Oval Office Address: ‘Freedom Is More Powerful Than Fear’ In Fight Against ISIL

Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

President Obama said Sunday that the nation should not be fearful of Muslims, but should embrace the community and not feed into discriminatory and racist thoughts toward them.

Obama addressed the nation from the Oval Office following the mass shooting last week in San Bernardino that left 14 people dead and nearly two dozen wounded. Amid early indications that the husband-and-wife shooters had become radicalized, Obama compared the San Bernardino massacre to earlier incidents of homegrown radicalism at Ft. Hood and in Chattanooga.

Obama said the nation should remember that Muslim Americans are “our friends and our neighbors,” coworkers and sports heroes, and that they are men and women in uniform willing to defend the United States.

“Freedom is more powerful than fear,” Obama said, adding that Americans should not forget what makes the nation exceptional.

Latest Livewire
Comments
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Associate Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: