The White House had quite a big press opportunity on Thursday when it invited young Black Lives Matters protesters into it’s doors to meet with The President, senior staff members and older members of the civil rights movement.

It was said the meeting was to bring generations together to discuss reform of the United States criminal justice system.

Of course there are opinions of activists who saw this as both positive and negative. Some thought it was a press opportunity for the Gov with no care, others saw it as a way to calm activists but some thought the Gov really wanted to listen to young people and do have an interest in making change.

Obama, himself, seemed genuine when addressing young activists, in particular those from Ferguson and said she very positive words. Talking of Brittany Packnett, DeRay Mckesson and other young protest leaders he said:

“They are much better organizers than I was when I was their age, and I am confident that they are going to take America to new heights,”

And that “The degree of focus and seriousness and constructiveness” reminded him of older, existing civil rights organizations.

These are big words and maybe have laid down a path to fully legitimize these young leaders and bring them out of just being angry youth to real forces for change.

What do you think?

Read more details of the exchange, the opposing opinions and more in the Guardian: http://bit.ly/1QtfpzA

Image sourcr: https://twitter.com/vj44/status/700719294988943360