To the editor:

In response to your Wednesday editorial ("A 'good-faith' cover-up?") regarding the recent mob attack outside the MGM Grand, there's more to this cover-up than meets the eye.

I speak of the continuing silence on the part of the police and even the media in describing the assailants in this and other crimes of violence. Doesn't the public have the right to know as much as possible about the identity of these suspects? Wouldn't you want to know?

I've seen some prior reports where an attacker is described by his height, weight, clothing, hair length and even odor, but the police and media intentionally leave out the most obvious of all characteristics: race. That single characteristic is more definitive than any, yet it is often excluded, as in this most recent case behind the MGM.

Why? Political correctness? Fear that some group might complain? Complain about what? The truth?

The truth should always stand supreme against political correctness. After all, if there was a group of young white thugs on the rampage, I would surely want to be informed of their descriptions.

Don't we owe it to ourselves to be completely truthful with one another, especially when it comes to violent crime?

Mac Frank

PAHRUMP

Denounce the attack

To the editor:

Here we go again. A group of black youths rob and beat up a white worker just doing his job and harming no one, and not one word is heard from the media or a church or civic leader.

If a gang of white youths had done the same thing to a black worker, news of a hate crime would have been all over the newspapers, and religious and political leaders would have been out in force denouncing the beating.

We've all heard over the past few weeks about the alleged rape and beating of a black stripper by white Duke University lacrosse players. Now let's hear about the beating in Las Vegas of a white casino worker by a gang of black youths.

Come on leaders, denounce it.

Eddie Williams

LAS VEGAS

Rich and famous

To the editor:

In regards to the recent crime spree by a group of young blacks last weekend: I noticed a complete lack of racial descriptions in news reports. Given that the assailants were black and their victims at the MGM Grand were not, I can't believe that no one brought up race.

I'm willing to bet anything that if it was a group of white persons attacking only people of color, the media would jump at the chance to bring race into the coverage. I'm also willing to bet that Jessie Jackson would be marching down Main Street calling for an investigation of why police were taking so long to make arrests. The fact is racism sells, but only when it's whites committing offenses against persons of color.

Incidents such as the videotaped attack at the MGM Grand do more to promote racism than any white supremacist ever could. And that's just fine for the alleged minority leaders of the world, because without racism and the controversy surrounding it, they wouldn't be rich and famous.

Bob Whitman

LAS VEGAS

A Boy Scout, too?

To the editor:

Who's in charge of your headlines? "Attack suspect a 'good kid' " and "is basketball standout" (Thursday)? What an insult to everyone that "good kid" and that mob are accused of assaulting last weekend.

Be sure to let us all know if you find out he happened to be a Boy Scout, too.

Mark T. Cronin

LAS VEGAS

Not a 'good kid'

To the editor:

I was wondering how long it would take the Review-Journal to get to the "good kid" story about 18-year-old Daryle Williams, who's accused of participating in a mob attack on two casino maintenance workers.

It didn't take long. On Thursday's front page, there it was. "Attack suspect a 'good kid.' " Mr. Williams' friends, family and principal think so.

I wonder if the people alleged to have come in contact with him and his "wilding" friends last week would agree? Probably not.

Unprovoked assaults and robbery are not your typical "good kid" traits, but traits of those who choose to live a thug life. The "good kid" in the wrong place at the wrong time influences his "bad friends" and steps in to quell the violence, not attack someone else who is calling for help.

Information that has been made available so far shows Daryle Williams was a willing participant in the violence at the MGM Grand. I wonder how many times he could have stepped up and been the "good kid" that night, but did not. If anyone attacked had lost an eye, had a heart attack trying to escape or was killed, would we still get the "good kid" story?

I for one am fed up with the "good kid" crap. A thug is a thug is a thug.

Why not spare most of your readers the aggravation and leave the "good kid" stories to the throw-out section of the newspaper: the Las Vegas Sun.

Jerry Nutzman

LAS VEGAS

No references to race

To the editor:

I found your reports on the 10 to 15 punks who attacked the MGM Grand workers a real joke.

When some white lacrosse players from Duke University were accused of raping a black stripper, it's labeled a racially motivated attack. But when a group of 10 to 15 black teens go around beating up people in Las Vegas, references to race are omitted.

Am I supposed to believe that the people who were beat up were black? I don't think so.

It will be interesting to see if the people of Las Vegas protest, as people did at Duke University. Or maybe you have a double-standard there.

It's my hope that more information will be brought out on the people who were attacked.

Joe Enos

SAN FRANCISCO

Uninspiring defense

To the editor:

According to your Thursday report, "Attack suspect a 'good kid,' " after Daryle Williams spotted MGM Grand worker Enillo Rosales "calling the cops," Mr. Williams told police he walked over and punched and kicked Mr. Rosales several times.

A good kid? My parents, relatives, friends and school officials would never say that about me if I were involved in such an action. So why are these folks coming to his defense? Perhaps their definition is different than mine. A "good kid" indeed.

Ken Zelasko

LAS VEGAS

No excuses

To the editor:

I'm not interested in hearing any excuses or attempts to minimize the behavior of that group accused of numerous attacks around the valley last weekend. They are nothing but a pack of animals who belong in cages.

Tim Reardon

HENDERSON