President Obama: "We are horrified over
these events"
Last night, law enforcement officers in Dallas, Texas who were
keeping people safe during a peaceful protest were targeted and attacked.
This morning, President Obama offered a statement on these
tragic attacks and made it clear that we as a nation stand united with the
people and the police department in Dallas.
"I speak for
every single American when I say that we are horrified over these events, and
that we stand united with the people and the police department in Dallas ...
Let's be clear: There is no possible justification for these kinds of attacks
or any violence against law enforcement. The FBI is already in touch with the
Dallas police, and anyone involved in these senseless murders will be held
fully accountable. Justice will be done."
Watch the President's statement, or read it
below.
With your understanding, I want to begin with a few words about
the situation back in the United States, specifically the situation in Dallas,
Texas.
My team has been keeping me updated throughout the morning of
the evening in Dallas. I spoke this morning with Mayor Rawlings of Dallas to
convey the deepest condolences of the American people. I told him that the
federal government will provide whatever assistance Dallas may need as it deals
with this tremendous tragedy.
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. Police
in Dallas were on duty, doing their jobs, keeping people safe during peaceful
protests. These law enforcement officers were targeted, and nearly a dozen
officers were shot. Five were killed. Other officers and at least one civilian
were wounded -- some are in serious condition, and we are praying for their
recovery.
As I told Mayor Rawlings, I believe that I speak for every
single American when I say that we are horrified over these events, and that we
stand united with the people and the police department in Dallas. 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. The FBI is already in touch with the Dallas police, and anyone
involved in these senseless murders will be held fully accountable. Justice
will be done.
I will have more to say about this as the facts become more
clear. 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 yesterday that our police have an extraordinarily
difficult job and the vast majority of them do their job in outstanding
fashion. 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. We also know that when people are armed with powerful weapons,
unfortunately it makes attacks like these more deadly and more tragic. And in
the days ahead, we’re going to have to consider those realities as well.
In the meantime, today our focus is on the victims and their
families. They are heartbroken. The entire city of Dallas is grieving. Police
across America, which is a tight-knit family, feels this loss to their core.
And we're grieving with them. I’d ask all Americans to say a prayer for these
officers and their families. Keep them in your thoughts. And as a nation, let’s
remember to express our profound gratitude to our men and women in blue -- not
just today, but every day.
