Locals discuss vigilance, cooperation and racial tension in wake of Dallas attack

Local Reaction

“What happened [Thursday] night in Dallas is a picture of pure evil, and it is ghastly to think that there are people in this world who would purely target our men and women of law enforcement for sport. In trying times like these, we must all remember what makes our country great: our love of compassion, our ability to come together and unite, and those who are willing to make the ultimate sacrifice for the greater good.” – Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond “This week we lost far too many lives. Two more young black men – Alton Sterling in Louisiana and Philando Castile in Minnesota – were killed by police officers. Then at a non-violent demonstration in Texas protesting their deaths, snipers opened fire on police officers, killing five and wounding seven. Though the details surrounding the killings of civilians Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, and police officer Brent Thompson and four other officers are still unfolding, these deaths are nothing short of tragic. Heartbreaking.” – American Civil Liberties Union of Tennessee “Like most Americans, we were horrified by the tragic events during the week of July 4th. … We extend our sincerest condolences to the victims and their families in Louisiana, Minnesota and Texas. We celebrate their memory and heroism, and hope that their sacrifices will unite Americans across different racial and ethnic groups and faith traditions.” – Gloria Sweet-Love, Tennessee State Conference NAACP president “Let us resolve that the loss of these brave officers will not be in vain, but will inspire us all to come together to end the arms race that is turning peaceful marches, nightclubs, military bases, office buildings, movie theaters, churches and schools into killing fields.” – Safe Tennessee Project