Safeguarding rights of citizens and the press. This is not a ferguson problem. This is a national problem. Good day, everyone. Im Andrea Mitchel in washington. Watching with the rest of our nation as a Missouri Town explodes. Weekend looting and response to the Police Shooting and killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown has now led to continuing mostly peaceful protests but the Police Response looks more like a combat zone. Two reporters who witnessed last nights events. They are joining me now. Thanks to both of you. I know youve been up all night. Thanks for everything that youve been doing. Tell me what you saw, what happened out there in the streets last night . What i saw was really police barricading people into areas and trying to get them to disperse. There was a really, really large crowd. I saw teargas. People really, really choking on teargas. People really struggling to try to just get home in most of the instances that i talked to. I also was at the Ferguson Police station where i saw at least five people get arrested. They were protesting, in my opinion, pretty peacefully but at some point around 2 00 in the morning, Tactical Operations showed up and told them they had to leave or they were going to be arrested. That was about 2 00 in the morning. Some people did get arrested. And weve got the video that Wesley Lowrie shot of him being pulled out of a local mcdonalds when he was approached by police who came in. He and another report are from Huffington Post were inside the mcdonalds. There you see wesleys video. The policeman approached them, tell them they have to get out. First, they explained what they were doing. They were just powering up their cell phones. N then police told them to get out. They said that they were moving. They were not resisting. And all of a sudden, they were, you know, slammed against the wall, in one case. This is what happened, what was described by wesley this morning on jose diazbalart. I couldnt help but have some attention focused on this large gun in front of me while my right hand is trying to pack my stuff. As we tried to make our way out, i got conflicting information about which door i should go to. As i turned around to go to the second door i was toiled to walk, to my bag started to slip. I didnt want the officers think i was trying to stall or stand there. As i kept walking i said, officers my bag is slipping, i need to pause for a second to readjust it. Im still walking out. Thats when they said, lets take him. They threw me up against the soda machine. Put me in plastic restraints yelling stop resisting, stop resisting, as i was yelling, im not arresting. You can arrest plea, its fine. Im not resisting. It was horrifying. Can you explain the level of force with which the Police Responded to the people who were in the streets . With each day that this case lingers on it seems the aggression is being stepped up. For two straight nights there was teargas. Last night, the police adding the flash bangs and stun grenades. There were Police Officers and paramilitary uniforms, big armored trucks with snipers on top training their guns on individuals. And each day that this case goes on, were getting further away from the situation that brought us here in the first place. An unarmed teenager was shot and killed by a police officer. So now journalists are being arrested. A local alderman was arrested. Journalist such as myself and many others were caught in the protests, in the fog of teargas. Our eyes burning, unable to breathe. And so the situation is getting increasingly tense. With each day, the calls are being increased to where it governor nixon. Hes here today apparently meeting with local officials and clergy right now. He should be touring this area. Theres also been stepped up pressure on the white house and the department of justice for them to weigh in. Either as an independent investigation or to make sure they are keeping their eyes on the ground here. Each night this goes on, the people in the community are getting more restless. The aggression by the police is being stepped up. Going back to those people in the communities who for a long time have complained about aggression on the side of police. Were seeing it played out on a much larger scale for all of us to see with all the journalists and cameras here. I dont understand who these Police Officers are. I heard wesley and the other reporters asking, who are you, what is your identification. They arent wearing badges. They dont have numbers or names. They didnt identify themselves, even when they got to the Police Station and put them in a cell. So who are these Police Officers . Are they ferguson with these apcs or is this county police . They seem to be kind of a mix. On the side of the apparatus, all the big trucks, st. Louis county police. But i believe i did see flanking those trucks some Ferguson City police. But the st. Louis county police have taken over the investigation. So they are splitting their role. One hand, the county police are in charge of investigating the killing that led everyone here. But they are also keeping they are charged with keeping the streets boarded off from these protests expanding day by day. It seems most of them are st. Louis county police. And yaniche, before we let you go, we have some of the still photos you were tweeting out last night. What are people there saying about their relationship with the police . Has it always been this hostile, this adversarial and racially fraught or is this taking it to a whole new level . The people that i talk to say that this has been a longstanding, long boiling over issue. That people say for decades, for generations people have felt as though the police are targeting certain people. Mainly young black men. I talked to a man who said hes fourth generation feeling like he is being profiled by the Ferguson Police. My mother, my father was pulled over. I was pulled over. My son was pulled over and my grandson who was driving. Were scared hes also going to be pulled over. So people are really saying this is a continuation of a problem thats been here for a long time and for many years. Thank you both so very much. I hope you can get some rest because its, obviously, not a situation that is going to calm down very quickly unless the police and the local officials and the governor get involved. And we are, as you know, going to hear from the president this hour. And joining me now is msnbc contributor and Washington Post editorial righter Jonathan Capehart. As of now, we have independently called and emailed and not gotten any response from the local officials, from the police as to why these reporters were detained. And as wesley was saying on jose diazbalart, he only represents the eyes and ears of the public, what is happening to people out there on the streets. He is only trying to do his job. I dont know, the Washington Post last night and as of this morning had also not gotten a response, an explanation. First of all, i want to say very proud very proud of Wesley Lowery and also proud of those reporters down there who have been live tweeting whats been happening and also making sure that everyone knows and understands that even if, you know, they are all down there competing with each other to get the story but also having each others backs. When you see on twitter the photographs of the Al Jazeera America camera crew being fired at with tear gas and their equipment being taken down. Thats the public being denied their right to know what is happening in an American City that looks like its under siege. And the thing the most disturbing thing about last night, andrea, was that i kept wondering, where is governor jay nixon. Where is mayor noels, the police chief. You have a major conflagration happening in your state and you are nowhere to be found. Watching it felt like i was watching a very lawless scene. Not on the part of the protesters, who for the most part, i saw with their hands up, but on behalf on the part of the local Law Enforcement, whoever they might be. Is it ferguson . I think you asked a fantastic question. Who are these Police Officers . Are they Ferguson Police department . Are they st. Louis county police . And where did they get all this equipment . And who trained them to use them . On american citizens like that . Ive was watching the local reporter from our affiliate there who was explaining last night to chris hayes around 11 30 last night, explaining that she was trying to do a live shot at 11 00 our time, for their 10 00 news, and she had her hands up like this because she was surrounded. She and her crew were surrounded by police with their guns pointed at them. To what extent, what training do local or county police draw their guns on people who have their hands up, as did many of the protesters because that was the way they were signifying for Michael Brown. What he had allegedly, according to his side of the story, we know that hasnt been determined yet, he had his hands up and he was not resisting arrest. Think about that. Weve seen lots of pictures of people with their hands up, with police aiming guns at them. So you have ordinary regular citizens with their hands up having guns trained on them. Then you have journalists who arent any different than regular citizens, but journalists are the eyes and ears for the public of whats happening. And so police, american Police Officers are going to point guns at, clearly, a journalist doing his or her job . That to me is why i felt there was had the sense and feeling of lawlessness of what was happening last night and why we need to hear from local officials about what they are doing to make sure what happened last night doesnt happen again. Thank you so much, jonathan. I know youll be staying with us as we continue to follow these latest developments from ferguson. Maria nadal, her challenge to Law Enforcement after she was first hit with teargas. She herself during a peaceful protest. Thats next right here on Andrea Mitchell reports. Well be right back. During the cadillac summers best event, lease this 2014 ats for around 299 a month and make this the summer of style. [music] jackies heart attack didnt come with a warning. 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And im your state senator and i was gassed. And we couldnt get out. And were peacefully sitting. I just wanted to know if im going to be gassed again. I really hope not. I hope not either. You had amazing calm there asking the police chief if you were going to be gassed again. Was the Police Presence proportionate to the demonstration in the streets . It was absolutely disproportionate, actually, andrea. I will tell you, we started off with a peaceful march for about a mile and then we got to the quick trip that is ground zero, and my young people, which these are the victims of this entire crisis, decided to sit down. And i wanted to join them because their voices are not being heard whatsoever. And i wanted to give them an opportunity to exercise their First Amendment right, which is the right to assemble peacefully and to exercise free speech. And so we sat down for at least 30 or 40 or 50 minutes, and the police started coming from the north or from the south and they just started building up. As soon as we knew, there were tanker trucks with Police Officers with their shotguns aimed at us. We were literally looking at officers with their guns. And they were ready to shoot. And so this would have been the third day in a row where we were confronted with Police Officers who had disproportionate armory against people who had no guns, no knives, nothing. All we want to do is to peacefully display our right to free speech. Thats all. We were not violent whatsoever. Not for three days we have not been violent. Have you reached out to the governor . A lot of us cant understand why state officials are not involved in trying to deal with a situation thats obviously out of control. The governor has been absent from the Minority Community his entire political career. You can go back 20 years ago when we dealt with the desegregation act where we were supposed to have School Districts that assumed children that came from poor districts so that they would have an opportunity to get an equal education. He stopped the desegregation case and so young people werent able to get an adequate education anymore. This year i filed a bill. I passed a bill which was on his desk that would help africanamerican young people to get a quality education. He vetoed that bill. Our governor, governor nixon, has been absent from the Minority Community, not for a few years, but for a few decades. And this is inexcusable. And he only comes to the Minority Community when its politically expedient. And now that the worlds eyes are on missouri, on st. Louis, on the Senate District that i represent, the governor is now here. But hes not really at ground zero. He has never come to ground zero. Right now, in fact, hes in a different municipality. And he is speaking but he has not been to ground zero. And for that, i call him a coward. What would you like to hear from president obama who is going to be speaking this hour . I would like to hear from president obama that he will allow the department of justice to intervene and also expand their inquiry and focus on the Police Treatment for the last three or four days. It is inexcusable what our county police and our, frankly, our state Police Officers have been involved in. We have all been peacefully assembling, expressing the anger and hurt that we have in our hearts. That these young people that i represent, they are the victims. And they deserve to be heard and not harassed or intimidated by Law Enforcement or any other authority. So i want to hear from president obama today that he recognizes the right to express yourself. This is the backbone of this country is the ability to speak. Thanks for taking time to join us today. Much more ahead here on Andrea Mitchell reports, as we follow the latest developments ot of ferguson, missouri. We expect to hear from president obama about the growing crisis there. Also, what we know about the condition of thousands of yazidi residents after a special Reconnaissance Mission on mt. Sinjar. General john kirby joining me here next. First, pope francis arrived in seoul, south korea, today. This trip is focusing on peace and reconciliation in the divided peninsula. South koreans are all abuzz over the popes humble ride. The compact and downscaled kia soul that he rode from the airport with the window down waving to the crowds. And on this fiveday trip, the pontiff will be meet with young people for asian youth day. Hell also meet with families from the ferry tragedy that killed 300 people. 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One more time, everything and with that in mind. Whats in your wallet . After 20 or so members of a u. S. Special forces secretly landed on the top of sinjar mountain and evaluated the pentagon now says there were far fewer refugees there than previously thought. And it is, quote, far less looikly that a u. S. Military rescue mission will be necessary, according to the defense secretary hagel. Joining us now is Pentagon Press secretary rear admiral john kirby. You just got back from around the world with secretary hagel last night. So we thank you for this. Well, in terms of what the special forces saw, what did they find when they did this secret Reconnaissance Mission on top of the mountain . They found far fewer refugees an the mountain than we previously thought were there. Probably just several thousand, less than 4,000, we think. And, two, the conditions were not as dire for the smaller number of people. We found many unopened pallets of food and water that hadnt been consumed yet. That was good. And the other thing we believe is that thousands of them were leaving every night due to the good work of the peshmerga and the security that we were able to provide from the air. These air strikes on isil mortar and artillery positions around the mountain. So we believe we made it safer for them to get off. We also helped them sustain themselves with food and water to make the journey off. We now do not think we will need a massive rescue operation . Might there still be u. S. Troops going in to air lift out some of these 3,000 or 4,000 people . Were not closing any doors to any kind of humanitarian Assistance Mission right now but we dont automobibelieve we its far less likely well have to conduct any rescue mission. That said, were a planning organization. We always look at options and we arent closing anything down. There seems to be a disconnect between the rhetoric of u. S. Officials on and off the record, frankly. The intelligence officials whom i speak with, about the threat, the dire threat that isil or isis represents to us. Potentially to the homeland if they dig in and have a secure location there. A haven there. And if they expand potentially to lebanon, to jordan, threatening our allies. A disconnect between that threat as stated and the American Military response. So far the American Military does what it does so well. They have supported the peshmerga and saved the lived potentially of a lot of these yazidis, but were talking about a contained operation. What about the big picture. Two points there. You are right. We have a very limited set of objectives weve been given militarily. Particularly in the north to protect u. S. Personnel and facilities mostly in and around erbil and to alleviate the humanitarian crisis an mt. Sinjar. Weve been sort of helping support Iraqi Security forces for the last few weeks. Were providing them some information in two joint operation centers. Weve been flying intensive isr over the cannot. More than 50 flights a day. Reconnaissance. Im sorry. Weve got an Aircraft Carrier in the pers nan gulf standing by and we continue to conduct air strikes where we think the threat to our people and our facilities are under in danger. What i would tell you is, and weve been very clear about this. This is an iraqi fight to fight. Isil does pose a significant threat. No question about that. Sdo they have aspirations for attacking the west . Inside iraq, this is really only a fight that the iraqis can fight themselves and we are able and willing to try to assist them but theyve got to do this. Were not as the president said, were not going to become the iraqi air force. A big piece of their ability to do that will be solid governance. A unity government, a political process thats inclusive of all iraqis that can help eliminate some of the conditions, the social and Economic Conditions that give isil the breathing space that it has. And there may be some opportunity for that now with a body that remains to be seen but it does appear that the army is not supporting maliki and there may be a peaceful transfer of power which would be remarkable. Let me also ask you about the other side of this. The flip side of the question of whether were doing enough is whether we really are going to get sucked in. The Mission Creep question. No, i dont think theres any Mission Creep here. Mission creep means the goals and objectives change over time or expabd over time. Our mission, our goals and objectives, what the task weve been assigned by the commander in chief, very clear. Protect u. S. Personnel and facilities and try to help alleviate some of that humanitarian crisis. We also have assessment teams an the ground and those joint Operations Centers to try to advise and assist and provide some information to Iraqi Security forces so that they can defend their own people. And i just want to give you a chance to respond on the record to the wall street journals front page story at the pentagon was helping the israelis rearm with hell fires and other munitions against gaza, against the wishes of the state department, of the president because the view from the president that the israelis were not being pinpoint enough and were, in fact, hitting u. N. Schools and other civilian targets. Certainly, we share the concerns over civilian casualties n those were concerns that secretary hagel expressed to the defense minister in a couple of phone calls that took place. But the process of those arms and ammunition as reported in the wall street journal, that was a process well established and well in place. And it was a programmatic kind of decision that was made. But, look, were all mindful of the need to limit civilian casualties. Were all mindful of the need for a cessation of the firing and the violence between israel and gaza. Admiral kirby, thank you so much. Coming up, more on the crisis in ferguson, missouri, today. What can be done to calm the chaos . President obama is expected to make a statement this hour. And coming up here, congressman john lewis joins me next. Grains,real beef,even accents of spinach,carrots and peas. [guy] you love it so much. Yes you do. But its good for you, too. [announcer] healthful. Flavorful. Beneful. From purina. Wherever morning takes you, take along Nature Valley softbaked oatmeal squares. Oatmeal. Cinnamon. Softlybaked. Nature valley softbaked oatmeal squares. For over 19 million people. [ susan ] my promotion allowed me to start investing for my retirement. Transamerica made it easy. [ female announcer ] everyone has a moment when tomorrow becomes real. Transamerica. Transform tomorrow. Were expecting to hear from president obama within in hour on the situation in ferguson, missouri. Hes left his residence and is heading to the briefing room. Georgia congressman john lewis joins me from atlanta. Congressman, thank you very much. We are seeing scenes in ferguson, missouri, that i havent seen in 50 years. Tell me your reaction to the way the police there have handled the situation and the local officials. Thank you so much for having me. It is very sad and unbelievable. Its unreal to see what the police is doing there. First of all, ferguson, missouri is part of the United States of america. People have a right to protest. They have a right to dissent. They have a right to march in an orderly, peaceful, nonviolent fashion. And the press has a right to cover it. Ferguson, missouri, its not the congo, it is not china, it is not russia. We can do better. Take me back to the 40s, the 50s, the 60s. To have a city that are majority africanamerican and only three africanamerican on the police force . To have local Police Officers refer to the protesters as animals. Or to have people dress in military garment and pointing rifles directly at the protesters. That is only going to incite people. So my own feeling is, right now, is that president obama should use the authority of his office to declare martial law. Federalize the Missouri National guard to protect people as they protest. And people should come together. Reasonable elected officials, Community Leaders and address what is happening there. If we fail to act, the fires of frustration and discontent will continue to burn, not only in ferguson, missouri, but all across america. Does the president have the try to federalize the National Guard without the governors agreement . What is the status of the laws of congress . In 1961, president kennedy, during the freedom ride, federalized the National Guard in the city of montgomery. And placed the city of montgomery under martial law to protect us. While we were there in the church for being bombed or burned and if it hadnt been for the National Guard, ordered there by president kennedy and the u. S. Marshals, some of urs would have died there that night. That was when Nicholas Katzenback and Bobby Kennedy were involved. Eric holder, the attorney general, has said that the Justice Department is involved. I assume the civil rights division. But weve seen nothing day after day from the federal government, even as the State Government is missing in action. I think that must be a greater sense of visibility and action on the part of the federal government. The department of justice, the civil rights division. They have a Community Relation effort that can bring people together involving the religious leaders, Community Leaders and people from the side who are it says something about the city. It just is unreal to me. Its just unreal. How can you have a city and expect to have peace and order and very few symbols that are representatives of the people making up the Public Safety department of the city. So that gets to the pount of what has to happen next because once this, lord willing, dies down and we get passed this crisis, towns like ferguson and cities all across america have to really look at their Law Enforcement and at their the diversity in their police ranks. And the match with between the city and the people in the Law Enforcement community. Well, first of all, people must respect the citizens. Respect a citizen. You do not refer to citizens as animals. You do not carry guns, rifles and be dressed like youre getting ready to engage in warfare. Congressman john lewis, weve seen it before. Youve seen it far more personally than almost anyone else in this country given your history. And we thank you for your perspective today. And were going to be hearing from the president. We hope that somebody in the white house is listening. Much more ahead right here on Andrea Mitchell reports, we await to hear from the president this hour. Today her doctor has her on a bayer aspirin regimen to help reduce the risk of another one. If youve had a heart attack be sure to talk to your doctor before you begin an aspirin regimen. Today, more and more people with type 2 diabetes are learning about longacting levemir®, an injectable insulin that can give you blood sugar control for up to 24 hours. And levemir® helps lower your a1c. Levemir® is now available in flextouch® the only prefilled insulin pen with no pushbutton extension. Levemir® lasts 42 days without refrigeration. Thats 50 longer than lantus®, which lasts 28 days. 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Joining me ahead of the president s remarks, chris cillizza, msnbc contributor and managing editor of postpliks. Com. Usa todays susan page and Jonathan Capehart is back with us. Chris cillizza, were seeing Extraordinary Events in missouri and im waiting to hear from the president on vacation. But as john lewis just said, the president should be nationalizing, federalizing the National Guard in st. Louis, in missouri. And not waiting on the governor. Well, this is look. Weve had a number of incidents like this throughout president obamas presidency. The arrest of henry lewis gates who, obviously, Trayvon Martin to now this Michael Brown situation in ferguson. The president typically, and the henry lewis gates example is the outlier. The president in the 24th examples tends to sort of take a very wait and see approach. They put out a statement urging sort of calm. Did the same thing with Trayvon Martin. And he waits to sort of give his big picture thoughts about race relations, racial politics in this country. The question is whether he can do that in this situation or not. I mean, obviously, hes going to address somewhat more fully, his view of the situation in ferguson, missouri. Lets see how far he goes. Susan page, this is a crisis. And its now a national crisis. This is different from the previous racial incidents. It looks like things are completely out of control in ferguson. You have people being teargassed, reporters being arrested for no apparent reason. I think that john lewis always a powerful spokesman. I think his words are ones the white house surely is listening to. He said that it reminded him of his days as a civil rights protesters. The National Guard saved his life. Right now i want to speaking of those days, jonathan and susan and chris, bear with me because right now were joined in atlanta from human rights activist Martin Luther king iii, son of the late civil rights leader dr. Martin luther king jr. Tell me, dr. King, about what your father would be saying to the people of ferguson, missouri. You know, i dont know that anyone can actually speak to what he would say, but we can certainly look at his readings and writings. One of the things that i think that quickly has to be instituted is a process of implementing human relations, sensitivity and diversity training. And it seems to me that the Police Departments need that all over america. Now, of course, my father would want the community to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience. To some degree it looks like some of that has happened yet the Police Department or Police Forces have not seemed to have allowed that. Now thats hard to totally determine, but thats the way it appears looking at it on television. But people should, as congressman lewis said, have the right to protest. And you as a human rights leader and someone who understands this whole tradition and the hust history of st. Loud the desegregation problems that community experienced. What does this do to families, to young people and to people who think to young black men, as president obama expressed it in this instance in a written statement and also after trayvon, to the whole feeling of people being under threat of physical violence from the people who are supposed to be protecting them. Pronge absolutely. That is probably the biggest challenge when were children, little children. Were taught that police are to protect and serve. In the Africanamerican Community experience, by and large, the police are not that way. Have not done that. They have not done Community Policing. Thats another thing that may have helped in this situation. Some Community Policing so that you know your community. But when you have a community that is policed police just operate in a dictatorial fashion and do not respect the residents that they are supposed to protect it may escalate into something that were seeing now. Now it is my hope, i believe well be having a rally this weekend in ferguson, and its my hope that theres a shortterm strategy that has to be developed by the Community Must be involved. One of the things, the police is investigating itself. How do you resolve an issue when youre investigating yourself . Mr. King in fact, the governor is finally appearing after all these days. Lets go there to missouri and governor nixon. To make sure the path that we have is a safe and peaceful path, that leads to justice and growth. I appreciate the president taking the time to spend some time an the phone with me this morning in a very busy time with him. So he wanted specifically, so last thing i say, he wanted me to specifically thank the faith leaders and other Community Leaders who are leading with vigor, but with peace. Who are demanding answers but respecting others. Who understand and know that these transitionary moments, these difficult moments sometimes define us and he wanted us to be defined as a better, more Peaceful Society in the long run. And i appreciated his comments and leadership with me this morning. Ill give this back to the reverend. When i sneak out, its not because im scared of hearing someone criticize me. I just have to make sure i get out to get a number of other meetings done before we make these announcements at 3 00 this afternoon. Thank you, and god bless. Well, that was the governor. Hes address something clergy. And he said he was going to sneak out because he was afraid to hear anybody criticizing him. We expect the president about two minutes, but that was an extraordinary performance. Yes, especially for someone who was absent last night. He and the mayor and the police chief, the city is in flames. The city is choking re ining un teargas and stun bombs and this is the first time were hear in from them. But getting back to something susan was saying, i think that whats happening now has gone beyond race. What we saw last night was a breakdown of law and order by police. And that what you need to have happen now, the outofcontrol nature of last night, it needs to be reined in. You have police who are going who are training guns, assault weapons on ordinary citizens. And then you have Police Training assault weapons, firing teargas at dismantling the equipment of journalists. And so at some point, someone, whether its taking congressman lewis suggestion and nationalizing the police force and sending in the National Guard or the governor or the mayor or the police chief saying, okay, we have to dial this back. This is how were going to do things now. Until that happens, you are were going to see more scenes like last night. I dont think the country can handle seeing more scenes like last night because thats not america. Thats not the United States. And i think the reason people were so horrified by what was happening was because we know were looking at pictures from missouri. Theyre not what were used to seeing. Were used to seeing that in other places that dont have the kind of democracy that we have here in the United States. That we talk about all the time. That we say we want other countries to emulate. Thats not what was happening last night. And chris cillizza, ive covered war zones and this is heres the president. So lets hear what he has to say. Today id like to update the American People on two issues that ive been monitoring closely these last several days. First of all, we continue to make progress in carrying out our targeted military operations in iraq. Last week, i authorized two limited missions, protecting our people and facilities inside of iraq, and a humanitarian operation to help save thousands of iraqi civilians stranded on a mountain. A week ago we assessed that many thousands of yazidi men, women and children had abandoned their positions to take refuge on mt. Sinjar in a desperate aattempt to avoid slaughter. We also knew isil terrorists were killing and enslaving yazidi civilians in their custody. Without food or water, they faced a terrible choice. Starve on the mountain or be slaughtered on the ground. Thats when america came to help. Over the last week, the u. S. Military conducted humanitarian air drops every night. Delivering more than 114,000 meals and 35,000 gallons of fresh water. We were joined in that effort by the United Kingdom and other allies pledged their support. Our military was able to successfully strike isil targets around the mountain which improved conditions for civilians to evacuate the mountain safely. Yesterday, a small team of americans, military and civilian, completed their review of the conditions on the mountain. They found that food and water have been reaching those in need and that thousands of people have been evacuating safely each and every night. The civilians who remain continue to leave aided by Kurdish Forces and yazidis helping to facilitate the safe passage much their families. So the bottom line is that the situation on the mountain has greatly improved, and americans should be very proud of our efforts. Because the skill and professionalism of our military and the generosity of our people, we broke the isil siege of mt. Sinjar, helped Vulnerable People reach safety and helped save many innocent lives. Because these efforts, we do not expect there to be an additional operation to evacuate people off the mountain. And its unlukely that were going to need to continue humanitarian air drops on the mountain. The majority of the military personnel who conducted the assessment will be leaving iraq in the coming days. And i just want to say that as commander in chief, i could not be prouder of the men and women of our military who carried out this humanitarian operation almost flawlessly. I am very grateful to them, and i know that those who are trapped on that mountain are extraordinarily grateful as well. Now the situation remains dire for iraqis subject to isils terror throughout the country. And this includes minorities like yazidis and iraqi christians. It also includes many sunnis, shia and kurds. Were going to be working with our International Partners to provide humanitarian assistance to those who are suffering in northern iraq, wherever we have capabilities, and we can carry out Effective Missions like the one we carried out on mt. Sinjar without committing combat troops on the ground. We, obviously, feel a great urge to provide some humanitarian relief to the situation and ive been very encouraged by the interest of our International Partners in helping on these kinds of efforts as well. We will continue air strikes to protector people and facilities in iraq. We have increased the delivery of military assistance to iraqi and Kurdish Forces fighting isil on the front lines, and perhaps most importantly, we are urging iraqi toss come together to turn the tide against isil by seizing the enormous opportunity of forming a new inclusive government under the government of Prime Minister designate body. I had a chance to speak to the Prime Minister abate a few days ago and he spoke about the need for the kind inclusive government, a government that speaks to all the government of iraq that. He still has a challenging task in putting together a government, but were modestly hopeful that the Iraqi Government situation is moving in the right direction. I want to address something thats been in the news the last couple of days. And thats the situation in ferguson, missouri. Many americans have been deeply disturbed as police have clashed with people protesting. Today id like us all to take a step back and see how were going to be moving forward. I received a thorough update an the situation from the attorney general eric holder who has been following and been in communication with his team. Ive already tasked the department of justice and the fbi to independently investigate the death of Michael Brown, along with local officials on the ground. The department of justice is also consulting with local authorities about ways that they can maintain Public Safety without restricting the right of peaceful protest and while avoiding unnecessary escalation. I made clear to the attorney general that we should do what is necessary to help determine exactly what happened and to see that justice is done. I also just spoke with governor jay nixon of missouri. I expressed my concern over the violent turn that events have taken on the ground and underscored that now is the time for all of us to reflect on whats happening and to find a way to come together moving forward. He is going to be traveling to ferguson. He is a good man and a fine govern governor. Hes going to be able to communicate his desire to see that justice is done and his desire to make sure that Public Safety is maintained in an appropriate way. Of course, it is important to remember how this started. We lost a young man, Michael Brown, in heartbreaking and tragic circumstances. He was 18 years old. His family will never hold michael in their arms again. And when Something Like this happens, the local authorities, including the police, have a responsibility to be open and transparent about how they are investigating that death and how they are protecting the people in their communities. There is never an excuse for violence against police or for those who would use this tragedy as a cover for vandalism or looting. There is also no excuse for police to use Excessive Force against peaceful protests or to throw protesters in jail for lawfully exercising their First Amendment rights. And here in the United States of america, police should not be bullying or arresting journalists who are just trying do their jobs. And report to the American People on what they see on the ground. Put simply, we all need to hold ourselves to a high standard, particularly those of us in positions of authority. I know that emotions are raw right now in ferguson. And there are certainly passionate differences about what has happened. There are going to be different accounts of how this tragedy occurred. There are going to be differences in terms of what needs to happen going forward. Thats part of our democracy. But lets remember that were all part of one american family. We are united in common vals and that includes belief in a quali equality under the law, respect for public order and the right to peaceful public protests. A reverence for the dignity of every single man, woman and child among us, and the need for accountability when it comes to our government. So now is the time for healing. Now is the time for peace and calm on the streets of ferguson. Now is the time for an open and transparent process to see that justice is done. And i have asked that the attorney general and the u. S. Attorney on the scene continue to work with local officials to move that process forward. They will be reporting to me in the coming days about whats being done to make sure that happens. Thanks very much, everybody. And there you have the president. President obama in Marthas Vineyard saying that now is the time for peace, for calm. He did not announce he was federali izizing the national g. He called jay nixon a good man and he said that he hopes that all of us can remember that journalists were doing their jobs should not be harassed or arrested by police but he did not draw any conclusions as to who was right or wrong but did recall that this was all started by the death of a man, a young man, Michael Brown, who was killed and who will never again be held in the arms of his family. That does it for this hour. A very busy hour as we continue here on msnbc, continuous coverage of the crisis in ferguson, missouri. My colleague ronan farrow joins us now. Intense situation. Thank you, andrea. 1 00 p. M. On the east coast. 10 00 a. M. On the west coast and a lot going on. Heres everything you need to know right now. Any minute, were expecting a News Conference from the Ferguson Police department on this same subject. It is a city still on edge after yet another night of unrest. Police and protesters clashed in the st. Louis suburb again last night over the killing of that unarmed black teen by an officer. Michael brown. Moments ago, president obama interrupted his vacation in Marthas Vineyard to issue a statement about this tragedy saying that this is a time for peace and reflection and reminding the nation that hes asked doj to investigate this entire situation. Also moments ago, congressman john lewis weighed in on the action he feels the president still needs to take. My own feeling is, right now, is that president obama should use the authority of his office to declare martial law. Federalize the Missouri National guard to protect people as they protest. Big suggestion from the congressman there. Jay nixon spoke as well saying he talked to the president and also changed his schedule to head to ferguson today. The hacker group annan muss made a splash disclosing what they claim is the name of the officer who fatally shot Michael Brown. Police say that name is incorrect and not even an officer with st. Louis county or ferguson. That Police Department has declined to release the name of the actual officer citing safety concerns. This all follows 24 hours of the kinds of images you see there. Police in full s. W. A. T. Gear firing teargas,