Barack Obama says it is time to bring 'real change'; tells youth 'your lives matter'

Former US President Barack Obama in a town hall said that talent and sophistication displayed by young people across America made him feel optimistic about country's future. He said that youth should feel hopeful since y have power and help needed to make things better. 

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Obama addresses protests and talks about future of movement 

In a 'My Bror’s Keeper' event organised by Obama Foundation on Wednesday, he said, "I kw eugh about that history to say: re is something different here. You look at those protest and that was a far more representative cross-section of America out on streets, peacefully protesting, who felt moved to do something because of injustices that y have seen. That didn't exist back in 1960s, that kind of broad collation."

Obama rejected any claims regarding movement just being 'internet chatter' and said, "This is t an eir-or. This is a both,  and to bring about real change. We both have to highlight a problem and make people in power uncomfortable, but we also have to translate that into practical solutions and laws that could be implemented and monitored and make sure we’re following up on.”

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Obama called for turning protests over Floyd’s death into policy change to ensure safer policing and increased trust between communities and law enforcement. He urged “every mayor in country to review your use of police forces” with ir communities and “commit to report on planned reforms” before prioritizing ir implementation.

“We’re in a political season, but our country is also at an inflection point,” said Valerie Jarrett, a longtime friend and adviser to Obama. “President Obama is t going to shy away from that dialogue simply because he’s t in office anymore.”

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George Floyd's death

Obama's conference comes at back of severe protests across all fifty states in USA following death of George Floyd, a black man who died whilst being restrained by police. police officer, Derek Chauvin, forced his knee on to Floyd's neck for more than eight minutes near tyre of squad car in Minneapolis. A video that surfaced online later showed that Floyd was pleading with officer to release him and could be heard saying that he "couldn't brea" several times before succumbing. 

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