Letter to the Editor

September 24, 2025

The Editor
Central Valley Voice

Dear Ms. Roberts:
I am writing to express a grave concern about the recent repressive actions of Mr. Sam Yniguez and 4 other Board Directors at the September 10th Playhouse Merced meeting.

I am angered by the unfairness of fifty plus voices being raised against three – deliberate voice suppression. The fact that the people whose voices were suppressed, are two African American and one Latina woman, felt particularly wounding to me personally.

Mr. Yniguez asserts that racism was not a factor in what happened. Perhaps he has implicit racial biases that he doesn’t recognize. I, however, have seen and experienced enough racism to feel and recognize it clearly.

If you were to ask 10 African American people in positions of leadership whether they have experienced something similar to the attempted pushout of Mss. Brooks, White, and Meraz, eight (or more) would say yes, if they answered honestly.

It is mind boggling that almost everyone in the room thought yelling to prevent Ms. Brooks from speaking was completely ok and within their rights. Yet, when Mr. Brooks did the very same thing to the crowd, they were confused and outraged. If that is not an example of a privileged mindset, I don’t know what is.

The press that I’ve seen about this issue tells one story: that espoused by Mr. Yniquez et.al. They have been named in a report to the Attorney General. Unlike Mr. Yniquez and his allies, Mss. Brooks, White, and Meraz (those whose voices were silenced) are allowing the legal process to play out rather than adding to the confusion and disruption that is occurring.

Pamela Merritt-Bennett-Merced, CA