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| President Barack Obama, center, pauses as he speaks during his meeting with elected officials, law enforcement officials and community and faith leaders |
"Ferguson laid bare a problem that is not unique to St. Louis…and that is a simmering distrust that exists between too many police departments and too many communities of color; the sense that in a country where one of our basic principles, perhaps the most important principle is equality under the law, that too many individuals particularly young people of color do not feel as if they're being treated fairly. As I said last if any part of the American family does not feel like if it's being treated fairly, that's a problem for all of us. It's not not just a problem for some, it's not just a problem for a particularly community…"
"One of the most powerful things that happened today was I got the opportunity to meet with some young people, including a couple of young, outstanding leaders from the Ferguson community…what made me concerned was the degree to which they feel that they are not heard and the reality of their experience has been denied, what made me really encouraged was how clear their voices were when they were heard, and how constructive they are in wanting to solve these problems."
"We also heard from law enforcement and were reminded what a tough job it is to be in law enforcement…as Eric Holder said, police officers have the right to come home and if they're in dangerous circumstances, we have to be able to put ourselves in their shoes and realize that they do have a tough job. I don't think those realities are irreconcilable, in fact I'm convinced if we work..that we can make sure that police officers and the communities they serve are partners..in making sure everybody feels safe."
"There's been commissions before, there have been task forces, there have been conversations and nothing happens. And I try to describe to people why this time will be different. And part of the reason this time will be different is because the President of the United States is deeply invested in making sure that this time is different."
There was a Mayor stakeout that included New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Rev. Al Sharpton at about5:16pm. Some remarks from Al Sharpton:
"This was a historic meeting that the president and vice president sat with all of us and law enforcement to commit to not just another commitment, another study…but that he would put his full weight behind it. We live in a country that we must support law enforcement but law enforcement must support justice. The ruling in Ferguson is something that is not a wake up call to many of us…it's a reminder to the nation to live up to the principles."
"I will gladly be calling the parents of Michael Brown and of Eric Garner in Staten Island to let them know what happened in the meeting, but what happens after the meeting will determine whether we just had a feel good session or whether we're moving toward change. I believe we're moving toward change."
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