--- title: Dallas Shooting: Transcript of Loretta Lynch's Remarks description: Here's what Attorney General Loretta Lynch said Friday about the Dallas police shooting, calling it an "unfathomable tragedy" canonical: https://time.com/4398650/dallas-shooting-loretta-lynch-remarks/ author: Katie Reilly article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2016-07-08T17:17:06.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-06T09:40:22.646Z article:section: Politics og:title: Read Loretta Lynch's Response to 'Unfathomable Tragedy' in Dallas og:description: "I implore you, do not let this week precipitate a new normal in this country" og:url: https://time.com/4398650/dallas-shooting-loretta-lynch-remarks/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt57556aed4095dc4f/69889b3a5f570f4861b21a2e/loretta-lynch-dallas-shooting-remarks.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 3000 og:image:height: 1688 og:image:alt: Attorney General Loretta Lynch Addresses Shooting Of Police Officers In Dallas og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Read Loretta Lynch's Response to 'Unfathomable Tragedy' in Dallas twitter:description: "I implore you, do not let this week precipitate a new normal in this country" twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt57556aed4095dc4f/69889b3a5f570f4861b21a2e/loretta-lynch-dallas-shooting-remarks.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # Read Loretta Lynch's Response to 'Unfathomable Tragedy' in Dallas > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=2e8ac8cf-346a-40db-84f1-6a01633fb386&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Dallas Shooting: ‘The Answer Is Never Violence’ [Watch (HLS stream): Attorney General Loretta Lynch on Dallas Shooting: ‘The Answer Is Never Violence’](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/NoeUKxM8.m3u8) (4:00)  _Published 2016-07-08. Attorney General Lynch called Thursday night’s shooting of police officers in Dallas an “unfathomable tragedy,” while noting the series of tragic events that have occurred over the past 72 hours._  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Jul 8, 2016 5:17 PM UTC  by [Katie Reilly](https://time.com/author/katie-reilly/)  ## Katie Reilly Jul 8, 2016 5:17 PM UTC Attorney General [Loretta Lynch on Friday](http://time.com/4398499/attorney-general-lynch-dallas-shooting-the-answer-is-never-violence/) called the [Dallas police shooting](http://time.com/4397785/dallas-shooting-police-protest-snipers/?xid=homepage) an “unfathomable tragedy” in a “week of profound grief and heartbreaking loss.” “After the events of this week, Americans across our country are feeling a sense of helplessness, of uncertainty and of fear,” she said. “These feelings are understandable and they are justified. But the answer must not be violence. The answer is never violence. Rather, the answer, our answer, all our answer must be action. Calm, peaceful, collaborative and determined action.” Here are her complete remarks from the press conference in Washington, D.C.: --- > “” --- --- > “” --- **Read more:** [Dallas Shooting Victims Include Transit Cop Who Just Got Married](http://time.com/4397911/dallas-police-shooting-victims-sniper/?xid=homepage) --- > “” --- ## Transcript Last night, at least five police officers were shot and killed, several more were injured along with two civilians as they sought to protect a peaceful protest in Dallas, Texas. Our thoughts and our prayers and condolences go out to the families and those who have lost loved one's. The Department of Justice including the FBI ATF, the US Marshall Service and the US Attorney's Office on the scene is working closely with our State and local counterparts. We intend to provide any assistance that we can to investigate this attack and also to help heal a community that has been severely shaken and deeply scarred by an unfathomable tragedy. Now after the events of this week, Americans across our country are feeling a sense of helplessness, of uncertainty and a fear. These feelings are understandable and they are justified but the answer must not be violence. The answer is never violence. Rather the answer, our answer, all our answer, must be action. Calm, peaceful, collaborative and determined action. We must continue working to build trust between communities and law enforcement. We must continue working to guarantee every person in this country Equal justice under the law. And we must take a hard look at the ease with which wrongdoers can get their hands on deadly weapons, and the frequency with which they use them. And we must reflect on the kind of country that we wanna build, and the kind of society that we are choosing to pass on to our children. And above all we must reject the easy impulses of bitterness and rancor and embrace the difficult work, but the important work, the vital work, of finding a path forward together. And above everything we must remind ourselves. They were all Americans and that is Americans we share not just a common land but a common life, not just a common goals but a common heart and soul. And those we've lost this week have come from different backgrounds, different neighborhood but today they're mourned by officers, by residents, by family and friends, by men and women and children Who loved them, who needed them and will miss them always. They are mourned by all of us. To the families of all who've lost their lives in this series of tragedies, we share your pain and your loss. To our brothers and sisters who wear the badge. I want you to know that I am deeply grateful for the difficult and dangerous work that you do everyday to keep our streets safe and our nation secure. Our hearts are broken by this loss and the Department of Justice will do all that we can to support you in the days ahead. and to those who seek to improve our country, through peaceful protest and protected speech, I want you to know that your voice is important. Do not be discouraged by those who would use your lawful actions as a cover for their heinous violence. We will continue to safeguard your constitutional rights and to work with you In the difficult mission of building a better nation and a brighter future and to all Americans, I asked you, I employ you, do not let this week precipitate a new normal in this country. I asked you to turn to each other not against each other as we moved forward Let us support one another, let us help heal one another, and I urge you to remember today and every day that we are one nation, we are one people, and we stand together. May God bless the families and the loved ones of all who were taken from us this week. And comfort their grief with his everlasting grace and may God bless the United States of America. 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