“When an institution is failing to live up to the most basic expectations to protect its own members, to adhere to the rule of law, and to impose punishment and accountability on those who violate it, then there is a deep, institutional problem at hand.”

-Chris Hayes, on the barriers to progress in combating sexual assault in the military 

“[Tamerlan] looked at his gun, then threw it at me–hit me in the left bicep here–turned, ran back down the driveway to the street, took a left, running toward the other officers that were on scene. And I holstered up and chased after him and tackled him.”

-Sergeant Jeff Pugliese, one of the five Watertown police officers who joined MSNBC in an exclusive interview about the night of the shootout that ended the manhunt for the Tsarnaev brothers

“It is bad to hear horrific news. It’s worst to get used to it.”

-Rev. Al Sharpton, about the gun violence in New Orleans during Sunday’s Mother’s Day parade 

“My reaction to [being a political pawn] is, ‘Do you not think I have my own reasons for doing this?’ Here, let me show you. Is that not reason enough? Senator Jim Inhofe said that we have no business engaging in the debate, and I called his office and I asked to speak with him. He was too busy to speak with me. I said, ‘Here’s my cell phone. Call me.’ I’m still waiting for him to call me. Rand Paul, I think, has the same notion. If he wants to ask me what my motives are for advocating for a safer culture, he can call me too.”

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Mark Barden, father of Daniel Barden, one of the Sandy Hook victims

“We see that miracles can happen and do happen, and that’s inspiring. Don’t ever give up hope. Sometimes, the darkest point of night is right before dawn. If anything, Ohio shows us miracles still happen.”

-Rev. Al Sharpton on Amanda Berry, Gina DeJesus, and Michelle Knight—all found alive in Cleveland, Ohio after missing for a decade

“If gun culture is going to be the foundation for the kind of gun politics we have (which will brook no regulation at all, even when that regulation is designed to safeguard the lives and limbs of gun owners themselves); if the politics are the result of the culture (and it’s the kind of culture that says it’s okay to give a five-year-old a gun)…well then, I’m sorry—we need to talk about this culture.”

-Chris Hayes

“If you’re intolerant of anyone, you justify intolerance for everyone.”

-Rev. Al Sharpton about the negative reaction to NBA athlete Jason Collins’ coming out