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New York To Reassign About 600 Plainclothes Anti-Crime Officers; Portugal Markets Itself A "Safe" Option For Tourists; North Korea Blows Up Liaison Office Used For Peace Talks; Activists Demand Action On Anti-Racist Measures; English Premier League To Return Wednesday. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired June 16, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
HALA GORANI, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: According to a new COVID-19 studying from here in the UK, a commonly used steroid could reduce the risk of death
by a third in the sickest Coronavirus patients. Keep in mind these results are preliminary, but they are encouraging.
CNN's Senior Medical Correspondent Elizabeth Cohen joins me now from Atlanta with more. What kind of steroid are we talking about, Elizabeth?
ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: So, hello, this is a steroid that is very commonly used in hospitals for all sorts of reasons,
including viral diseases to sort of get the inflammation down. I spoke with several critical care and intensive care doctors in New York City, and they
said, you know, we've been using this for quite a while, but it's great to have this data.
So, in other words, doctors, when this happened, especially in places like New York City, said, wow, we have got to find something for this. We can't
necessarily wait to do a full-scale trial. And so, since these steroids have worked well with similar illnesses, they decided to try it. And they
found just in their experience that it worked. But they said that it's very good to actually now have some data showing that it does work.
GORANI: And are there any side effects that we know after this treatment?
COHEN: There certainly are. I mean, with steroids you always want to be careful. You can definitely make people sicker. But, again, this is
important to remember. They weren't giving steroids to people who were at home recovering perfectly fine from COVID they were giving it to patients
that were on a vent.
You're obviously much more willing to put up with side effects when you're trying to save someone's life, when their life is really on the line.
GORANI: All right. Thanks very much, Elizabeth Cohen, our Senior Medical Correspondent. With this treatment that one expert is calling a
breakthrough that's been used successfully before, and now we have the data to support that.
Now, the United States is facing massive challenges right now, the pandemic, systemic racism, police brutality, all as the black lives matter
movement spreads to every corner of the country. A demonstration in Albuquerque, New Mexico ended with one person critically wounded.
Protesters tried to pull down a statue of a conquistador, but were confronted by heavily armed militia that fired on them.
One man is under arrest. And Portland, Oregon is another flash point nighttime protests took a turn for the worse when an officer was struck by
a rock. Police then closed off downtown and declared a civil disturbance you're seeing images coming to us from Portland.
Georgia's Capitol building at Atlanta was the scene of more demonstrations today. There is renewed anger there after a man was shot dead by police on
Friday after he fell asleep in his car in a drive-through.
One by one city are answering the call for police reform, including New York City, where the Police Commissioner says about 600 plainclothes
officers will be reassigned. He says it will close out a controversial practice that targets communities of color.
CNN's Brynn Gingras joins me live from New York with more on the growing list of policy and police reforms and Brynn; you're focused on New York.
But it is kind of a good illustration of how Police Department all over the country, and indeed around the world are having to respond to protesters'
demand to reform their Police Departments and change some police tactics?
BRYNN GINGRAS, CNN, U.S. CORRESPONDENT: Yes, and Hala keep in mind, the NYPD is the largest police force in the entire United States. So it's
almost like Police Departments across the country may look to this department to see what sort of changes its making and see if they works for
them.
Another thing that the Commissioner of the NYPD, Dermot Shea pointed out yesterday was that there was reform and Executive Orders being made at the
state level, national level. We'll see what the President - but in his words, we've already done all that. So it was time to look within and
change from within.
And so, that's what we're now starting to see. Even today, we've learned about a new policy that's going to go in place, which means that body
camera footage needs to be released within 30 days of an incident that involves a police officer using some sort of controversial excessive force
or possibly injuring someone or killing someone. That body camera needs to be made public.
We heard earlier from the Governor last week that disciplinary records of police officers are now going to be made public. So there is a lot of
reform. But the step that was taken by the Police Commissioner here in New York, it was a major one, again, not only because of the size of the NYPD,
but because of the fact that for decades this Police Department has had plainclothes officers in specific to this, the anti-crimes unit, and the
job of those officers was to go after violent offenders.
They were to go out to - into their local precincts here in New York City and try to disarm people, try to get robberies that were in progress and
try to get felony arrests. That was their mission. And now that is essentially gone.
Those officers are now being transferred to other units within the NYPD, basically disbanding an entire sort of form of policing that's been going
on for decades here in New York City, and the Police Commissioner says he knows there is a risk to that.
[11:05:00]
GINGRAS: He says he wears that, though, on his shoulders. And he says he hopes now that the policing is going to turn the mindset of using more
technology, looking at data, looking at intelligence and using those sort of tools to solve crimes, to fight crime rather than using force, which, of
course, we know has caused a lot of discourse, which is what protesters really have been calling out for all across the country, Hala.
GORANI: And are protesters satisfied, or are they vowing to keep on demonstrating?
GINGRAS: As far as New York City is concerned, you know, I think there is still going to be calls for reform, right? You never know if there is a
satisfaction level that is ever met by any one particular person. The protests have continued for several weeks now, ever since the death of
George Floyd, and we've seen protests before and reform has come.
So, we'll see if the protests continue if there is some plan for it today, but certainly there is response. And it's not just here in New York City.
We're seeing the response happening in major Police Departments all across this country. In Atlanta, there are calls for in LA. So there's definitely
a different change that is happening in response to what happened to George Floyd three weeks ago.
GORANI: All right. Brynn Gingras thanks very much, reporting live from New York. Demand for police reform has also reached the White House. President
Donald Trump will soon sign an Executive Order on policing that includes a database for tracking officers' use of excessive force. Brynn was
mentioning that for the New York police Department.
Trump says the order will be, "Pretty comprehensive", but a source tells CNN it will be relatively modest, leaving the heavy lifting to Congress.
John Harwood joins me now. And it's interesting, John Harwood live in Washington, that the President who's called the protestors terrorists, who
has essentially denied in many cases that they even have a legitimate cause that even he is feeling the pressure.
The weight of public opinion on him that he feels the need to sign an Executive Order and to publicly say that, he's at least trying to address
this issue.
JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right. And we're seeing that same pressure on Republicans in Congress, Hala. But what this
Executive Order does is allow the President to take some action, though modest action, on this issue, which will represent a response if Congress
cannot legislate, although there is some hope that Democrats and Republicans can make a deal.
What's in this Executive Order is an attempt to pull local Police Departments along with the carrot, the incentive of federal funds, but not
force them to. So, three main components the first is a certification process to identify best practices and give departments a seal of approval
if they follow them, including limiting some of the controversial police techniques like chokeholds. Not banning them, but discouraging their use.
Secondly, a data collection, database, as you mentioned, of use of force complaints against particular officers so that from one department to the
next, they would have a record of what someone had done at a previous department if they apply for a new job. It's a way of transparency and
having everyone on the same page, so bad actors can't just jump from one department to the other.
And finally a way to expand the expertise available to police officers so if you have an officer dispatched to something that may involve someone who
is mentally ill, for example, you would have a mental health expert accompany the officer along.
Again, not mandating that kind of a step, but providing incentives through the use of federal funds. But everyone understands that the strongest
action, if it takes place, will take place in Congress. Democrats have a strong bill that would ban chokeholds, for example, ban no-knock warrants,
two of the most controversial police practices.
Republicans would not go as far. They're due to-- in the Senate lay out their bill this week, and then we'll have some negotiations. We'll see if a
deal can be struck. No guarantee of that at all, but it could happen. If it doesn't, the administration will be able to say, here's what we get in this
Executive Order.
GORANI: Right. And regarding COVID, the President has an interesting solution for reducing the number of cases. This is what he said about COVID
testing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: If we stop testing right now, we would have very few cases, if any.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GORANI: So, I guess that raised a few eyebrows. Obviously if you don't test, you won't have that many cases because they won't be registered as
Coronavirus cases.
HARWOOD: It raised eyebrows because its complete nonsense, Hala, as anyone with a brain can figure out. If you don't test, you're still going to have
the same number of cases; you're just not going to know about the cases.
[11:10:00]
HARWWOOD: But this is consistent with the President who is, from the beginning of this outbreak, seemed to think that the more cases get
confirmed through testing, the more of a black mark it is on his record.
Again, that does not make any sense, because the proof is in the sickness, the hospitalizations, the number of deaths. That and the public's fear
generated by hospitalization and death is what are going to cause economic shutdown and economic dislocation.
The testing only helps you get on top of the outbreak it doesn't eliminate the outbreak, to state the obvious.
GORANI: John Harwood thanks very much. Live in Washington. I'll have a lot more, by the way, on COVID numbers a little bit later in the hour, because
there is some very worrying spikes in some states in America, there is a worrying spike as well, a cluster of new cases in China as well, and we'll
be covering that.
We were talking about how the U.S. President was feeling the pressure from some of these public protests to at least announce his intention of
supporting some reforms in police tactics? And the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom also appears to be feeling some pressure coming from a 22-
year-old black football player who is almost singlehandedly forced real change after Boris Johnson's government U-turned on a major social policy.
It's not about policing, but it is about school lunches.
Downing Street has announced a COVID summer food fund for hungry children following pressure from Manchester United's Marcus Rashford over the lack
of free meals during the holidays. The Prime Minister - you have to remember had originally rejected the call to extend the fund vouchers for
low-income families.
CNN's Nic Robertson and World Sport Darren Lewis have much more on this much-needed food program and why it's such an important issue for Rashford.
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: The government's made much of the fact that it decided to give $80 million to local councils to
help provide additional food for needy families around the country. But it's the school's program, what's known here is a free school lunches'
program, that Marcus Rashford had a trailed understood because he is a family benefited from a single mother of five children.
He managed to get through school, his mother managed to feed the family with that benefit of this program. But he very eloquently says, it's needed
now, in his article, he really I think just connects all these issues so well. When he speaks about people ask me, how did I feel after I scored
this match-winning goal against Paris Sanchuman that knocked him out of the champion's league?
And he said, look, we went on to lose the next round of Barcelona. It's not just one action it's keeping those actions going. He says he understands
how children need this? The Prime Minister says he understands the issues of families, but it is Marcus Rashford's voice that has caused that appears
the Prime Minister to U-turn against the background of dwindling popularity for the Prime Minister.
DARREN LEWIS, CNN WORLD SPORT CONTRIBUTOR: We're talking about football is using their experience, and lived experience, to be able to affect the
policy. He's been talking us that was suggesting about his own lived experiences being the son of a single mother and all the sacrifices that
she had to make, sometimes going without food, so that he could be able to be fed and obviously go on to become a superstar for one of the biggest
countries in the world in Manchester United.
GORANI: And coming up China is rushing to contain a new COVID cluster that has spread to several provinces. Beijing is taking some major steps. We'll
bring you those next. And later we'll take a look into Portugal as it kick- starts its tourism season. Is it the safe option for European travel? We'll explore, after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11.15:00]
GORANI: In Beijing, at least 29 neighborhoods are under a lockdown, because of a cluster of new Coronavirus cases linked to one food market, one of the
biggest in Asia. Ivan Watson has more on these efforts being taken to limit the spread of the outbreak.
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They're throwing away food in Beijing's largest market, a purge triggered by a new outbreak of
Coronavirus in the Chinese capital. Since last Friday, authorities say they've detected scores of new locally transmitted cases. Most of the new
infections trace back to this place, the Shin Fadi market in the South of Beijing.
This sprawling wholesale hub distributes more than 80 percent of the fresh produce that feeds this massive city. The market's now closed due to
Coronavirus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PANG XINGHUO, DEPUTY DIR.BEIJING CENTER FOR DISEASE PREVENTION & CONTROL: These Coronavirus cases have perhaps come in contact with a polluted
environment in the market or have come into contact with someone who was infected who then passed on the virus to them, so they had it. For this
reason, shutting down Shin Fadi agricultural trading market is necessary.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Less than two weeks ago, Beijing was easing Coronavirus alert levels. But now officials enforce a strict lockdown - residential compounds
around the market. They've launched a huge Coronavirus testing spree. Beijing authorities say they've collected tens of thousands of samples in a
matter of days. And announced plans to contact trace, and estimated 200,000 people estimated to have visited the market in the last two weeks.
The Chinese government clearly doesn't want a repeat of what happened last winter, when this new virus exploded in the City of Wuhan and then spread
like wildfire around the world. There is no way Beijing becomes Wuhan 2.0, the Editor in Chief of one party controlled tabloid wrote. The world will
see China's powerful capacity in controlling the epidemic, he added. We will win again.
China is now in a race to stop the outbreak. Officials say they've already tracked down several cases that spread from the market in Beijing to at
least two neighboring provinces. But one important question experts haven't been able to answer yet is how the virus was introduced to this market in
the first place? Ivan Watson, CNN, Hong Kong.
GORANI: Well, so in Europe, countries like Portugal that rely a lot on tourism have to find ways to attract visitors. They have fewer COVID-19
cases than neighboring Spain, for instance, so Portugal is marketing itself as the "Safe" option for European travel. Our Fred Pleitgen is at the
Portuguese Spanish border with that story. Fred?
FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi there, Hala. And as you can see here at the Portuguese Spanish border, it actually looks
like most other European borders looked only a couple days ago. The border here is still closed except for trucks and other people who have essential
business on the other side of the border in Spain.
And essentially what the Portuguese are saying, look, as far as the lockdown is concerned, they were rigorous. They're not going to make any
compromises. This border is not going to open until at least July 1st. But they also say that it was that attitude of going about things that helped
them get through the crisis better.
And they believe that's going to be what's going to give travelers the confidence to come back here and feel safe for tourism. Here's what we
found out.
Even in these times of pandemic, Lisbon's most famous bakery Pasteis De Belem is still churning out cream cakes. But owner Miguel Clarinha says his
business has been hit hard by the lack of tourists, and he doesn't think that will change soon.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MIGUEL CLARINHA, OWNER, PASTEIS DE BELEM: We're hopeful, of course, but we also know that's - this year is going to be a very, very slow year even
with the borders opening up.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:20:00]
PLEITGEN: Even as many European countries are lifting travel warnings, only a few tourists can be seen in Lisbon's historic old town.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: In three areas, it's not very dangerous, only in small spaces, in rooms or something, eh? And so, we are not scared about that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: Among European nations, Portugal is one of the most dependent on tourism. The country is now launching a campaign to win travelers back. I
caught up with the Prime Minister just as he unveiled the program.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: What is Portugal's strategy to try and bring tourism back to this country in a safe way?
ANTONIO COSTA, PORTUGUESE PRIME MINISTER: We've created protocols between the health authorities, all the hotels to create a special scene, clean and
safe, to give everyone guarantees that they can come and they'll be safe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: Portugal is viewed as having dealt successfully with the pandemic so far. Having shut down early, the COVID-19 death toll here remains low.
And anti-Coronavirus measures remain on prominent display, like temperature checks at the airports for all those arriving.
The Prime Minister says he believes Portugal's track record will help the country beat out other nations in the quest to lure wary tourists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
COSTA: We're among the countries that tested the most one of the countries that better knows the real spread of the virus, where the numbers are the
safest and where people can come with confidence. And confidence will be one of the differentiating factors at the moment of choosing where to go on
holidays. There I think Portugal is a good destination.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PLEITGEN: Portugal's economy has been hit extremely hard by the Coronavirus pandemic. Now the country is battling to come back, making reviving its
tourism sector a top national priority.
And of course, the Portuguese also Hala are not under any sort of impressions or illusions that any of that is going to happen fast all the
businesses that we spoke to and the Prime Minister as well, they believe that this is going to be a very tough year.
The economy here has been hit extremely hard by the financial fallout from the COVID-19 crisis. And at the same time they believe that this year is
going to be difficult. They hope that things will return to a better place next year, in 2021, but they also say right now that is really anybody's
guess.
Also depending, of course, on whether or not the virus makes another comeback in Europe as well with a possible second wave. So a lot of
unknowns for this country, but at the same time they believe that their strategy will help them get through this crisis quite well so far, and they
again hope that it will give them the edge going forward trying to lure tourists back, Hala.
GORANI: And what was it like for you flying into Portugal? I mean, I saw that you posted on social media that the flight was pretty full. What are
passengers, what are people traveling to Portugal saying to you about travel during this COVID pandemic, which is still ongoing?
PLEITGEN: Well, I'll tell you what. Look, we're all people who usually travel a lot. But I have to tell you after what has been like, three, four
months now that we haven't been on an airplane and we've been used to this physical distancing in this time as well is quite strange to get back in a
confined space and sit next to a lot of people even though you're wearing a mask.
So at the beginning it is a little bit weird. It's also both strange in the flight as well because you're trying to sip a drink, for instance, and at
the same time you're wearing the mask, so just getting used to that is a little bit different. And certainly some of the travelers were a bit
uneasy.
There are two things Hala that I would tell international travelers looking to get on planes or looking to maybe travel. On the one hand, one of the
things that they have to look out for is that everything takes longer. Check-in takes longer. There is a lot of flight delays as well, because
planes tend to wait for other planes that might be late, because were simply is so little air traffic going on right now.
And one counterintuitive thing is that, planes indeed right now on most airlines are actually fuller than they were before, because of course, what
the airlines are trying to do is, they're trying to pool all the passengers going to one place into one plane if they have fewer flights, and to make
those flights as full as possible to make it economic for them, but also to obviously give as many people as they can the chance to travel as well.
So those are two things, flights are fuller, but all the processes just also do take a whole lot longer, Hala.
GORANI: All right. That's not what I wanted to hear. Thanks very much, Fred Pleitgen, live in Portugal. Some schools in Spain are welcoming students
back, but the classrooms are not the same. Hygiene and social distancing are some of the newer lessons that children have to learn. Atika Shubert
has more from Madrid.
ATIKA SHUBERT, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: School may be a distant memory for kids in quarantine, but in Madrid, the Colegio Virgen De
Europa is welcoming students who want to come back with Coronavirus precautions, temperature checks at all school gates, hand washing before
and after each class. And teachers are regularly tested for the virus.
[11:25:00]
SHUBERT: It's all about getting used to the new school rules, explains Primary Coordinator Sarah O'Holloran.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SARAH O'HALLORAN, VIRGEN DE EUROPA SCHOOL: I think children find a sense of security in rules and repetition. So this routine that has quickly become
the new norm is something that they feel quite comfortable with.
(END VIDDEO CLIP)
SHUBERT: Classes are also smaller. At the moment, half the classes are online, the other sits in desks spread far apart. Frequent cleanings to
disinfect hallway to another high traffic areas, recess and lunchtimes are staggered as teachers corral classes into separate spaces. No football or
other ball games allowed. What's the hardest thing about coming back to school?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ELLANA AND VIKTOR, STUDENTS: We can't give hugs and we can't, like, play, like, sports, like sport that we share our things. Like football,
basketball. There are two meters from one person to another.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHUBERT: There's only about a week left of classes in the year, but this school is trialing out what could be the new normal in September. That
includes mandatory masks in the hallway. But also, as you can see, these lanes that make sure that students and teachers keep a safe distance apart.
So how much of a risk is opening schools? We asked an epidemiologist.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANDREA BURON, SPANISH SOCIETY OF EPIDEMIOLOGY AND SESPAS: I believe the risk of reopening school is not very high, actually quite the contrary. I
think the relevance and the benefit of reopening schools for children and parents of these children's is actually very high. Children are at
extremely low risk of catching the disease as well as trading the disease.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SHUBERT: But schools still need to teach students to be vigilant about containing any possible spread. Spain is still finalizing what nationwide
requirements will be for September? But test cases like this school will pave the way. Atika Shubert, CNN, Madrid, Spain.
GORANI: Well, ahead on the program, North Korea says a liaison office used for peace talks with the South has been destroyed in a "Terrific explosion.
What led to this latest provocation? We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: That was some stunning video form South Korea's military capturing North Korea blowing up the liaison office. This is Kaesong in North Korea
the four story building had been used for peace talks with the South. The North Korean leader sister Kim Yo-Jung threatened military retaliation for
a group of deflectors sending anti-North Korea leaflets from the DMZ.
[11:30:00]
GORANI: Joining me now from Washington is CNN's Global Affairs Analyst and Former U.S. Special Representative for North Korea Policy, Joseph Yun.
Thanks for joining us. Why do you think North Korea is doing this and why now?
JOSEPH YUN, FORMER U.S. SPECIAL REPRESENTATIVE FOR NORTH KOREAN POLICY: Well, you know, Hala, as you know North Koreans have made no secret of the
fact that their major diplomatic initiative of the past two years have led to nothing, you know.
Especially what they want most, which is better economic conditions for North Korea. They met Trump three times, South Korean President four times
and Xi Jinping three times, and they're very disappointed it has not led to anything.
Compounding the disappointment is they're feeling pressure internally. Specifically their trade has virtually stopped with China, and trade has
been very difficult going back and forth. And we also suspect they have cases of Coronavirus within North Korea and their health system is very,
very ill-equipped to deal with it.
So they picked on by the closest link, which is South Korea, and they're threatened by South Korea in all the progress they have made in inter-
Korean relations, including military agreements they will null and void.
So I think this is really the end of inter-Korean relations that we have known the past two years, so in that sense, South Korea relations, we are
back where we were in 2017.
GORANI: So is there any way to sort of go back to a place where there was at least some hope for inter-Korean relations to improve and if so, how?
YUN: Well, the thing that North Koreans are trying to do is to move Washington. But they are obviously threatened by Trump. Remember what we
went through in 2017, fire and fury and all that, bloody nose and all that.
So they don't want to anger Washington just yet, so what they're trying to do is tell South Koreans, you must do a better job so that sanctions will
be lifted. You know to do a better job; South Koreans must get to Washington.
But for now, really, Trump is occupied with many things, and I would imagine North Korea is not one of the priority items for him, so at the
moment, he's not paying much attention. So I don't think there is much hope in near future things will get back to where we were, where we have summit
meetings, discuss issues of denuclearization, lifting economic sanctions and peace agreements and so on. So we're really back to a standstill, and I
do expect that things will get worse before they get better.
GORANI: Yes, because at the same time we haven't seen any of these missile tests. It seems as though they're kind of testing the waters by blowing up
this building before, perhaps, they escalate. Do you agree with that?
YUN: I agree with that. They are escalating. And, really, the red line for President Trump is no long-range missiles that are intercontinental
ballistic missiles and no nuclear tests. So North Korea, they've done short-range missile tests. They have been very reluctant to go over that
line, and I think that will remain.
Typically during an election year in the U.S., North Koreans really wait and see who gets elected. So I really doubt they will unsettle relations
with Washington, but they are prepared to unsettle relations with South Korea and blaming things on South Korea much more than they would on
Washington.
And because, really, the problem, as far as North Korea is concerned, is with Washington, because Washington holds all the cards so this means
President Moon, who is a very progressive president, really faces a challenge. He's stuck between Kim and Trump, and he has a very close -
South Korea has a very close allied relationship with the United States, and South Koreans in general don't want to see that weaken.
But at the same time, if North Koreans are increasing so much pressure, this is really a no-win scenario for President Moon.
[11:35:00]
GORANI: All right. Thank you very much, Joseph Yun, for joining us. Speaking of tensions, the Indian Army says its senior military officials
are meeting with their Chinese counterparts after three of its soldiers were killed during what India calls a violent faceoff with Chinese troops.
It happened in this disputed area in the Himalayas, high up in the Himalayas, where there were reports of a military buildup for weeks. Indian
Army says there were casualties on the Chinese side as well. I spoke to Sam Kiley last hour.
SAM KILEY, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Hala this relates to a what they called the line of actual control that separates China from
India along a 3500 kilometers stretch of territory like so many of these other lines of control elsewhere in the world, it involves a border
dispute.
On that border over the last couple months in particular, there have been rising tensions as each side has accused the other of trying to seize
ground, patrolling into each other's acknowledged space, if you like, crossing the line effectively.
And two nights ago, the Chinese say that the Indians conducted an incursion into what they call their territory, and there was some kind of physical
fight between these two groups of soldiers, the Chinese and the Indians. Interestingly, and very significantly, they did not involve firearms.
GORANI: Sam Kiley there. Well, the Chinese military is calling on India to stop what it's calling provocative actions. It also says the Galwan Valley
belongs to China. Just ahead, protesters in the U.K. want more than one government commission to confirm racism. Our guest shares a plan for action
on what needs to be done, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
GORANI: Around the world the deaths of African-Americans in police custody highlight the black lives matter movement. It has also led, as we've
covered for weeks now, to some outrage outside the United States, including here in the U.K., forcing many to do some soul searching about racial
inequality in their own country.
But is the government's plan to confront racism enough? Journalist and Commentator Afua Adom joins me now. Thank you so much for joining us. So
the Johnson government is requesting that a study, a commission, an inquiry be put together to kind of study racial inequality in the country in an
effort to try and remedy some of the biggest issues. What is your reaction to that?
AFUA ADOM, JOURNALIST AND COMMENTATOR: Well, first of all, this comes across like yet another vanishing exercise. We don't need more reports to
inequality because we know about the systemic racism in this country, we know what the problems are, and we know what has to be done.
[11:40:00]
ADOM: Also another problem I have with this is the appointment of Myra Marsda to be appointed to this. She is someone who has - to dismantle the
idea that there is institutional racism. She is fundamentally against diversity. She says that diversity can be divisive and she's written
articles against it.
She is in danger of turning this whole thing into a farce. She is in danger of having another whitewash in Whitehall, and that's exactly what we don't
want. We've had inquiries by David Lammy into the institutionalized racism in the justice system. We've had inquiries that - may lead after the
Windsor scandal. Why do we need another one?
GORANI: Right. So essentially you're saying, we know what the problems are, we need an action plan. What should that action plan be? What would you
like to see from the government today?
ADOM: Well, we need opportunities to take down systemic racism. So that's across the justice system, the education system, the health system, the
employment system. So, for instance, when it comes to employment, why not name African-Americans on application forms so that people can be judged
the same across the board.
When it comes to healthcare we know that black women in the U.K. are five times more likely to die in childbirth than the white. We need to educate
doctors and mid wives that black women really do feel the pain that they're saying that they're feeling and that can prevent deaths.
When it comes to the education system, we need to have equal opportunities across the board for all people, no matter their economic background, they
can excel in school, go on to excel at university and then go on to good employment. There are things we can do and we know what the solutions are?
As far as the report, we actually just need to carry out those solutions.
GORANI: Yes. Do you think that the U.K. is changing in that regard, that awareness is increasing? I was speaking to Bernardino Varista last hour,
which her book "Go women other" is now topping of the fiction best selling charts which a woman of color has never achieved before. Is this level of
awareness do you different this time and will it lead to real change?
ADOM: I would like to think we have reached a tipping point. There seems to be a real groundswell for people who want to make a change and people who
want to make a difference. It just has to be a real practical change. Like I said, I think that this potentially could be a tipping point where we
have to take the opportunities and do it in the right way.
We also need to let black British people lead the conversation and lead the changes with their white counterparts. As I keep saying, racism is not the
problem of black people it's the problem of white people. We need to work together to actually take down the systemic racism and take things forward.
Like I said, I think and I hope that this is the tipping point that we need.
GORANI: I wonder if you think this is also an opportunity for the United Kingdom to come to terms with its colonial past once and for all. We saw it
with statues coming down, in some cases being torn down and thrown into the Harbor in Bristol, for instance, with a statue of a slave trader there
being taken down.
Do you think that the U.K. is now finally coming to some sort of, you know, important inflection point when it comes to acknowledging some of its
racist past and some of the racism that still exists in the country today?
ADOM: Oh, absolutely. I think this is the opportunity to face up to its really racist past and really racist history and how it leads to the
systemic racism we have today? You know, we don't have black history across the board in schools.
We have black history month, but it's frankly not enough, so our children are not growing up learning about slavery but also about other parts of
black history, because we know that black history is not just about slavery.
But our children are not being brought up knowing what slavery is and the part other people played in that. I think when the statues came down, other
people were surprised and they didn't understand why these symbols of oppression could be so offensive of the black people in the U.K. say.
So unless we have that education in schools and if our children are growing up and knowing it and becoming adults and taking that noise with them, then
what's the point?
[11:45:00]
ADOM: And so that's where it starts. It starts with education, it starts with black history being taught in schools all across the board, all across
the year, not just one month of a year, and for that black history to be U.K. history, it's not just black history.
It is the history of the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom does need to realize, look, this might be an ugly part of our past, but it is here, and
it was there, and it is part of our problem we have today. The racism still exists and yes, the U.K. needs to take this opportunity and learn from
their past.
GORANI: I just want to go one more question because I saw on your social media that you have a young daughter. What are your concerns for her today
with regards to, you know, race inequality, race relations in a country like the U.K., and how do you talk to her? How do you talk to kids about
what's going on today?
ADOM: That seems to be really difficult conversations my friends and myself are having with our children. My daughter is eight years old, and for me
it's all about me bolstering her confidence and letting her know that it's more than okay for her to ask questions.
But also I do have to teach her about the difference is I've been talking to her about George Floyd, about the protests that have been going on
around the world, about why we're marching? It's hard for them to realize at such a young age, that's trauma to realize that people will hate them
potentially could hate them because of the color of their skin.
They have to be told because I don't want her to go out into the world and she's not armed with the right information, and she's not armed with that
confidence to be able to combat anything that might come her way.
It's a shame that we have to traumatize our children in this way, but it has to be done. But also, like I keep saying, racism isn't just - it's not
the problem of black people. White people need to be having these conversations with their children as well and teaching them to be anti-
racist, not just against racism but anti-racist, that they don't end up inflicting trauma on other black and brown children. That's what we want to
avoid.
GORANI: Great points, Afua Adom. Thank you very much for joining us live from London. With more on her take about what's going on in the U.K. and
also, really, this movement that has spread around the world thank you, so much, Afua, for joining us.
There has been a sudden change, of course, in France. The Head of the National Police now says officers can continue to use the controversial
chokehold technique until September 1st. This comes just days after the French Interior Minister declared an immediate ban on chokeholds.
You can see here French Police Unions took to the streets to protest against police stigma and demand the right to keep using a potentially
dangerous technique. A committee is working on finding alternatives by the end of August, and we have pictures to show you of a protest in Paris
earlier today.
Health care workers staging a nationwide day of rallies, they've been calling on the government to improve wages and invest in public hospitals
in the wake of the Coronavirus crisis. But there has been a, according to reports on the ground, smaller contingent to the main demonstration of
health care workers that has caused a few problems here. You can see law enforcement used tear gas to try to contain the crowds.
Just ahead on the program, the Premier League is back this week. It's the clearest sign yet that sport is returning to some kind of normal. We'll be
right back.
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[11:50:00]
GORANI: Hey, sports fans, the Premier League is back on Wednesday after many weeks of lockdown. Don Riddell is with us now to discuss what we can
expect. Don?
DON RIDDELL, CNN WORLD SPORT ANCHOR: Hala, thank you very much. We're very excited, and I think we're going to see a variety of narratives playing out
certainly this week but then of course in the weeks between now and the end of the season toward the end of July.
Not all of these narratives are going to be directly football related. The most compelling obviously on the page is Liverpool's 30-year quest for a
domestic title which is surely now almost over. They had reached a 25-point lead before the lockdown began, and they're now just two wins from the
title.
They might only need to win one game if Man City loses to Arsenal on Wednesday, and that would require Liverpool just to beat Everton in their
own city on Sunday. Of course there won't be any fans in the stadiums. TV viewers at home are expected to have the option of listening to especially
engineered fake crowd noise to accompany the broadcast. So much exciting obviously something that wasn't always guaranteed.
Remember, the French, Dutch and Scottish Leagues never returned, but the success of Bundesliga in Germany last month showed what was possible, and
action has since resumed in Spain and Italy.
In all three countries, we have already seen players demonstrably put their weight behind the racial awakening movement and you're certainly going to
see more examples of that in the Premier League this week. Every player will have the words black lives matter on the back of their shirts instead
of player names.
Let's get more now with World Sport Contributor Darren Lewis who will be covering the Premier League's return this week. Darren joins us from
London. Darren, when this all happened, people missed the Premier League and football and sports so much, but so much has now changed in the world
since that time in the middle of March? How much excitement do you think there genuinely is about the Premier League coming back?
LEWIS: I think there will be a basic level of excitement in relation to action on the field. I think the world has changed so much in the past
three months that all of us have had that excitement tempered by the realities of life.
We've had so many different things happen that forced us to really think about just how much we prioritize sport over other things and it really put
things into perspective for us?
RIDDELL: A lot of interest in, of course, Liverpool. You and I have covered football and sport for a very long time. The quest for a domestic title has
been very well documented. Three decades, just extraordinary. It would have been very, very cruel if this virus and this lockdown had denied them the
title, but it now seems inevitable that they will do it.
However, we don't know what this long period of inactivity is going to do to this team or, indeed, any other team. What kind of standard do we think
we can expect when the players all return?
LEWIS: You're absolutely right to ask the question, Don, because let's not forget I've been on talking with you about the many players in the U.K. in
the Premier League who have been concerned about a return of football and spoken out very openly.
We spoke to Troy Dini, who had concerns of - spoken to the Premier League and said we're concerned about the statistics of saying that black men are
twice as likely to be affected by the Coronavirus as white men were concerned about the high number of deaths in the U.K. in relation to other
countries around Europe, with concern that there are mixed messages from the government and the government's Chief Medical Officer in relation to
whether it's safe to come back.
Bear in mind, right at the start of this lockdown, we had that situation, didn't we, where the Prime Minister was saying, it's all okay, just wash
your hands and sing happy birthday, and people were being affected all around the country by the Coronavirus.
And it was the Premier League themselves in the end that turned around and said, look, we've got a manager at arson testing positive, we've got to
shut down. So the game can do it when it wants to and players will come back psychologically affected by what's happened so far. It will be
interesting to see if that translates itself to the picture?
RIDDELL: When you look at the big picture globally and what's happened with this moment of racial awakening, the return of the Premier League seems
actually quite timely because so many of these players had been speaking out more and more before the lockdown, and now already we've seen across
Europe.
[11:55:00]
RIDDELL: We saw with Marcello in Spain the weekend kneeling down and raising his fist in honor of the black lives matter movement. So the return
of the Premier League in football across Europe seems very, very timely. What would you expect the players in the league to make of this movement
and this moment?
LEWIS: Well, here in the U.K., one of the Manchester City players has been very vocal on one of the media outlets and said, look, when I look at the
top of the game, I don't see anyone that I can relate to. It is an all white leadership of this industry. That's the case throughout Europe.
And as you know, Don, we've been out on racism in the football campaign, but we've also been looking at the fact that the industry has a racism
crisis because it has nobody that it can relate to, the players can relate to.
So we have big problems over here. And I think what we've seen in the last few months with the George Floyd protests, with the black lives matter
protests is primarily recognizing that they will not be able to sign as footballers. They will speak their minds these players.
I was on a call just today with the Chief Executive of the Premier League Richard Masters, and he recognized the fact that they had to give players
their voices, otherwise players will use it themselves, very unlike in the past when players were afraid of the ramifications of speaking out. We're
are seeing as you rightly said, a global civil rights movement and the players in the Premier League are using their voices.
RIDDELL: Yes, I agree, the players don't seem to be afraid anymore, and guys like Marcus Rashford, incredible achievement what he has done over the
last few weeks, forcing the government to U-turn on their posse. Darren Lewis, thank you very much. Enjoy the football this week and of course
we'll continue these important conversations around the action as well. Darren, thank you very much.
LEWIS: Thank you Don.
RIDDELL: Hala, that's it from us, the Premier League returning on Wednesday. Very much looking forward to it, back to you.
GORANI: All right, thanks very much, Don Riddell. I'm Hala Gorani. Coming up after a quick break, it's "Inside Politics" with John King. Stay with
us.
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