As part of a national tour to discuss public safety and racial issues in light of the unrest in Ferguson, Mo., U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder spoke to the Atlanta community at Ebenezer Baptist Church on Dec. 1. Holder, as well as Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, Ebenezer pastor Rev. Dr. Raphael Warnock, U.S. attorney Sally Yates, Atlanta Police Chief George Turner and others spoke to address the public’s concerns. The program began with song and prayer and ended with a community discussion.

“We are gathered here in such large numbers tonight because this is not a Ferguson issue, this is an American issue,” Warnock said. “This is not a black issue, this is a justice issue. … Tonight is about conversation and action.”

The meeting was in response to the Nov. 24 St. Louis County grand jury decision not to indict Officer Darren Wilson on counts of murder for the killing of Michael Brown. Brown, an unarmed African-American teenager, was shot six times by Wilson after a scuffle between the two on Aug. 9. In the days following the court decision, the American public has voiced outrage and concern over issues of racial inequality and police brutality. In Atlanta, the community is hoping those voices are being heard.

Holder mirrored Warnock’s message in his speech, stressing the magnitude of the issue and the actions the Obama administration plans to take. According to Holder, “to restore trust, renew understanding and rebuild a relationship between the community and law enforcement,” the community and American justice system must work together and have mutual trust.

“Our nation’s journey is not yet over,” Holder said. “We are dealing with concerns that are national in scope and threaten the whole nation. … Our system of justice must be strengthened and made more fair.”

Holder was interrupted midway through his speech by a group of student protesters in the crowd from colleges in the Atlanta area including Morehouse College, Emory University, Georgia State University and Kennesaw State University. While they walked out of the church, they chanted, “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”

Once the crowd died down, Holder responded, “I ain’t mad at you.” Holder said the outburst was a “genuine expression of concern” and that the passion in their protests is a catalyst to change.

He urged the community members, however, to remain peaceful in their protests and to voice their concerns “in ways that portray the gravity of the matter” at hand.

“[Violent protests] threaten to stifle an important debate,” Holder said, “drowning out the legitimate voices of those who want to be heard.”

Holder announced that the Obama administration plans to address concerns through a series of new steps that stress “accountability and transparency” in law enforcement.

In a report released on Dec. 1, the Obama administration released information that analyzed law-enforcement agencies on state and local levels, as well as their federal funding and equipment. The review found a “lack of consistency” in the structure and implementation of federal programs and the ways in which they are audited by stakeholders.

The report outlined four areas of focus to maximize the safety of communities and police officers: local community engagement, federal coordination and oversight, training requirements and the community policing mode.

To solve for the identified problems, the president proposed a three-year $263-million investment in law-enforcement reform, which will include increasing the use of body-worn cameras on police officers and expanding law enforcement training. Obama’s proposal will have to be approved by Congress.

These measures, according to Holder, are to “help end racial profiling once and for all.”

Mayor Reed also announced a pilot program he plans to implement to place body cameras on Atlanta police officers.

“At the end of the day, people walk the walk and not just talk the talk,” state Sen. Vincent Ford said after the meeting. “I don’t need any more platitudes to be honest with you. What we need is prosecutions.”

Tiffany Smith, a Kennesaw State University student, who attended the meeting, also wishes to see the federal government take action.

“I appreciate [Holder] coming here, but I also would like to see actions followed up,” Smith said. “I hope that people can understand that it is again an American issue, that this affects all of us, that this isn’t simply a single issue. … We can not be silent; we will not be peaceful until justice is served.”

The house was full for the meeting exceeding the seating capacity inside the church. Those who were not able to get seats watched through the glass windows in the lobby. Protesters outside the church held signs and chanted, “You can’t stop the revolution,” and “You can’t silence us.”

“It seems as though people are trying to do something,” another attendee, Imhotep Sokou, said after the meeting. “I hope it is an ongoing thing because we’ve always had these conversations. I’ve been here 70 years. …. We can’t stop, and I like to see the youth doing what they’re doing. I like their forcefulness in their way and [that] they’re speaking out because people need to hear, and we need to just do something.”