Send in Koream Grocers!
Posted on 04/28/2015 12:43:56 PM PDT by Citizen Zed
On the heels of rioting and looting in the city of Baltimore, President Barack Obama on Tuesday called on Americans to do some "soul-searching" regarding the issues that contribute to the violence.
In a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Obama condemned the criminals engaging in violent acts and sought to draw a line between the rioters and the non-violent protesters.
"When individuals get crowbars and start prying open doors to loot, they're not protesting. They're not making a statement. They're stealing," Obama said.
He added, "When they burn down a building, they're committing arson. And they're destroying and undermining businesses and opportunities in their own communities. That robs jobs and opportunity from people in that area."
The outbreak of violence on the streets of Baltimore came following the funeral for Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old black man who died of a spinal cord injury while in police custody.
Obama acknowledged that some police officers are not doing the right thing but said there is no excuse for the violence, calling it counterproductive.
The president noted that Gray's death is just the latest in a recent string of highly publicized incidents involving the use of excessive force by police.
However, Obama said the problem has been going on for a long time and said Americans shouldn't only pay attention "to these communities when a CVS burns and we don't just pay attention when a young man gets short or has his spine snapped."
"I think there are police departments that have to do some soul-searching. I think there are some communities that have to do some soul-searching," Obama said. "But I think we as a country have to do some soul-searching."
The president suggested the country could take steps to address underlying issues such as equal opportunity, poverty and drugs but argued it would take the kind of political mobilization that hasn't been seen for some time.
Obama specifically pointed to increased spending on early-childhood education and criminal justice reform as potential solutions but noted that he is dealing with a Republican-controlled Congress.
The riots in Baltimore represent an early test for newly sworn-in Attorney General Loretta Lynch, who condemned the violence in a statement on Monday.
Lynch noted that the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division and the FBI have an ongoing, independent criminal civil rights investigation into Gray's death.
She also said Vanita Gupta, head of the Civil Rights Division, and Ronald Davis, Director of Community Oriented Policing Services, will be traveling to Baltimore in the coming days to meet with faith and community leaders as well as city officials.
"In the days ahead, I intend to work with leaders throughout Baltimore to ensure that we can protect the security and civil rights of all residents," Lynch said.
She added, "And I will bring the full resources of the Department of Justice to bear in protecting those under threat, investigating wrongdoing, and securing an end to violence."
Obama's remarks at the White House came after he held a meeting with Japan's Abe, where the trade agreement known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership was expected to be a main topic of conversation.
Responding to critics of the proposed deal, Obama claimed the trade agreement would be beneficial to both American businesses and workers.
I’ve searched my soul and all I can say is “let’s roll.”
And what about their sports stars!
People who see the world through politically correct blinders or the prism of perpetual racism are not only oblivious to reality but a real danger to others.
Send in Koream Grocers!
My soul is just fine, Barry, it’s your people that need to look for theirs’.
Soul searching how about telling these thieves, thugs, and work shy layabouts that they are not victims and they should now stand up and get their communities sorted out.
We simply miss-took the funds.
-clintons
When things go wrong under Democrat presidents, we must all look deep inside ourselves to discover the problem.
That's why FDR's internment of Japanese Americans is "America's Shame" or "America's Darkest Episode."
If it's a Republican in power when the SHTF, it's "Bush lied, people died."
Ø had a Democrat-controlled House and Senate at one time. Why were they silent then?
Soul searching my @ss...Bathhouse Barry has no soul, so how would know anyone who does have one...
I did, however, find some stuff that reminded me of you in my lower intestine.
Your facts are racist.
THE “underlying issue” is leftist policies of paying women to have babies without husbands.
THE cause of all those other problems he’s citing.
DemoRats and bleeding heart, guilt ridden priviledged whites who voted for this Marxist, homo, clown should do the soul searching why they voted for this turd, TWICE!
Liberal democrats destroy another city. Soul searching done.
This is all part of the plan. This is Saul Alinsky’s rules for radicals and no one is calling his sorry @$$ on it. This may lead to a national lockdown and marshal law, right before the election next year. How many reichstag fires is zer0 going to have?
Boy, did I upset the libs on another blog when I posted Freddy's rap sheet with the caption: John Kay & Steppenwolf nailed it on "The Pusher."
He’s been looking for his soul since 1970, and apparently still hasn’t found it yet.
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