Obama on Bell: ‘A Nation of Laws’ Must ‘Respect the Verdict’
EmailABC News’ Nitya Venkataraman, David Schoetz and Sunlen Miller Report: Reacting to the New York City judge’s ruling to clear the three police officers in the shooting death of 23-year-old Sean Bell, Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama stressed looking ahead to "assure that those kinds of tragedies don’t happen again".
During an Indianapolis presser focused on rising gas prices, Obama called Bell’s death a "tragedy" but said it was important to "respect the verdict that came down".
"I said at the time that without the benefit of all the facts before me, it looked like a possible case of excessive force," Obama said, "Now the judge as made his ruling and we’re a nation of laws and so we respect the verdict that came down. I think the most important thing for people who are concerned about that shooting is to figure out how do we come together and assure that those kinds of tragedies don’t happen again."
Bell died in a 50-shot barrage outside a Queens strip club in November 2006 on the morning of his wedding. The three officers involved were accused of excessive force, though ultimately the prosecution failed to convince the judge that Bell and his friends did nothing to provoke the officers who were engaged in a sting operation at the club.
Today Obama called on community leaders "to find out what changes in procedure need to take place in preventing these kinds of tragic shootings.
"Resorting to violence to express displeasure over a verdict is something that is completely unacceptable and is counterproductive," Obama said.
In his radio show today, Rev. Al Sharpton challenged all candidates to take a stand on the case as federal prosecutors begin their investigation.
Specifically, he said, Sen. Hillary Clinton, D-N.Y., should get involved.
"I also challenge Senator Clinton to address the need for federal intervention," Sharpton said.
Mitt Romney's Full Speech at CPAC 2012 
Romney Makes His Case to Conservatives at CPAC
and?
Obama08
Posted by: Thinking | April 25, 2008, 1:38 pm 1:38 pm
She won’t do anything because he was a young black man
Posted by: jozy | April 25, 2008, 1:40 pm 1:40 pm
Uh Barack, your supposed to condemn this!!! Don’t you get it? Some constitutional law scholar, no wonder he voted for the patroit act. Clinton/McCain/Obama, either way America loses. What the hell are we wasting time fighting and arguing about. The policies always stay the same. Wake up, open your eyes, get off these sites and expand your critical thinking. Try alternative media, you’ll find far more truth there than you’ll ever get on here and the MSM.
Posted by: Zdnet | April 25, 2008, 1:43 pm 1:43 pm
Horrible story.
The best thing is how do we stop these things from happening again.
Posted by: Stacey | April 25, 2008, 1:48 pm 1:48 pm
I am a white and I personally find it hard to believe why the cops had to shoot 50 times on this person. This is not fair.
Btw – I am Hillary supporter.
There should be a federal jury on this case. The person may be a criminal but this is not the way to shoot and kill him.
Posted by: Rick | April 25, 2008, 1:52 pm 1:52 pm
I am white and I find it had to believe. My question is why 50 rounds??? One warning, or maybe one in the arm or leg. To me, not knowing the whole story, I would say the cops had something out for this guy.
But Obama is right, riots will not solve the problem it will only create them.
Posted by: Becky | April 25, 2008, 2:12 pm 2:12 pm
I agree with Obama-as a country we do not need race riots–we ARE a nation of laws.
Posted by: virginia | April 25, 2008, 2:24 pm 2:24 pm
I am a republican and very impressed with Sen. Obama’s repsonse. He handled the questioning cerebrally and with an impressive show of judgement and restraint, although he thought there might have been some excessive force (shot 50 times) on the part of the NYPD.
There has been several occurances of this in New York and yes, there ought to be a federal investigation.
Posted by: win322 | April 25, 2008, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
Guys and gals, please stop this nonsense. This is not good for your party. I suggest you allow the candidates to focus on more pertinent issues. How can they convey their message more effectively when you continue to bicker about issues that are not contributing to the economy, ending the war and bringing our troops home, improving America’s image globally, reducing poverty in the in America and puting American’s back to work? You’re all behaving like children.
Posted by: win322 | Mar 18, 2008 8:18:04 PM
So you switched parties today? Why must some obama bloggers have to constantly lie about who they are.
Posted by: geevill | April 25, 2008, 2:35 pm 2:35 pm
If Hillary got involved Obama supporters would just say she is pandering to the AA community.
Posted by: Belle | April 25, 2008, 2:57 pm 2:57 pm
The federal courts should be involved in every case concerning the police. DAs and local judges will not prosecute their own. You have about as much of a chance to get justice from local courts and DAs where cops are concered, as a black person had in the Jim Crow south – zero!
Posted by: chas0x01 | April 25, 2008, 2:58 pm 2:58 pm
where were protest oj?uh!
Posted by: pw | April 25, 2008, 3:01 pm 3:01 pm
Why does sharpie sharpton have to “challenge” Hillary?
Posted by: satish raman | April 25, 2008, 3:12 pm 3:12 pm
Ok, there are no allegations of race being an issue in the shooting. two of the three officers acquitted were black. I do think it was excessive force involved. I do think that there were significant lapses in procedure and judgement of the officers. I do think that the judge gave the officers transctied testimony more weight than it deserved. That said, Obama is saying we have a system, work that system. The ruling can be appealed, a civil suit can be filed. He is making the correct call. Use your brains not your fists.
Posted by: Louis | April 25, 2008, 3:29 pm 3:29 pm
Because this happened in her state… New York
Posted by: Vanessa | April 25, 2008, 3:31 pm 3:31 pm
HRC should have a comment, and after her staff determines what will make Obama go on the defensive most, she will issue one.
Posted by: Louis | April 25, 2008, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm
Obama not going to get involved in this investigation, just like he stayed away from the case were 7 African-American boys were jailed for the fight about the hang mans noose in the tree.
Posted by: jp,michigan | April 25, 2008, 4:35 pm 4:35 pm
“I lived through the Rodney King Riots… the last thing we need is a similar situation in NY.”
Well, you might get it, anyway. Obama’s “respect the verdict” statement’s kind of gutless. But cops don’t just walk up and execute people, in HIS neighborhood.
Posted by: Belle Starr | April 25, 2008, 4:38 pm 4:38 pm
2 of the cops where black.
This had nothing to do with race.
Posted by: Dann | April 25, 2008, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm
I think Obama is pandering to the Indiana white voters here by not condemning the Judges verdict. You talk about speaking from both sides of the mouth, here is one. If this is not pandering perhaps his nonchanlant remarks here confirms the elitest posture he has taken in this campaign. If Obama was seeking black votes, he would have been all over the verdict, the officers and the judge. I do not see the “new messianic Obama” yet. There is nothing new about this guys.
Posted by: Ed Banks | April 25, 2008, 8:40 pm 8:40 pm
Bad cops are bad cops regardless of their race. The institutional racism upon which their training manuals emmanets will force any cop to shoot 41 or 50 rounds upon seeing a black target and still get acquitted. Police departments around the nation are run like a cult, shoot first and ask question later, as long the premise of policing remain to destroy the target first on the slightest movement or pretence instead of protect and serve, this corrupt culture will continue to take innocent lives and Obama should have known better than to dismiss the verdict with such carelessness simply because he want white votes in Indiana. Can he make this remark in NC or NYC where there are 40% blacks waiting for a saviour from police brutality? NYC police has a culture and history of operating above the law, being the police, the judge, the jury and the executioner all in one split of a second in the guise of their lives being threatened or victim reaching for wallet (unfounded gun). When we really decide to solve this type of murder, we should start by retiring and discharging these trigger happy cops. If a cop is so afraid of dying, they have no business being on the beat, period. Policing is a career of sacrifice, if one is not prepared to pay the ultimate sacrifice, you should not join simply to protect your life by killing others in any slightest movement or emotional suspicion. Policing is more of a human phsychology and relationships than brute and deadly force. In NYC killing poor blacks by NYPD is like getting high. They do it with impunity without disregard to human life, sense of fairness or justice. Afterall they will be acquitted, there is no repercausion, no detriment, no consequence. They will surely do it again and Obama’s shallow careless words means nothing except to selfishly benefit him politically.
Posted by: Ed Banks | April 25, 2008, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
This is a travesty and tragedy…..No Justice No Peace… We must stay armed to protect ourselves from the Usurping of the law upon just as the American Revolutionaries did in the 1776. I challenge both Barack and Hillary to speak TRUTH to POWER or I will vote for McCain. At least he is honest about how he really feels…..
I am such a Barack Fan but I do not believe in the name of politics he is say that. When it is him being gunned down by police Who will stand up for him when the police are cleared of all charges based on thinking he was a “THUG” because he is black. I am a Christian so I say forgive but in my flesh if I were Sean’s Brother Oliver would be in jeporady of his life.
Posted by: Lady Knowlege | April 25, 2008, 9:21 pm 9:21 pm
The only way to condemn or agree with the verdict is to have all the facts of the case which we DO NOT HAVE. It is obviously clear to anyone that 50 shots were excessive but it doesn’t necessarily mean that shots weren’t necessary. Would 20 shots have been ok? Obama made a proper, realistic and objective statement and not an emotional one. Good for him. I think the nation feels for that family but riots will not solve anything. And I agree 100% with a previous comment about getting local justice for police. A federal investigation seems to be in order. Justice MUST be served.
Posted by: slny | April 27, 2008, 2:50 am 2:50 am
Hillary’s vast experience around the world – Northern Ireland, China, and Bosnia – are EXACTLY why she is qualified to step in and control this situation. I agree with Sharpton, that Hillary is a Senator representing New York and she owes it to her constituency to weild her powerful influence.
Where are you Hillary?
Posted by: Roland | April 27, 2008, 6:34 pm 6:34 pm
There should be heavy restrictions on Police shooting into people’s cars and the defense that they were in fear for their lives ought to go. Its used way too often for questionable shootings and this one certainly was. I consider what they did was vountary manslaughter of all three passengers in the car plain and simple. Not finding a gun should be an automatic career ender at the least as they are totally imcompetent. Police use thier guns and tasers way too much. They overuse their tasers simply because they can, even torture with them with repeat jolts, and these are dangerous wepons too. Then if a citizen trys and defend himself in a naturalistic way he is charged with assulting a police officer when it may well be he who is being assulted. Why do Americans so want a police state. They know something is deeply wrong here and why was this highly sensitive high profile case given to a 74 year old judge who didn’t even use a jury? Police need to have some real community pressure on them to behave and facing a jury is a good one.
Posted by: Brian | April 27, 2008, 9:08 pm 9:08 pm
Shooting a guy with one or two shot you can argue that you are trying to stop him from hurting other. Shooting one fifty times, you mean to kill period.
Oops… I thought he had a gun. Sorry oops fifty times.
Do we pay tax for this kind of service?
Why do we even try to stop the gang shooting in our cities?
Posted by: Ga | April 28, 2008, 1:32 am 1:32 am