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| Obama speaks at memorial service for slain Dallas police officers (WATCH LIVE) | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| President Barack Obama and former President George W. Bush spoke at the interfaith memorial service for the five Dallas, Texas police officers killed in an ambush at a march against police brutality. | |
| On Tuesday, five days after police were ambushed at a march in downtown Dallas, a memorial service was held at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center for the five officers who died in the attack: Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael Smith, Brent Thompson, and Patrick Zamarripa. Nine other officers from three different police forces were injured in the shooting. | On Tuesday, five days after police were ambushed at a march in downtown Dallas, a memorial service was held at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center for the five officers who died in the attack: Lorne Ahrens, Michael Krol, Michael Smith, Brent Thompson, and Patrick Zamarripa. Nine other officers from three different police forces were injured in the shooting. |
| First Lady Michelle Obama, former First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President Joe Biden and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden were all in attendance as well. The Bushes make their home in Dallas. | First Lady Michelle Obama, former First Lady Laura Bush, Vice President Joe Biden and Second Lady Dr. Jill Biden were all in attendance as well. The Bushes make their home in Dallas. |
| Dallas Mayor Michael Rawlings was the first to speak. | Dallas Mayor Michael Rawlings was the first to speak. |
| “Dallas’ pain is a national pain,” Rawlings said, welcoming the president, former president, vice president and their wives. | “Dallas’ pain is a national pain,” Rawlings said, welcoming the president, former president, vice president and their wives. |
| Reverend Sheron Patterson of the United Methodist Church of North Texas, Imam Omar Suleiman of the Valley Ranch Islamic Center and Rabbi Andrew Marc Paley of Temple Shalom Dallas offered prayers and comfort to the mourners. They all wore a yellow, navy and black striped solidarity ribbon over their shoulders. | |
| Senator John Cornyn (R-Texas) called the slain officers “men of uncommon courage” who “overcame evil” through their actions the night of the ambush. | |
| “Today, our family and this great nation shares the grief of Dallas,” he said. | |
| Cornyn then introduced Bush to eulogize the officers who were killed in “an ambush of hatred and malice.” | |
| “Today the nation grieves, but those of us who love Dallas and call it home have had five deaths in the family,” Bush began. “Laura and I see members of law enforcement everyday. We count them as our friends. And we know, like for every other American, their courage is our protection and shield.” | |
| Bush offered a moment of levity when discussing Zamarripa, noting he was a “loyal Texas Ranger fan.” The former president once owned the baseball team. | |
| Rawlings then took to the podium again to thank Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Police Chief James ‘J.D.’ Spiller and Dallas Police Chief David Brown ‒ who received a standing ovation from attendees ‒ for their leadership and dedication after losing officers under their command. | |
| Rawlings introduced Brown as “my rock,” who represents not only Dallas but police officers and chiefs across the country. | |
| “There is no greater love than the five men who gave their lives for all of us,” Brown said before introducing Obama. | |
| Other politicians, especially from the Texas delegation to Washington, were in attendance. All spoke of the need for bipartisanship among the tragedy. Representative Al Green, a Democrat from Houston, shared a flight with Cornyn, and they spoke on the plane. | |
| “While he and I may be from different political parties, we have put party aside,” Green told the Dallas Morning News. “This is bigger than party. This is bigger than political philosophy. This is about our country.” | “While he and I may be from different political parties, we have put party aside,” Green told the Dallas Morning News. “This is bigger than party. This is bigger than political philosophy. This is about our country.” |
| “Dallas should not be defined by this one act,” he added. “Dallas should be defined how it responded afterwards, how this city has come together.” | “Dallas should not be defined by this one act,” he added. “Dallas should be defined how it responded afterwards, how this city has come together.” |
| Obama’s flight to Dallas was also one of bipartisanship, as Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and several others were on board. | Obama’s flight to Dallas was also one of bipartisanship, as Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and several others were on board. |
| Neighboring jurisdictions joined together to help the Dallas PD provide security for the presidential visit. | Neighboring jurisdictions joined together to help the Dallas PD provide security for the presidential visit. |
| Before the service, Obama spoke with the relatives of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two African-American men who were shot and killed by police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota, respectively. Those two shootings sparked protests across the country, including in Dallas, against police use of force and racial profiling of the black community. | Before the service, Obama spoke with the relatives of Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, two African-American men who were shot and killed by police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana and in a suburb of St. Paul, Minnesota, respectively. Those two shootings sparked protests across the country, including in Dallas, against police use of force and racial profiling of the black community. |
| Obama called the families “to offer his and the First Lady’s condolences on behalf of the American people for the death of their loved ones.” | Obama called the families “to offer his and the First Lady’s condolences on behalf of the American people for the death of their loved ones.” |
| The president views the attacks in Dallas as a hate crime, an aide told the Dallas Morning News. | The president views the attacks in Dallas as a hate crime, an aide told the Dallas Morning News. |