Former US President George W Bush has called for unity as the death of African American man George Floyd in police custody continues to divide the nation.
The 43rd president broke his silence on Tuesday, releasing a statement urging all Americans to listen to the protesters who have filled major city streets for eight consecutive days.
"Laura and I are anguished by the brutal suffocation of George Floyd and disturbed by the injustice and fear that suffocate our country," Mr Bush said.
"The only way to see ourselves in a true light is to listen to the voices of so many who are hurting and grieving. Those who set out to silence those voices do not understand the meaning of America — or how it becomes a better place."
His supportive words towards the protesters come just one day after President Donald Trump announced he would mobilise the US military against the demonstrators, vowing to set thousands of "heavily armed" soldiers on crowds around the nation.
Mr Bush said it was a "shocking failure" many African Americans were still being "harassed and threatened" in their own country.
Protesters in Orlando, Florida hold signs during a protest over the death of George Floyd. Source: AP
"Many doubt the justice of our country, and with good reason. Black people see the repeated violation of their rights without an urgent and adequate response from American institutions," he said.
"It is a strength when protesters, protected by responsible law enforcement, march for a better future."
Protesters march towards the White House in Washington DC. Source: EPA
He ended his statement with a call for unity, naming historic American leaders who all brought about change with messages of unity rather than division.
"The heroes of America — from Frederick Douglass, to Harriet Tubman, to Abraham Lincoln, to Martin Luther King, Jr. — are heroes of unity," he said.
"We serve our neighbours best when we try to understand their experience. We love our neighbours as ourselves when we treat them as equals, in both protection and compassion."
