I don't believe that taking all four police officers to trial for murder is the answer to many decades of persecution and racial discrimination.

Calm the present violence first. George Floyd's family are trying hard to remove the violence and looting from the equation, they know their son and brother wouldn't have wanted this anarchy to prevail because of his death.

Steps need to be taken to legislate changes that will improve relations and integration of African Americans. Holding up a bible or bringing in the army won't achieve this. Nor will some leaders within the black community, they also need to step in and quell their brothers before total breakdown of American society. Sit down, discuss suitable and realistic resolutions and come with an open mind.

Trump should not be the person to chair this important debate, they need someone who is unbiased and is willing to listen to all parties.

CONCERING the unfortunate death of George Floyd in Minneapolis, two different autopsies have now been completed.

A preliminary prosecutors autopsy report cited earlier said that the county medical examiner's review "revealed no physical findings that support a diagnosis of traumatic asphyxia or strangulation" but there was pre-existing cardiovascular disease and hypertension.

The second autopsy report, following demands from the family, released later Monday, June 1, by the Hennepin County Medical Examiner's office said Floyd died of "cardiopulmonary arrest complicating law enforcement subdual, restraint and neck compression".

MORE LETTERS TO THE EDITOR:

The manner of death was ruled homicide in the second autopsy but excluded from the first autopsy? How could two autopsies conducted up on the same victim be so different? They both can't be right. Criminal prosecution in this case will depend greatly on the autopsy report.

Are we moving into an era where even something as technical as an autopsy report will depend on the political agenda of those who request it?

IT will be interesting to see if the true intention of the Second Amendment to the US Constitution is again tested. Trump is threatening to send in the military to quell rioting. The states are resisting. In fact if its original intention was followed, the Second Amendment would give the states the right to use their National Guard to resist any attempted federal military intervention to quell civil disobedience.

The 1791 Second Amendment was devised to allow the states to establish armed militias - the National Guard - to fight back against a "tyrannical federal government". This intention was confirmed by several Supreme Court decisions in the 19th and 20th centuries and it wasn't until 2008 that the Supreme Court reinterpreted (misinterpreted?) its intent and gave the right to all US citizens to carry firearms, including handguns.

IN OTHER NEWS:

Since 1903 the US president has had legislative powers to activate the states' National Guards to repel invasions, suppress rebellions or enforce federal laws. Those powers were expanded in 2007 to include natural disasters, epidemics or other public health emergencies - and terrorist attacks.

Perhaps that is why Trump is threatening to declare the normally peaceful anti-fascist group Antifa as a "terrorist organisation" (despite not having the power to do so).

IT'S amazing and, in some cases, quite alarming watching history being played out before our eyes in the US.

When the coronavirus struck Australians people panic bought toilet paper, Americans bought weapons. At the moment with all the protest rallies resulting in violence,looting and general lawlessness, the country has become a real powder keg.

What seems to have been forgotten in all of this is that the COVID-19 virus is going to become even more widespread.

STEPHANIE Thompson (Letters, 29/5), I too share your concern with the current state of Newcastle's nightlife.

Unfortunately, in my experience, when it comes to live music venues, all too often there lurks a very small band of self-elected spokespeople in self-appointed roles, who speak for a very small amount of people, yet lecture everyone on how they feel things should run.

Despite their profoundly small numbers, more often than not I have seen them get their way. As a casualty, what thousands upon thousands of other people want is completely and utterly disregarded, while all the countless positives of live music are totally discredited.

This result is usually achieved with scare tactics in regards to alcohol, and regularly extends to employing the use of cherry-picked figures and percentages and doctored data.

Why the fate of Newcastle's nightlife should be decided in such an unjustified way is beyond me, as it defies all reasonable logic.

I too would also recommend that anyone standing in the way of Newcastle's potential should move elsewhere. May I suggest Sudan or Kuwait, two countries where alcohol is illegal?

It appears all motorists travelling to Sydney from Newcastle, the Central Coast and all outside areas by way of the new tunnel under Pennant Hills Road, interconnecting with the M2 and M7 tollways, who are towing a caravan, trailer, or boat, will pay toll fees equivalent to B-double trucks or three times as much.

I had the understanding that toll fees were road taxes, and like all road taxes the vehicle weight was the determining factor as to how much is charged.

A car towing a caravan would be the heaviest combination but it would still weigh far less than the average weight of a single truck unladen, so I ask why charge the same toll for a car and caravan weighing four tonnes, as a combined fully-laden truck and trailer weighing 40 tonnes?

I realise governments need these highways, and the people who build them, but to agree to these charges, that are way out of proportion, I would call "highway robbery".

This decision certainly needs a please explain.

CAN anyone off the top of their head recall what George Floyd was arrested for? Are all these protesters worldwide employed and on sick/annual leave? When will the masses converge, up in arms over stagnant and abhorrent minimum wages? My answers are no, googled it, don't know but I suspect not and, in all likelihood, never.

HAS there been a more absurd photograph published than the one showing a puzzled President of the US holding a bible outside a Washington church? It looks like he's about to ask whose it is. Not his surely!

WITH the change of plans around the redevelopment of the Olympic Stadium in favour of various capital works, surely this is a time to complete the Lake Macquarie Transport Interchange at Glendale. Local media and politicians should insist on it.

WITH the announcement of the Liberal Government wanting to have a Hawke and Keating type accord between the unions and employers and then announcing the early start to the new West Sydney rail line, where will the trains to use it be manufactured? Will it be China like previous ones?

FIRSTLY: Worimi LALC are not the Owners of WCL, they hold this land on behalf of the Registered Traditional Owners. Secondly there exists a Land Claim 3 nautical miles out to Sea of the WCL boundaries. I know these facts as I was the claimant of Stockton Bight (and adjacent lands) on behalf of the Worimi people, I know what was said and written about the area from the very start.

I FULLY support Viv Allanson's recommendations on aged care. The word dignified should rate highly in the provision of care. Co-operative housing would provide a safe environment for people with similar backgrounds. Australia owes much to this older generation and we should be providing safe, affordable care in their later years.

PLEASE, next council election can we vote in a new mayor.

ROBODEBT policy making: it will be like pushing those "quiet Australians" off a cliff. They can have a go while plummeting. That'll be some show. Now it's time for regrets? Everyone together, "Australians all".

HOW much technology would be involved in lasering a crowd into the stands at the football with crowd noise over the PA system? Look at what was done to the Opera House and Harbour Bridge for horse racing.