NC AFL-CIO president: Five things NC legislators must do to move the state forward

Two pandemics

Black people are caught in the middle of two pandemics: COVID-19 and racial violence. They’re dealing with not only the disproportionate impacts from COVID, but centuries of racism so deep it pervades our criminal justice system, education, politics and the economy.

As protests sweep across our country, many are asking how they can help move this nation to be one ripe with opportunity, inclusive of all, and free of violence. First, N.C. legislators could help working people by reinstating the earned income tax credit, raising the minimum wage, expanding Medicaid, passing paid leave, and expanding unemployment benefits.

The white community can no longer be silent about racism and white supremacy. There’s no right way to have this conversation, but there is a wrong way — and that’s not to have a conversation at all. It is our duty to foster dialogue and encourage reflection and understanding so we can have more empathy for each other and work together toward a more just country.

MaryBe McMillan

NC AFL-CIO president

Ace Speedway

I wasn’t at Ace Speedway Saturday to witness the “protest against injustice.” What a novel concept: having 2,000 people actually pay to protest. This is American capitalism at its finest. Gov. Roy Cooper must take a stand and enforce public health measures at this venue. Ace Speedway is making a mockery of all the hard work that went into making N.C. safer, though not safe, from COVID-19.

Brian Letourneau, Durham

COVID deaths

Now 1,000 have died. Record COVID cases are reported, ostensibly due to increased testing. But rates of hospitalizations and deaths, however, tell a more ominous story.

Hospitalizations rose from 134 per day on April 2 to 522 on May 5. Though they declined for a short time in early May, starting eight days after Phase 1 (May 8) and continuing into Phase 2 (May 22) hospitalizations rose by 40% to record levels at 675 per day on June 3.

Deaths also rose early on, then held steady at 18 per day through May 12. Deaths decreased consistently to 12 per day through Memorial Day. However, since then there has been a rapid rise to more than 20 deaths per day through June 3.

If deaths remain 20 per day, 5,000 will be upon us in the 200 days until Christmas. We in North Carolina will have more deaths than the 4,638 in all of China.

Dr. Mark Graham, Cary

COVID politics

You’ve gotta love N.C. politics, especially when booze, auto racing and gyms are tossed together.

Why are bars, gyms, gatherings of more than 25 outdoors precluded under Phase 2? Simple. At bars people drink but may not eat. Some exit under the influence. At gyms, they exert themselves and exhalations increase. No masks. At racetracks, no social distancing.

Rep. Tim Moore and Sen. Phil Berger can’t help but play politics with Gov. Cooper over COVID-19. I understand this but find their thinking without logic or scientific support. Cooper wants the best for North Carolinian’s health. Strange to see two Baptist lawyers pressing him for more sales of booze.

Michael Pedneau, Raleigh

Destructive protests

The police officers who stood by as George Floyd was killed knew that what was being done to him was wrong. They did nothing to stop it and are being charged with crimes related to his death. The same should be done to protesters who commit crimes while protesting. The laws of this country are meant to be enforced so that all Americans can enjoy life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Any government official who fails to enforce our laws should be fired.

Robbie Hash, Morrisville

The death penalty

The reinstatement of the Racial Justice Act by the N.C. Supreme Court is good news. (June 5) Again, this is an acknowledgment that racial bias can play a role in convictions. This is another reason the death penalty should end. There’s the obvious fact that any injustice in a death penalty conviction, once carried out, can’t be undone.

Stephen Norton, Chapel Hill

Sen. Tillis’ email

I just received an email from Sen. Thom Tillis. I applaud his call for “national unity to provide justice for George Floyd and end violence across America.” This is far more than President Trump has done.

Tillis blames “the senseless violence of rioters” as the reason for division in our country. Conspicuous by its absence is the huge part his president continues to play in the tragedies occurring in our country. Donald Trump has yet to miss an opportunity to sow hatred, confusion and division among Americans.

Adam Schiff’s eloquent warning before the vote to remove Trump went unheeded, and here we are. Tillis lacked the courage to do what was right for the country, and that I will never forget.

Lynette Miller, Black Mountain