Activists, celebrities and President Obama himself condemned the pattern of excessive use of force by police departments across the country. The officers who lost their lives will be remembered for their courage, bravery and dedicated service to the Dallas community. Bush said that Americans know we have one country and don’t want the unity of grief and fear, but hope.
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The President called for open hearts and understanding from both law enforcement and those protesting against them. However, the nation was also able to watch former President George W. Bush and first lady Michelle Obama get tangled in an awkward, touchy moment. “Too often, we judge other groups by their worst examples, while judging ourselves by our best intentions”.
Dallas’ response in the days since five of our police officers were murdered demonstrates that our city can help show America how to heal its divisions over race and ease tensions over police violence.
“While we appreciate the president’s proclamation to have our flag flown at half-mast in honor of our fallen police heroes, I respectfully request that he demonstrate his full respect for their ultimate sacrifice by illuminating the White House in blue”. “I feel like Michelle’s face is like ‘what is this guy doing?'”
An officer in the St. Louis suburb of Ballwin, Mo., was shot from behind and critically injured during a traffic stop while he was walking back to his patrol vehicle Friday, the day after the Dallas shooting.
In the case of the president, after each fatal shooting of a black man by an officer, Mr. Obama has swiftly spoken out against bad policing, giving voice to the generations of African-Americans who have found themselves at the wrong end of a baton, a snarling dog or a gun.
Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael Smith, Brent Thompson, and Patrick Zamarripa.
These conversations must also address education, training, equipment, screening, manpower and community policing programs for law enforcement agencies.
President Obama’s stump speech for Black Lives Matter at Tuesday’s memorial service for the slain Dallas police officers proved he has none of the mettle of a leader and all of the weakness of character of a fearful follower. As a nation, we cannot accept as a fact that as a result of the shootings, police officers may be more insecure and shoot – not when they have demonstrated they can de-escalate in the presence of white people.
President Obama’s words in support of police officers Tuesday were welcome, and long overdue. From the administration, Attorney General Loretta Lynch joined the president.
But for many in law enforcement, Obama’s words, while welcome, are greeted with suspicion.
Dr. Brian Williams, one of the trauma surgeons who worked on the police officers that night, shared his thoughts, and a sentiment felt by many.
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Josh Kraushaar, politics editor at the National Journal, wrote: “Agree or disagree, the second part of Obama’s speech polarizing”. “And we’ll go through the same cycles of periodic conflicts between the police and communities and the occasional riots in the streets, and everybody will feign concern until it goes away, and then we’ll go about our business as usual”.
