US President Obama says all Americans should be
deeply troubled by the recent killings of two Black
Americans by white police officers. He reacted via a
post which he shared on his Facebook wall this evening, he Wrote:
All Americans should be deeply troubled by
the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling in Baton
Rouge, Louisiana and Philando Castile in
Falcon Heights, Minnesota. We’ve seen such
tragedies far too many times, and our
hearts go out to the families and communities who’ve suffered such a
painful loss.Although I am constrained in commenting
on the particular facts of these cases, I am
encouraged that the U.S. Department of
Justice has opened a civil rights
investigation in Baton Rouge, and I have
full confidence in their professionalism and their ability to conduct a thoughtful,
thorough, and fair inquiry.But regardless of the outcome of such
investigations, what’s clear is that these
fatal shootings are not isolated incidents.
They are symptomatic of the broader
challenges within our criminal justice
system, the racial disparities that appear across the system year after year, and the
resulting lack of trust that exists between
law enforcement and too many of the
communities they serve.To admit we’ve got a serious problem in no
way contradicts our respect and
appreciation for the vast majority of police
officers who put their lives on the line to
protect us every single day. It is to say that,
as a nation, we can and must do better to institute the best practices that reduce the
appearance or reality of racial bias in law
enforcement.That’s why, two years ago, I set up a Task
Force on 21st Century Policing that
convened police officers, community
leaders, and activists. Together, they came
up with detailed recommendations on how
to improve community policing. So even as officials continue to look into this week’s
tragic shootings, we also need communities
to address the underlying fissures that lead
to these incidents, and to implement those
ideas that can make a difference. That’s
how we’ll keep our communities safe. And that’s how we can start restoring
confidence that all people in this great
nation are equal before the law.
In the meantime, all Americans should
recognize the anger, frustration, and grief
that so many Americans are feeling —
feelings that are being expressed in
peaceful protests and vigils. Michelle and I
share those feelings. Rather than fall into a predictable pattern of division and political
posturing, let’s reflect on what we can do
better. Let’s come together as a nation, and
keep faith with one another, in order to
ensure a future where all of our children
know that their lives matter.
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