When a St. Louis jury declined on Nov. 24 to indict Darren Wilson, a white police officer who shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager on a Ferguson street, three months ago. The decision sparked outrage across the country.
After the announcement was read by St. Louis prosecutor Bob McCulloch at a 9 p.m. press conference, President Obama shared his remarks in a speech. Obama addressed the obvious divided nation. “There are Americans who agree with it, and there are Americans who are deeply disappointed, even angry,†he said that night.
Aware of the racial tension, the president encouraged protesters “to do so peacefully.†In the same speech, he repeated the words of Brown’s father: “Hurting others or destroying property is not the answer.â€
As some protestors have continued to express their discontentment with America’s justice system, Obama planned a string of meetings at the White House on Monday, Dec. 1 to respond to the turmoil in Ferguson.
The president extended invitations to young civil rights leaders to talk about their “efforts and broader challenges” people of color still face in this nation including the mistrust between law enforcement. The gathering was held in the Oval Office. Obama has not scheduled a trip to Ferguson.
Lastly, Obama connected with elected official, faith leaders, and law enforcement officials from around the country, to hash out how communities and law enforcement can establish a healthy and trustworthy relationship in neighborhoods across the country, according to a White House official.