President Obama, Atty. General Eric Holder and the NAACP Condemn Senseless Murder of Two New York City Police Officers
Two NYPD Officers, Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos, were gunned down Saturday by Ismaaiyl Brinsley while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn. After the shootings, Brinsley commited suicide. Prior to the shootings, Brinsley, 28, on his Instagram Account wrote: “I’m putting wings on pigs today. They take 1 of ours, let’s take 2 of theirs.”
“Two brave men won’t be going home to their loved ones tonight…” President Barack Obama
Saying he unconditionally condemn the murder of two police officers in New York City, President obama said there is no justification for this heinous act.
“Two brave men won’t be going home to their loved ones tonight, and for that, there is no justification,” Obama said in a statement. “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.”
Attorney General Eric Holder released the following statement Saturday regarding the fatal shootings of two New York City police officers:
“I condemn this afternoon’s senseless shooting of two New York City police officers in the strongest possible terms. This was an unspeakable act of barbarism, and I was deeply saddened to hear of the loss of these two brave officers in the line of duty.
“On behalf of all those who serve in the United States Department of Justice, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the officers’ loved ones and colleagues. I will make available all of the resources of the Department to aid the NYPD in investigating this tragedy.
“This cowardly attack underscores the dangers that are routinely faced by those who protect and serve their fellow citizens. Â As a nation we must not forget this as we discuss the events of the recent past. These courageous men and women routinely incur tremendous personal risks, and place their lives on the line each and every day, in order to preserve public safety. Â We are forever in their debt.
“Our nation must always honor the valor — and the sacrifices — of all law enforcement officers with a steadfast commitment to keeping them safe. Â This means forging closer bonds between officers and the communities they serve, so that public safety is not a cause that is served by a courageous few, but a promise that’s fulfilled by police officials and citizens working side by side.”
The NAACP also said it condemns the violent and senseless deaths of NYPD Officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos. We extend our deepest condolences to the families of these officers and also pray for a speedy recovery of the third victim who was shot in Maryland yesterday by the same shooter. In no way does the NAACP support this act of vigilante justice by a troubled individual. While our criminal justice system is not without deep and divisive flaws, we know that police officers, who risk their own safety for ours, play a critical and necessary role in keeping every community safe. Our sincerest sympathies go out to the friends and the families of the slain officers. The loss of any life at the hands of violence ‎is tragic. We who believe in peace and freedom, fairness and equality, understand that progress can only be achieved by intimate and intentional collaboration of law enforcement and community members.
