Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Today's Letters: Time to let go of old resentments

By LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Published April 11, 2007

Pioneering policemen March 25, story

As one of the 12 policemen mentioned in this article by reporter Jon Wilson, I feel both proud of our actions and saddened by the fact that it was a necessary action on our part.

I know for a fact that "Negro" policemen across this nation have utilized our litigation to help gain much-needed rights and privileges in their chosen profession, and that makes me proud.

Although it was not revealed in the article, there were 15 "Negro" officers on the St. Petersburg Police Department when this litigation started in 1965, but only 12 stood up and fought the good fight.

I now ask but one thing of the "12": Let's not continue to carry the animosity and bad feelings that we've directed toward the "three that didn't," for they've suffered more than us.

The city of St. Petersburg cared no more for them than it did for any of us and for the "three that didn't," we ostracized them even more.

I've waited for more than four decades to get that off my chest, and having done so makes me feel good and proud.

I am saddened that five of the 12 didn't live to ever see this story in print.

Freddie Crawford, Miami

Slashing of tents was legal, police report says April 6, story

Striking arrogance

I see the city of St. Petersburg put the person who thought that destroying the personal property of the homeless was the best way to keep it from burning in charge of investigating those acts. She found that it was a good idea! What a shock.

There are buildings all over the city that are fire hazards. It takes two years of paper work and the approval of a half-dozen people to knock them down. It takes one police official a few seconds to order the destruction of the property of the homeless.

The arrogance of the city administration is amazing. The homeless apparently have no rights.

Richard Culver, Indian Shores

Share your views

We invite readers to write to us. Letters for publication should be addressed to Letters to the Editor, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731. They can be faxed to (727) 893-8675 or sent to www.sptimes.com/letters/. They should be brief and must include the writer's name, address and phone number. Please include a handwritten signature when possible. Letters may be edited for clarity, taste and length. We regret that not all letters can be published.

[Last modified April 10, 2007, 20:30:16]