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Joe Biden and Loretta Lynch Mourn Officers at Service in Baton Rouge Joe Biden and Loretta Lynch Mourn Officers at Service in Baton Rouge
(35 minutes later)
BATON ROUGE, La. — After days of mourning and racial tension over the killing of three law enforcement officers here, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch added their voices Thursday to those contemplating life, death and the meaning of community. BATON ROUGE, La. — After weeks of heated discussions about race relations and several days of mourning over the killing of three law enforcement officers here, Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr. and Attorney General Loretta E. Lynch added their voices Thursday to those contemplating life, death and the meaning of community.
“It has touched the soul of this entire nation,” Mr. Biden, speaking at a memorial service, said of the attack by a lone gunman. “Everybody in the country is talking about it. Everybody is learning their stories. Everyone says now is the time to heal.”“It has touched the soul of this entire nation,” Mr. Biden, speaking at a memorial service, said of the attack by a lone gunman. “Everybody in the country is talking about it. Everybody is learning their stories. Everyone says now is the time to heal.”
The memorial took place at Healing Place Church, where a funeral had been held on Friday for Officer Matthew Gerald, 41.The memorial took place at Healing Place Church, where a funeral had been held on Friday for Officer Matthew Gerald, 41.
Similar services in the days that followed shut down parts of Baton Rouge’s interstate system, with mourners lining the streets that led to the other churches for the funerals of Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Garafola, 45, who was buried on Saturday, and Officer Montrell Jackson, 32, who was interred on Monday.Similar services in the days that followed shut down parts of Baton Rouge’s interstate system, with mourners lining the streets that led to the other churches for the funerals of Sheriff’s Deputy Brad Garafola, 45, who was buried on Saturday, and Officer Montrell Jackson, 32, who was interred on Monday.
“Now the city has to reach out, the country has to reach out, to law enforcement to let you know how much we care,” Mr. Biden said to the more than 350 people spread out inside the megachurch.“Now the city has to reach out, the country has to reach out, to law enforcement to let you know how much we care,” Mr. Biden said to the more than 350 people spread out inside the megachurch.
Before Thursday’s speeches began, Charles T. Cravins, 60, said he had driven 63 miles from Opelousas, in the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun country, for the memorial with the expectation that it might bring him and others a sense of closure.Before Thursday’s speeches began, Charles T. Cravins, 60, said he had driven 63 miles from Opelousas, in the heart of Louisiana’s Cajun country, for the memorial with the expectation that it might bring him and others a sense of closure.
“Hopefully, this represents a turning of the page,” said Mr. Cravins, clutching a program that he rolled up and then unrolled again. “But for that to happen, we need to open a real dialogue as the crisis passes. That’s the next step.”“Hopefully, this represents a turning of the page,” said Mr. Cravins, clutching a program that he rolled up and then unrolled again. “But for that to happen, we need to open a real dialogue as the crisis passes. That’s the next step.”
Passing three empty chairs that held the peaked caps of each dead officer’s department, Ms. Lynch used her time at the podium to urge mourners to look for “meaning in the midst of this tragedy.”Passing three empty chairs that held the peaked caps of each dead officer’s department, Ms. Lynch used her time at the podium to urge mourners to look for “meaning in the midst of this tragedy.”
“This beloved community is the foundation for a living memorial to these fallen heroes,” she said. “But it is a memorial that we have to build together.”“This beloved community is the foundation for a living memorial to these fallen heroes,” she said. “But it is a memorial that we have to build together.”
The three officers were killed early on the morning of July 17 by Gavin Long, 29, along a busy commercial strip not far from Baton Rouge Police Headquarters. Another three officers were wounded, including Sheriff’s Deputy Nicholas Tullier, 41, who remains hospitalized and is “fighting for his life,” according to Sheriff Sid J. Gautreaux III of East Baton Rouge Parish.The three officers were killed early on the morning of July 17 by Gavin Long, 29, along a busy commercial strip not far from Baton Rouge Police Headquarters. Another three officers were wounded, including Sheriff’s Deputy Nicholas Tullier, 41, who remains hospitalized and is “fighting for his life,” according to Sheriff Sid J. Gautreaux III of East Baton Rouge Parish.
The authorities said Mr. Long ambushed the officers and may have been motivated by the July 5 death of Alton Sterling, 37, a black man who was shot multiple times and killed after an altercation with two white city police offers. Mr. Long was killed by a SWAT team sniper.The authorities said Mr. Long ambushed the officers and may have been motivated by the July 5 death of Alton Sterling, 37, a black man who was shot multiple times and killed after an altercation with two white city police offers. Mr. Long was killed by a SWAT team sniper.
Mr. Biden singled out the need for better community policing, which he said had been lacking in recent years because of budget cuts at law enforcement agencies across the nation. He said he sorely missed the days when police officers knew whether a 15-year-old standing on a corner in a “hoodie” was a known “gangbanger” or someone who could one day be “the next poet laureate.”Mr. Biden singled out the need for better community policing, which he said had been lacking in recent years because of budget cuts at law enforcement agencies across the nation. He said he sorely missed the days when police officers knew whether a 15-year-old standing on a corner in a “hoodie” was a known “gangbanger” or someone who could one day be “the next poet laureate.”
Sheriff Gautreaux touched on similar themes: “How do we turn tragedy into triumph? The answer is kindness. Kindness opens doors. Hate, prejudice, violence shuts doors.”Sheriff Gautreaux touched on similar themes: “How do we turn tragedy into triumph? The answer is kindness. Kindness opens doors. Hate, prejudice, violence shuts doors.”
Edmond Jordan, 41, a state representative who lives in the nearby suburb of Brusly but whose district includes parts of Baton Rouge, said the memorial offered him a brief respite from the growing call for action, whether from elected officials or elsewhere.Edmond Jordan, 41, a state representative who lives in the nearby suburb of Brusly but whose district includes parts of Baton Rouge, said the memorial offered him a brief respite from the growing call for action, whether from elected officials or elsewhere.
“It’s not just elected officials, though,” Mr. Jordan said. “Solutions need to be sought out from our community leaders and residents, too. But we’re never going to get to that point if we don’t recognize the problems we have in Baton Rouge. It’s definitely not the worst place to be, and I love this city, but we have a lot of work to do.”“It’s not just elected officials, though,” Mr. Jordan said. “Solutions need to be sought out from our community leaders and residents, too. But we’re never going to get to that point if we don’t recognize the problems we have in Baton Rouge. It’s definitely not the worst place to be, and I love this city, but we have a lot of work to do.”
Mr. Jordan added that he was striving for some semblance of constancy in a city that is pulled between memorials and moving on, yanked from anger to acceptance, only to start the whole process over again.Mr. Jordan added that he was striving for some semblance of constancy in a city that is pulled between memorials and moving on, yanked from anger to acceptance, only to start the whole process over again.
The shared sentiment among speakers at the memorial was that it was time for the city to heal while acknowledging that something positive could result from the summer’s turmoil.The shared sentiment among speakers at the memorial was that it was time for the city to heal while acknowledging that something positive could result from the summer’s turmoil.
“We cannot allow this tragedy to define us,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said, “but we can allow it to direct us.”“We cannot allow this tragedy to define us,” Gov. John Bel Edwards said, “but we can allow it to direct us.”