To the editor:
Having recently retired from teaching courses in criminology, urban sociology, and the sociology of law at the college level, I have followed the exchanges in the Letters to the Editor regarding the Black Lives Matter banner on the Peterborough Unitarian Universalist Church (PUCC) with great interest.
I have used two of the three books mentioned by Joel and Anne Huberman in their letter to the editor (May 24, 2016) in my courses over the past several years, and to great effect: Most of my students who initially embraced a view of the issues formed by the dominant “all lives matter” mantra came to understand why the phrase “black lives matter” is a more accurate summation of the relevant issues regarding race and the criminal justice system.
I strongly suspect that those who have objected to the PUCC displaying the BLM banner have not read any of these compelling works.
Regardless of disagreement over these issues, nothing justifies the theft of the BLM banner from PUCC property.
It would be indeed ironic if it is someone who espouses a “law and order” agenda who is responsible for that unlawful act.
Richard Gendron
Peterborough