To the editor:

The claim of poor education for blacks holds young blacks behind.

Nationally schools in large black communities have poor student achievement resulting in low high school graduation rates, resulting in high crime rates. For example: Detroit 21 percent, Baltimore 56 percent, New York City 38 percent , Cleveland 34 percent and St. Louis 52 percent. Baltimore has the second highest spending per student in the United States, yet graduates barely over 50 percent of its students. The claim also is there are poor schools resulting in poor achievement, yet for example: Baltimore receives and spends the second largest amount of money than any other schools district in the United States spending over $1,600 dollars per student. Where does the money go? A common trait is that each of these cities has been run by Democratic governments for years.

The claim of no jobs for black youth.

The problem local media claim has always been poor schools and no jobs, yet riots have destroyed business both locally and nationally. One simple fact of life is that without education and at least a high school graduation there are few if any jobs available. Why would a business hire an individual without a high school education? Can we agree no high school graduation equals no jobs?

The claim that police are out of control, and that a majority of blacks are being killed by police.

However in a recent (June 1) article, the Washington Post has compiled a list of all fatal officer involved shooting for 2015 through the first five months. Despite the line that cops “murder” unarmed black men, the paper found that the “vast majority of people killed by cops nationally are more white people killed by police than all other minorities combined.” (173 white vs 100 black)

According to the FBI, blacks are 12 percent of the population but responsible for a majority of all murders in the U.S. and more than 90 percent of black murder victims are killed by other blacks.

Commentator Jason Riley writes (WSJ) “Racial profiling and tensions between the police and poor black communities are real problems, but these are effects rather than causes, and they can’t be addressed without also addressing the extraordinarily high rates of black criminal behavior – yet such discussion remains taboo. Blacks who bring it up are sell-outs. Whites who mention it are racists … But so long as young black men are responsible for an outsize portion of violent crime, they will be viewed suspiciously by law enforcement and fellow citizens of all races.”

Per the Wall Street Journal (May 30, 2015), Baltimore gun violence is up by more than 60 percent over last year with 32 shootings over Memorial Day weekend alone. In St. Louis, shootings are up 39 percent, robberies by 43 percent and homicides by 25 percent. Milwaukee over 180 percent over the same period from last year. Atlanta murders up by 32 percent. In New York’s East Harlem Precinct shooting incidents up by 500 percent and violent felonies in Los Angeles went up by 25 percent. Yet the constant rage is that the police are out of control.

Many of the on-going riots and demonstrations are not caused by white cops, or white prosecutors; it’s the behavior exhibited by individuals causing problems. There is no excuse for the cost and destruction of property. We, the public must ask, where is the apology for this outrageous behavior? Leadership must account for the continuing flaming of the community. Where are they?

Tom McNulty

Cape Coral