Obama on Michael Brown's death: Honor him 'in a way that heals'

President Obama on Tuesday offered his "deepest condolences" to the family of Michael Brown, the black teen who was shot and killed by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, on Saturday.

"I know the events of the past few days have prompted strong passions, but as details unfold, I urge everyone in Ferguson, Missouri, and across the country, to remember this young man through reflection and understanding," Obama said in a statement. "We should comfort each other and talk with one another in a way that heals, not in a way that wounds."

Notably, Obama did not mention race in the statement, as he did in televised remarks following the controversial ruling in the Trayvon Martin case. At that time, Obama said few black men in America could claim to have never experienced some form of racial discrimination, adding that Martin "could have been me 35 years ago." The remark sparked a furious backlash from some on the right who accused the president of needlessly injecting race into the discussion.

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Protesters have clashed with riot police in Ferguson since Saturday, demanding that police release the name of the officer who they say unjustifiably killed Brown. Though police initially said they would release the officer's name, they've since changed course, saying they fear for the officer's safety.