President Obama early Friday morning addressed the deadly shooting of police officers in Dallas, saying he was “horrified” by the attack.
“We still don’t know all the facts. What we do know is that there has been a vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement,” Obama said in an address in Warsaw, Poland, where he is attending a NATO summit.
Obama said that the officers in Dallas were targeted while “on duty doing their jobs keeping people safe during peaceful protests.”
“I believe that I speak for every single American when I say we are horrified over these events and that we stand united with the people and the police department in Dallas,” he said. “According to police, there are multiple suspects. We will learn more undoubtedly about their twisted motivations.”
“But let’s be clear. There is no possible justification for these kinds of attacks or any violence against law enforcement,” Obama continued. “The FBI is in touch with the Dallas police and anyone involved in the senseless murders will be held fully accountable. Justice will be done.”
Obama said that he has spoken with the mayor of Dallas and assured the city that the federal government will help in any way possible. He added that he will have more to say on the shooting after the facts become more clear.
The President acknowledged that he spoke yesterday about the shootings of two recent fatal shootings of black men by law enforcement officials, and he emphasized that Americans need to support police officers.
“For now, let me just say that even as yesterday I spoke about our need to be concerned as all Americans about racial disparities in our criminal justice system, I also said our police have an extraordinarily difficult job. And the vast majority of them do their job in outstanding fashion,” he said. “I also indicated the degree to which we need to be supportive of those officers who do their job each and every day protecting us and protecting our communities. Today is a wrenching reminder of the sacrifices that they make for us.”
“I ask all Americans say a prayer for the officers and their families. Keep them in your thoughts. And as a nation, let’s remember to express our profound gratitude to the men and women in blue not just today, but every day,” Obama concluded.
