Obama uses Dallas memorial to confront nation on race

Source: The Hill

President Obama used a Tuesday memorial for five police officers slain in Dallas to confront racial divisions in the U.S., saying that Americans are "not as divided as we seem."

“I know that because I know America. I know how far we’ve come against impossible odds,” he said.
Obama also gave a nod to activists who have protested what they see as racial bias among law enforcement.

“Race relations have improved dramatically in my lifetime,” Obama said. “Those who deny it are dishonoring the struggles that helped us achieve that progress. But we know that bias remains. We know it.” Obama said the killings of the officers were an "act not just of demented violence but of racial hatred. It’s as if the deepest fault lines of our democracy have been exposed, perhaps even widened,” he said.

Obama praised the officers, who were “upholding the constitutional rights of this country” during a demonstration against police brutality, despite possibly disagreeing with the message of many of the protesters.

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Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/287419-in-mourning-dallas-victims-obama-makes-plea-for-unity