ROUGH CUT (NO REPORTER NARRATION).
U.S. President Barack Obama called for restraint and understanding as the country deals with the aftermath of police shootings that left black men dead in suburban St. Paul, Minnesota and Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Speaking to reporters in Madrid, Spain, Obama said anyone who attacks police officers is "hurting the cause" of bringing more fairness to the country's criminal justice system.
But he also said the majority of demonstrators are peaceful and shouldn't be blamed for the actions and words of a few.
Obama added the "overwhelming" amount of activists in the Black Lives Matter movement wanted to see better relations between communities and police, but there were always people that say "stupid" things.
The U.S. leader is cutting short his trip to Europe because of the tensions. White House officials say he'll head to Dallas, Texas this week to meet with officials there, following a sniper attack that killed five Dallas officers following a protest this week.