Obama Asks The American People To Reject Violence After The Shooting Of 2 NYC Police Officers

Last updated on December 22nd, 2014 at 08:03 pm

President Obama strongly condemned the ambush killing of two New York police officers, while calling on the American people to reject violence.

New York City police officers Rafael Ramos and Wenjian Liu were ambushed and killed by gunman who had traveled from Baltimore to Brooklyn specifically to kill police officers. After the killings, the gunman committed suicide.

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President Obama strongly condemned this brutal act of violence, “I unconditionally condemn today’s murder of two police officers in New York City. Two brave men won’t be going home to their loved ones tonight, and for that, there is no justification. The officers who serve and protect our communities risk their own safety for ours every single day – and they deserve our respect and gratitude every single day. Tonight, I ask people to reject violence and words that harm, and turn to words that heal – prayer, patient dialogue, and sympathy for the friends and family of the fallen.”

Just hours after the president’s statement, Rudy Giuliani went on Fox News to blame the president for the deaths of the two officers.

Obama’s message to the American people has been consistent. Violence is not the answer. Answering an act of violence with more violence is a recipe for more misery and heartbreak. The violence must stop. The president’s critics have invented their own fantasy world where Obama is to blame, but the truth is that the president has been consistently using his bully pulpit to discourage and condemn violence.

Real change in our society will come from peaceful collective action. The senseless murder of innocents will only work to set progress back. Every American would be wise to follow the president’s lead and embrace words and actions that heal and change while rejecting the destruction caused by violence.

Jason Easley

Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and  Professional Memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association