Holder says 'journalists must not be harassed or prevented from covering a story.' Holder 'concerned' over Ferguson

Attorney General Eric Holder released a new statement Thursday regarding the escalating tensions in Ferguson, Missouri, saying such unrest “cannot continue,” but expressed concerns over the actions of local law enforcement.

“At a time when we must seek to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the local community, I am deeply concerned that the deployment of military equipment and vehicles sends a conflicting message,” Holder said in his statement, adding that those concerns have been conveyed by Justice Department officials to local authorities.


Holder added that the agency has offered technical assistance to local law enforcement “in order to help conduct crowd control and maintain public safety without relying on unnecessarily extreme displays of force.”

He added that local authorities accepted the offer this afternoon.

( Also on POLITICO: Obama on Ferguson: 'Now is the time for peace')

Echoing President Barack Obama’s remarks, also delivered Thursday, Holder condemned acts of looting in the days following the fatal shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown, but emphasized his worry over the police response.

“While the vast majority of protests have been peaceful, acts of violence by members of the public cannot be condoned,” Holder said.

He continued, “By the same token, the law enforcement response to these demonstrations must seek to reduce tensions, not heighten them.”

( Also on POLITICO: Critics slam ‘militarization’ of police)

Regarding the news of journalists reporting on the situation who were arrested, Holder said, “Journalists must not be harassed or prevented from covering a story that needs to be told.”

Holder announced earlier this week that an FBI inquiry was launched into the death of Brown, the unarmed teen who allegedly was shot multiple times Saturday following an altercation with a local police officer. In his statement Thursday, Holder said investigators from the Justice Department already have interviewed witnesses from Saturday’s shooting.

This afternoon Holder spoke with Brown’s family, according to a law enforcement official. He expressed his personal condolences for their son’s death and promised the department would conduct a full, independent civil rights investigation. The call occurred while the family and their lawyers were visiting the U.S. attorney’s office in Missouri.

Josh Gerstein contributed to this report.