Obama condemns violence at protests over Floyd's death; says protesters 'deserve support'

Former United States President Barack Obama on Monday condemned violence amid protests over death of George Floyd and called for political solutions to address protesters' grievances about criminal justice. He called for making “this moment a real turning point to bring about real change.”

" protests represent a genuine and legitimate frustration over a decades-long failure to reform police practices and broader criminal justice system. We should condemn few who resort to violence--t overwhelming majority who deserve our respect and support," Obama tweeted.

' choice isn't between protest and politics'

He stated that point of protest is to raise public awareness, to put a spotlight on injustice, and to make powers that be uncomfortable. "But eventually, we have to translate those aspirations into specific laws and institutional practices," he added.

Obama explained that to do that, people have to kw which levels of government have biggest impact. He said that changing federal government is important but elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and criminal justice system work at state and local levels.

former President furr said, " more specific we can make demands for criminal justice and police reform, harder it will be for elected officials to just offer lip service to cause and n fall back into business as usual once protests have gone away."

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'He will t have died in vain'

Meanwhile, Donald Trump on Monday said that all Americans are rightly 'sickened by brutal death' of George Floyd and his administration is fully committed to providing justice to George and his family. "All Americans were rightly sickened and revolted by brutal death of George Floyd. My administration is fully committed, justice will be fully served for George and his family and He will t have died in vain," Trump said during a press briefing.

READ | Barack Obama issues statement on George Floyd's death after protests rock United States

"My first and highest duty as president is to defend and protect great country and American people. I have sworn an oath to uphold laws of our nation and that is exactly what I will do," he added.

Demonstrators across United States have been protesting since May 25, when George Floyd, a 46-years-old African American man, died under police custody in city of Minneapolis. Around 4,000 people across United States have been arrested during massive protests over death of George Floyd.

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(With ncy inputs)