Following Obama, Bush and Clinton, former President Jimmy Carter released a statement on the George Floyd protests, writing that he and the former first lady, Rossalyn Carter “are pained by the tragic racial injustices and the consequent backlash across our nation in recent weeks.”

While saying that his heart is with the families or anyone “who feels hopeless in the face of pervasive racial discrimination and outright cruelty” he added that “violence, whether spontaneous or consciously incited, is never the answer.”

The oldest living president said that as a white male growing up in the deep south he “knows all too well the impact of segregation and injustice to African-Americans.” Carter added “We need a government as good as its people. We are better than this.”