Subscribe
The Daily Grind Video
CLOSE

President Obama has spoken out about the death of unarmed teen Michael Brown and the current protests occurring in Ferguson, Missouri.

Previously, the President released a statement praying for the town of Ferguson and Michael Brown’s family. Today, in a press conference concerning the matters in Ferguson and Iraq, Obama announced that the FBI and the Department of Justice will move forward with a thorough investigation into the teen’s death.

“I’ve already tasked the Department of Justice and the FBI to independently investigate the death of Michael Brown. The Department of Justice is also consulting the authorities on ways they can maintain public safety and non restricting the rights of recent protests and avoiding unnecessary escalation. I made it clear to the Attorney General [Eric Holder] that they should determine exactly what happened and to see that justice is done. I also just spoke with Governor Jay Nixon of Missouri, I expressed my concern over the violent turn of events…Now is the time for all of us to reflect on what’s happening and to come together and to move forward.”

After news of  St. Louis elected official Antonio French’s arrest last night, Obama noted that journalists and protestors should not be the subject of aggressive force by the police. French, who has been giving viewers a first-hand account of the protests in Ferguson via social media, was allegedly charged with “unlawful assembly.”

“We cannot forget how this started,” he said. “We lost a young man, Michael Brown, under heartbreaking, tragic circumstances. He was 18-years-old. His family will never hold Michael in their arms again. When something like this happens, the local authorities have the responsibility to be open and transparent about how they’re investigating that death and how they are protecting the people in that community. There is never an excuse for violence against the police or for people to use this tragedy to cover vandalism and looting. There’s also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protestors or to throw protestors in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights. In the United States of America, police should not be arresting or holding journalists who are trying to do their jobs and report to the American people what they see on the ground…but simply, we all need to hold ourselves to a high standard.”

Obama continued to issue a warrant for peace among all the people of Ferguson.

“I know that emotions are raw right now in Ferguson, there are certainly passionate differences about what has happened,” he said. “Let’s all remember that we are apart of one American family. We are united in our values, that includes believing in the equality under the law, basic respect of public order and the right to be peaceful in public protest..and the need for accountability when it comes to our government. Now is the time for healing, now is the time for peace and calm on the streets of Ferguson.”

The people of Ferguson have experienced aggressive force in the form of rubber bullets and tear gas within the last few days during protests. Groups from all over the country have continued to protest, while tonight, a special national moment of silence will be held for Michael Brown.

SOURCE: ABC News | VIDEO CREDIT: News Inc. 

Remembering Mike Brown: Most Powerful Photos From The 2014 Ferguson Police Protests
Global Grind "G" logo
0 photos