President Obama released a statement about the killing of Michael Brown today. The president called the unarmed teen’s death heartbreaking. He also urged reflection and understanding.
In a statement President Obama said, “The death of Michael Brown is heartbreaking, and Michelle and I send our deepest condolences to his family and his community at this very difficult time. As Attorney General Holder has indicated, the Department of Justice is investigating the situation along with local officials, and they will continue to direct resources to the case as needed. I know the events of the past few days have prompted strong passions, but as details unfold, I urge everyone in Ferguson, Missouri, and across the country, to remember this young man through reflection and understanding. We should comfort each other and talk with one another in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds. Along with our prayers, that’s what Michael and his family, and our broader American community, deserve.”
The president made reference to the federal investigation that Attorney General Holder announced yesterday, “The shooting incident in Ferguson, Missouri this weekend deserves a fulsome review. In addition to the local investigation already underway, FBI agents from the St. Louis field office, working together with attorneys from the Justice Department’s Civil Rights Division and US Attorney’s Office, have opened a concurrent, federal inquiry. The federal investigation will supplement, rather than supplant, the inquiry by local authorities. At every step, we will work with the local investigators, who should be prepared to complete a thorough, fair investigation in their own right. I will continue to receive regular updates on this matter in the coming days. Aggressively pursuing investigations such as this is critical for preserving trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
Ferguson, MO police have refused to release the name of the officer who shot and killed the unarmed teenager due to threats against the shooter, but the situation has so resulted in violent protests, looting, and more than thirty arrests.
According to PoliticusUSA’s Justin Baragona, who was on the scene, “Residents in the area are heartbroken over what happened Sunday night. Instead of giving voice to a cause and shedding light on an issue that seems to disproportionately affect the African-American community, the images of looting and rioting will now be what is associated with this tragedy. Community leaders and Mike Brown’s family have condemned the criminal activities that occurred in the wake of a peaceful demonstration, but the damage has been done. On Monday morning, some residents expressed their thought that most of those involved in the looting were not from Ferguson, but from surrounding communities taking advantage of the situation. If true, that is even sadder as they do not have to deal with the ramifications of their actions.”
President Obama finds himself once again in a situation where he is trying to calm the nation after another unarmed African-American teen has been gunned down. The president was right. The death of Michael Brown is heartbreaking, but it is also enraging. These types of killings are based many times based on fear and racial stereotypes. Police officer or not, this type of killing was at best a horrible misunderstanding. At worst, it was an act of murder by a person who was supposed to be protecting and serving.
Either way, a young man is dead. His parents have been devastated, and the community is heartbroken. The worst part is that it should never have happened.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
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