Sen. Ted Cruz took to social media to urge an end to the violent riots in suburban St. Louis, extending condolences for the lives lost, defending police officers and standing up for journalists “simply doing their jobs.”
“Together, we should all mourn the loss of life in Ferguson, Missouri, and work to keep our communities safe and free. Police officers risk their lives every day to keep us safe, and any time a young man loses his life in a confrontation with law enforcement, it is tragic,” Mr. Cruz, Texas Republican and potential 2016 presidential candidate, said in a Facebook post.
Riots broke out in the town Monday after an unarmed black teenager was shot by police. Two reporters were arrested while covering the violence, though they were released without charges.
“All of our prayers are with the citizens of Ferguson, that the violence will subside and peace will be restored,” Mr. Cruz said in the post. “Reporters should never be detained — a free press is too important — simply for doing their jobs. Civil liberties must be protected, but violence is not the answer. Once the unrest is brought to an end, we should examine carefully what happened to ensure that justice is served.”
Shortly after Mr. Cruz posted the statement, Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Massachusetts Democrat, also chimed in on social media.
Ms. Warren, a rising democratic favorite for 2016, tweeted Wednesday morning: “This is America, not a war zone. The people of Ferguson just want answers. We all want answers.”
• Kellan Howell can be reached at khowell@washingtontimes.com.
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