President Obama spoke at the NAACP convention in Philadelphia this afternoon, where he certainly wasn’t dogged by criticism of the nuclear deal with Iran. The topic of the day was the state of the criminal justice system, and a lighthearted Obama joked with audience members who literally ran to secure seats that he wouldn’t be singing.
They are literally running to get good seats for the Presidents speech at 4.
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) July 14, 2015
The Organ is playing old spirituals and the tele prompter is in place. Now the NAACP conventioneers wait for @POTUS to arrive and speak.
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) July 14, 2015
The crowd loves him!
He just told the crowd I love you back . You know that!
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) July 14, 2015
"Let's get something out upfront: I am not singing today," Obama tells NAACP in Philly
— Josh Lederman (@JoshNBCNews) July 14, 2015
"Lets get something out of the way out front," Pres Obama tells NAACP audience of 3300. "I am not singing today." pic.twitter.com/oE2s0uxEQ2
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 14, 2015
POTUS' speech is apparently replacing a slew of panels at #NAACP106. "I thought we had a chance to make some history this afternoon."
— Darren Sands (@darrensands) July 14, 2015
The president, who yesterday via a Facebook video announced the commutation of the sentences of 46 nonviolent drug offenders, turned his focus to the criminal justice system in America.
Obama: "I want to talk about one aspect of American life that remains skewed by race and economics..and that is our criminal justice system"
— David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) July 14, 2015
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Citing "huge explosion" in incarceration rates: US rate 4 times higher than China. More in jail in US than in top 35 Euro nations combined.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 14, 2015
Obama: "Our incarceration rate is four times higher than China's." Says U.S. has 5 percent of world's population, 25 percent of prisoners.
— David Nakamura (@DavidNakamura) July 14, 2015
President Obama suggested that racism in rates of incarceration is just the culmination of a lifetime of unequal treatment.
Obama highlights discrimination in schools, alluding to higher rates of suspension for students of color.
— Darren Sands (@darrensands) July 14, 2015
Reiterates his oft-stated assertion that "if we make investments early in our children, it will reduce the need to incarcerate those kids."
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/markknoller/status/621067126208614401https://twitter.com/DavidNakamura/status/621064877143130112
And Pres Obama says felons who have paid their debts to society should be able to vote.
— Mark Knoller (@markknoller) July 14, 2015
https://twitter.com/WesleyLowery/status/621069890225618944
"We should pass a sentencing reform bill through congress this year." —President Obama
— Barack Obama (@BarackObama) July 14, 2015
On Thursday, President Obama is scheduled to visit the El Reno Federal Correctional Institution in Oklahoma, where he’ll likely expand on today’s remarks and policy directives.
Today’s verdict? Rock star status intact.
Standing ovation. There is still love for POTUS. I see the Rock Star status still here in the Black Community for @POTUS.
— AprilDRyan (@AprilDRyan) July 14, 2015