Obama Encourages Protesters In Ferguson, Missouri To 'Listen, Not Just Shout'
President Barack Obama spoke out on the protests currently taking place in Ferguson, Missouri on Monday, imploring protesters to listen, rather than "just shout."
The president took a break from his summer vacation to discuss the current Ferguson protests with reporters at the White House on Monday, encouraging protesters to seek unity and peace with police officers so the controversy surrounding the death of 18-year-old Michael Brown can be more quickly and easily resolved.
"Let's seek to heal rather than to wound each other," the president said, adding that he feels sympathy for the "passions and anger" felt by Ferguson residents, and understands that only a small minority of protesters have participated in violent riots that include looting and the throwing of Molotov cocktails.
The president went on to say that diffusing the tension between local American communities and their police forces would require Americans to "listen and not just shout."
"That's how we're going to move forward together, by trying to unite each other and understand each other and not simply divide ourselves from one another," Obama added.
The president also said that he will be sending Attorney General Eric Holder to Ferguson on Wednesday to carry out a federal investigation into Brown's death. Brown was fatally shot on Saturday, August 9 by Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson, who was responding to a robbery at a local convenience store.
A federal autopsy was ordered for Brown after a state autopsy revealed the teenager had been shot six times by Wilson, all in his front. One of the bullets appears to have entered Brown's head from above, perhaps signaling that his head was bowed when he was shot.
Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon announced Monday that he would be calling the National Guard into Ferguson to maintain unruly protesters. On Monday, the governor also called off the two-night curfew that had been placed on Ferguson residents.
