“I was grateful for numerous things President Obama said in there”, said Asmus, 57.
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“I need to understand what the black community goes through just as much as they need to understand what the police community goes through”.
The killings also put the country on edge, heightened racial tensions and pushed the issue of the use of deadly force against black males by white police officers to the forefront.
“We know there’s evil in this world”, he said. But he has also been accused by political opponents of showing insufficient support for police officers who operate in often perilous conditions.
Police in Dallas “showed incredible restraint” and “saved more lives than we will ever know”, Obama said.
“Despite the fact that police conduct was the subject of the protest, despite the fact there must’ve been signs or slogans or chants with which they profoundly disagreed, these men and this department did their jobs like the professionals that they were”, he said.
“None of us were prepared or could be prepared for an ambush by hatred and malice”.
President Obama and former president George W. Bush paid tribute to the five slain Dallas police officers in a memorial that ended with a stirring address from the current commander-in-chief.
White House spokesman Josh Earnest told reporters: “At a time when our country is feeling so divided I think it is important that the country’s leadership come together across party lines, despite significant differences to emphasise our shared desire to unify the country”. “We want the unity of hope, affection and high goal”, Bush said in a short speech.
If we’re to sustain the unity we need to get through these hard times and honor the fallen, we will need to act on truths we know, he said. “If we can not even talk about these things”, he said, “if we can not talk honestly and openly not just in the comfort of our own circles, but with those who look different than us or bring a different perspective, then we will never break this unsafe cycle”.
“But Dallas, I’m here to say we must reject such despair”, Obama said.
Critics from both sides had suggested Obama shouldn’t come to Dallas.
“While we did nothing wrong, there is a reason this happened here, this place, this time in American history”. “To do that, there will be tough times ahead. And if we can not even talk about these things, if we can not talk honestly and openly, not just in the comfort of our own circles, but with those who look different than us, or bring a different perspective, then we will never break this unsafe cycle”. We may be sad, but we will not dwell in self-pity.
The mayor also spoke to the citizens of Dallas directly, saying, “We will weep, we will not whine”.
“We talked to him about that: When police officers get killed, you’re not calling them. We have too many bridges to build that we will cross together”.
Brent Thompson, 43, a newlywed.
Lorne Ahrens, 48, whose smile was regularly reciprocated.
Patrick Zamarripa, 32, a father.
Michael Krol, 40, whose lifelong dream was to become a police officer. He wished Obama had not mentioned Philando Castile or Alton Sterling on Tuesday, and instead kept the focus on police.
The Dallas officers were fatally gunned down Thursday by a sniper, an armed-to-the-teeth Army veteran who targeted the officers, perhaps as retribution for police violence largely unrelated to north Texas. At least nine other officers and two civilians were injured in the attack.
Top officials from the city and nation were also there to honor the five officers and their loved ones.
Dallas Police Chief David Brown introduced President Barack Obama, who expressed his condolences to the families and the entire Dallas community. If the Monday night vigil for these officers outside City Hall was any indication, the 5-acre downtown park was expected to be at capacity. I have hugged too many families who have lost a loved one to senseless violence.
The event will be in the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center. “It doesn’t”, Obama said.
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An interfaith choir opened Tuesday afternoon’s service, and the Dallas Police Choir was scheduled to perform the national anthem. An imam, rabbi and Methodist minister from the area delivered prayers before the speakers took the podium.
