"The recent turns of events in the United States, in cities across our great country, have caused within me feelings of dismay and disappointment," writes Gen. (ret.) Vincent K. Brooks.

"As an African American man, the feelings of inadequate and unfulfilled justice that I have felt for too many years of my life come again to the fore. And, as a retired career military officer from the family of a retired career military officer, I see again the threat of the use of the active duty military force on the streets of America, and I see the manipulation of the image of the military by our President. Dismay and disappointment."