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Published December 21, 2014

President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder have condemned the shooting deaths of two New York City police officers who were ambushed as they sat in their patrol car in Brooklyn Saturday.

"Two brave men won't be going home to their loved ones tonight, and for that, there is no justification," Obama said in a statement while vacationing with his family in Hawaii. "The officers who serve and protect our communities risk their own safety for ours every single day - and they deserve our respect and gratitude every single day."

Authorities say that before shooting the officers in Brooklyn's Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood, the gunman announced online that he planned to shoot two "pigs" in retaliation for the police chokehold death of Eric Garner. The gunman later killed himself.

In a statement Saturday night, Holder called the attack "cowardly" and said it underscores the dangers that are routinely faced by those who protect and serve their fellow citizens.

"Our nation must always honor the valor -- and the sacrifices -- of all law enforcement officers with a steadfast commitment to keeping them safe," Holder said. "This means forging closer bonds between officers and the communities they serve, so that public safety is not a cause that is served by a courageous few, but a promise that's fulfilled by police officials and citizens working side by side."

U.S. Attorney Loretta Lynch, Obama's choice to succeed Holder as Attorney General, said the attack "struck at the heart of our city -- the dedicated officers who pledge their lives to safeguard us all."

"Let us take this time to grieve with their families," Lynch's statement concluded, "and join the NYPD and all New Yorkers in honoring them for their sacrifice."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Obama, Holder condemn murders of NYPD officers

United States Attorney General Eric Holder has released a statement regarding the Saturday afternoon shooting deaths of two New York City Police Department officers.

Icondemn this afternoon's senseless shooting of two New York City police officers in the strongest possible terms, the statement said.

"This was an unspeakable act of barbarism, and I was deeply saddened to hear of the loss of these two brave officers in the line of duty.

On behalf of all those who serve in the United States Department of Justice, I want to express my heartfelt condolences to the officers' loved ones and colleagues. I will make available all of the resources of the Department to aid the NYPD in investigating this tragedy."

The 28-year-old suspected gunman made multiple references in social media posts to killing officers as revenge for the police-related deaths of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. He explicitly mentioned their names at least once, and he alluded to the circumstances surrounding their passing at least one other time.

In the aftermath of the deaths of Garner and Brown, Holder emerged a spokesman of sorts for the Obama Administration on issues pertaining to how police officers treat people of color. He has repeatedly suggested that cops mistreat -- in particular -- African-Americans, and urged reforming police departments across the country to correct this. He has also extensively investigated both the Garner and Browns deaths, even after grand juries in both cases determined there wasnt enough evidence to indict the officers involved.

You can read Holders full statement on todays deaths below.

Source: Buzzfeed News / Photo Credit: Flickr

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Eric Holder Releases Statement Regarding Shooting Deaths Of 2 NYPD Officers

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Attorney General Holder Announces U.S. Now Has Smallest Corrections Population Since 2003 - Video

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WASHINGTON, Dec. 18 (UPI) -- Attorney General Eric Holder announced expanded protection for transgender government employees Thursday, allowing the Justice Department to file claims against employers accused of discriminating based on gender identity.

The expanded protections come from Holder's clarified interpretation of Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits workplace discrimination due to racial, gender or religious bias. Holder will no longer maintain the previously established position that "Title VII's prohibition against discrimination based on sex does not encompass gender identity per se."

"This important shift will ensure that the protections of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 are extended to those who suffer discrimination based on gender identity, including transgender status," wrote Holder.

"This will help to foster fair and consistent treatment for all claimants. And it reaffirms the Justice Department's commitment to protecting the civil rights of all Americans."

Holder noted the Congress responsible for the Civil Rights Act "may not have had [transgender] claims in mind when it enacted Title VII," however, "the Supreme Court has made clear that Title VII must be interpreted according to its plain text."

"The decision by Attorney General Holder will go a long way toward advancing equality for the transgender community," praised Sarah Warbelow, legal director for the Human Rights Campaign. In addition to various civil rights causes, the Human Rights Campaign provides legal assistace for transgender employees seeking action against discriminatory employers.

"Transgender people continue to face some of the highest levels of discrimination in the workplace. We are thrilled to see the Department of Justice take this important step."

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Justice Department announces protections for trangender employees