“I will make all necessary efforts to quickly form a government”, Rajoy said to reporters after meeting Obama.
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The president dropped in unannounced on the meeting with police officials that had been organized by Vice President Biden.
The President will visit the Texas city at the request of Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said in a statement Sunday afternoon.
Johnson, who was apparently injured in a shoot-out with police, wrote the letters “RB” and other markings.
“Whenever those of us who are concerned about fairness in the criminal justice system attack police officers, you are doing a disservice to the cause”, Obama said at a stop in Madrid.
Meanwhile, Obama has criticized by others for going to Dallas before visiting Louisiana or Minnesota, a sign that he aligning with police over protesters.
He repeated that the vast majority of United States police officers are doing a good job, and also called for balance from law enforcement.
The president travelled to Spain after attending a North Atlantic Treaty Organisation summit in Poland, but the shocking series of events in the USA last week has dominated most of his public appearances.
Some police officials blame the president for the rise in racial tension, saying he is insufficiently supportive of law enforcement. The President called attention to racial divides in the U.S., and praised police in the country, many of which minorities do not trust following two killings of African Americans.
Meanwhile, the Dallas police chief said the suspect in the deadly attack on officers taunted authorities during two hours of negotiations, laughing at them and at one point asking how many officers he had shot. Still, he added of the president and his aides, “I don’t think that they’re under any illusion that alchemy happens when he steps to the microphone”.
Officers Brent Thompson, Patrick (Patricio) Zamarripa, Michael Krol, Lorne Ahrens and Michael Smith were all slain in the line of duty by an army veteran in what Obama denounced as a “vicious, calculated and despicable attack” by a “demented” individual.
The president also told the police groups that there is still “institutional discrimination” among police departments.
White House officials have spent the past few days reaching out to different constituencies, soliciting ideas on possible options for reducing abusive behavior by police officers while also ensuring that officers feel protected and supported while on patrol.
On Wednesday, Obama plans to host minority leaders and police officials at the White House in a bid to fix frayed relations.
“It will put it right in the middle of a presidential election”, Sharpton said, and could possibly revive a bill that has effectively stalled on Capitol Hill. On Tuesday, Obama and the First Lady Michelle Obama will attend the memorial to honor the fallen officers. After five Dallas police officers were killed the night of July 7, Obama cut short his trip and will instead return home July 10 after a one-day visit to Spain.
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“By doing so, we don’t just ensure that the rights of all citizens are protected, we also make sure that law- enforcement officials who have a very risky job are also protected”, Mr. “So they’re experiencing peace and equity every day of their lives”.
