Obama calls for ‘healing’ and ‘justice’ in shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo.
By William Branigin
( OK! Now Republicans know which side to take..)
washingtonpost.com
President Obama said Thursday that “now is the time for healing” after a series of clashes between protesters and police over the shooting of a black teenager in Ferguson, Mo., but he also called for an open and transparent investigation “to see that justice is done” in the case.
Speaking from Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., where he is on vacation, Obama said that many Americans “have been deeply disturbed” by images of violence in the St. Louis suburb following the police shooting Saturday afternoon of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old African American who was headed to technical college this week.
“When something like this happens, local authorities, including the police, have a responsibility to be open and transparent about how they are investigating that death,” Obama said.
(Full transcript: Obama’s remarks on unrest in Ferguson, Mo., and Iraq)
At the same time, he said, “there is never an excuse for violence against police or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting.” Obama added: “There is also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests or to throw protesters in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights. And here in the United States of America, police should not be arresting or bullying journalists who are just trying to do their jobs.” |
