# Letters: History’s troubling trajectory fuels fight against ICE > Source: > Published: 2026-06-11 23:30:21+00:00 **Getting your** [Trinity Audio](//trinityaudio.ai)player ready...**Submit your letter to the editor via this form. Read more Letters to the Editor.** #### Troubling trajectory fuels fight against ICE Re: “[Officials fight to stop ICE facility](https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/06/01/ice-detention-facility-gilroy-local-state-governments-stop-it/)” (Page A1, June 1). Bay Area cities facing the possibility of immigrant detention facilities in their communities are raising alarms, perhaps because history includes cautions about what might lie ahead. Near the end of WWII, American soldiers and a future president found the Ordruf Concentration Camp two miles outside Weimar, Germany. The thousands of dead “detainees” so affected General Eisenhower that he asked Weimar’s mayor and his wife to tour the camp and then provide decent burials for the dead. When American soldiers went to the mayor’s home to begin the process, they found the mayor and his wife had hanged themselves, leaving only a note that read, “We didn’t know, but we knew.” Many are aware of the documented atrocities occurring in immigration detention “camps” across the United States and are rightfully concerned about becoming citizens who “don’t know but know.” I applaud their choices to become vocal in opposition to these potential plans. **Michele Brynjulson** *Pleasanton* #### Lenient courts lead to further violence Re: “[Man faces charges in death of his girlfriend](https://www.mercurynews.com/2026/06/04/berkeley-man-charged-with-girlfriends-murder/)” (Page B1, June 8). Recently, there was an article about Damarcus Jones, who faces charges in the death of his girlfriend. The article noted that Jones was on probation at the time of the alleged murder for felony assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm and a hate crime enhancement. That crime began when someone raised his arms at Jones as he was speeding and driving erratically. Jones exited his car and told the victim he was going to kill him and used an anti-gay slur. Jones proceeded to choke the victim, slam his head into the ground, then punched and kicked the victim, who lost consciousness and suffered a broken wrist. If the article is correct, Jones did not go to jail for this crime (two years’ probation). Unbelievable. Something is wrong with our judicial system, and this type of leniency leads to further violence. **Douglas Abbott** *Union City* #### is a misleading hodgepodge of progressive ideas. The headline is misleading because, as the article admits, a poll showed only a 52%-48% split — a narrow margin that doesn’t justify claiming to know what Americans want. The Constitution prohibits the establishment of religion but also provides for the free exercise thereof. All knowledgeable scholars admit that the two concepts are in tension. The Ten Commandments are not a Christian nationalist doctrine but emanate from the Hebrew Bible. The highest court to consider a requirement that the Ten Commandments be posted in classrooms upheld the requirement. Support for school vouchers is driven by the extreme progressive indoctrination, in full display this month, of certain progressive ideas, and by schools allowing or instructing kids to take time off from school to participate in anti-American rallies. **Nick Waranoff** *Orinda* #### “] #### Art and wine festival falls short on fun We attended the recent Walnut Creek Art and Wine Festival and were surprised at how little about the annual festival was fun. The new Civic Park location is fine, although a bit tighter in space than at Heather Farm Park. But the vendors promoting their business and the “art” booths didn’t offer much: The same people will be at Lafayette, Antioch and other fairs throughout the summer months. What stood out was the lack of joy. The event looked more like a Chamber of Commerce meeting than an art and wine festival. Shouldn’t the promoters try to make a festival festive? Fun? **Sam Van Zandt** *Walnut Creek* #### If elections are rigged, how is GOP in control? As Donald Trump intensifies his baseless claims of rigged elections and election fraud, the pushback consists of asking him to provide proof. To me, the unassailable rebuke is one simple question: If elections have been rigged since 2020, how is it that Republicans control the House, Senate and White House? **Mark Gabin** *Concord* #### Iran learned nuclear lessons from Libya Iran is not likely to give up its nuclear capabilities. In December of 2003, Muammar Gaddafi accepted all of America’s demands. He gave up nuclear weapons. He opened his facilities. He cooperated fully. Eight years later, led by then-French President Sarkozy, they helped kill him. Iran saw that and learned. North Korea was watching. Its foreign ministry immediately issued [an official statement](https://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/25/world/asia/25korea.html): “It has been shown to the world that Libya’s abandonment of nuclear weapons was used as a tactic to disarm the country for aggression.” Kim Jong-un openly said he had “learned a lesson from the countries of the Middle East.” Iran was watching too. Ayatollah Khamenei openly said Iran would not follow that path — and that what happened to Gaddafi is exactly why Iran expanded its nuclear efforts. Every country reached the same conclusion. The only guarantee of survival is a weapon the U.S. cannot ignore. **Frank Grygus** *San Ramon*