The president said: 'We stand united with the people and the police department in Dallas.'
Struck by the worst attack on law enforcement since 9/11, President Obama addressed the nation from Poland Friday morning, condemning the "despicable" Dallas massacre.
“I believe I speak for every single American when I say we are horrified over these events, and we stand united with the people and the police department in Dallas,” Obama said in a speech from Warsaw, where he is attending a NATO summit.
The president called the attacks on Dallas police during a protest march “vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement.”
"We stand united with the people and the police department in Dallas." —@POTUS on last night's attack in #Dallas: https://t.co/lqd4OaFQpk
— The White House (@WhiteHouse) July 8, 2016
House Speaker Paul Ryan also spoke out Friday morning from Capitol Hill, saying: “An attack on the people who protect us is an attack on all of us.”
Ryan spoke from the House floor as he rejected the shootings.
“Every member of this body, every Republican and every Democrat, wants to see less gun violence. Every member of this body wants a world in which people feel safe regardless of the color of their skin. And that's not how people are feeling these days," he said.
Following the shootings Thursday night, former Illinois Congressman Joe Walsh blamed the president for the shootings.
In a tweet that has now been deleted, he wrote: “This is now war. Watch Out Obama. Watch out black lives matter punks. Real America is coming after you.”
On Friday, Walsh told The Chicago Tribune that the tweet was removed by Twitter and the company briefly suspended his account.
“They said the tweet might look like it might incite violence," he told The Tribune. “Twitter, Facebook — they're all liberal. They're private companies and they got their standards that I have to follow if I want to be on Twitter. It is what it is."
Walsh was allowed to tweet again if he agreed to delete the controversial post.
When Walsh returned to the social network, he went on a rant chastising Obama.
Obama has BLOOD ON HIS HANDS
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
10 cops shot.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
This is on Obama.
10 Cops shot.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
You did this Obama.
You did this liberals.
You did this #BLM.
Time to defend our Cops. Wake up. https://t.co/Zoc3x2xlMk
4 dead.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
Obama stoked the flame.
BLM did this.
Cops are dying.
It's time 4 patriotic Americans to stand up & stand against all the Cop haters - from Obama to the thugs on the street.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
It's way past time.
I wasn't calling for violence, against Obama or anyone. Obama's words & BLM's deeds have gotten cops killed. Time for us to defend our cops.
— Joe Walsh (@WalshFreedom) July 8, 2016
Reaction to the shootings during a protest in Dallas Thursday came swift from numerous famous faces.
Read: Hero Mom Wounded While Shielding Her Sons From Gunfire During Dallas Sniper Attack
Singer John Legend tweeted:
These Dallas shootings are horrific. Killing these officers is morally reprehensible and completely counterproductive to keeping us safe.
— John Legend (@johnlegend) July 8, 2016
Actress Olivia Wilde also took to Twitter to express her thoughts:
It is truly tragic when a vicious few turn a peaceful protest into a bloodbath. Horrific and sad. #nomoreviolence
— olivia wilde (@oliviawilde) July 8, 2016
NBA champion LeBron James pleaded for peace.
We are all hurting tonight. More violence is not the answer. #StoptheViolence
— LeBron James (@KingJames) July 8, 2016
Apple CEO Tim Cook said “justice cannot be gained through violence.”
Our hearts go out to the families of the fallen officers and the entire #Dallas community. Justice cannot be gained through violence.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) July 8, 2016
"We must all learn to live together as brothers, or we will all perish together as fools.” - Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
— Tim Cook (@tim_cook) July 8, 2016
Daily Show how Trevor Noah, who on his program Thursday night, said: “You shouldn’t have to choose between the police and the citizens that they are sworn to protect,” addressed the Dallas shooting on Twitter shortly after the episode aired.
We all seem to want the same thing and yet the only way we know how to get it is by taking it away from someone else.
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) July 8, 2016
One step forward, ten steps back. The point is to save lives not trade places. ? https://t.co/46Nfg4VyUm
— Trevor Noah (@Trevornoah) July 8, 2016
Following the shootings, three suspects were taken into police custody and one of the suspected snipers was killed.
The alleged gunmen killed five officers and wounded seven others. Two civilians were also hurt.
The protest in Dallas was in response to two black men who were shot by police earlier in the week.
The protests, intended to be peaceful, were carried out through the country in Dallas, New York and Oakland.
Watch: Bystander Captured Moment Cops Gave Philando Castile CPR After He Was Shot in Car
