Racism alleged at September Merced Playhouse meeting | Opinion

Racism on display at Merced Playhouse meeting

“Merced Playhouse board split triggers canceled shows, resignations,” (modbee.com, Oct. 1)

I am gravely concerned about the recent repressive actions of Sam Yniguez and several other board directors at the Sept. 10 Playhouse Merced meeting. I am angered by the unfairness of over 50 voices being raised against three board members in an act of deliberate voice suppression.

The people whose voices were suppressed are two Black individuals and one Latina woman. Yniguez asserts that racism was not a factor in what happened. I, however, have seen and experienced enough racism to feel and recognize it clearly.

Pamela Merritt-Bennett

Merced

Inhumane treatment of immigrants

“Detained immigrants protest over conditions inside newly opened California City ICE facility,” (modbee.com, Sept. 25)

Immigrants being detained in the California City Immigration Processing Center in California City have reported inhumane conditions. This newly opened detention center is being run by the private company CoreCivic under a contract with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

California congressional leaders must do oversight of the facility. President Donald Trump keeps saying that he is going after the “worst of the worst,” but the majority of detainees are hard working people with no criminal convictions. There is no reason for them to be detained, which is both cruel and very costly.

Trump has made immigrants the scapegoat for any and all problems in our country. I am so ashamed of the way we are treating our immigrant population, who make America great and have inherent rights to due process and humane treatment.

Jeanne Hodge

Riverbank

Turlock group does good work

“Turlock OKs homeless day center. But what of Gospel Mission’s shuttered facility?” (modbee.com, May 2, 2023)

I was recently privileged to tour the Turlock Gospel Mission. If I were going to make a facility to serve the needy in our community, I could not do it better than this.

Residents are treated with dignity: They are expected to do their share of the work; they have opportunities to learn job skills; and clothes are provided for them, particularly for job interviews.

They have opportunities for exercise, service to others and learning to work in a job environment. They are given structure, and they know what to expect.They learn to do what is expected whether they feel like or not.

These important life skills will serve them well in the future.

Elizabeth Thompson

Hickman

Trump’s disturbing boat attacks

“Donald Trump Orders New ‘Lethal’ Strike on Venezuelan Boat,” (modbee.com, Oct. 3)

I’m very disturbed by the U.S. military’s recent attacks on Venezuelan boats. These are illegal attacks against civilians outside of war that undermine Congress’ constitutional role of declaring war. Drug trafficking is a crime and should be dealt with through the legal system. We cannot support the premeditated killing of criminal suspects, whether on the high seas or anywhere else.

These strikes also put U.S. citizens at risk of retribution and will do nothing to address the complex problem of drug use and addiction.

Daniel Marsh

Modesto