Holder Discusses Ferguson In Atlanta

“As we recommit ourselves to the cause with which he entrusted us, it’s apparent that our nation’s journey is not yet over,” the attorney general told the hundreds gathered.As heard on the radio

Holder was in town Monday kicking off a U.S. tour to discuss race relations after last week’s grand jury decision not to indict Ferguson Police Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of unarmed black 18-year-old Michael Brown.

Holder said he wanted to start his tour in Atlanta, because he believes there’s been a lot of good work between the community and local law enforcement. However, he added the events in Ferguson show the country still faces some of the same problems Dr. King dedicated his life to fighting.

“And so we return once more to this hallowed place to seek shelter from a terrible storm, a storm that I’m certain we will weather so long as we continue to stand united and unafraid to address realities too long ignored,” he said, adding the events present a “unique opportunity” to address the issues that divide police forces and minority communities.

Yet even Holder couldn’t escape the protests that have erupted across the country in the last week. The attorney general was interrupted mid-speech by dozens of people seemingly dispersed across the packed church.

But Holder was quick to embrace the interruption.

“There will be a tendency on the part of some to condemn what we just saw, but we should not. What we saw there was a genuine expression of concern and involvement,” he said as some of the protestors were escorted out.

Prior to the prayer service, Holder met with local law enforcement, student representatives and government officials in a closed door session to discuss improving relations between police and the community. Among the attendees were Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Atlanta Police Chief George Turner, U.S. Attorney Sally Yates and Bernice King, Dr. King’s daughter.

Taliba Obuya, one of the protestors who interrupted Holder, criticized the decision to close that earlier meeting.

“We need a response that looks like talking to the community and listening to the community, not 30 minutes maybe of choir, not 20 minutes of dancing, not then a 15 minute speech from our attorney general,” she said.

The Justice Department is still investigating possible federal charges against Wilson and the Ferguson Police Department.

Holder said his department is committed to seeing those investigations through to their appropriate ending.