Cruz blames Obama for climate of violence against police

FORT WORTH, Texas (AP) — Ted Cruz is holding President Barack Obama responsible for a climate of violence against police. The Republican presidential contender says Obama and his administration demonize law enforcement.

Cruz made the comments in Texas in an interview with The Associated Press, after the fatal shooting in that state of Deputy Darren Goforth.

The Texas senator says the recent string of police shootings comes as a consequence of what he calls Obama’s vilification of law enforcement following riots in places such as Baltimore and Ferguson, Missouri.

As Cruz put it: “There are unfortunate, tragic consequences when the president of the United States repeatedly vilifies law enforcement and when that rhetoric is amplified by the Department of Justice” and “by politicians across this country.”