LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

A call to end violence in the community, state and around the world

Dear Editor,

My name is Ramona Williams. I am a 44-year-old black woman from the great state of Louisiana.

I was writing today to say my piece. I don’t know if it’s going to change anyone’s minds, but I have to give it a shot. Simply doing nothing was not working for me anymore.

I am a single mom. I have two kids. I do my best to instill in my children the values they need to go on and have righteous lives.

I owe that to them. That’s the same thing my parents did for me. I feel like with those values, they can go on and conquer anything that is thrown at them around the world.

As I watch the television coverage of the events that have taken place in the past several days, I am sickened to my stomach.

The events are tragic and my prayers go to everyone who has been affected — directly or indirectly by everything that has taken place. As I watch the events on the screen, I can’t help but to plea for the world to unite together as one.

I am a black woman. I love people of all races and genders. My friends do the same. My family does the same. People I surround myself around — both white and black — do the same.

Racial tension exists in the world, but it’s time we fight it with love, not hate. Put down the guns, people. Attack the world with love. The killing has to stop. We have no choice nor alternative. We have to save ourselves.

— Ramona Williams