Obama: 'The problem is not just a Ferguson problem'

President Obama pledged to redouble his efforts to find solutions to the distrust between law enforcement and minority communities, saying "the problem is not just a Ferguson problem. It's an American problem."

Obama condemned the rioting and violence broke out in Missouri Monday after a grand jury failed to indict a police officer in the shooting death of 18-year-old Michael Brown in August.

"Burning buildings, torching cars, destroying property, putting people at risk -- that's destructive, and there's no excuse for it. Those are criminal acts, and people should be prosecuted for it," he said Tuesday in Chicago.

But Obama said there were also peaceful protests to the grand jury's decision, which "didn't get as much attention in the media."

The president said he's asked Attorney General Eric Holder to convene regional meetings around the country to discuss ways to build trust and reduce tensions between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

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"Those who are prepared to work constructively, your president will work with you," he said.

Obama addressed the Ferguson protests while speaking 260 miles away in Chicago, where he was giving a speech in support of his immigration policies.

"We're here to talk about immigration," he said, but argued that the two issues are connected. "If any part of the American community doesn't feel welcomed or treated fairly, that's something that puts all of us at risk, and we all have to be concerned about it."

White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters aboard Air Force One that the White House is "deeply engaged" on the issues surrounding the Ferguson case.

Senior adviser Valerie Jarrett spoke with Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon twice since the grand jury's decision, and adviser Broderick Johnson convened a call with the Missouri congressional delegation.

Top administration officials also spoke to mayors and civil rights leaders.

"We've been working closely with them for the past few months leading up to this point to make sure responses to this moment would be appropriate and constructive," Schultz said. Obama "felt strongly that he wanted to be heard last night to convey a message of calm and to offer citizens a way to be constructive in their reaction to the grand jury decision."

The White House remained noncommittal today on when and if the president would travel to Ferguson. Schultz said it was "still under consideration" but that the White House would wait until "things calm down a little bit."

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