12:10 P.M. EDT

THE PRESIDENT: It's my honor to welcome citizens from all across our country here to the Roosevelt Room and the White House to discuss our common commitment to make sure that every American is treated with respect and dignity during this period of -- during any period, for that matter, of American history, particularly during this time.

An American Sikh has been killed, unjustly so. These citizens bring their hearts with them, and I can assure them that our government will do everything we can to not only bring those people to justice, but also to treat every human life as dear, and to respect the values that made our country so different and so unique. We're all Americans, bound together by common ideals and common values.

So I want to welcome you all here. I'm honored that you're here in the White House, and I look forward to a good, frank discussion. Thank you for coming.

END 12:11 P.M.