Obama Holds 3 Hour Meeting with Black Lives Matter Leaders
Black Lives Matter leaders spent three hours with President Obama Wednesday to demand action in regard to recent officer involved shootings.
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We are at the @WhiteHouse right now for a 3-hour convening w/ President Obama re: the recent events in #BatonRouge & across the country.
— deray mckesson (@deray) July 13, 2016
DeRay Mckesson, one of the group’s most prominent figures, joined several other Black Lives Matter leaders at the White House to “bring up concrete actions” the president can take in order to appease its members.
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.@MsPackyetti + @micamaryjane are here at the @WhiteHouse convening, too. We will bring up concrete actions @POTUS can take to make impact.
— deray mckesson (@deray) July 13, 2016
The White House blog, which lists out the president’s schedule, makes mention of a meeting with activists and law enforcement but does not specifically mention “Black Lives Matter.”
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“In the afternoon, the President will convene individuals from around the country – including activists, civil rights, faith, law enforcement and elected leaders – to have a conversation about ways we can keep people safe, build community trust, and ensure justice for all Americans,” it reads.
The meeting comes days after Mckesson was arrested at a protest in Baton Rouge over the death of Alton Sterling – an armed black male who was shot while struggling with law enforcement.
Although Mckesson has met with the president before, the meeting will likely become a controversial topic given recent violence stemming from Black Lives Matter supporters.
GOP nominee Donald Trump accused the group of dividing the nation Tuesday during a segment on Fox News.
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“I would say they’re dividing America,” Trump said. “I saw what they said about the police in various marches and rallies, I’ve seen moments of silence called for this horrible human being who shot the policemen.”
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“And I’ve seen it and I think it’s certainly, it’s very divisive and I think they’re hurting themselves.”
Mckesson was already making headlines today after it was learned that he was living in a home owned by a member of the Soros-owned Open Society Institute.
