Obama, MO Gov. Jay Nixon weigh in on police abuses in Ferguson
President Barack Obama and Missouri Governor Jay Nixon both weighed in on the controversy in Ferguson, Missouri, which has seen police aiming rifles at peaceful protesters as well as teargasing and arresting journalists.
Interrupting his vacation on Martha's Vineyard for a press conference, Obama said, "There is never excuse for violence against the police or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting. There is also no excuse for police to use excessive force against peaceful protests or to throw protesters in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights."
The disturbing violence against, and arrest of journalists from major media organizations such as the Huffington Post and The Washington Post also informed the statements of Gov. Nixon.
Nixon promised that the police would be more accountable and that, "to make sure that we're reframing the chain here, in a fashion - the chain of command - in a fashion that lays out a much better and much different tone." That "different tone" most likely refers to allowing citizens to exercise the constitutional rights that the police have denied them since the shooting death of Michael Brown, Aug. 9.
In another portion of Obama's remarks, he stressed national unity by saying, "I know emotions are raw right now in Ferguson, and there are certainly passionate differences about what has happened. But let's remember that we're all part of one American family. We are united in common values and that includes the belief in equality under the law, respect for public order and the right to peaceful public protests."
Nixon also announced that he would sideline the Ferguson Police Department and instead deploy the Missouri Highway Patrol to monitor the protests and villages in Ferguson.
