Letter to the Editor #1 11/3
By Phil LaRue
published: Mon, 2 Nov, 2009
To the Editor,
On Sept. 24, I was gathered with a crowd of students on Forbes Avenue to witness a riot protesting the G-20 Summit. Like most of my cohorts gathered on that night, I was simply curious about what was taking place.
In the chaos, I sprinted away from oncoming riot police. I tripped, fell and sprained my wrist.
Believe it or not, I do not consider myself a victim of police brutality — unfortunately, like many of us gathered on that night, I was simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
I would like to echo the earlier sentiments of a student who criticized The Pitt News’ continued G-20 coverage (“Letter to the Editor #3,” Oct. 27).
Please stop covering the G-20 and its aftermath.
There are many Pitt students — myself included — who, no matter what their opinion of the G-20 events, would like to see the G-20 coverage discontinued.
More than one month later, the situation with the G-20 has not changed, and it does not appear likely to change in the near future.
The Pitt News’ continued coverage of the event has done little to contribute to any meaningful resolution to the conflicts that have arisen as a result of the event. Please let us all put these events to rest.
Phil LaRue
School of Arts and Sciences
Comments
I feel no pity for anyone who
I feel no pity for anyone who was arrested or hurt during G-20. Everyone was warned by the University and the police to stay away or risk involving yourself. Those people decided to ignore the warning and paid the consequences. I applaud the police for trying to protect OUR neighborhood and its business. Being stupid and joining a group of crazies protesting just to protest does not get my sympathy and I'm tired of hearing the Pittnews telling a one sided story. Maybe they should try a story for the Polices or non-protesters side.
Stay away from what?
The Pitt Campus? Oakland? Pittsburgh?
What is the other side you'd like to hear? How the brave police defended Oakland businesses? Wait, they stood by and watched windows get smashed on both Forbes and Craig. How they defended Oakland and Pitt from the dirty scary anarchists? Wait, they let the kids in black go and rounded up Pitt students indiscriminately. The police weren't protecting anything; they were on the offensive against peacefully assembled citizens. The whims of the police and Pitt administrators do not supersede the First Amendment.
Look, you're somebody with no interest in facts who's been conditioned to reflexively defend the police and authority. Just come out and admit it.
“...the day we become silent about things that matter"
“Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” ~ Martin Luther King
I will not be silent and I will never forget abouit the injustices perpetrated by police on Pitt students, on Pitt property. Democracies survive only because some of us stand by constitutional rights even as others stick their heads in the sand and pretend that whatever the powers that be do must be right because might makes right....
On another note, I would like to have seen PittNews go further with its coverage of police ineptidude during G20. For example, reporters could have interviewed innocent students whose lives were negatively and irrevocably impacted by the injustice and poor judgement perpetrated by police gangs.
Would you give up basic Constitutional rights without a fight?
How sad it is to see people who want the PITT NEWS to stop talking about what's happening to Pitt students who were victimized by the Chicago police at the G20.
I see these people say, "Oh please PITT NEWS, let's only talk about "NICE THINGS!!!! Let's not confront the harsh reality that the Chicago Police, under the direction of the Mayor and other government officials, ran over the 1st Amendment with riot gear and night sticks!!!!"
You do remember the 1st Amendment don't you?
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
I guess we can just take out that annoying: "or the right of the people peaceably to assemble" because the "situation with the G-20 has not changed", if we're only going to talk about NICE THINGS.
The reason the situation hasn't changed, nor is it likely to change in the future, is because nothing will EVER change if we just all forget about and stop talking about it!
Sorry. I like my Constitution the way Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Father's wrote it. I'm not ready to give it up.
Please PITT NEWS, KEEP TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE G20 and what CONTINUES TO HAPPEN IN OUR COURTS.
The only meaningful resolution to the conflicts will come from a defense of our basic Constitution rights. That only can happen if the PITT NEWS keeps this issue front and center in the public eye.
Would you give up basic Constitutional rights without a fight?
How sad it is to see people who want the PITT NEWS to stop talking about what's happening to Pitt students who were victimized by the Chicago police at the G20.
I see these people say, "Oh please PITT NEWS, let's only talk about "NICE THINGS!!!! Let's not confront the harsh reality that the Chicago Police, under the direction of the Mayor and other government officials, ran over the 1st Amendment with riot gear and night sticks!!!!"
You do remember the 1st Amendment don't you?
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."
I guess we can just take out that annoying: "or the right of the people peaceably to assemble" because the "situation with the G-20 has not changed", if we're only going to talk about NICE THINGS.
The reason the situation hasn't changed, nor is it likely to change in the future, is because nothing will EVER change if we just all forget about and stop talking about it!
Sorry. I like my Constitution the way Thomas Jefferson and the other Founding Father's wrote it. I'm not ready to give it up.
Please PITT NEWS, KEEP TALKING ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AT THE G20 and what CONTINUES TO HAPPEN IN OUR COURTS.
The only meaningful resolution to the conflicts will come from a defense of our basic Constitution rights. That only can happen if the PITT NEWS keeps this issue front and center in the public eye.
I feel no pity for anyone who
I feel no pity for anyone who was arrested or hurt during G-20. Everyone was warned by the University and the police to stay away or risk involving yourself. Those people decided to ignore the warning and paid the consequences. I applaud the police for trying to protect OUR neighborhood and its business. Being stupid and joining a group of crazies protesting just to protest does not get my sympathy and I'm tired of hearing the Pittnews telling a one sided story. Maybe they should try a story for the Polices or non-protesters side.
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