In the wake of mounting tensions spurred by the recent killing of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, MN followed by the shooting deaths of police officers during a protest in Dallas, TX, President Obama accepted an invitation to participate in a candid conversation on race and policing during a historic town hall.
During the one-hour broadcast moderated by “World News Tonight” anchor David Muir on Thursday night, the President engaged in discourse on policing, implicit racial biases and the Black Lives Matter movement. He directly addressed questions from Cameron Sterling, son of Alton Sterling, Diamond Reynolds, girlfriend of Philando Castile and Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor of Texas among several other audience members who have been impacted by the increased divisions between police and the black community.
.@POTUS: “#BlackLivesMatter simply refers to the notion that there’s a specific vulnerability for African Americans” https://t.co/6e3TTCTy1Y
— ABC News (@ABC) July 15, 2016
President Obama made clear his support of police officers, acknowledging the difficulty and heroism that their job entails while advocating for proactive support and training.
Son of woman shot protecting her children in #Dallas shooting: “I want to be a police officer when I get older.” https://t.co/SKcNzWTf7z
— ABC News (@ABC) July 15, 2016
He also defended the Black Lives Matter Movement saying, “It’s important for us to also understand that the phrase ‘Black Lives Matter’ simply refers to the notion that there’s a specific vulnerability for African Americans that needs to be addressed. It’s not meant to suggest that other lives don’t matter. It’s to suggest that other folks aren’t experiencing this particular vulnerability.”
.@POTUS: “Protesters have to be peaceful. It’s counterproductive if you’re not.” https://t.co/1CJ5Rd3VyM https://t.co/rLRdAJguHm
— ABC News (@ABC) July 15, 2016
His overall message was one of optimism, unity and hope. “I’m Mr. Hope when it comes to these issues. I’ve said from the start that we are not as divided as we seem. And I think we’re gonna solve it,” he said.
After his address to the nation, many activists expressed frustration at what was perceived by many to be an overly skewed defense of law enforcement with insufficient acknowledgment of the very real threat and harsh victimization that minority communities disproportionately face at the hands of police.
Erica Garner, daughter of Eric Garner who died after being placed in a deadly chokehold by New York City police officers in 2014, stormed out of the town hall taping in protest expressing her frustrations on Twitter.
Yo this town hall that presidential town hall #abc arranged is a farce. It was nothing short of full exploitation of Black pain and grief
— officialERICA GARNER (@es_snipes) July 14, 2016
I need all of you to know that this #ABC town hall that will air at 8pm is a sham. They shut out ALL real and hard questions
— officialERICA GARNER (@es_snipes) July 14, 2016
They lied to me and my family to get us to travel to DC to participate. Taking time away from things I had planned to remember my father.
— officialERICA GARNER (@es_snipes) July 14, 2016
I was not upset about not speaking with #POTUS . i was upset because #ABC lied and used me, my pain, and suffering for ratings.
— officialERICA GARNER (@es_snipes) July 15, 2016
She says the network lied about the nature of the event, never once mentioning her father, Eric.
A video posted by erica garner (@miss_garner4eva) on
After viewing the broadcast, Black Twitter gave a collective nod of agreement with her sentiments.
Black Twitter watching the #POTUStownhall right now: pic.twitter.com/RzcmJa3pt4
— Philip Lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) July 15, 2016
Obama is actually defending police. Defending the narrative that police fear for their lives. This is bs. #POTUStownhall #ABCDontSpeakForMe
— kei will, maybe (@BlackBoiKei) July 15, 2016
Honestly this is a Blue Lives Matter infomercial #POTUStownhall
— Jane Q Fascist. (@thewayoftheid) July 15, 2016
I need Al Green-POTUS tonight. This careful, both-sides talk is irritating. #POTUStownhall
— Nyasha Junior (@NyashaJunior) July 15, 2016
Good luck to y’all watching this #POTUStownhall. I don’t have it in me to watch Obama be tone deaf and disingenuous anymore.
— Cocky McSwagsalot (@MoreAndAgain) July 15, 2016
I want these big networks to stop having their white reporters hosting these town halls on race. #POTUStownhall
— Terrell J. Starr (@Russian_Starr) July 15, 2016
Even our own president is weighted down by the rules of what black ppl can or cannot say. #POTUStownhall America, we are in a sorry state.
— JamiahAdams (@JamiahAdams) July 15, 2016
But also, there was a realization of the President’s tight position.
“Why y’all disappointed in Obama? He just being a President!!! Gahlee. Y’all irky. You never took American government before?”
— popular tweeter (@seabethree) July 15, 2016
