Speaking at a conference of African-American law enforcement officers Monday, U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch sought to assure police officers the federal government is trying to help ease tensions after the killings of three police officers in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and five police officers in Dallas, Texas. Lynch said agents from the FBI and other federal agencies were in Baton Rouge to help local authorities. Former Attorney General Eric Holder also spoke about the need to control Americans’ access to deadly firearms, and called on the police to join the movement for gun control.

Eric Holder: “It is far past time for those of you in law enforcement to join with other responsible Americans and take on the mindless, industry-driven gun lobby that values an illogical individual ability to possess military-grade weapons more than the lives of the American people, in general, and our law enforcement personnel, in particular. Speak up.”