A peaceful protest, where little hostility existed between police and protesters, turned into a nightmare when a sniper opened fire, killing five police officers and injuring another seven.
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Video of Bush at the event has sparked a strong reaction online. But he urged the audience to have faith that we can rise above pessimism and division.
“We are not even close to being there yet, where we want to be”, he said. I’m here to insist we’re not as divided as we seem.
“America, we know that bias remains. We all will come together as one”, Erich Geppert, an Oakmont auxiliary officer, said.
Micah Johnson carried out a mass shooting at the end of a Dallas Black Lives Matter protest, which was held after police officers killed Sterling in Louisiana and Castile in Minnesota last week. Funerals will be held Wednesday for Dallas Police Sr. Cpl.
Another said: “George Bush laughing and dancing during the Dallas cop memorial while standing next to the Obamas is white privilege on hallucinogens”.
It all began when the Dallas Police Choir started to sing “The Battle Hymn of the Republic”. And this has strained our bonds of understanding and common goal.
The victims, four of whom served with the Dallas Police Department and a fifth who served with the Dallas Area Rapid Transit police, ranged in age from 32 to 55. “Fool me…you can’t get fooled again”.
They point to Obama’s opposition to providing police with surplus military equipment, which officers generally believe is essential to ensuring their safety and responding effectively to acts of terror or other mass violence. It’s a posture neither side has completely accepted.
For some, the relationship is so frayed that Obama’s words of support for law enforcement ring hollow.
“We mourn fewer people today because of your courageous actions”, he said, turning to address Dallas police who were seated onstage behind him.
The demonstration followed the deaths of two black men at the hands of police in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and St Paul in Minnesota. Can we see in each other a common humanity and a shared dignity, and recognize how our different experiences have shaped us?
Kim Fowler, a former law enforcement officer who knew both the slain bailiffs, said that growing violence is a danger to police, but officers try not to dwell on the risks when they are doing their job.
While Laura Bush didn’t look too pleased during her husband’s emotive dance, Michelle and Barack Obama had a hard time not smiling.
“I’m not naive”, the president said.
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“As we see increases, it becomes very concerning, particularly when you see increases in the cases of the nature of Dallas”, he said.
