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Floyd protests fueled from decades of frustration: Obama

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Published : Jun 8, 2020, 5:37 PM IST

Obama and his wife Michelle along with a wide-ranging, star-studded lineup including Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Tom Brady, offered inspirational messages in hopes of uplifting new graduates.

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama

New York: Former US president Barack Obama said the nationwide protests following the recent deaths of unarmed black women and men, including George Floyd, were fueled from decades worth of anguish, frustration, over unequal treatment and a failure to perform police practices.

Obama along with his wife, Michelle, delivered speeches during YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” virtual ceremony on Sunday.

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama delivering speeches during YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” virtual ceremony, on Sunday.

The duo, along with a wide-ranging, star-studded lineup including Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Tom Brady, offered inspirational messages in hopes of uplifting new graduates.

Read | Anti-racism protests subverted by thuggery: UK PM

The former president told graduates that the coronavirus shined a light on a plethora of America’s ongoing issues. “In a lot of ways, the pandemic just brought into focus problems that have been growing for a very long time,” he continued.

“Whether it’s widening economic inequality, the lack of basic health care for millions of people, the continuing scourge of bigotry and sexism, or the division or dysfunction that plagued our political system.”

Read | Churchill statue vandalised in London during protests

Obama added, “As scary and uncertain these times may be, they are also a wake-up call. They’re an incredible opportunity for your generation.”

Michelle Obama urged to Class of 2020 to learn the lesson that life will always be uncertain, but also to use the moment to figure out not just to think about what kind of career you want to build, but what kind of person do you want to be.

(AP)

New York: Former US president Barack Obama said the nationwide protests following the recent deaths of unarmed black women and men, including George Floyd, were fueled from decades worth of anguish, frustration, over unequal treatment and a failure to perform police practices.

Obama along with his wife, Michelle, delivered speeches during YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” virtual ceremony on Sunday.

Barack Obama and Michelle Obama delivering speeches during YouTube’s “Dear Class of 2020” virtual ceremony, on Sunday.

The duo, along with a wide-ranging, star-studded lineup including Beyoncé, Lady Gaga and Tom Brady, offered inspirational messages in hopes of uplifting new graduates.

Read | Anti-racism protests subverted by thuggery: UK PM

The former president told graduates that the coronavirus shined a light on a plethora of America’s ongoing issues. “In a lot of ways, the pandemic just brought into focus problems that have been growing for a very long time,” he continued.

“Whether it’s widening economic inequality, the lack of basic health care for millions of people, the continuing scourge of bigotry and sexism, or the division or dysfunction that plagued our political system.”

Read | Churchill statue vandalised in London during protests

Obama added, “As scary and uncertain these times may be, they are also a wake-up call. They’re an incredible opportunity for your generation.”

Michelle Obama urged to Class of 2020 to learn the lesson that life will always be uncertain, but also to use the moment to figure out not just to think about what kind of career you want to build, but what kind of person do you want to be.

(AP)

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Dear Class of 2020

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