Claire McCaskill: The police have "become the problem instead of the solution"

Sen. McCaskill met with citizens and journalists to discuss the protests in Ferguson

Published August 14, 2014 6:03PM (EDT)

Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo.   (AP)
Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo. (AP)

Sen. Claire McCaskill has called for the "demilitarization" of the Ferguson police, urging the community to "do better." In response to the fatal shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Sen. McCaskill met with citizens and journalists on Thursday. She said:

We need to de-militarize this situation—this kind of response by the police has become the problem instead of the solution. I obviously respect law enforcement’s work to provide public safety, but my constituents are allowed to have peaceful protests, and the police need to respect that right and protect that right. Today is going to be a new start, we can and need to do better.

The senator has also taken to Twitter to express her disapproval of the situation.

[embedtweet id="499727811742277632"]

Sen. McCaskill is also scheduled to speak with U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to discuss the situation and the ongoing federal civil rights investigation.


By Joanna Rothkopf

MORE FROM Joanna Rothkopf


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Claire Mccaskill Ferguson Michael Brown Police