Hillary Clinton spoke out about Ferguson on Thursday, calling out “inequities” in the justice system and the increased militarization of small town police forces.
Clinton’s remarks come three weeks after the shooting death of Michael Brown, which sparked protests throughout the Missouri town. She had been silent on the situation, even as police actions turned violent. In a recent interview, Rev. Al Sharpton called out several leading politicians, including Clinton, for remaining silent.
On Thursday, Clinton finally broke her silence while speaking at a technology conference in San Francisco. In her remarks, Clinton cited issues with an increasingly militarized police departments, telling the audience no one wants to see streets in America look like a “war zone.” Via The Huffington Post:
“This summer, the eyes of our country and indeed of the world have been focused on one community in the middle of the American heartland: Ferguson, Missouri,” Clinton said. “Watching the recent funeral for Michael Brown, as a mother, as a human being, my heart just broke for his family because losing a child is every parent’s greatest fear and an unimaginable loss.”
“Behind the dramatic, terrible pictures on television, there are deep challenges that will be with them and with us long after the cameras move on,” she said. “This is what happens when the bonds of trust and respect that hold any community together fray.”
While offering praise for President Barack Obama’s decision to send Attorney General Eric Holder to the region, she also added “We cannot ignore the inequities that persist in our justice system. Inequities that undermine our most deeply held values of fairness and equality.”
Image via Getty.