LETTERS TO THE EDTOR
Note from Opinion Editor Amelia Robinson: The city will pay a settlement totaling $5.7 million to more than two dozen people who say they were brutalized by Columbus police during protests against racial injustice the summer of 2020. Below are three reactions to the settlement. What do you think? Let us know in letters of 200 words or less emailed to Letters@dispatch.com. Include your name, a daytime phone number and the city in which you reside.
City leaders should be embarrassed about settlement
After reading the Dec. 11 article, “Columbus may pay $5.75M to protesters,” I almost spilled my coffee.
The article suggests that of the many thousands of people that rioted, looted and destroyed several places of business, only 32 suffered injuries that merited filing lawsuits seeking financial relief. No doubt the attorneys involved provided assistance to these plaintiffs.
I would like to know the process by which this dollar amount was determined. Also, where is the concern for the law enforcement personnel that suffered numerous injuries to their bodies?
Given the massive lack of leadership displayed by Columbus city officials, is anyone surprised? And let’s not forget the “photo op” of the Columbus City Council President Shannon Hardin along with Congresswoman Joyce Beatty doing their best to quell the situation.
This entire situation is a large embarrassment to the city of Columbus and Franklin County. Until the citizens of Columbus decide to make a change to the leadership involved, rest assured that these and other fallacies will continue.
Charles Highland, Grove City
Who will pay for damage done by ‘peaceful protesters?’
“Columbus may pay $5.75M to protesters” read the headline of Dec. 11 referring to the 2020 protests in downtown Columbus.
Left unsaid: Just who will pay for the millions of dollars damage which took place as a result of these “peaceful” protests?
Jack Wolock, Worthington
City should compensate small businesses destroyed by protesters
As I read the Dec. 11 front page article, “Columbus may pay $5.75M to protesters,” I found myself shaking my head and wondering when I would see Columbus pay the small business owners recompense for damages.
I have yet to read that Columbus has even touched on the subject of the millions of dollars in damages that small businesses suffered.
Having been a small business owner, I can assure you that insurance would not have covered all the damages incurred. To top that off, most of those businesses were just getting back on their feet from the pandemic closure. No insurance help for that, either. And some did not qualify for federal or state help.
I certainly hope the city of Columbus powers that be are in tune to the needs of the small business community, the ones who pay the taxes that support the city’s giveaway plans.
Vinny Herwig, Westerville