Support for ‘Glendale Gadfly’

Having known and admired Ray Reyes for several years, I read with interest the article about him, “Glendale Gadfly” (Glendale section, July 16). The story reviewed Mr. Reyes’ tenure as chairman of the Glendale Human Relations Council, focusing especially on criticisms of his leadership. The essence of these criticisms is opposition to Reyes’ notion that racism must be directly confronted. Critics deride Reyes’ “confrontative style,” demanding that he concentrate on “bringing people together.” As a high school United States history teacher, I wish to commend Ray for his militant stand against bigotry. The Civil War, Reconstruction, and the civil rights movement are but several examples from our nation’s past in which fighters for equality ignored the demand to be moderate, to “bring people together,” and, instead, directly confronted racism. As a result of these efforts, the United States is a freer nation today. Militant agitation against racism is, in other words, as American as apple pie and Ray Reyes is following in the proud tradition of Martin Luther King, Cesar Chavez and other personal heroes. The citizens of Glendale should appreciate and support this man. Perhaps if they were to do so, their community would not have such a dismal reputation in regard to human rights.

BILL RUMBLE

Los Angeles