“We have some soul-searching to do. This is not new. It’s been going on for decades.” 

– President Obama

President Obama on Freddie Gray’s Death: “This is Not New, and We Shouldn’t Pretend that It’s New.”

Every American has role to play in tackling this longstanding challenge. We don’t just pay attention to these communities when a CVS burns, and we don’t just pay attention when a young man gets shot or has his spine snapped,” the President said. We should be “paying attention all the time because we consider those kids our kids, and we think they’re important and that they shouldn’t be living in poverty and violence.”