Posted on 03/13/2015 8:39:01 AM PDT by 2ndDivisionVet
President Barack Obama said the civil rights violations in Ferguson, Mo., are "oppressive and objectionable and worthy of protest." He also denounced the shooting of two police officers there early Thursday. "There was no excuse for criminal acts," Obama said during an appearance on ABC's Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday night.
"Whoever fired those shots shouldn't detract from the issue. They're criminals. They need to be arrested," Obama said.
"What we need to do is to make sure that like-minded, good-spirited people on both sides -- law enforcement who have a terrifically tough job and people who understandably don't want to be stopped and harassed just because of their race -- that we're able to work together to try to come up with some good answers."
Obama offered prayers to the families of the officers, but said the incident shouldn't detract from the issues uncovered by the recent Department of Justice report, that showed a pattern of racism in the city.
"What happened in Ferguson was oppressive and objectionable," Obama said, to which Kimmel replied, "They set us all back. They do."
Still, Obama said that the disgraced Ferguson officials are "not the majority."
"In the same way that you can't generalize about police officers who do an extraordinarily tough job -- overwhelmingly, they do it professionally -- you can't generalize about protesters who it turns out had some very legitimate grievances."
Obama's appearance on the late-night television show came as police in Ferguson continue their manhunt into early Friday for the shooter. Two officers were shot while standing in front of the Ferguson Police Department, hours after Police Chief Thomas Jackson announced his resignation. The two officers, one shot in the head and the other in the shoulder, were treated at a hospital and released.
Tensions in the city have been at a boiling point since August, when white police officer Darren Wilson shot and killed an unarmed black teenager, Michael Brown. Last week, the Department of Justice released a scathing report about Ferguson, detailing a city fraught with civil-rights violations and racism. Several police officers have since stepped down or been fired, a judge was taken off the bench and the city manager resigned in reaction to the report.
City Councilwoman Kim Tihen expressed concerns that the shooting of the two officers will mar the steps the city has taken toward healing.
"I am beyond outraged by the behavior and lawlessness of the protesters who want nothing more than to destroy our city," she told The New York Times. "Enough is enough. The city has done, and continues to do, everything within its power to facilitate the change needed. I implore the residents of this city to stand together and demand an end to this violence."
The only question is: When did civil rights violations go from carrying a penalty of ~10 years to death? (In the Liuzzo murder case, the perps got ten years each—the maximum penalty at the time, for civil rights violation)
How about ruining the lives of an officer and his family, along with falsely accusing him of murder?
Mr Constitutional Lecturer?
The blame totally belongs on Brown, his family, lawyer and the “community” Your problems are of your own making, and that’s they way it is, everywhere
> “What happened in Ferguson was oppressive and objectionable
The cop should allow himself to be punched in the head, disarmed, and then shot? Defending yourself is oppressive and objectionable?
Obama is a psycho. He spouts gibberish.
If the head of the ATF wants to ban things that pose a danger to police, he should probably focus on banning Holder and Obama.
number of police shot with M855 (armor piercing) bullets = 0
number of police shot due to Holder unsubstantiated claims of racial bias in the Feguson PD = 2 just now, and I think there were 1 or 2 before
If there was any substance to the DOJ report they would go after the city and police force under Title 18. They won’t because they don’t care about law and order, only propagating racial strife.
“Sit down and shut up,” Barkey.
Really?? What I find “oppressive and objectionable” is the attitude and actions of many of the residents who live in Ferguson. They seem to believe that they should be allowed to do whatever they want.
Where did they get this attitude? Check your local schools.
The only person I saw violating somebody’s civil rights was the huge thug beating up on the tiny Indian shopkeeper.
Race relations are really going downhill thanks to Obama and Holder.
And, didn’t holder say something about not judging because the acts of a few? Why doesn’t this apply in reverse? Why judge on the acts of a few LEOs?
What “unarmed black teenager?” Any male, 6’5” and close to 300 pounds and that young and healthy is in no way “unarmed”.
If young Michael Brown had been walking along the street with a dozen or so National Football League linemen, he would have perfectly blended in.
In fact, with his size and appearance, he may actually had a potential future with the NFL.
A young man of his stature is looked upon the same as the young man who just happens to be 6’9” or 6’10”. A human magnet attracting the eyes of the NBA.
Get rid of your Secret Service and go to Ferguson at night oboy
This is the kind of reason I wish I was a billionaire. I would use my wealth to pay the salaries of every single ferguson police officer to walk off the job
Since the minority population of Ferguson have been held down by the oppressive laws of the majority, perhaps all of the laws should be removed.
The good citizens of Ferguson can enact and enforce any laws they see fit.
With so many aspiring honor students, they will have few problems in their 'new community'.
In a short time the earth will be green, and the air pure!
For there will be nothing there.
The sensational headline is the most important part of reporting.
No, he spout Blackish, Lord Foulis concerned only with muslims, hispanics, blacks queers and chicomms. In that order, if you don't fit into one of those peg holes you better have a sh!tload of money in an outstretched hand.
Obama’s reaction to the intent of murdering the two police officers was as bland and impassive as when Obama told the nation of the decapitation of an American by Islamic terrorist and he went to play golf right after. No problem… Nothing important happened that will disrupt Obama golf routine.
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