Obama Calls for Unity at Memorial for Slain Dallas Police Officers

President Obama called for unity in America in a speech on July 12 after the deadly shooting of police officers in Dallas.

US President Barack Obama speaks during an interfaith memorial service for the victims of the Dallas police shooting at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center on July 12, 2016 in Dallas, Texas. President Barack Obama attended a somber memorial Tuesday to five police officers slain in a sniper ambush in Dallas, as he seeks to unify a country divided by race and politics. / AFP / Mandel NGAN Photo credit should read MANDEL NGAN/AFP/Getty Images

President Obama called for unity in America during a live-streamed speech on July 12 after the deadly shooting of police officers in Dallas.

Obama visited the city five days after a deadly sniper attack killed five officers during a protest against police shootings. Seven other officers were injured, as well as two civilians.

The president spoke at an interfaith memorial service at the Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center in front of families of the fallen police officers and members of the Dallas community.

Michelle Obama, Vice President Joe Biden and wife Jill Biden, along with former President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush, were also in attendance.

US Vice President Joe Biden (2nd-L), Jill Biden(L) and former US president George W. Bush (R) and former first lady Laura Bush attend an interfaith memorial service for the victims of the Dallas police shooting in Dallas, on July 12, 2016. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Photos of the victims of the Dallas police shooting during an interfaith memorial service on July 12, 2016, in Dallas. President Barack Obama attended a somber memorial on Tuesday as he seeks to unify a country divided by race and politics. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Obama also commended the Dallas Police Department for the decrease in murder rates over the past years, as well as fewer cases of excessive force.

“Dallas Police Department has been doing it the right way,” he said.

Obama noted an “overwhelmingly” large number of police officers are doing a good job, and agreed with Dallas Police Chief David Brown’s remarks on Monday on how people ask the police force to do too much. 

He also spoke of the racial divide in America, saying that discrimination didn’t vanish after segregation and that bias remains, calling for unity.

Obama said people are mourning for the slain officers, as well as Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, who were both killed in police shootings last week.

DART officer Misty McBride (R) hugs a fellow officer before an interfaith memorial service, honoring five slain police officers in Dallas, on July 12, 2016. McBride was injured when sniper opened fire following a Black Lives Matter march in Dallas killing five police officers and injuring 12 others. Tom Pennington/Getty Images

Former President George W. Bush also spoke in his home state.

“Those of us who love Dallas and call it home have lost five members of the family,” he said.

Dallas Mayor Michael Rawlings spoke about the strength of his city, while Police Chief Brown recited the Stevie Wonder song “I'll Be Loving You Always.”

The Obamas were scheduled to meet privately with families of the police officers who were killed, and talk to those who were injured.

Meanwhile, in a surprising show of unification, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) traveled to Dallas with President Barack Obama aboard Air Force One on Tuesday, the senator’s office confirmed.