Officials Respond to Boston Protests, Deaths Involving Police

Boston's mayor, police commissioner and archbishop spoke about protests in the city following the deaths of Michael Brown and Eric Garner at the hands of white police officers.

They're not hard to miss - thousands of protesters are taking to the streets around the country, including in Boston.

"It's troubling for all of us to see," said Boston Police Commissioner William Evans. "But the grand jury system is what it is, and I've said before, we've got to live with the decision."

Demonstrators are angry with the failure of separate grand juries in Missouri and New York to indict two white police officers in deaths of two black men.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says he understands the frustration. He says one solution is giving young black and Latino men the tools they need to succeed, something Boston's now looking to do with a new $3 million public safety plan.

"We've really got to look at inequity in our city and our country," said Walsh. "This is an opportunity for us, by this initiative, as one way of battling that."

For the most part, the rallies have been peaceful. The Archbishop of Boston is hoping they stay that way - Cardinal Sean O'Malley is asking people to pray for the families of Michael Brown and Eric Garner.

It's unclear when and if there will be more protests. Either way, the city says it will be prepared.

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