One of these comments is not like the others, do you know which one?

Yesterday, Barack Obama participated in a virtual townhall, where he expressed support for the protesters and called for police reform.

He told the young men and women of color, quote,

I want you to know that you matter. I want you to know that your lives matter, that your dreams matter, hope that you also feel hopeful, even as you may feel angry, because you have the power to make things better and you have helped to make the entire country feel as if this is something that’s got to change.
You've communicated a sense of urgency that's as powerful and as transformative as anything that I’ve seen in recent years.

Obama also paid tribute to the "vast majority" of those in law enforcement, who share the goals of re-imagining police. He noted that they have a tough job, but they've also been outraged, and they want to be part of the solution.

NBC/YouTube

Now, ALL of the living U.S. presidents have weighed in. Here's a sample of their comments . . .

George W. Bush:

It remains a shocking failure that many African Americans, especially young African American men, are harassed and threatened in their own country. It's a strength when protesters, protected by responsible law enforcement, march for a better future.
This tragedy in a long series of similar tragedies raises a long overdue question: How do we end systemic racism in our society?
The only way to see ourselves in a true light is to listen to the voices of so many who are hurting and grieving. Those who set out to silence those voices do not understand the meaning of America  or how it becomes a better place.

Bill Clinton:

No one deserves to die the way George Floyd did. And the truth is, if you're white in America, the chances are you won't.
That truth is what underlies the pain and the anger that so many are feeling and expressing . . . that the path of an entire life can be measured and devalued by the color of one's skin.
We need to see each other as equally deserving of life, liberty, respect, dignity, and the presumption of innocence. We need to ask ourselves and each other hard questions and listen carefully to the answers.

Jimmy Carter:

We all must shine a spotlight on the immorality of racial discrimination. But violence, whether spontaneous or consciously incited, is not a solution.
People of power, privilege, and moral conscience must stand up and say 'no more' to a racially discriminatory police and justice system, immoral economic disparities between whites and blacks,And government actions that undermine our unified democracy. We are responsible for creating a world of peace and equality for ourselves and future generations.

 

As for President Trump, he's made it clear he believes the rioting and looting dishonors the memory of George Floyd. He hasn't gone out of his way to show support for the protests, and he still believes that "law and order" can heal America.
Yesterday, Trump Tweeted, quote,

In three and a half years, I've done much more for our Black population than Joe Biden has done in 43 years, I've done more for Black Americans, in fact, than any President in U.S. history with the possible exception of another Republican President, the late, great, Abraham Lincoln. And it’s not even close.

(Speaking of Trump, he also denied media reports that he hid in a White House bunker during last weekend's riots. He said that he did go down for a "tiny, little short period of time," but only to "inspect" it.)

WUPE logo
Enter your number to get our free mobile app

More From WUPE