window was smashed in an attempt to help and stop the car.
We want the community to know all the facts. We don’t want false information to be spread, causing this one event to be the main topic of the protest. Our main focus should be on why these protests are happening, and how we can grow and make effective changes in SLO, both individually and as a community.
Kirsty Brown, Chantel Govan, Leslie Hunter, Gianna Silvestri, Lily Svetich, Madeline Willett, and Madison Vick
Rule of law
Would it be possible, in San Luis Obispo city or county, to have a peaceful rally in favor of the rule of law?
Doug Stevens, San Luis Obispo
Stop picking on sheriff
Once again, disparaging remarks about our sheriff went on and on in The Tribune. I have found the sheriff to responsive, knowledgeable and kind.
I don’t know what The Tribune has against him, but it is getting old. Pick on someone else for a change. How about the people who trash, trample and destroy posted environmentally sensitive habitats, trails and beaches. The so-called environmentalists who litter our beautiful county.
Yes, it’s great to be able to go outdoors but please pick up afterwards. The 101 freeway is looking like a garbage bin again.
Judy Brown, Pismo Beach
Passive resistance
The past few weeks I have attended Black Lives Matter protests in downtown San Luis Obispo. Listening to the presentations and reading some of the signs has concerned me. Sadly, I am seeing that we want to fight fire with fire when we all know that water works much better.
It is possible that our culture is so steeped in violence that we think counter-violence is the answer. Counter-violence is just terrorism.
Gandhi recovered an entire country using passive resistance. I would like to suggest BLM protesters adopt passive resistance methods to make our nonviolent point. After all, the United States declares war on most of its problems from cancer to obesity and to what end? Just more violence.
The way to demonstrate nonviolence is by way of nonviolent means. You might object that I am being too timid in response to the situation. Why fuss over a few words when people are being murdered in the streets? Change does not happen fast, change takes time and it takes radical approaches. What can be more radical for this culture than a peaceful approach to peace?
Barbara Alward, Morro Bay
Reclaim the flag
I just saw a picture of three smiling protesters in San Luis Obispo stomping on a partially burnt American flag and I thought: What’s the point? How are those actions supposed to endear the American people to their cause?
Throughout history, kingdoms, movements and causes have all had banners to rally under. For the protesters now rallying for justice and liberty there is already a banner that for many years used to represent that. It’s time to resurrect what that flag stands for.
Why do conservatives and Republicans get to use OUR flag to represent their “side”? BLM supporters, climate activists, women’s rights, LGBTQ and other causes should be using the symbol originally created for those against fascism, tyranny and oppression.
Imagine how images of masked, club-wielding troopers beating a citizen carrying an American flag would look to the rest of the country? Consider the impact of an image of camo clad para-military troops firing tear gas canisters into a sea of American flags held by peaceful citizens.
Don’t stomp on it, use the flag for what it’s intended to represent. It should be proudly carried by those fighting for liberty and justice for all.
Dean Thompson, Los Osos
What about the driver?
I am 70 years old, so the civil rights struggles of the ‘60s are not history for me, but part of my growing up. I am appalled that this is still an issue in the country.
What I was taught was based on the concept that all people are created equal. So much has changed. So much has not. I am impressed with those who are trying to maintain Dr. King’s insistence on nonviolence — good on them.
But marching on the freeway puts people in danger to no point. There was no mention that the driver who evidently rammed a marcher intentionally was arrested as he/she should have been. That a child was endangered by efforts to stop the car is the stuff of nightmares, but we do not know whether those trying to save their co-demonstrator’s life knew there was a baby in the car. The driver did, which makes him/her 100% responsible for endangering that child’s life. Last week we lost the last of the group who worked to make America the place I learned about at home and in school, so thank you to those who carry on the dream, but use your heads.
When is Ian Parkinson up for re-election?
Terry Reeves, San Luis Obispo
Praise for sheriff
We are so glad to have Ian Parkinson in charge of the SLO Sheriff’s Department.
His common sense approach to these violent protesters with basic law and order actions is heartening to us during these turbulent times.
We are worried the city of Arroyo Grande is traveling down the wrong road in matters such as these and may turn us into Portland or Seattle! It appears higher political aspirations are guiding the Arroyo Grande City Council.
Ian, please keep up the good work of keeping us all safe.
Lori and Ed Kalin, Arroyo Grande
Freeway closure unacceptable
Protesters have gotten away with disrupting the public long enough. Shutting down the 101 freeway for one hour without the authorities doing something is not acceptable.
Charles Haley, San Luis Obispo
White privilege
Regarding the arrest of Tianna Arata: What about the 200 or so white people rallying without a permit in Paso’s downtown park on May 1, flouting state and county restrictions on gatherings of more than 10 people, and flouting the mask and distancing regulations from the county? Were they arrested, or even cited?
What about the crowd of unmasked white people crowding together and pushing aside barriers meant to keep them out of Templeton Park on the 4th of July? Were they arrested or cited?
And what about the driver of the car that hit and injured protester Sam Grocott at Tuesday’s protest? The Tribune reports that Jeff Smith, public information officer for San Luis County, “couldn’t comment on whether charges will be brought against the driver.” Ms. Arata, and all the protesters, seem to be making a good point about white privilege.
Diane W. Mayfield, Templeton
Sheriff should be nonpartisan
Dear Ian,
We knew you through your position at SLO PD. We supported your first election. We decided to be patient as you wrestled with the egregious issues at our County Jail, and voted for your reelection.
Now you’ve gone beyond the bounds of your office. Your very presence at a divisive group’s rally in the midst of a global pandemic and what promises to be the most contentious presidential election in American history was ill-advised and outside the nonpartisan strictures of a county sheriff under California’s 1879 Constitution.
Your remarks over wearing or not wearing face masks pandered to the very worst instincts during this crisis. Your comments endanger the health and safety of the people that you swore to protect in your oath of office.
Dan, Elizabeth and Isabella Krieger, San Luis Obispo
This story was originally published July 24, 2020 at 9:59 AM.