President Obama on Thursday expressed concern over the “violent turn” in Ferguson, Mo. as protesters clash with police following the shooting of Michael Brown and criticized police who arrested two reporters covering the protests on Wednesday night.
Obama said people need to “come together” in Ferguson, and said that he will be working with the Department of Justice and local authorities to make sure that “justice is done.”
The president said that police need to be “open and transparent” about their investigation into Brown’s death.
“We lost a young man, Michael Brown, in heartbreaking and tragic circumstances,” Obama said. “And when something like this happens, the local authorities –- including the police -– have a responsibility to be open and transparent about how they are investigating that death, and how they are protecting the people in their communities.”
He said that there’s “never an excuse for violence against police,” but also that there’s no excuse for authorities to use “excessive force” against protesters.
He added that “police should not be bullying or arresting journalists who are just trying to do their job.”
“Put simply, we all need to hold ourselves to a high standard, particularly those of us in positions of authority,” he said.
“There are going to be different accounts of how this tragedy occurred. There are going to be differences in terms of what needs to happen going forward. That’s part of our democracy. But let’s remember that we’re all part of one American family,” he continued. “So now is the time for healing. Now is the time for peace and calm on the streets of Ferguson. Now is the time for an open and transparent process to see that justice is done.”
Obama expressed confidence in Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon’s (D) ability to help deescalate the situation, calling him a “good man and fine governor.”
Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King -
immigration legislation last week -
“Send them ALL back”
Iowa Republican Congressman Steve King -
Ferguson protests - this morning -
“They are ALL one continental origin”
Dude, police shouldn’t be gassing and arresting people just for being outdoors or eating in a McDonald’s.
So he just pretty much stands there and endorses the police’s ability to do whatever the heck they want because while he says the things he’s saying the cops are continuing to oppress the people of Ferguson. The looting is from a small group of people who have nothing to do with the protesters. That small bit of looting doesn’t justify the sheer amount of equipment the cops have armed themselves with.
He’s the chief executive for crying out loud. He should be taking charge because Governor Nixon has had 5 days of doing nothing. President Obama has done the right thing by federalizing the investigation, but that has to do with Michael Brown not what’s going on now.
This is Obama’s Katrina. President Bush was blamed entirely for the botched handling of New Orleans and Biloxi/Gulfport. Everything’s happening similarly with a complete collapse of government from local to federal while people on the ground are suffering. Governor Blanco in Louisiana hid behind her desk. Governor Nixon is doing the same.
Maybe the GOP should impeach him and remove him from office. Biden might do a better job.
Fmr. Sen. Rick Santorum: “Not just people – blah people! Oh, and the non-Fox press, which amounts to the same thing…”
Utter crap on SO many levels! Get back in your sock drawer, joystick. Your last sentence shows just where you stand on Obama, and on Biden.