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Shootings in Dallas expose US election faultlines of policing, guns and race Shootings in Dallas expose US election faultlines of policing, guns and race
(about 4 hours later)
The Dallas shootings exposed an ugly faultline in American politics that threatens to run all the way to November’s presidental election, already one of the most polarised in memory.The Dallas shootings exposed an ugly faultline in American politics that threatens to run all the way to November’s presidental election, already one of the most polarised in memory.
For the second time in a month, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were forced to call off campaign events, just as they did after the mass shooting in Orlando by a man claiming allegiance with Islamic State. Both candidates now find themselves in a febrile political atmosphere around policing, gun control and race.For the second time in a month, Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton were forced to call off campaign events, just as they did after the mass shooting in Orlando by a man claiming allegiance with Islamic State. Both candidates now find themselves in a febrile political atmosphere around policing, gun control and race.
Trump, the Republican presumptive nominee, has pitched himself as a tough-on-crime candidate and previously claimed he will impose the death penalty for anyone convicted of killing a police officer. His Democratic rival Clinton, like Barack Obama, has repeatedly called for tighter gun control and reform of a criminal justice system that unfairly targets African Americans.Trump, the Republican presumptive nominee, has pitched himself as a tough-on-crime candidate and previously claimed he will impose the death penalty for anyone convicted of killing a police officer. His Democratic rival Clinton, like Barack Obama, has repeatedly called for tighter gun control and reform of a criminal justice system that unfairly targets African Americans.
If the 2016 election will be a reflection of a divided nation, race is demonstrably a facet of that. A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found that Clinton has a 79% favourability rating among African Americans, while Trump has a 94% unfavourability rating.If the 2016 election will be a reflection of a divided nation, race is demonstrably a facet of that. A recent ABC News/Washington Post poll found that Clinton has a 79% favourability rating among African Americans, while Trump has a 94% unfavourability rating.
Police in Dallas said one of the suspects stated that he wanted to kill white people, especially white police officers. Just as after the violence in Ferguson, Missouri, after the killing of black teenager by a white officer, the response quickly turned toxic in rightwing media, with Obama accused of waging a “war on police”. Police in Dallas said one of the suspects stated that he wanted to kill white people, especially white police officers. Just as after the violence in Ferguson, Missouri, after the killing of black teenager Michael Brown by a white officer, the response quickly turned toxic in rightwing media, with Obama accused of waging a “war on police”.
A host on the conservative Fox News asked guests if this week’s killings of African Americans Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota had received “too much” media coverage.A host on the conservative Fox News asked guests if this week’s killings of African Americans Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota had received “too much” media coverage.
Derek Harvey, a former US army colonel and senior intelligence executive for the Defense Intelligence Agency, told Fox News that the Black Lives Matter movement and others have been “routinely calling for the deaths of police officers and inciting people to violence”.Derek Harvey, a former US army colonel and senior intelligence executive for the Defense Intelligence Agency, told Fox News that the Black Lives Matter movement and others have been “routinely calling for the deaths of police officers and inciting people to violence”.
He insisted, “Black Lives Matter is not blameless in this situation,” and even compared its use of messaging on the internet with Isis. He insisted: “Black Lives Matter is not blameless in this situation,” and even compared its use of messaging on the internet with Isis.
Former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh, now a radio host, reportedly tweeted: “This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out black lives matter punks. Real America is coming after you.” The post has since been deleted. Corey Stewart, the Trump campaign’s state chairman in Virginia, wrote on Facebook: “Liberal politicians who label police as racists — specifically Hillary Clinton and Virginia Lt Governor Ralph Northam — are to blame for essentially encouraging the murder of these police officers tonight.” He later deleted the post. The Trump campaign disavowed it.
And former Illinois congressman Joe Walsh, now a radio host, reportedly tweeted: “This is now war. Watch out Obama. Watch out black lives matter punks. Real America is coming after you.” The post has also since been deleted.
A Black Lives Matter account on Twitter posted: “#BlackLivesMatter advocates dignity, justice and freedom. Not murder.”A Black Lives Matter account on Twitter posted: “#BlackLivesMatter advocates dignity, justice and freedom. Not murder.”
Trump has not been slow to exploit past political opportunities, including the Orlando massacre, and can be expected to accuse of Clinton of being anti-police, soft on crime and blinded by political correctness when he next makes a stump speech.Trump has not been slow to exploit past political opportunities, including the Orlando massacre, and can be expected to accuse of Clinton of being anti-police, soft on crime and blinded by political correctness when he next makes a stump speech.
In a statement on Friday, he condemned “a coordinated, premeditated assault on the men and women who keep us safe”, although he did also comment: “The senseless, tragic deaths of two motorists in Louisiana and Minnesota reminds us how much more needs to be done.” In a statement on Friday, he condemned “a coordinated, premeditated assault on the men and women who keep us safe” and said “we must restore law and order”, although he did also comment: “The senseless, tragic deaths of two motorists in Louisiana and Minnesota reminds us how much more needs to be done.”
Trump later corrected his statement on Facebook to acknowledge that Sterling was not in fact a motorist.
In a thinly veiled attack on Obama, Trump, who had been due to address Hispanic voters in Miami, added: “Our nation has become too divided. Too many Americans feel like they’ve lost hope. Crime is harming too many citizens. Racial tensions have gotten worse, not better. This isn’t the American Dream we all want for our children.”In a thinly veiled attack on Obama, Trump, who had been due to address Hispanic voters in Miami, added: “Our nation has become too divided. Too many Americans feel like they’ve lost hope. Crime is harming too many citizens. Racial tensions have gotten worse, not better. This isn’t the American Dream we all want for our children.”
Clinton had been due to share a platform on Friday with vice-president Joe Biden in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and address the killings of Sterling and Castile by demanding urgent reform to “our broken criminal justice system”, according to an aide. Clinton had been due to share a platform on Friday with Joe Biden in Scranton, Pennsylvania, and address the killings of Sterling and Castile by demanding urgent reform to “our broken criminal justice system”, according to an aide.
Instead she tweeted: “I mourn for the officers shot while doing their sacred duty to protect peaceful protesters, for their families & all who serve with them.” In an interview with CNN’s Wolf Blitzer, she emphasised the need to respect and support the police but also did not shy away from criticising “systematic racism” in some of the country’s 18,000 police forces against people of colour.
Gun violence, and its effect on black communities, has been a major theme of the Clinton campaign and may be part of her offensive against Trump as details emerge of how the snipers obtained their weapons. “I would call for white people like myself to put ourselves in the shoes of those African American families who fear every time their children go somewhere, who have to have ‘the talk’ about how to really protect themselves when they should be being protected,” Clinton said. “I’m going to be talking to white people; I think we’re the ones who have to listen to the legitimate cries coming from our African American neighbours.”
Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said: “This latest mass shooting is another example of how guns in the hands of dangerous people tear families and communities apart.” Gun violence, and its effect on black communities, has been a major theme of the Clinton campaign and may be part of her offensive against Trump. Dan Gross, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, said: “This latest mass shooting is another example of how guns in the hands of dangerous people tear families and communities apart.”
Clinton’s response to the deadliest attack on police since 9/11 is also likely to be seen through the prism of the White House. She appeared alongside Obama for the first time at a campaign event this week and her closeness to him can be both a strength and weakness. America’s first black president comes under unique scrutiny on the issue of police shootings and their racial dimension.Clinton’s response to the deadliest attack on police since 9/11 is also likely to be seen through the prism of the White House. She appeared alongside Obama for the first time at a campaign event this week and her closeness to him can be both a strength and weakness. America’s first black president comes under unique scrutiny on the issue of police shootings and their racial dimension.
In 2013, following the fatal shooting of black teenager Trayvon Martin by a neighbourhood watch volunteer, Obama memorably said: “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.” He was criticised by some for being too emotionally involved.In 2013, following the fatal shooting of black teenager Trayvon Martin by a neighbourhood watch volunteer, Obama memorably said: “If I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon.” He was criticised by some for being too emotionally involved.
In cases involving police brutality, he has had to walk a fine line, condemning persecution of minorities while also praising the dedication of most officers. The White House regularly has to deny the existence of so-called “Ferguson effect” that allegedly deters police from intervening and leads to a spike in crime.In cases involving police brutality, he has had to walk a fine line, condemning persecution of minorities while also praising the dedication of most officers. The White House regularly has to deny the existence of so-called “Ferguson effect” that allegedly deters police from intervening and leads to a spike in crime.
Now inside the last 200 days of his presidency, Obama has admitted that he feels at liberty to speak more freely and be less circumspect.Now inside the last 200 days of his presidency, Obama has admitted that he feels at liberty to speak more freely and be less circumspect.
Initially, arriving in Warsaw, Poland, for his last Nato summit, Obama gave his response to the deaths of Sterling and Castile. “[T]hese are not isolated incidents,” he said. “They’re symptomatic of a broader set of racial disparities that exist in our criminal justice system. ... We’ve got to tackle those things.”Initially, arriving in Warsaw, Poland, for his last Nato summit, Obama gave his response to the deaths of Sterling and Castile. “[T]hese are not isolated incidents,” he said. “They’re symptomatic of a broader set of racial disparities that exist in our criminal justice system. ... We’ve got to tackle those things.”
Hours later, the president returned to condemn the “vicious, calculated and despicable attack” on Dallas police and added carefully: “Let’s be clear there are no possible justifications for these attacks or any violence towards law enforcement.”Hours later, the president returned to condemn the “vicious, calculated and despicable attack” on Dallas police and added carefully: “Let’s be clear there are no possible justifications for these attacks or any violence towards law enforcement.”
Obama added pointedly: “Even as yesterday I spoke about our need to be concerned, as all Americans, about racial disparities in our criminal justice system, I also said yesterday that our police have an extraordinarily difficult job and the vast majority of them do their job in outstanding fashion.”Obama added pointedly: “Even as yesterday I spoke about our need to be concerned, as all Americans, about racial disparities in our criminal justice system, I also said yesterday that our police have an extraordinarily difficult job and the vast majority of them do their job in outstanding fashion.”
But he was probably less surprised than anyone when opponents sought to put the blame on him.But he was probably less surprised than anyone when opponents sought to put the blame on him.