Hannes Magerstaedt/Getty Images, FILEaddressing the protests nationwide following the death of George Floyd -- and, specifically, how he thinks people can move forward to"sustain momentum to bring about real change."
"Ultimately, it’s going to be up to a new generation of activists to shape strategies that best fit the times," he wrote."But I believe there are some basic lessons to draw from past efforts that are worth remembering." His message overall put forth the importance of voting and participating in politics, particularly at the local level, where decisions on ground-level criminal justice and police practices are formed.
The"bottom line" he wrote is that"if we want to bring about real change, then the choice isn’t between protest and politics. We have to do both. We have to mobilize to raise awareness, and we have to organize and cast our ballots to make sure that we elect candidates who will act on reform.
From there, the former president addressed the importance of participating in politics and voting in every election, saying that"the elected officials who matter most in reforming police departments and the criminal justice system work at the state and local levels."
Hard pass
Bla, bla, bla, the more white black.
David Dorn died by the hands of a looter
13 years too late, bro
You had 8 years BarackObama so with all due respect please sit this one out and let someone else take a turn. (And his name isn't Biden)
Even if Obama did almost nothing, from my observation his regime seemed more peaceful to that of Trump's. Ever since Trump came into power it didn't seem the name United States of America meant much because it doesn't seem so United again...
HE DID NOTHING WHEN HE WAS IN POWER HE MUST KEEP HIS ESSAYS
He's a Fucking nobody. He had a chance to clean up the problems and did the bare minimum. He should be Jailed
We miss you so much😥
So he didnt do anything in 8 years because...?
Then why didn’t he push for these changes after Ferguson when he was POTUS?
Weird, he’s saying to vote republican. Minneapolis has been a Democratic stronghold forever. The Minneapolis PD has long tradition of police brutality and those local politicians have done nothing to change it.
Please help us!!
He had 8 years and nothing changed, people who struggled before him are still struggling after him. It doesn’t matter who is president. The Money controls this country. Follow the money and you will find the answers.
I like BarackObama , but if he really knew how to make change in this regard, WHY didn't he do so/more during the two terms he was elected?
Him and Joe Biden were in office for 8 years and racism is still a problem in America.
.and, he was elected twice! perhaps his 8 years in the White House were not enough to bring said reforms🤔 USATODAY CNN washingtonpost nytimes RT_America CBSNews
No thanks he had 8yrs to do something!
You had 8 yrs. and as I first Black leader you failed. Obviously.
What change did you make in 8 years asshole?
Time to come back as president, not publish an essay coz we don’t have time to read right now..
Where is he and why isn't he calling for people to stop this violence? Looters tarnishing BLM. BarackObama doesn't speak up when people are losing their businesses? You are showing you don't care! Silence does speak loudly!
I like Obama but I’ve grown tired of his polititalk. Too much pablum and platitudes..
Hi Sarah, I am so happy to heart that. Stay safe dear friend.
Why didn't he write this 'essay' and change the laws when he was POTUS for 8 years?
Only thing needed to effect this is take the phone away from the lunatic evoking military rule , your President✌✌🙏🙏😎, and gag him !!
Where was his big plan for Freddie Gray? He pipes up now when he's not in office, when he did absolutely nothing while he was in office
I will vote Biden out!
8 years and did nothing to curb this issue. These incidents happened under his administration too.
If you think back you may remember the talk about OBAMAS SECRET ARMY, WELL THEY ARE PAID BY GEORGE SOROS. President Trump YOU CAN CALL Martial Law and use the Military to STOP THIS WAR ON WE THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES 🇺🇸
Comey, Hilary; Biden & U included!
President for 8 years and did nothing but make it worse
BarackObama accomplished exactly what in his ~decade of elected service? You’d think reforms would flow from the office of a US senator and the president of the United States.
You did not change it yourself when you were in power
Why the fuck didn’t he do this after Ferguson when he had the power!!
(8)years mr (8)and nothing? You need to hide
I voted for him to do just that and. Crickets
He had 8 years? He didn't do squat! Now, all these riots and calls for reforms in cities that have been controlled by Democrats for decades? If he wants change, okay. Elect Republican Mayors, Governors etc.
Someone tell him he was president for 8 years!!! And did NOTHING. How are democrat voters not fed up with this bs pandering every 4 years and then nothing getting done? Wake up!!!
You mean like: “If you like your plan you can keep your plan?” He’s right, we should have read the fine print.
_sorci_ Its like they were watching our convo
He needs to be arrested soon
1) end qualified immunity 2) end no knock raids 3) ban public sector unions 4) all ethics/brutality investigations done outside of the department 5) end civil asset forfeiture
Second round of relief checks have not gone around and ppl are being left to starve and go homeless. Why? Bruh add the republic senate refuses to helo the ppl, meanwhile their taxpayer funded paychecks still come on time.
These elected officials are democrats you are talking about 😂😂😂. VOTE THEM OUT!! That’s when real reform and justice will happen!
Lock this pimp up NOW!!!!
Soulless eyes.
Piglianculo
I'm glad we have a real leader stepping in while our feeble fake president hides.
But when you were....nevermind 🤦🏾♀️
Is that what you said after each one of these BarackObama?
Specifics with considering: Psychological Screening; Educational requirements; Merit based promotions; Training; and, Minimum physical standards, or other criteria, that would lessen the fear many officers feel on the streets.
Barack can say all he wants, but he’s no longer in Office. The Obama we need to hear from is Michelle! Michelle can help bring change as the Vice President of the United States! She just needs to say YES she’ll run!!!
ObamaGate
America's Criminal Justice System is too corrupt to be reformed for it needs a new justice System, period.
He had 8 years right?
Says the dummy who cut off fostercare funding While AT $M£ damn time Putting refugee$$$$$ in awesome AMERCAN? hotels with FREE EVERYTHING FXXXUUUUU
We must stop this kind of atrocity on US soil! We must stop this kind of killing on US soil! We must stop this kind of murders on US soil! We must stop this domestic terrorism on US soil! We need Amendment 28, i.e. Freedom of Breath!
Speaking of himself ... I’m guessing!
Times Up!!!! No more of 'We Will Get Thur This Together'!!!! Results Are All That Matter Now!!!!
Colin Kaepernick brutally murdered George Floyd in daylight, in front of bystanders and under video camera. Colin Kaepernick must be prosecuted to the full extent of law! Colin Kaepernick must spend the rest of his life in prison without parole.
So why didn’t you do this for 8 years?
If so, then for a good start, police departments have to start ferreting out those police officers who are on a power trip and who have a past of racism and contempt for others.
says the King of Lip Service
What did he do for 8 years? Oh that's right, it was all rainbows and roses.....except.......
Can we look for the goodness amidst all of this? Otherwise we will only find & expand the bad. We are in a powerful time of transformation. People are waking up, seeing & feeling one another’s humanity. Hearts are opening. We’re the saviors we were waiting for. humanKINDrising
Speaking of divisive
Thank you President Obama. Hopefully your voice in this nightmare may help?
Not letting a crisis go to waste. No call for peace no call for the looting to stop. Typical politician and a fool
Obama knows there's no hunger for such candidates among Democrat or Republican party Last elections 2 y ago there were more candidates with far right views coming from the CIA NSA & Pentagon then in any previous elections US democracy does'nt offer that kind of choice to voters
A pig in sheep's clothing
You had 8 years
Barry, most of those thugs probably can’t read.
True leadership has spoken!
I hope it’s becoming clear that all these chaotic events of 2020 are orchestrated by your leaders in order to influence the election
He didn't effect change. Give me a break.
“to bring about real change” ....so what did Mr. Obama bring during those 8 years? Fake change? Mr. Obama and his administration (incl. Mr. Biden) had an opportunity to implement all these “ideas” in his essay. They are now unfortunately merely political talking points.
GMA Still believe he’s a socialists and everything we see today was set in motion by him
I have found a whole new respect for President Obama in recent years.
This coming from a man who signed the blue lives matter bill after I'm sure he was well aware of the FBI saying that white nationalists had infiltrated law enforcement.😒
GMA All he wants is to see Trump gone because of what has been discovered with the FBI
BarackObama BarackObama MichelleObama MichaelBrown TamirRice PhilandoCastile AltonSterling SandraBland mitricerichardson WalterScott TrayvonMartin EricGarner FlintMichigan All occurred during his Presidency AttorneyGeneral FBI
djrothkopf A lot of troll bots on this. Many can't spell or put together a cogent sentence.
So “Hope and Change” didn’t work?
The people on my TL knocking voting all of a sudden is hurting my brain. Protesting in the streets and voting can BOTH be good. It’s not a zero sum game here. (Local elections at that)
He didn’t write no essay 🤣🤣🤣🤷♂️💯💯❗️
yes because people need to hear for someone that had the power to do something for 8 years and did nothing because he has something to say now
If it was possible Obama should have come back in this next election, Trump is making this country a war zone
Real leadership.
Always schilling for the ruling class.
You had nothing to say and created division for 8 years. Please zip your face.
Hun. . .GET OFF THE STAGE. . .YOU HAD 8. . .LONG. . .YEARS to FIX race relations. . .during Ferguson. . .you said ZILTCH, ZIP, NADA!!! WHERE WERE YOU AND JO JO 30330 WHILE THOSE ANARCHIST WERE SAYING 'BURN THE 'B' DOWN' And now you wanT TO SAVE THE DAY?
No more division and subversion. America is united . The majority is on the same side: justice for George Floyd, and law and order. GoldenAge, TheBestIsYetToCome.
He didnt do anything when Ferguson and Baltimore were burning. Stfu barry
Obama called them thugs in 2015...
He had 8 years and those 8 years brought us to here with people protesting because change did NOT happen. Wasn't a situation of just the last year justice failed. Why anyone listens to him when he failed them so badly I will never understand.
You had 8 years bro. You did nothing. Be gone.
Hello, the IRGC's oil money in the United States has given personality to J. Floyd, while Obama is a close friend of the سپاه
How can he say this with a straight face Act on reform!! He didn't even pass in 8 years criminal justice reform.
Thanks for the reminder, Obama! We will be voting for our awesome President, realDonaldTrump ! He’s the only president that has tried to make the lives of black and brown Americans prosperous. Remember, you and SleepyJoe did NOTHING.. 🇺🇸 Trump2020VictoryNowMoreThanEver
He was president for 8 years!!!! Wtf! Democrats have had control of these inner cities for decades on decades! What is voting doing for them? Someone please tell me!
There are about to be some converging grievances & this isn't going to be pretty.
The riots have been democrat states. It was in a democratic state the George Floyd was killed. So if you want change, the vote republican because at the moment, the democrats are the ones failing you
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