Barack Obama adds his voice to the outcry over the death of George Floyd

Barack Obama has added his voice to the national outcry over the death of George Floyd and the continued police brutality against black Americans.

In his first on-camera remarks about the crisis, the former US president said recent months have seen “the kinds of epic changes and events in our country that are as profound as anything I’ve seen in our lifetime”.

Speaking at a virtual town hall event, led by young activists, he also offered some words of optimism.

“As tragic as these last few weeks have been, as difficult, scary and uncertain as they’ve been, they have been an incredible opportunity for people to be awakened.”

He said the protests taking place across America are “a far more representative cross-section of America that did not exist back in the 1960s”.

“There is a change in mindset that’s taking place – a greater recognition that we can do better.”

His powerful voice joins a chorus calling for policy change and reforms to ensure safer policing and more trust between communities and law enforcement.