Letters to the Editor

Stand by Chuck Turner

On Oct. 12, 2010 the federal government will put on trial our party’s elected leader, neighbor and friend, Boston City Councilor Chuck Turner. It will attempt to convince a jury that he is guilty of extorting $1,000 and lying to FBI officials.

Turner is an honest man who has never extorted a penny from anyone. He has championed justice for everyone, especially the residents of District 7 in Boston. Turner maintains his innocence. He will use the trial to expose the unethical and immoral behavior of those who have conspired to silence him.

Members of the Boston chapter of the Green-Rainbow Party have known and worked with Turner for many years. We believe in Turner and stand with him during this time of government and media persecution.

We believe that Turner’s re-election, after being falsely indicted on these false charges, is proof and evidence that his peers and constituents know that he is innocent. We also demand that President Barack Obama’s Justice Department immediately drop the false charges brought by the Bush Administration.

Turner has been a community organizer and civil rights activist in Boston since 1966. Since his first election in 1999, he has been an outstanding city councilor. He played a major role in the fight that brought reform to the CORI laws at the city and state level. Other legislative accomplishments have included the banning of carrying machetes, as well as the selling of “crack pipes” in Boston, and giving voters the right to bullet vote in at-large elections.

He led the formation of the Mass Alliance Against Predatory Lending whose legislative initiatives led this year to the passage of legislation protecting the rights of tenants in foreclosed buildings.

Among his other organizational accomplishments since his taking office are the development of the Boston Workers Alliance, the Boston Staffing Alliance, the New Majority Coalition, the Dudley Square Organizing Initiative and the District 7 Roundtable.

Turner has always stood by us. Now it’s time to stand by him.

Mike Heichman, Dorchester
John Marshall, Boston

Another charter school on the rise

Thank you for your insightful editorial, “A blueprint for success,” on Sept. 30. Also, especially notable are the achievements of students at Boston Preparatory Charter Public School (BPCPS). One hundred percent of BPCPS 10th-graders scored Advanced or Proficient on the Math exam (with 85 percent Advanced) and 97 percent scored Advanced or Proficient in Science — making BPCPS the highest performing district in the state on both exams!