CRI听力:Obama Sends Attorney General to Ferguson

US President Barack Obama is sending Attorney General Eric Holder to Ferguson, Missouri, to investigate the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager by a white policeman.

The decision to send Holder follows days of violent protests in the city.

Our Washington Correspondent He Fei reports.

Reporter:

President Obama says Holder will travel on Wednesday to the St. Louis suburb that was hit by riots over the weekend.

Holder has already authorized a federal autopsy on the body of Michael Brown, the unarmed 18-year-old who was shot on Aug. 9.

Obama spoke from the White House on Monday after independent autopsy results determined that Brown was shot at least six times, including twice in the head.

Missouri's governor, Jay Nixon, called in the National Guard early Monday after police again used tear gas to quell protests that have taken place nightly since Brown's death.

Obama says he can't make any judgments about the situation in Ferguson until the investigation is complete.

"I have to be very careful about not prejudging these events before investigations are completed, because although these are issues of local jurisdiction, the DoJ works for me and when they're conducting an investigation, I got to make sure that I don't look like I'm not putting my thumb on the scales one way or the other.."

The Ferguson issue has sparked racially charged protests not only in the town but also in front of the White House.

People in the capital have different views over the incident but all wish it would be over soon.

"No one needs losing their lives walking down the streets."

"What I believe is being a policeman or cops and criminals are two sides from a same coin. Like being a cop, he is always dealing with criminals so he has that mentality of being a criminal himself."

"I think initially the situation was definitely mishandled. I think that the decision to call in Louisiana county police task force, the one that was so militarized was a mistake. It was a good thing they were able to remedy the situation a couple of days after it happened."

A new study conducted by the Pew Research Center on reactions to the Ferguson incident has shown that African Americans are twice as likely to say that the shooting "raises important issues about race that need to be discussed".

The president is calling on Americans to be united.

"I'm personally committed to changing both perception and reality. But that requires that we build and not tear down. That requires we listen not just shout. That's how we gonna move forward together by trying to unite each other and understand each other and not simply divide ourselves from one or another."

A grand jury could begin hearing evidence on Wednesday to determine whether Darren Wilson, the officer who shot the teen, should be charged in Michael Brown's death.

That's He Fei reporting in Washington.