The better question: Why is Garza persecuting innocent officers?
Re: March 31 article, ‘Travis County DA José Garza promised police accountability. Has he delivered?’
The article by Serena Lin and Tony Plohetski implies DA Garza isn’t doing enough to fulfill his campaign promise to hold Austin police officers accountable.
Of the 98 cases against law enforcement brought before grand juries, a third were indicted, and none of the cases that made it before a jury resulted in a conviction. This zero conviction rate suggests Mr. Garza is overzealously, inappropriately charging officers who performed their duties within the parameters of the law.
Perhaps a better question to ask is why the DA’s office is wasting so many resources persecuting innocent officers.
Deborah Roman, Austin
Abbott’s order isn’t about protecting Jewish students on college campuses
Last year there was the contrived anxiety amongst conservatives about critical race theory that assumed our Texas students were wimps who couldn’t handle hard truths about slavery, race relations, gender inequality, and the subjugation of Native Americans. Now our governor aims to shield Jewish college students from the unpleasant realities of Israel’s military occupation of the West Bank, its apartheid practices, and its “over the top” (to use President Biden’s description) decimation of Gaza.
Ostensibly, Governor Abbott’s executive order is to stem antisemitism on college campuses. To the contrary, it is a blatant ploy to prohibit pro-Palestinian points of view and tag anyone with antiZionist sentiments, including Jewish Texans, as an antisemite. His executive order has less to do with the emotional and physical well-being of Jewish university students than with castigating criticism of Israel as inherently antisemitic.
Free speech should not be sacrificed to shelter Israel – or any other country, government, or political movement – from legitimate criticism.
George W. Aldridge, San Marcos
Governor, don’t label the outrage against Israel antisemitism. It is hardly that.
Governor Abbott, in your efforts to suppress free speech on college campuses, don’t call the widespread outrage against Israel’s leadership “antisemitism,” which is prejudice against Jewish people based on their religion and culture.
What the protesters are expressing is the rational and legitimate opposition to Israeli leaders who believe God gave them the land they are occupying, so they get to randomly bomb civilian population centers in order to punish their enemies.
To discipline students and faculty for antisemitism is appropriate and just. To “discipline” students for opposing the Netanyahu government is to support apartheid in Palestine and the ongoing slaughter in Gaza.
Brad Pierson, Austin
Millions for voucher backers would be better spent on student scholarships
Re: March 31 article, “Money Flows to Voucher Backers”
PACs and rich Republican donors have spent $27.3 million dollars to unseat legislators – including Republicans – who disagree with the voucher system.
Those Republicans who voted against school choice did so out of an understanding of their districts and the wishes of their constituents. Governor Abbott and his school choice supporters want to change the school funding system to reflect their (not necessarily the voters’) wishes. If the governor and his supporters are so intent on providing “scholarships” for students seeking alternatives to public education, perhaps they should have invested that money in a well-funded scholarship program and left the task of electing officials to the voters.
Investing $27.3 million would provide a significant resource for scholarships without jeopardizing vulnerable school district revenues.
Stella J. Logan, Austin
Political headwinds aside, Americans want autonomy and the choice of IVF
The Alabama Supreme Court has ruled that frozen embryos are live human beings. IVF is a procedure that’s used to create life, to create pregnancy – so, it is a pro-life medical technology. The political headwinds around IVF are now complicated because of this ruling.
Restricting availability of IVF is neither pro-life or pro-woman. The ruling negates a woman’s right and autonomy over her own body and reproductive choices.
Governor Abbott and elected officials needs to hear from us. Americans want IVF legal.
Want to know more? Go to the League of Women Voters of Texas website (www.lwvtexas.org) for our nonpartisan position and insight on women’s reproductive/healthcare rights. Click on Take Action to send a letter to Abbott and state representatives. Or call (800) 8435789. Marcey Casey, Galveston
Biden will lose the election if he keeps sending weapons to Israel
I have been on a mission writing letters to editors to several newspapers and telling all who will listen not to vote for Biden anymore. I have called Rep. Lloyd Doggett’s office several times to tell (him) Biden is going to lose this election if he keeps aiding and abetting Israel by using more of our tax money to send more weapons to Netanyahu so he can kill more innocent civilians, children and infants. Biden just signed a bill to send them more arms and fighter jets, which is ridiculous since at the same time he is sending more aid to Gaza and to the poor Palestinians. Talk about being hypocritical.
The choice is yours, Mr. President. You either stop aiding and abetting Israel or you are going to lose.
Ezekiel Enriquez Sr., San Marcos
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