Obama Family Declares Grief Over Daunte Wright Murder

Protests erupt over Daunte Wright's death 1:14

(CNN) -

Former President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama on Tuesday expressed grief over the murder of 20-year-old Daunte Wright at the hands of a police officer, and called for a reformulation of policing and security. public in the US "Our hearts are heavy for one more murder against a black man, Daunte Wright, at the hands of the police," the Obamas said in a statement.

Wright was killed by a police officer Sunday during a routine traffic check in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota.

The incident happened about 10 miles from where former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin is on trial for the murder of another black man, George Floyd.

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“The fact that this can occur even as the city of Minneapolis is immersed in the Derek Chauvin trial and reliving the heartbreaking murder of George Floyd indicates not only how important it is to conduct a full and transparent investigation, but also how much that we need to reimagine policing and public safety in this country, "said the Obamas, who were the first black president and first lady in the United States, and who have spoken openly on racial issues.

The former president said he and Michelle "mourn the loss to the Wright family."

"We sympathize with the pain Black mothers, fathers and children feel after another senseless tragedy," the Obamas said.

"And we will continue to work with all just-minded Americans to address historic inequalities and bring about much-needed changes at the national level."

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Throughout his two terms, Obama had to respond to several incidents of deadly police shootings of black Americans and incidents of police brutality, calling them "not just a problem for blacks" but a "problem for Americans. ».

Deadly shootings are not isolated incidents.

They are symptomatic of the broader challenges within our criminal justice system, the racial disparities that appear throughout the system year after year, and the consequent lack of trust that exists between law enforcement and too many of the communities they serve. 'He said in 2016.

Obama has called for police reforms before, but said he would not support withdrawing funding from police departments.

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