WASHINGTON – In the wake of the acquittal of George Zimmerman in the killing of Trayvon Martin, President Obama issued a statement Sunday urging the nation to “”respect the call for calm reflection from two parents who lost their young son.”

Calling Martin’s death “a tragedy … for America,” the president said that “a jury has spoken.” He added that Americans should look to their own communities to “widen the circle of compassion and understanding” and issued a renewed call to “stem the tide of gun violence.”

He also urged Americans to ask how they could prevent such future tragedies.

“As citizens,” he said, “that’s a job for all of us.”

The full statement is here.