BREAKING: President Obama just granted clemency to 46 men and women whose sentences didn't fit their crimes. Nearly all of these individuals would have already served their time and returned to society if they were convicted of the exact same crime today: http://go.wh.gov/KtwU7f
"I'd just ask folks to step back and think: What if this happened to somebody in your family? How would you feel? To be concerned about these issues is not political correctness, it's just being American and wanting to live up to our best and highest ideals." —President Obama. Watch him speak on the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile: http://go.wh.gov/Tqxe43
"What's clear is that these fatal shootings are not isolated incidents. They are symptomatic of the broader challenges within our criminal justice system, the racial disparities that appear across the system year after year, and the resulting lack of trust that exists between law enforcement and too many of the communities they serve." —President Obama
All Americans should be deeply troubled by the fatal shootings of Alton Sterling in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and Philando Castile in Falcon Heights, Minnesota. We...'ve seen such tragedies far too many times, and our hearts go out to the families and communities who've suffered such a painful loss.
Although I am constrained in commenting on the particular facts of these cases, I am encouraged that the U.S. Department of Justice has opened a civil rights investigation in Baton Rouge, and I have full confidence in their professionalism and their ability to conduct a thoughtful, thorough, and fair inquiry.
But regardless of the outcome of such investigations, what's clear is that these fatal shootings are not isolated incidents. They are symptomatic of the broader challenges within our criminal justice system, the racial disparities that appear across the system year after year, and the resulting lack of trust that exists between law enforcement and too many of the communities they serve.
To admit we've got a serious problem in no way contradicts our respect and appreciation for the vast majority of police officers who put their lives on the line to protect us every single day. It is to say that, as a nation, we can and must do better to institute the best practices that reduce the appearance or reality of racial bias in law enforcement.
That's why, two years ago, I set up a Task Force on 21st Century Policing that convened police officers, community leaders, and activists. Together, they came up with detailed recommendations on how to improve community policing. So even as officials continue to look into this week's tragic shootings, we also need communities to address the underlying fissures that lead to these incidents, and to implement those ideas that can make a difference. That's how we'll keep our communities safe. And that's how we can start restoring confidence that all people in this great nation are equal before the law.
In the meantime, all Americans should recognize the anger, frustration, and grief that so many Americans are feeling -- feelings that are being expressed in peaceful protests and vigils. Michelle and I share those feelings. Rather than fall into a predictable pattern of division and political posturing, let's reflect on what we can do better. Let's come together as a nation, and keep faith with one another, in order to ensure a future where all of our children know that their lives matter.
Today we lose more Americans to drug overdoses than traffic accidents—and every day that passes without Congress acting to provide adequate funding to support treatment for those suffering from addiction is a missed opportunity to save lives. As Congress continues to not act, President Obama is taking additional steps to expand access to treatment: http://go.wh.gov/VVe3Hc
“I will not allow Afghanistan to be used as safe haven for terrorists to attack our nation again.” —President Obama. Today, the President announced that the United States will maintain approximately 8,400 troops in Afghanistan into next year to protect our national security and help our Afghan partners sustain their progress: go.wh.gov/VLJFos
The prescription opioid and heroin epidemic has taken a heartbreaking toll on too many Americans and their families. In fact, more Americans now die every year from all drug overdoses than they do in motor vehicle crashes. Watch live as National Drug Control Policy Director Michael Botticelli takes your questions and talks about what needs to be done to address this epidemic:
Automation and robots are changing the ways in which we work and live. Where do we go from here? Join White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough for a live discussion with experts Robin Chase and Martin Ford:
Happy Fourth of July, everyone! Today, as we celebrate our freedoms, let's also do what we can to honor all those who serve and sacrifice to make that freedom p...ossible. Take a look at JoiningForces.gov to find out how you can serve the troops, veterans, and military families in your community.
And to all our brave men and women in uniform - you represent the best of who we are as a nation. On this day and every day, we thank you.
Have a safe and happy holiday.
Tune in tomorrow at 1:15pm EDT for a LIVE conversation with automation experts Robin Chase and Martin Ford, moderated by White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough. The conversation will be streaming LIVE here as well as on Business Insider and Futurism. Have questions? Submit them in the comments below.
This week, Vice President Biden visited his ancestral home in County Mayo, Ireland, returning for Fourth of July weekend with pride in his heritage and an even greater pride in the United States: “I was reminded of the quintessentially American notion that home is where your character is etched. And how, as Americans, we hail from many homes. Somewhere along the line, someone in our lineage arrived on these shores, filled with hope. We are blessed to experience that simultaneous pride in where we've found ourselves, while never forgetting our roots.”
In his poetry, my great-grandfather Edward Francis Blewitt spoke of both continents -- how his heart and soul drew from the old and the new. You can hear in his... poems how quietly proud he was. Proud of his ancestors. Proud of his blood. Proud of his city. Most of all, he was proud of his family.
The Irish families who left for America during the famine and since then brought their traditions, their values, and their heart with them. They have made our country better. As have so many immigrant families from around the world. They are America. And so, with the words of my great-grandfather in mind, I reflect on this trip with an immense pride in my heritage -- but with an even greater pride in the country I call home.
Here's a parting look at our trip to Ireland.
Calling all student filmmakers: There are just under two weeks left to submit your three-minute film to the White House Student Film Festival! Tell us your vision for the future in three minutes or less and your film could screen at the White House. Submissions close July 15th and are open to K-12 students nationwide. Learn more: wh.gov/filmfest
"Many military families move every few years to a new base in a different state. These families already sacrificed so much to serve us. They shouldn't have to sacrifice their livelihoods too." —First Lady Michelle Obama on making sure military spouses can continue to do the work they love, no matter where they live. Five years ago, only three states had taken action to streamline professional licensing for military families. This Fourth of July weekend, the First Lady and Dr. Jill Biden announced that all fifty states are taking action to help military spouses continue their careers. (via ATTN:)
“Elie never gave up on humanity and on the progress that is possible when we treat one another with dignity and respect.” —President Obama on the loss of Elie Wiesel:
Elie Wiesel was one of the great moral voices of our time, and in many ways, the conscience of the world. Tonight, Michelle and I join people across the United ...States, Israel and around the globe in mourning the loss and celebrating the life of a truly remarkable human being. Like millions of admirers, I first came to know Elie through his account of the horror he endured during the Holocaust simply because he was Jewish. But I was also honored and deeply humbled to call him a dear friend. I'm especially grateful for all the moments we shared and our talks together, which ranged from the meaning of friendship to our shared commitment to the State of Israel.
Elie was not just the world's most prominent Holocaust survivor, he was a living memorial. After we walked together among the barbed wire and guard towers of Buchenwald where he was held as a teenager and where his father perished, Elie spoke words I’ve never forgotten – “Memory has become a sacred duty of all people of goodwill.” Upholding that sacred duty was the purpose of Elie's life. Along with his beloved wife Marion and the foundation that bears his name, he raised his voice, not just against anti-Semitism, but against hatred, bigotry and intolerance in all its forms. He implored each of us, as nations and as human beings, to do the same, to see ourselves in each other and to make real that pledge of “never again.”
At the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum that he helped create, you can see his words —“for the dead and the living, we must bear witness.” But Elie did more than just bear witness, he acted. As a writer, a speaker, an activist, and a thinker, he was one of those people who changed the world more as a citizen of the world than those who hold office or traditional positions of power. His life, and the power of his example, urges us to be better. In the face of evil, we must summon our capacity for good. In the face of hate, we must love. In the face of cruelty, we must live with empathy and compassion. We must never be bystanders to injustice or indifferent to suffering. Just imagine the peace and justice that would be possible in our world if we all lived a little more like Elie Wiesel.
At the end of our visit to Buchenwald, Elie said that after all that he and the other survivors had endured, “we had the right to give up on humanity.” But he said, “we rejected that possibility…we said, no, we must continue believing in a future.” Tonight, we give thanks that Elie never gave up on humanity and on the progress that is possible when we treat one another with dignity and respect. Our thoughts are with Marion, their son Shlomo Elisha, his stepdaughter Jennifer and his grandchildren whom we thank for sharing Elie with the world. May God bless the memory of Elie Wiesel, and may his soul be bound up in the bond of eternal life.
“The United States condemns in the strongest terms the horrific terrorist attack in Dhaka, Bangladesh on July 1-2. We remain in contact with Bangladeshi authorities and have offered any assistance necessary. This heinous attack resulted in as many as 20 deaths, including an American citizen, Bangladeshi law enforcement personnel, and citizens of several other nations. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those killed, and we hope for a speedy recovery for those wounded. This is a despicable act of terrorism, and the United States stands with Bangladesh and the international community in our resolve to confront terrorism wherever it occurs.” —Press Secretary Josh Earnest: http://go.wh.gov/zBUQXw
"We can finally say to so many of our military families—when you move, you’ll no longer be forced to put the career you love on hold just because you and your family have chosen to serve this country. That’s what this is all about—serving our men and women in uniform as well as they have served us." —President Obama celebrating a milestone achieved this week by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden's Joining Forces initiative. All fifty states have now acted to streamline professional licensing for military spouses so that if their families are transferred across state lines, they can continue to do the work they love: JoiningForces.gov
"Every single one of us has the power and the obligation to be a champion for girls around the world." Follow First Lady Michelle Obama on her 3-country trip to listen to and lift up the voices of young women and girls in this week's edition of West Wing Week: LetGirlsLearn.gov
“When there are emergencies, when there are public health emergencies, when we know that we have the chance to prevent serious tragedies in the lives of families and protect the health and safety of our populations, and particularly our children, then...politics need to be set aside. So Congress should not leave, should not adjourn until they have this done.” —President Obama speaking to the press after meeting with health officials on Zika preparedness. Learn more about Zika and what we can do to stop its spread: go.wh.gov/Zika
!['Today we lose more Americans to drug overdoses than traffic accidents—and every day that passes without Congress acting to provide adequate funding to support treatment for those suffering from addiction is a missed opportunity to save lives. As Congress continues to not act, @[424207551102424:274:President Obama] is taking additional steps to expand access to treatment: http://go.wh.gov/VVe3Hc'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/13606887_10154500621279238_6099996813354266143_n.jpg?oh=1b50e6784e08d54c3b7a9017d85f5271&oe=5829FFFB)
!['Self-driving cars. Drones that deliver mail. Robots that defend you in court. According to some futurists, these things aren’t so far off. How will automation and robots change the ways we work and live? Tune in on Tuesday, July 5th at 1:15pm EDT for a LIVE conversation with experts Robin Chase and Martin Ford, moderated by White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough. Watch live here as well as over at @[20446254070:274:Business Insider] and @[352364611609411:274:Futurism]. Have questions? Submit them in the comments. http://go.wh.gov/J4YrEP'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/13528834_10154486008289238_3718298465871246767_n.jpg?oh=9366c2ca2a9b24a69b51e393b0a00d9a&oe=57F600D0)
!['“One of the most special moments of my presidency was that warm summer night last June when we lit up the White House out there. It was a powerful symbol here at home, where more Americans finally felt accepted and whole, and that their country recognized the love that they felt. It was a beacon for people around the world who are still fighting for those rights. It was a reminder that when the change we seek comes, and when we move a little bit further on our journey toward equality and justice, we still have a responsibility to reach back and help pull up others who are striving to do the same.” —@[424207551102424:274:President Obama]. Today marks one year since the Supreme Court ruled that marriage equality would be the law of the land: http://go.wh.gov/RC9e1C #LoveIsLove #Pride2016'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/13466443_10154474531279238_8784989228301987937_n.jpg?oh=8f483a95701dfc6bfbc8134694867f17&oe=57ED76B8)
!['"Gun violence requires more than moments of silence. It requires action. In failing that test, the Senate failed the American people." —@[424207551102424:274:President Obama]: go.wh.gov/SvnSmM'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/13501726_10154461107894238_2679111110548185143_n.jpg?oh=bd7f1347828b5c120ac56d28069d5225&oe=582E2BBC)
!['For years, @[424207551102424:274:President Obama] has called on Republicans in Congress to follow the will of the American people and enact commonsense laws to help reduce gun violence. For years they have actively done nothing. Last night, following the worst shooting in American history, they did it again—voting down basic measures that could help keep guns away from extremists who seek to kill people. It’s pretty simple: People with possible ties to terrorism who aren't allowed on a plane shouldn't be allowed to buy a gun.
We can’t stop every tragedy, but we can stop some of them. That should have been enough for Republican Senators last night. go.wh.gov/SvnSmM'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/13516318_10154459971334238_7202993905558149537_n.png?oh=b09e34eea3511012dd63304cd05422f3&oe=57E9931C)
!['Protecting and assisting refugees is part of our history as a nation. It’s the American way. Under @[424207551102424:274:President Obama], the United States provides more humanitarian relief to refugees than any other nation—and by working together, we can help even more who are displaced find a safe haven and a new start: AidRefugees.gov #RefugeesWelcome'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/13434689_10154458226979238_7372811812237904225_n.jpg?oh=33402b49eee161696a22f33e3084b372&oe=57EB1904)
!['Happy Father's Day! This weekend, @[424207551102424:274:President Obama] and the First Family headed to Yosemite National Park for a summer adventure to celebrate 100 years of the @[59420116388:274:National Park Service]. See more from their trip at go.wh.gov/ParksTrip.'](https://scontent.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t1.0-0/p100x100/13427989_10154454774909238_2698410340200164610_n.jpg?oh=df755204571b7c7e778d2d60efd60241&oe=57FC387C)
