By Jane C. Timm
In a lengthy and impassioned statement released Tuesday Former President George W. Bush called on Americans to listen to black Americans and "examine our tragic failures."
The former president wrote, "It is a strength when protesters, protected by responsible law enforcement, march for a better future. This tragedy — in a long series of similar tragedies — raises a long overdue question: How do we end systemic racism in our society?"
Mr. Bush's statement comes more than a week after the death of George Floyd, a black man who was killed in Minneapolis police custody after a white officer knelt on his neck for more than eight minutes, prompting days of protests across the country marked bylooting and violent clashes with police.
President bush also called on people to listen to "grieving" African Americans, saying it was critical to seeing the country's reality honestly and improving on it.
More: NBCNews.com