Letters: Moshannon Valley Processing Center must be shut down

Moshannon Valley Processing Center must be shut down

On Aug. 24, I stood in a park in Philipsburg with hundreds from across our community. We heard hymns, stories of families torn apart, and calls from state leaders demanding change. The message was clear: This community does not want the Moshannon Valley Processing Center here.

One woman’s story stays with me. When she tried to visit her detained family member, officers gave her the runaround — wrong times, false directions, even childish games about who would “be nicer” to her. She was denied basic information and treated with bullying and contempt simply for asking questions. That cruelty toward families mirrors the cruelty inside. Silence is not an option.

I left the protest with one thought: This is wrong, and it has to be shut down. Not tomorrow — now. The question is: What do we do next?

First, join the legal fight. Advocacy groups are already pursuing action. You can demand updates and file FOIA requests.

Second, hold Penn State accountable. Penn State trains deputy sheriffs and corrections officers. As a community member, I’ve experienced their disregard for simple safety requests. That culture of dismissal is the same one families face at Moshannon. Deputies are not being trained to respect the community.

Third, show up. Your presence is the protest.

This is not who we are — or at least, it doesn’t have to be. We have the power to demand better, close Moshannon, and insist on dignity for every person.

Because silence makes us complicit.

Kelly Driftmier, State College

Tragedy should not be turned into political opportunity

The Centre County GOP’s chair apparently couldn’t wait to weaponize the tragic deaths of U.S. Steel workers for her private political agenda.

It’s vile to turn the deaths of workers into naked propaganda against unions while their families are still grieving. As a Catholic, I’ve always believed that comforting the families of the departed is one of the core works of mercy we’re obligated to undertake. We’re also obligated to work to ensure that more aren’t taken from their families before their time.

But where an average working person sees tragedy and grief, Michelle Schellberg sees a political opportunity.

I wish I could say I’m surprised. I’m not. Some of the Centre County GOP’s largest donors under her leadership have said that worker deaths weren’t their problem. When paying your bills relies on big dollars from bosses like that, then it’s no surprise when you follow the party line.

I don’t believe those are the values of voters in Centre County, Democrat or Republican. I think they want the same thing we all want: to ensure we can go home and be with our families after a hard day’s work.

Every worker deserves protection from workplace disasters. Every decent person wants what’s best for those workers, and they’re asking what we can do to strengthen workplace protections and make sure tragedy never happens again — not score political points.

Schellberg should be ashamed of herself, and Republicans should demand better of their county chair.

Connor Lewis, State College. The author is president of Seven Mountains AFL-CIO.

Thompson’s misplaced focus

Representative “GT” Thompson attacks his constituents while ignoring significant problems facing our country.

In his recent newsletter, Thompson’s only “bad” news was that his office was “defaced” by “an obscene sign” posted on the door. He included a photo of the offending senior citizen. Rather than address the message in the sign, Thompson whined about the protester. Without evidence, he blamed the Centre County Democratic Committee, whose members participate in protests at his office, along with other groups.

In reality, there was a lot of bad news that week: increasing inflation; a disastrous meeting, including a red-carpet rollout, with war criminal Putin; federal takeover of policing in Washington; and efforts to rig elections through gerrymandering.

Thompson’s “bad” news? A piece of paper taped to a door — not “defaced.”

The “obscene sign?” The GOP elephant symbol over the words: “Molesting Adolescent Girls Allowed.”

Here’s what’s obscene: a representative more outraged by a sign than by child abuse; more offended by criticism than by corruption; more eager to smear constituents than serve them. The protest highlighted Thompson’s stonewalling efforts to release documents related to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein’s cabal.

Protests are the only way to get Thompson’s attention. He holds no town halls. He ignores repeated requests for meetings with constituents who disagree with him. Ironically, he preaches that protesters should “act civilly and responsibly ... despite any political differences.”

We deserve a representative who doesn’t disparage constituents trying to be heard, while allowing child predators to go unpunished.

Jane Rinard, State College

What’s next?

National Guard troops were ordered into L.A. and D.C. Next they will be ordered into NYC, Chicago and Philadelphia. Other cities with liberal leanings will follow. Eventually, martial law will be declared nationally by executive order because of all the protests. Mail-in balloting will be outlawed nationally. By executive order, in-person voting will be allowed at only one location per county. That will be rescinded because of all the protests and replaced by a new executive order ... voting will be allowed at only one location per state or commonwealth ... and only if you are white, young and tattooed with MAGA slogans. That will be enforced by the National Guard and Marines. Finally, freedom from voting will be declared and you will never again have to worry about picking a president, we’ll have one for life.

Gary W. Moorman, State College