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George Floyd Memorial; George Floyd Public Viewing To Be Held Soon; New York Lifts Curfew A Day Early. Aired 10-11a ET
Aired June 08, 2020 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:00:23]
HALA GORANI, CNN ANCHOR: Hello and welcome to our viewers joining us from around the world. I'm Hala Gorani in London. This hour, a life remembered
as Houston, Texas expects thousands of mourners at George Floyd's visitation today. We have a live report. That indeed a nation in pain still
and growing calls to pro "Defund the police." We'll ask what that rallying cry actually means.
And here on CNN, we will cover this. A movement being felt far beyond American voters I should say as protests continue around the world.
In the coming hours the next chapter of George Floyd's story will be written two weeks after he died while being arrested in Minneapolis. George
Floyd's family and friends will have a chance to say goodbye once again. His family is holding a public viewing in his hometown of Houston, Texas
later today. His funeral will be held tomorrow.
Meanwhile, one of the four officers charged and George Floyd's death will make his first appearance before a judge a bit later today. Again, this
weekend, protesters not just in the United States around the world, possibly where you live held huge marches slamming racism and police
brutality.
In New York, the curfew there was lifted a day earlier because demonstrations have been largely peaceful.
And National Guard troops are being sent home in Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles as well. George Floyd's death could lead to the end of the
Minneapolis Police Department as it is today. Nine members of the Minneapolis City Council wants to start defunding and dismantling the
police department according to the city council's president. CNN's Josh Campbell shows us what that might look like.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Black lives matter! Black lives matter!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Black lives matter! Black lives matter!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Black lives matter! Black lives matter!
JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: As protesters gathered for the 13th day, in the streets and even from caravans of cars, decrying racial injustice,
one movement calling to defund or cut police department budgets is becoming the focus of some demonstrators.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are here today to begin the process of ending the Minneapolis Police Department.
CAMPBELL: In Minneapolis, where George Floyd died while in custody of authorities two weeks ago, nine members of the city council expressed their
support to disband the police department.
LISA BENDER, PRESIDENT, MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL: We committed to dismantling policing as we know it in the city of Minneapolis and to
rebuild with our community a new model of public safety that actually keeps our community safe.
CAMPBELL: Minneapolis City Council President Lisa Bender says this process will not be quick.
LISA BENDER, PRESIDENT ,MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL: When I think about that ask, is that instead of investing in more policing, that we invest in those
alternatives, those community- based strategies. The idea of having no police department is certainly not in the short term.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go home, Jacob, go home!
CAMPBELL: This one day after Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey was met with this reaction from protesters when he told them.
MAYOR JACOB FREY (D-MN): I'm not for abolishing the entire police department.
CAMPBELL: The idea of defunding police departments involves redistributing money from enforcement activities to programs that support the community.
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti pledging to make a small step toward defunding the police, saying he will slash up to $150 million from the
LAPD's proposed budget of $1.86 billion, about eight percent.
And in New York City, where large crowds convened once again, Mayor Bill de Blasio says he's committed to use some NYPD funding on youth and social
services programs.
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D-NY): I also will affirm, while doing that, we will only do it in a way that we are certain continues to ensure that this city
will be safe.
CAMPBELL: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo pushing back.
GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): No police? You get looting. That's what you get. Nobody wants that.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
GORANI: All right. That was Josh Campbell reporting. The City of Houston in Texas is expecting thousands of mourners as a final public memorial is held
for George Floyd in this city where he grew up. That is where we find our Ed Lavandera. What are we expecting today in Houston, Ed?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: While there is a private memorial service throughout the day, Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden is
expected to be in Houston today, meeting privately with the family of George Floyd as well.
[10:05:13]
LAVANDERA: And then all of this leading up to tomorrow for the public memorial here in the Houston area as well. We are in the middle of the
neighborhood where George Floyd grew up and lived for many years. This is the memorial and the mural that has been put up in his honor here in the
neighborhood. This is a Houston's Third Ward neighborhood just south of the downtown Houston area.
As we've talked to people here over the course of the last week, Hala, you know, they you know, they say that this is the neighborhood and the people
that knew him best where they described him as a protector and a provider for friends and family here in this neighborhood. There has been an
outpouring of grief nightly vigils here throughout over the course of the last several weeks.
And this is where people have come and gathered for hours at a time here over the -- over the course of -- since the George Floyd's death. And, you
know, this is -- as I mentioned, the area that they say that they knew him best. You know, there have been a large number of protests over the last
weeks here in the Houston area, but by and large, they have not been violent protests.
They've been peaceful, and many different parts of the city, but this neighborhood, and this mural has become a gathering spot where people come
throughout the day. Hala?
GORANI: All right. Ed Lavandera live in Houston. Thanks very much. We will be covering those Memorial. That memorial and this public mourning for
George Floyd here on CNN. Let's get some perspective on the protests and where we go from here. I'm joined by Reverend Cornell Brooks. He's the
former head of the NW -- ACP and he's now a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School where he runs his civil rights clinic. Thanks, Reverend for
being with us. How do you think the U.S. has changed in this life last week of protests?
REVEREND CORNELL BROOKS, PROFESSOR, HARVARD KENNEDY SCHOOL: The U.S. as in America is in a state of mourning and grief, coming to grips with not just
George Floyd's death as monumental emotionally, morally as that is, but to come to -- coming to grips with the circumstances, the forces that brought
him to his grave. Namely, this pandemic of police brutality.
So we are really and royally between grief and the recognition that this is a senseless tragedy that did not have to happen. Namely, George Floyd is
that one and 1000 African-American man who can expect to die at the hands of the police. Those are -- those are the facts. That's what we're trying
to come to grips with. And so we find ourselves lowe in the midst of a global movement for the preservation of black lies, for the prevention of
the authorization of black lives and a movement to bring about an end to policing as we know it.
GORANI: But why do you think this event was the tipping point? I mean, we've had such tragic incidents involving innocent black men and sometimes
children, gunned down by police. And I'm thinking of Tamir Rice in 2014, a 12-year-old boy with a toy gun. Why was this one the tipping point event?
BROOKS: It's an excellent question. So, the difference comes down to the video. And what I mean by that is we've had hashtag after hashtag, a lost
and stolen humanity. Tragedy after tragedy over the course of years, Tamir Rice, Trayvon Martin, Walter Scott Lando Castile. And in my role is
presidency of the NAACP, that's all over again. But in this instance, we have a video that takes place in emotional slow motion over the course of
the better part of nine minutes.
Pornographically violent, it is a visceral close up. So, he brought into an instance of police brutality. And it is, if you will, that video is a crash
course, an executive education course, a remedial course in police brutality. And after watching it surely, Americans were shocked as all
people around the world and they want to act, they want to bring about an end to this kind of police --
GORANI: Are you sensing a change in white attitudes here in America as a result of this movement, this latest protest movement?
BROOKS: Absolutely. So when you look at the crowds and demonstrators, the protesters, what you find over and over again is that those who are
attending these rallies, protests and demonstrations with a multi-ethnic, multi-racial, multi gender, representing the scope and our humanity.
[10:10:11]
BROOKS: And you're finding that people understand that when you say black lives matter what you're actually affirming is that our collective -- our
collective humanity matters. And so there's a shift, a tectonic shift, if you will, in the public to understand that we've got to do something with
and we need to do it now. Not tomorrow, not a generation -- now. Now.
GORANI: Yes. And interestingly, when you look at polling and there's a new CNN poll that suggests that it's also young people. I mean, the under 35s
are feeling extremely motivated to change things. The older the respondents are in this polling, perhaps the less obvious that shift is, but you
really, really feel it in the under 35. You talk about the worldwide movement. I'm here in London, we had some huge marches in the U.K.
We even had in Bristol in the United Kingdom, the statue of a man who benefited from the slave trade that was toppled and thrown in the harbor.
How -- I mean, when you see that this movement that was sparked in Minneapolis that spread across the United States is now a worldwide
movement. What goes through your mind?
BROOKS: What goes through my mind is something Martin Luther King said many years ago that we live in a world house, we live in a global village, we
are in fact connected. So the transatlantic slave trade that brought the forebears of George Floyd to -- states is very much connected to Great
Britain. Very much connected to Lloyd's of London, which in short, the transatlantic slave trade.
And so people are under -- that people of color all around the world, and that this is in fact a global movement, some of the challenges that we face
in the United States also face in London and Britain. And so, yes, this is a global movement, people feel. I mean, I want to emphasize that, people
feel the loss of humanity, and they feel like their humanity is being robbed. So yes, it doesn't surprise me.
GORANI: Yes. And Reverend, what we're seeing now are live images coming to us from Houston. This is going to be a big public morning for George Floyd
has hearse outside of the funeral home. His funeral will be held tomorrow but today is that is a public visitation. Could you share with us your
thoughts on today, what is happening in Houston?
BROOKS: Yes. So as well as being a civil rights lawyer. I'm an ordained minister and one of the things that is done in ministry, funeral --
particularly visitations allow people to see, to visit, if you will, the person that they've lost and to begin to bring about a sense of closure. So
this rite of visitation is a way for people to go to the side, if you will, of George Floyd metaphorically, if not physically.
And to glimpse his humanity, you know, someone who was a loving father, who was beloved by many who played football and basketball, who -- whose life
represented the aspirations and struggles of regular folks. And so this moment of mourning, grieving is for his family, for his friends, his
community, but because of the tragic circumstances of his death, literally for people around the world.
GORANI: All right. Reverend Cornell Brooks, thanks very much. The Reverend is the former NAACP President. Thank you for joining us today. And I was
mentioning the toppling of a statue in Bristol. That's the statue of Edward Colston. I'll be speaking to the mayor of Bristol who himself is of
Jamaican heritage for his reaction on what these protesters did by tearing down that statue.
And by the way, stay with CNN. There's a lot more on this story. Derek Chauvin, the ex-police officer, who kneeled on George Floyd's neck for
almost nine minutes while he begged for his life. He is making his first court appearance via video like is scheduled for 1:45 p.m. Eastern. That's
7:45pm Central European Time. If court starts on time, that's about 3-1/2 hours from now.
Chauvin's attorney told CNN last week, I'm not making any comments on the case at all. There is his mug shot on air. Still to come on CNN, the Black
Lives Matter movement is now on both sides of the Atlantic with more solidarity protests across Europe schedule. We'll be right back.
[10:15:02]
GORANI: We have live reports and analysis coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back. Health officials in the U.S. are closely monitoring all of these recent protests because obviously, we're still in the middle
of a pandemic. Thousands of protesters are not social distancing. You see these aerial shots here from LA. And so, therefore this could cause a jump
in coronavirus cases. That's the concern at least.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control in the U.S. is encouraging protesters to get tested for coronavirus and to wear masks at all times.
But we have seen images coming to us from the U.S. and other parts of the world and that does not always happen. There's a sizable number of high
number of people who are not wearing masks.
All around the world this weekend, protesters took a stand against racism. Thousands gathered across Europe, Africa and Asia demonstrating against the
death of George Floyd. And these Black Lives Matter marches are spotlighting systemic racism and police brutality in other parts of the
world outside of America. Max Foster joins me now with more. And you were covering some of the protests that took place, Max, outside of the U.S.
Embassy in London and across the UK.
Tell us what happened over the last few days and why demonstrators say they're motivated to come out and protests in -- outside the U.S. as a
result of some of the protest movements in America.
MAX FOSTER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, there's no doubt that the protests is spreading and spreading beyond the capital cities,
certainly within Europe. But also beyond the George Floyd case itself as well. Obviously, that's still very central, but all these protests are
taking on local issues, local racial issues, and that's what's really firing a lot of people right now.
(BEGIN VIDEO TAPE)
Tens of thousands again taking to Europe streets. Bigger and noisier than last weekend. Protesters gathering around the U.S. embassy in London
peaceful and upbeat as the same chants goes global.
Sparked by protest in the United States demonstrators have come together across the continent to call for change. The killing of George Floyd is
sparking a global movement against racism. Here in London, eight minutes of silence as protesters kneel in tribute to Floyd.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think this is the best turnout. It's nice to see we've seen more police action on that where yesterday where horses are running
through, gas canisters were thrown. I think it's a lot better I must say. As you go to that police officer there, he's interacting with everyone.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is not a trend, this is not a hash tag, we're not here for a fashion. We're here to change something. Racism cannot be
tolerated in our culture, in our society. We need to change this.
[10:20:03]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The way that the media is trying to portray it is that people have bene angry, people are fighting, there is stuff going on that
the media makes it looks like we're the ones doing the wrong. We're not doing the wrong. We're peaceful.
FOSTER: While the British government has urge members of the public not to demonstrate, the U.K. Health Secretary expressed his concerns over the lack
of social distancing and potential spread of coronavirus. Protesters have come out in full force but many of them wearing masks to limit the spread
of the deadly virus.
Protesters sort of upbeat, tone really to the protests in London today. And void by the fact that more protesters spreading around the U.K. from here
in London.
A striking scene in the city of Bristol where protesters pulled down a statue of a 17th century slave trader, Edward Colston. And in the evening
in London the focus shifted to the capital's political district Westminster, where at times tensions boiled over as they had done the night
before. A sense of fervor, which is spread not only across the U.K. but all over the globe.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
FOSTER: So generally, again, very peaceful, very upbeat protesters are saying but increasingly for the British government, at least, there's a
real concern about the thugs that come into these protests later on and cause a lot of violence. We were there in Westminster, and it was a
frightening five minutes or so as it really kicked off. But the police got in control of it very quickly.
Boris Johnson today, the Prime Minister, saying that the protests have been subverted by thuggery, similar sort of words coming from the Home
Secretary, Priti Patel. She's due to speak in the comments this afternoon. Very delicate, though, Hala, because you can see that there's a lot of
concern with the media and politicians focusing on the violent aspects of these protests, but the police and the government not being able to leave
it either allowing people to go ahead with it. So it's a very tricky line for them to walk on this one.
GORANI: All right, thank you, Max Foster. Well during demonstrations in the U.K. this weekend you saw it in Max's report, a statue of a 17th century
slave trader was knocked down and then dumped into the harbor. The name of this slave trader, Edward Colston. Let's get more on all of this, what this
means, Kate Williams joins me now. She's a history teacher at the University of Reading and a lecturer at the University of London.
And I read with great interest, Kate, your Twitter thread about Edward Colston. First of all, this is not a household name outside of this
country, who was Edward Colston?
KATE WILLIAMS, HISTORY TEACHER, UNIVERSITY OF READING: No, you're right, Hala. And he actually isn't a household name in the United Kingdom now.
Everyone knows who he is. But until yesterday until that really unbelievable moment that spread around social media like wildfire of his
statue being pulled down from the center of Bristol, and then rolled along and thrown into the sea.
A lot of people in the United Kingdom didn't know who he was. And what he is, is Britain's biggest slave trader. This man was in the 17th century and
while he was a very important in a slave trading company, the Royal African Company, there were -- we estimate 84,000 slaves transported, 20,000 of
them died and 12,000 were children. So it was a brutal trade, a brutal evil trade in which he was overseeing and through which you became incredibly
rich.
And as a consequence of this great riches, he endowed an awful lot of education institutions and (INAUDIBLE) charities in the City of Bristol.
Their city in the southwest of Britain, a city which itself is a port city built a lot on slaves. But particularly through Colston. Colston's name is
all over Bristol at names, roads and halls. And this big statue in the center of Bristol has been incredibly controversial.
People have wanted -- felt it was it was a really very wrong to have this statue congratulating a slave trade and making him into this great person
when he when he did such evil and it has been a big debate in Bristol for years. And let's face it now the debate has been decided he's down.
GORANI: But I mean there was a controversy surrounding this statue for many years. There was an attempt to amend the plaque to add to the biography to
the description. The fact that Edward Colston was a high-level executive in the -- this organization that benefited from the slave trade. That somehow
didn't succeed because people couldn't agree on the wording and now this has happened.
But the police decided not to -- no to intervene. What's been the reaction to this?
[10:25:05]
WILLIAMS: It's been fascinating reaction. The reaction all over has been that this statue shouldn't be there. And people are saying, well, I don't
agree with it coming down that way, it should have come down to democratic decision. But a statue of a slave trader should not be up in a (INAUDIBLE)
city. It's fascinating how unanimous that decision has been. And exactly as you say, Hala, this statue has been a huge subject to debate in Bristol.
Many people hate it and it is particularly painful for black people to walk past a statue every day which curried slavery and this brutal evil trade.
And there was this -- it's got one plaque on it. It was erected in long after Colston's death, long after the abolition of slavery. You know, the
slavery was abolished in this country in 1807. It's long after that. It'd be -- nearly be -- nearly 100 years later, it was erected.
And it has just a plaque on it saying he was a wise and virtuous son of Bristol, and there were debates in 2018 saying, they may want to put a new
plaque on it, really saying that he was part of the slave trade. And none of the wording could be agreed. It was all debated, various different
plaques, couldn't be agreed upon between different stakeholders, different interest groups, and most recently a plaque was made and the mayor of the
city, he said that it was completely unacceptable.
It wasn't -- it was distancing him from the slave trade. It wasn't saying explicitly that he benefited the slave trade. And also there are arguments
that his philanthropy, he was a great philanthropist. But his philanthropy as philanthropy sometimes is, is qualified. It only goes to those he agrees
with. So the city has long tried to erect something to change it. And many people say, well, these statues should be bought down democratically
through democratic discussion.
Or they should be appended with a plaque saying, this man did many bad things. But simply the case of Colston shows that sometimes it becomes so
complicated trying to either as a plaque or debate it coming down democratically that simply people as the citizens of Bristol did yesterday,
they've had enough. They didn't want to live by Colston anymore. And they wanted him off their property. And they wanted him really in the sea. He'll
be taken out of the sea, but he's never going back up, I don't think.
GORANI: Yes. Well, that is just one more -- one more thing that has happened in the last week as a result of these protests that started in the
United States and now have spread outside of the US. Kate Williams, thanks very much for joining us.
WILLIAMS: Thank you.
GORANI: Brazil now has the second highest number of coronavirus cases worldwide, and the third highest number of reported deaths. Yet despite
government warnings and the growing health threat, thousands of Brazilians took to the streets for a second weekend of antiracism protests and to
criticize their government's response to the pandemic. Shasta Darlington is joining me live from Sao Paolo with more.
Tell us about what's happened in Brazil over the weekend.
SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Hala, a lot of people just felt like they had to take the risk, that it -- this is the
moment to make their voices heard. So we saw thousands of people taking to the streets across Brazil as different social movements joined forces. Now
the biggest marches were in Sao Paulo and Rio and Brasilia. A lot of the sentiment was antiracism.
We saw signs being held up with the names of George Floyd and also several black Brazilians who've been killed by police. But a lot of the anger was
aimed at President Jair Bolsonaro who they accused of trying to undermine democratic institutions in the middle of this pandemic. Brazil, as you
said, is now the country -- the second highest number of infections after the United States, nearly 700,000 confirmed cases and the death toll has
topped 36,000.
At the same time on Sunday, we did see some smaller rallies in support of Bolsonaro which we've seen in previous weekend's. The President did not
participate in the rallies this time, but he did greet some of the supporters who were in front of the presidential palace. And he reiterated
his theme that the unemployment and the hunger caused by social isolation will actually kill more people than the virus itself.
With these protests though he is certainly feeling the pressure, feeling the heat that public opinion is turning against them, Hala.
GORANI: All right, Shasta. Thanks very much. We will take a quick break. When we come back. We'll have a lot more. We'll be talking as well in the
next hour to the mayor of Bristol. We were discussing what was going on in Bristol with Kate Williams there. We'll also be going live once again to
Houston where that memorial for George Floyd is taking place. Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:32:14]
GORANI: Welcome back, We want to show you this video just coming in from Washington. The House Leader Nancy Pelosi was meeting with members of the
Congressional Black Caucus. And you can see them taking a knee to protest police brutality and in honor of George Floyd. They took a knee for eight
minutes and 46 seconds. And as many of you know, that is the length of time that the knee of the police officer in Minneapolis was on George Floyd's
neck as he lay on the ground, begging for his life.
This moment ended just a few minutes ago. This took place just moments ago in Washington. In just a couple of hours, the City of Houston is expecting
around 10,000 people at a final visitation for George Floyd. You see a memorial set up here in the city's Third Ward where George Floyd grew up.
The 46-year-old died in police custody two weeks ago as several officers held him down for nearly nine minutes.
One of them kneeling on his neck as we've been saying, as Floyd pleaded, saying he could not breathe. His death has prompted nationwide protests and
as we've been covering here on CNN protests around the world against police brutality and racism, but today the public is saying its final goodbyes.
CNN's Omar Jimenez is in Houston at the Fountain of Praise Church. Talk to us about what we expect today during this final public morning for George
Floyd.
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Hala, in just about 2-1/2 hours for the next six hours people will be able to come into the Fountain of Praise
Church behind me and pay their final respects. It will be the public's last chance to say goodbye and what has been a series of goodbyes over the
course of the past few days. Now moments ago, we saw the hearse arrive escorted by Houston Police as the police department here wanted to do to
show their support for the Floyd family throughout this.
But as they arrived we had already seen flowers go in as well. And you may be able to see at the front entrance. The caravan are part of what -- how
they arrived again when they got here just a few moments ago. And as you speak to some of their family and friends about how they had been
reflecting on the almost now two weeks it has been. Here's how Stephen Jackson friend and former NBA player describe what today meant to the city
of Houston.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
STEPHEN JACKSON, FRIEND OF GEORGE FLOYD: I've been so focused on getting judgment and this newfound leadership role that fell in my lap, but it's
going to be -- it's a crazy day for the city. I mean, you just don't feel it in the neighborhood where he grew up at because I've been there are at
the last few days. But the city is feeling this type of wind. And they are ready to put him to rest, put him to rest the right way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[10:35:10]
JIMENEZ: Now also expected today, Vice President Joe Biden is expected to - - former Vice President Joe Biden is expected to meet privately with the family as opposed to attending tomorrow's funeral service as we are told
that that is because they don't want their security presence to get in the way of things though they are recording a video message there. But when you
talk about the -- what we are going to see next, today's the public's last chance but then tomorrow is the actual funeral service that is expected to
be a little bit more private.
Family, some invited guests and things like that. And as we have heard, well, tomorrow may be the actual final celebration of life for George
Floyd. If you look at the protests, the family and even friends this is not the end of George Floyd. In fact, Stephen Jackson told us last week saying
George Floyd is going to be the name of change. We are going to make sure of it. Even long after he's buried next to his mother tomorrow. Hala?
GORANI: All right. Omar Jimenez, thanks very much in Houston. President Trump says he's ordered the National Guard to start withdrawing from
Washington. This comes after days of peaceful protests in the United States capital against racism and the death of George Floyd. In a Sunday morning
tweet Mr. Trump did not clarify if all National Guard forces would leave, but officials confirmed that out of state troops would begin leaving on
Sunday evening.
The President made it clear that the troops could return quickly though, if needed. Those out of state troops were a major source of contention between
the White House and local officials in Washington, especially the Washington. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser who marks with protesters and
requested a full military withdraw. Bowser had large yellow letters reading Black Lives Matter painted on a road lead to the White House.
And she also renamed a nearby park square, Black Lives Matter Plaza. See -- by the way, you can see the Black Lives Matter writing from space. So the
mayor of Washington is trying to send a message there. Probably directly to the U.S. president. CNN White House Correspondent Boris Sanchez joins me
now from Washington with more. What's the situation now in D.C. because some of these streets over the last few days we're looking like very
militarized from some of the pictures and footage that I saw. Have things quieted down a bit?
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: They have over the weekend, especially I marched along with thousands of protesters over the weekend
and there were pockets areas intersections that did have military vehicles and National Guard present but they weren't dressed head to toe and riot
gear as we've seen over the previous few days. No recent arrest over the last couple of days.
I believe it's three or four days now and no arrests, no property damage in DC. Nevertheless, there is this rift between the President and the mayor of
DC. And it's perhaps best highlighted by this barrier that we have outside the White House on one end. We've seen that very heavy law enforcement
presence and a president that continues to tweet that he wants tougher policing.
On the other side, we see the protest signs that have been put up on that barrier almost like a canvas for these protesters, alongside a mayor who
wants to deliver a very clear message to President Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Protesters flooding Washington, D.C. again this weekend. SANCHEZ: Protesters flooding Washington, D.C. again this weekend, marching on the
newly named Black Lives Matter Plaza, right across from the White House. Large yellow letters painted on the street reading Black Lives Matter, art
commissioned by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser, after days of feuding with President Trump.
MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER (D-DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.): People from around the globe have called us and thanked us for acknowledging black humanity and black
lives.
SANCHEZ: The feud erupting a week ago, on May 29th, after protesters clashed with law enforcement outside the White House. Mayor Bowser meeting
with advisers the following morning and hosting a conference call with the police chief. Meantime, President Trump firing off a barrage of tweets,
some directed at the mayor. One that particularly upset her, a tweet saying that if protesters breached the fence outside the White House, quote, they
would have been greeted with the most vicious dogs and most ominous weapons. The language, a reminder of police attacks against civil rights
protesters in the 1960s.
The president also wrongly claimed that the mayor withheld D.C. police from assisting Secret Service. Bowser firing back with her own tweets, slamming
Trump for hiding behind a fence in the White House.
On Monday, June 1st, after a night of some unrest in the city, the president wanted to deploy up to 10,000 active duty troops to American
cities, including Washington, but defense officials objected, sources told CNN. Attorney General Bill Barr now denying that claim.
WILLIAM BARR, ATTORNEY GENERAL: No, he did not demand that.
The decision was made to have at the ready and on hand in the vicinity, some regular troops.
SANCHEZ: Bowser declaring a 7:00 P.M. curfew for D.C. that day, but before the curfew, military police used chemical gas and rubber projectiles,
pushing back protesters to allow Trump to take photos at the damaged St. John's Episcopal Church.
On Thursday, Mayor Bowser asked Trump to pull National Guard and unidentified federal law enforcement from D.C.
BOWSER: What we saw last week was basically an invasion of our city.
SANCHEZ: President Trump finally tweeting on Sunday he was ordering the National Guard to start withdrawing from the nation's capital, but only
after calling Mayor Bowser grossly incompetent in an earlier tweet.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
SANCHEZ: Marching on the newly named Black Lives Matter Plaza right across from the White House. Large yellow letters painted on the street, reading
Black Lives Matter art commissioned by D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser after days of feuding with President Trump.
MAYOR MURIEL BOWSER (D-WA): People from all around the globe have called us and thanked us for acknowledging black humanity and black lives.
SANCHEZ: The feud erupting over a week ago on May 29th, after protesters clashed with law enforcement outside the White House. Mayor Bowser meeting
with advisors the following morning and hosting a conference call with the police chief. Meantime, President Trump firing off a barrage of tweets some
directed at the mayor, one that particularly upset her a tweet saying that if protesters breached the fence outside the White House, "They would have
been greeted with the most vicious dogs and most ominous weapons."
The language a reminder of police attacks against civil rights protesters in the 1960s. The President also wrongly claimed that the mayor withheld
D.C. police from assisting Secret Service. Bowser firing back with her own tweets slamming Trump for hiding behind the fence in the White House.
[10:40:01]
SANCHEZ: On Monday, June 1st, after a night of some unrest in the city, the President wanted to deploy up to 10,000 active duty troops to American
cities, including Washington, but defense officials objected sources told CNN. Attorney General Bill Barr now denying that claim.
BILL BARR, UNITED STATES ATTORNEY GENERAL: No he did not demand that. The decision was made to have at the ready and on hand in the vicinity some
regular troops.
SANCHEZ: Bowser declaring a 7:00 p.m. curfew for D.C. that day. But before the curfew Park Police used chemical irritant, pushing back protesters to
allow Trump to take photos at the damaged St. John's Episcopal Church.
Thursday, Mayor Bowser asked Trump to pull National Guard and unidentified Federal law enforcement from DC.
BOWSER: What we saw last week was basically an invasion of our city.
SANCHEZ: President Trump finally tweeting on Sunday he was ordering the National Guard to start withdrawing from the nation's capital, but only
after calling Mayor Bowser grossly incompetent and in an earlier tweet.
Now, two quick points, Hala, I did want to point out one portion of the mural that was not part of what was commissioned by Mayor Bowser, this was
later added by activists over the weekend. And it says very clearly defund the police, an argument that's being made by a lot of people, especially in
light of the recent violence at the hands of law enforcement that we've seen. Mayor Bowser was asked about whether she would alter or remove that
portion of the mural.
She didn't really give a clear answer as to yes or no. And lastly, there was a very special visitor to the mural this weekend, civil rights icon and
Congressman John Lewis visiting as, you know, he was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer in December. He said he wanted to come out here and
see this for himself, Hala.
GORANI: All right. I want to ask you about some of these images that we saw over the weekend of men in riot gear, just a few blocks away from the White
House. I want our viewers to see some of this video. These are images that really sort of raised eyebrows around the world. No badges, no insignias,
no name tags, refusing in many cases to say who sent them. Who are these men? Who -- whose orders are they taking? Do we know?
SANCHEZ: Well, it really depends. I actually met with some of these folks earlier in the week -- last week myself, they were positioned here just
outside the White House blocking pedestrians from accessing the area that I'm in now. They wouldn't tell us what agency they were with, but they were
clearly coordinating because they were brought in by buses. They -- as you noted, had a very serious gear on, riot gear, buses of them were unloaded
right in front of the White House.
And they were sort of changing shifts, keeping people away from this area. We tried to ask them who they were with, they would not specify, but they
had shirts that had the Texas flag on the sleeve. So we assume that because so many of them had that they must have been, potentially from Texas. But
again, it is something that the mayor of D.C. is upset about these unbadged, unidentified officers that are clearly coordinating with military
police National Guard.
And the response here in Washington, D.C. Something that perhaps we can see less and less of as the militarized presence here diminishes, Hala.
GORANI: Interesting. I mean, interesting and also worrying to some people that you have in full riot gear, forces in the nation's capital, refusing
to tell you what law enforcement agency they belong to. Thanks very much, Boris for that.
Still ahead. New Zealand acclaims a major victory in the fight against COVID-19. We'll hear from the prime minister who is celebrating a milestone
next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[10:46:13]
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACINDA ARDERN, NEW ZEALAND PRIME MINISTER: I did a little dance. Definitely not. I showed me. She was caught a little by surprise but she
joined in. Having absolutely no idea why I was dancing around the lounge but enjoying it nonetheless.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: Welcome back. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern just couldn't contain her excitement after learning that our country had no
active COVID-19 cases, none. And midnight local times the country moved to the lowest level in its coronavirus alert system, lifting lockdown
restrictions on both public and private events and public transport.
Moscow is lifting its quarantine on Tuesday. Entering the first three stages of reopening. Hair salons, vet clinics and cemeteries will be
allowed to open and authorities will stop using a controversial app to track residents' movements during the quarantine. Moscow has been hit hard
by the pandemic, almost 200,000 cases in the city alone. So this lifting of lockdown measures, yes, we're going to have to wait and see what impact it
has.
And the U.K. is imposing new measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. But some say it's coming a bit too late. Beginning today all international
passengers arriving in the country must go through a mandatory 14-day quarantine. Now critics are saying this should have been done months ago at
the start of the pandemic and not at the tail-end of the pandemic. What's the point of doing it now?
Let's bring in CNN's Anna Stewart, she is at London's Heathrow Airport. So what's the -- it looks mighty quiet where you are. What's the situation in
the terminals?
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Yes, we've hardly had any flights really landing here. There were a few this morning. And for passengers now
arriving into the U.K. they have to self-isolate for 14 days. And the way it works is you fill in an online form 48 hours before travel, you list
your contact details, the address where you're going to be. But, Hala, there are criticism -- well for all fronts, frankly.
But when you arrived here, you can actually take public transport to get to your destination, you are allowed to leave that destination to go shopping
for food, for medicine. So there are certainly it's not as strict as some other countries. In terms of enforcement there are fines if you break it,
that could be spot checks from the police. You could be fined around 1000 pounds which is about $1300 if you break that.
Now, the criticism is coming from all friends as I said. You had the airlines, you feel this is really going to add to the devastation frankly,
they felt from the pandemic. We've already had them announcing in the U.K. some 20,000 jobs have been lost from the major airlines. British Airways
EasyJet, Ryanair over the weekend have all threatened legal action against the government. More broadly, as he said many people feel this has come
very late.
Much of Europe are actually lifting quarantine measures just as the U.K. starts to impose them. And the U.K. has some of the worst numbers in terms
of the virus on the continent. Some people feel that should be more honed in testing of ended individuals instead of quarantine them on a case by
case basis. On the other side, though, there are people that welcome this. They think it's late but they welcome the idea of a quarantine but they
think it doesn't go far enough that it's just not strict enough. Hala?
GORANI: All right. Thanks very much. Anna Stewart live at Heathrow. And if you're flying to the U.K. expect the 14 days of quality time with yourself
and your closest family members because that's when the quarantine today period starts. Although there is an effort to ease the lockdown going
forward because of impact on the economy has been pretty devastating and country.
Coming up, the New York Times distances itself from a controversial op-ed about the antiracism protests in the U.S.
[10:50:09]
GORANI: Why the paper's editorial editor is out and what Donald Trump is saying about the situation. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Welcome back. Some of the turmoil from the U.S. antiracism protests has spilled into the New York Times newsroom. The Times says James Bennett,
the editor of its editorial page has resigned after he oversaw the publication of a controversial opinion piece written by Republican Senator
Tom Cotton of Arkansas who essentially pushed for the U.S. military to move against U.S. citizens, squashing protests nationwide.
The headline of the piece was send in the troops, it sparked major backlash from staffers and the general public. On Sunday, the Times publisher
announced that Bennett's resignation in a memo to employees, saying last week we saw a significant breakdown in our editing processes. Not the first
we've experienced in recent years, James and I agreed that it would take a new team to lead the department through a period of considerable change.
President Donald Trump later tweeted his support for the "Excellent op-ed" while slamming the paper. No shocker there. CNN Chief Media Correspondent
Brian Stelter joins us live from New York. And just to remind our viewers this op-ed was in the views of many people really inflammatory, really
talking about unleashing the American military against the protesters. And within the New York Times there was a huge backlash.
And on Twitter even a day after was published on the day, it was published, many high-profile New York Times reporter saying I disagree vehemently with
my newspaper. Talk to us about what led to this resignation.
BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: This was an uprising inside the New York Times with staffers telling me they've never seen anything
like it. And this is reflective of a broader debate that's happening in journalism in the year 2020 about what views should be amplified, what
views should be shared with the audience, and what views should be shamed and pushed out of the public square.
Because in the internet age when everybody has a voice, everybody can publish an op-ed on their own website. Outlets at the New York Times are
having to rethink what they do and why they do it. So this is all a debate about speech, about what speeches is -- should be promoted and what should
not be. And I think the, you know, the context of it, of course, is this idea about sending in the troops that someone likes Tom Cotton, a GOP
senator would say that in order to quell the violence last week, the Federal troops were needed in major cities in the United States.
But my personal view was that was a crazy overreaction. Yes, there was -- there was unrest, and there was looting in New York City and elsewhere, but
it was nothing to police couldn't handle. There was no need for Federal troops. But that was the argument Cotton was making on the website of the
New York Times. And it caused a tremendous backlash from hundreds of times reporters and writers and editors who said this is not what the times
should be publishing.
Again, this goes to a broader issue about what is fit for print and what is not fit for print in the year 2020.
GORANI: And it's -- the big question is OK, you might find these views of Horan, but you need to hear them out.
[10:55:03]
GORANI: This man is an elected official and then you have this highbrow debate of ideas in the opinion pages. Others said, what would you print for
instance, an editorial advocating -- I don't know, rape, for instance, and then you can have this hybrid discussion about whether or not you know,
rape should be used as a weapon of war for instance. Yu know, I mean, so it's like, which side is going to win out here on?
Because there are some very high profile liberal voices are saying they disagree with the idea that you should not publish views that go against,
you know, the majority view in a left leaning newspaper for instance, in the United States.
STELTER: Yes. The classical idea is both sides, present both sides or present all sides of an issue and let the debate happen. The newer argument
that we're hearing especially from inside the New York Times, is not every view is equally right or moral or just some views are downright dangerous
and should not be given that platform should not be amplified that way. And I think the internet and the information wars that we all live inside,
that's the change, that's the issue here.
When Tom Cotton can go on his own website, his own Facebook page and say whatever he wants, The New York Times ends up in a position where it's, you
know, has the chance to be more selective, more judicious about what it wants to amplify and what it wants not to. And I think what we see mostly
younger staffers at the New York Times saying is, why are we giving our space to this kind of idea from this person?
Again, as you said though, the counter argument is he's in a position of power close to the President and these ideas are being promoted by the
President and other Republican leaders. Some of these, frankly, is about Democratic impulses versus more authoritarian impulses. These are basic
issues about civil rights and human rights that are being debated at the highest levels.
GORANI: Thank you, Brian Stelter. Much more to come in the next hour, I'll be speaking with Toronto Burke, the founder of the MeToo movement about
George Floyd's death. And her thoughts on why it has struck a chord for people over -- all over the world and her personal experiences as well.
Plus, the mayor of Bristol joins me what he has to say about that statue of a slave trader Edward Poston that was thrown into the harbor by angry
demonstrators. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
