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Connect the World
Netanyahu Urges U.S. Not to Return to Iran Nuclear Deal; U.S. President Planned to Sign a Police Reform Bill Into Law, But it's Delayed; Detained Belarusian Dissident Appears in Video After Arrest; House Democrats Urge Blinken to Condemn Sheik Jarrah Evictions; Newslaundry CEO: "Mainstream Media Really Glosses Over The Modi Government's Failures"; The World Marks One Year Since Floyd's Death. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired May 25, 2021 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN, Abu Dhabi. This is "Connect the World" with Becky Anderson.
BECKY ANDERSON, CNN HOST: This hour - this hour we look back at a moment in history that set of a global reckoning on race and injustice. In less than
an hour one of several memorials will begin to mark the year since George Floyd was killed.
His celebration of life and remembrance will feature guest speakers and musical performances. These are live pictures of the preparations where
several members of George Floyd's family are meeting with the U.S. President. Their message and that of the many protesters around the world
is justice and equality for all "Black Lives Matter".
Well, we are also waiting this hour to hear from the U.S. Secretary of State and the Palestinian Authority President they are meeting right now
and should make a statement shortly. Antony Blinken is making the rounds to reinforce the ceasefire that ended the latest fighting between Israel and
Hamas militants in Gaza.
Earlier Blinken met with Israel's Prime Minister in Jerusalem. He said the losses on both sides are profound. And he also promised U.S. help in
rebuilding Gaza that is a daunting job. Blinken warn that rebuilding trust won't come easy either.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ANTONY BLINKEN, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: There's a lot of hard work ahead to restore hope, respect and some trust across communities. But we've seen
the alternative. And I think that should cause all of us to redouble our efforts to preserve the peace and improve the lives of Israelis and
Palestinians alike.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: CNN's Nic Robertson is in Ramallah where Blinken and Mahmoud Abbas have been meeting. Hadas Gold is in Jerusalem. And it's in Jerusalem
that I want to start Hadas with the Israeli perspective, if you will. What did the Prime Minister have to say today?
HADAS GOLD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Benjamin Netanyahu thanked the Secretary of State Antony Blinken and President Joe Biden for he said there
- for he said their steadfast support of Israel's right to defend itself also say - thanking them for their - for the American help and replenishing
the Iron Dome Missile Defense System.
He did it make some comments about any sort of plan or path towards formal peace with Palestinians. He said that he thanked President Biden for his
comments regarding the need to recognize a Jewish independent state for anybody who wants to make peace with Israel lasting peace. But he also had
this warning you can call it regarding this only days old ceasefire, take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN NETANYAHU, ISRAELI PRIME MINISTER: We too, will give meaning to our commitment to our self defense. If Hamas breaks the calm and attacks
Israel our response will be very powerful.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GOLD: So there you go. You can just hear that while the ceasefire is holding which is the headline of the last few days that the ceasefire is
holding that it is still tense, and that there's still a lot to be worked out in order to keep the ceasefire going.
Netanyahu mentioning, there are several that Israeli - that Israel is concerned about the remains of two Israeli soldiers that are still and they
belief still in Gaza, as well as the status of two Israeli civilians that are still in Gaza. He did bring that up.
He also brought up I think it's important to note Iran. It goes to show you how important the possibility of the U.S. re engaging with the Iran nuclear
deal is to Israelis here. And keep in mind also, just a few days ago; when the German Foreign Minister was here, Netanyahu gave a piece of a drone
that Israel shut down that they said with an Iranian drone launch from either Syria or Iraq.
He gave a piece of that to the German Foreign Minister and once again, bringing up Iran with the Secretary of State saying that he hopes that the
Americans will not return to the Iran deal of 2015. That was sort of a point of tension you could call it between Netanyahu and the Secretary of
State during this press conference.
ANDERSON: Yes, and those talks, of course, on the Iran deal continue in Vienna. These are direct talks between the Iranians and members of P-5 plus
one without the Americans being involved specifically in those direct talks. Let's have a listen to what both leaders had to say about that Iran
nuclear deal.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NETANYAHU: I can tell you that I hope that the United States will not go back to the old JCPOA, because we believe that that deal paves the way for
Iran to have an arsenal of nuclear weapons with international legitimacy.
BLINKEN: We'll continue to strengthen all aspects of our long standing partnership. And that includes consulting closely with Israel, as we did
today, on the ongoing negotiations in Vienna, around a potential return to the Iran nuclear agreement. At the same time, as we continue to work
together to counter Iran's destabilizing actions in the region.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:05:00]
ANDERSON: I want to give you both an opportunity to just give us your insight and analysis. Hadas let's just start with you.
GOLD: Well, regarding this discussion over Iran, I do think that it's - that while obviously this recent ceasefire and the recent conflict between
Israel and Hamas is the - is top of mind. Here in Israel, the Israeli government Netanyahu - particularly focused on this potential return to an
Iran nuclear deal.
And they're hammering it over and over again, saying that they hope that the Americans will not return to any sort of 2015 style deal. And I think
it was also interesting to hear Netanyahu say, again, sort of a warning, saying whatever happens, he said, Israel will always reserve the right to
defend itself.
He said against the regime committed to their destruction committed to getting the weapons of mass destruction, sort of a note there for the
Americans while standing next to the Secretary of State, saying that whatever you may do with the Iran deal that Israelis will continue to doing
what they think they need to do in regards to Iran, which Israel sees as its greatest - as one of its greatest threats right now.
ANDERSON: Nic?
NIC ROBERTSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL DIPLOMATIC EDITOR: Yes, Becky, I just want to bring you some of the latest figures we're getting from that meeting
right now. We knew that Secretary of State Antony Blinken was going to say that he was getting - going to give - the United States was going to give a
significant contribution to the people of Gaza, as well as rallying more international support.
We've just got some figures from that meeting that's going on right now. So I can tell you, he says here and I'm reading it here. The administration
will notify Congress of its intent to provide an additional $75 million development and economic assistance for the Palestinians across this year
2021.
He'll also provide 5.5 million in immediate disaster relief to Gaza, and an additional 32 million to the UN in Gaza to - hat that provides a lot of
support facilities for Palestinians in Gaza provided a lot of support during the 11 days of that conflict and goes on providing that support.
To your point about the Iran nuclear deal clearly, this is an important issue between Prime Minister Netanyahu and Secretary of State Antony
Blinken. It has been exceptionally difficult these negotiations that are going on in Vienna for the United States to convince Iran to allow the
United States back in to that nuclear deal.
And what the United States wants to do next is expanded out to ballistic missiles and getting Iran to stop it's destabilizing actions in the region.
And we've heard through this conflict, but at the end of the conflict, the Hamas leaders thanking Iranian - thanking Iran for their support for
weapons and for money as well.
These are such important things to Hamas having the weapons and the money to - so that it can launch these attacks on Israel thanking Iran for that.
So you really get the picture how much this is an important issue for Prime Minister Netanyahu?
But also the resistances coming from Iran to the United States A, getting back in to the nuclear deal, but then the idea that they would expand it to
these other issues as well. So, you know, I think you get a sense through the conflict here. How Iran plays into - what it's criticized of
destabilizing the region Becky?
ANDERSON: You're in Ramallah. And you started with the news that we've had from Antony Blinken, who is or just has been meeting with the PA, President
Mahmoud Abbas. Let's just listened into a little of the discussion that they had.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAHMOUD ABBAS, PRESIDENT OF PALESTINIAN AUTHORITY: In order to leave behind us, those incidents that occur every now and then between us, meaning
Palestine and Israel.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we also would like to thank President Biden and vision for their efforts to achieve a ceasefire between the government and
the - the state. We would also like to thank the U.S. Secretary of State for the support to the state of Palestine and for the resumption of - to us
and to the--
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And the U.S. Secretary of State is meeting with the Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas. We've been speaking with our
correspondents, both in Ramallah and in Jerusalem. Thank you both for that. Well, U.S. Secretary of State and the Palestinian Authority President have
just given that joint statement after holding talks in the West Bank.
[11:10:00]
ANDERSON: You've just seen what happened just moments ago. Alright, let's move on in the death of George Floyd one year ago struck multiple chords
around the world, particularly with Palestinians who compare their fight for justice to that of "Black Lives Matter". They showed that solidarity at
this protest last June in Gaza.
George Floyd's face adorned murals across the region in the West Bank as well protests started using slogans like I can't breathe and racism is a
crime. They say they too know injustice and brutality under Israeli occupation.
Well, George Floyd's death galvanized people around the world. In London, the "Black Lives Matter" chant was heard loud and clear in the town of
Bristol. Protesters toppled the Statue of Slave Era Merchant Ed Colston. French protestors filled the streets of Paris last summer holding "Black
Lives Matter" signs and observing moments of silence for the death of Floyd and all those who lost their lives in the fight for justice.
In Madrid, the anger over George Floyd's death also included the anger aimed at then President Donald Trump. Protesters holding sign saying stop
Trump along with no justice, no peace. And you may remember this in Pretoria in South Africa protesters don't I can't breathe shirts and knelt
in silence, South Africans too know the sting of racism after living under apartheid for many decades.
Well, my next guest Activist Rashad Robinson tweeted this week is a reminder to us all that we must take an active role in dismantling
injustice, to keep pushing the movement forward. Rashad Robinson is President of Color of Change. And he joins us now from New York. And a year
on, I just want that how much you believe has been achieved in terms of racial injustice?
RASHAD ROBINSON, PRESIDENT, COLOR OF CHANGE: I mean, I think we're in a deep moment of cultural change, where more and more people are wakening up
asking what they can do, and pushing in places where they are --they live, where they work, where they go to school. And I think all of that is
incredibly important.
I don't think that we have achieved the amount of rule change policy change that this moment requires that equality and equity demands. But I do think
we are in a moment with a lot of change, like just to be clear last summer, when those uprisings happen, many people thought the best we could do in
terms of activism was clap outside of our windows, or uplift investigative journalism.
So racial justice moved so many folks to the streets in so many people to action, but undoing hundreds of years of systemic oppression and rules does
not happen in a year. And it's a long road ahead of us. And it's going to require folks to actually have to recognize that we can't simply accept
charity, we have to accept policy and cultural change as well.
ANDERSON: Yes, and I just want you and our viewers to have listen to what George Floyd's lawyer Ben Crump told CNN a little earlier about what
President Biden needs to do have a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BENJAMIN CRUMP, FLOYD FAMILY ATTORNEY: The hope is that he would reiterate what he said at the State of the Union that we must get the George Floyd
Justice and Policing Accountability Act passed. The United States Senate give me a bill to sign and I like what Senator Chuck Schumer and Karen Bass
and Cory Booker all saying that if you got to have this legislation, bear George Floyd's name it has to be meaningful, because they are bloods on
this legislation.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The intention is clearly there from the U.S. administration under Joe Biden, do you genuinely believe any policy change will be to quote Ben
Crump meaningful?
ROBINSON: I think that's the real question right now. This is the fight. This is the question. And we there are so many barriers to actually getting
meaningful racial justice legislation passed whether it's arcane rules like the filibuster, which has been used to stall progress, to prevent us from
even having anti lynching laws in the United States.
So there are all sorts of rules that really stand in the way of this progress, but it's by design, sometimes people call the system broken. But
the system's actually operating the way it was designed to operate to stall progress to keep racial hierarchy in place.
And so you yes, we actually do need progress at the federal level. But for folks who are watching around the country around the world, I should say
people should know that the United States has a lot of authority locally.
[11:15:00]
ROBINSON: Most of the policing, actual policy and policing accountability happens at the local level, most people are incarcerated at the local
level. And so while George Floyd policing bill needs to have teeth, needs to have sort of the things in place to allow us to be able to hold police
accountable, with all the tools that the federal government has, most of the tools still exists locally.
And that means that we actually all around the country need to continue to elect local prosecutors that are going to hold police accountable and seek
a system of real safety and justice. We're going to have to do with Mayors and city budgets to ensure that we're actually funding the things that we
know keep us safe, and more policing in communities does not actually equal safety if we're not investing in things like mental health, education, and
so many other things that we know actually create healthy and strong communities.
So part of the road forward is making sure that yes, we are fighting for the legislation federally but in local communities all around the country.
We are working to build and re imagine - build a build the momentum to re imagine public safety, not re imagine policing, but re imagine public
safety so that we all can live in communities that are moving forward.
ANDERSON: That's a really important point for our viewers around the world, many of whom may have joined protests demanding a change and justice in
their own countries and protests reflected as a result of what they saw in the States.
A recent report found that black people and Asians likely more likely to be stopped and searched by the police in countries across the EU, for example,
and in the UK and other British Government back report said there was no evidence to support the finding that the UK is institutionally racist. That
report drew large condemnation from the UN. I just wonder what that tells us.
ROBINSON: It tells us - it tells us that racism doesn't have borders, and that racism can't be solved just by hopes and dreams and wishes, that we
actually have to put effort and energy into it. You know, far too often we tell our story - ourselves stories about how inequality happened, that
almost makes it seem like it's a car accident, rather than it's unjust.
Inequality is manufactured through a set of choices that we make in our society through a set of rules. And we have the opportunity to make other
choices and other rules. But that doesn't happen overnight. And it doesn't happen without us pushing and making demands.
And so the road ahead will require people of all races of all backgrounds to be willing to push on the barriers and the systems that stand in the way
of change. And that means that we have to recognize that there are actually barriers in the way of change, that racism actually exists.
And then we have to go about the work to actually dismantle it, if we're going to get the best out of all of us in society, if we're going to unlock
the potential of all people to be able to achieve, we actually have to remove those barriers.
Where we do a color of change every day, as we give people real ways to take action, strategic action, pushing and channeling that energy to the
places that most needed and holding those in power accountable far too often, decision makers are not nervous about disappointing black people.
And we have to create a new set of consequences, a new set of power to force those, whether they are elected officials, whether they are in
corporations, whether they are media, to recognize the changes that are needed, and to hopefully see themselves inside of that change.
That should be the legacy of this moment to be able to build and move as much change as possible. 5, 10, 15 years from now, we're all going to look
at ourselves and look at this moment. And think about what we did in the moment.
I think all of us have an opportunity to see ourselves as those characters that were part of fighting for justice, not standing in the way up and that
I hope can be the legacy that people carry with them today and moving forward.
ANDERSON: Martin Luther King famously once said, didn't he? Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice, everywhere. And we saw that with the BLM
movement and its reverberations around the world, not just for racism, but for social injustice.
And I allude to this region, for example, where there's recent violence between Israelis and Palestinians as many Palestinians likening their
struggle for justice to that of black people in the States. I wonder how - whether you believe the justice, the BLM movement justice for blacks can be
used as leverage to enact change across the board? Are we seeing that needle moving?
[11:20:00]
ROBINSON: I hope so. I hope that the movements that have been sparked here in the United States are inspiring, just like the movements around the
world are inspiring to us here. And I also hope that we - as we're fighting for justice, we don't turn a blind eye to the pain and suffering of others
who may not be in our own communities or in our own borders.
And that we're doing everything we can to dismantle systems of oppression, white supremacy, oppression based off religion, based off of gender, based
off of, you know, sexual orientation and gender identity. Part of this is unlocking those chains that hold us back from being truly liberated and
truly free.
And so I actually absolutely think that we should see ourselves inside of the struggles of others around the world and do what we can to hold the
institutions accountable that benefit profit off of it and keep it in place.
ANDERSON: Rashad Robinson, it's a pleasure having you on sir. Thank you very much indeed, for joining us a truly global perspective there. This is
"Connect the World" live from Abu Dhabi. Still ahead--
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We are very worried as we expect torture and physical abuse, although we hope that that won't happen. But knowing the KGB
methods, we hope that he will be strong enough and have enough willpower to enjoy all that awaiting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: The father of dissident Belarusians journalists now detained in Minsk fears his son will face torture. A look at the unprecedented events
leading to his son's arrest those EU officials call a state hijacking. Plus, we're going to talk to one of the U.S. lawmakers calling on the
country's top diplomat to take a tougher stance on Israel.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Welcome back. EU nations keeping planes out of Belarusian airspace today furious over the mid flight diversion of a commercial flight
to Belarus, the EU also announcing plan new sanctions on Belarusian individuals and businesses responsible for what they call a state sponsored
hijacking.
Well, the dissident Belarusian journalists on that flight arrested in Minsk appearing in a video on a pro government channel seemingly under duress.
Matthew Chance connecting us to this story tonight from Moscow and what - do we have any details at this point about the video released?
MATTHEW CHANCE, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: No, no details beyond what we see on that video. But I can tell you as you've just
mentioned, there's been widespread condemnation of Belarus for it's you know violation of international norms.
[11:25:00]
CHANCE: I suppose enforcing this passenger jet down in order it seems solely to arrest this dissidents activists journalists, Roman Protasevich,
and his appearance on those sort of pro government channels in video has done very little to ease concerns about his welfare.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE (voice over): This is why the Belarusian authorities see this dissident journalist as such a threat. Social media channel founded by
Roman Protasevich, who is just 26, was instrumental in organizing these mass protests against flawed presidential elections last year. And of
course, in exposing the brutal tactics used by Belarusian police to crack down. His father, who spoke to CNN from exile in Poland, says he fears will
now be used on his son.
DMITRY PROTASEVICH, ROMAN PROTASEVICH'S FATHER: We are very worried as we expect torture and physical abuse, although we hope that that won't happen.
But knowing the KGB methods, we hope that he will be strong enough and have enough willpower to enjoy all that awaits him.
CHANCE (voice over): But for the first time since his extraordinary arrest at the weekend, the dissident journalist and campaigner has appeared from
Belarusian jail on Telegram. Critics say he seemed under pressure.
I'm now in jail number one in the City of Minsk, I can declare that I have no health problems, including with the heart or any other organs he says.
Now I will continue to cooperate with the investigation. And I am confessing to organizing mass riots in Minsk.
That confession say critics is likely to have been made under duress. This was the scene at Minsk airport at the weekend, where Protasevich taken off
this airliner after it had been forced to land because of what the Belarusian authorities said was a midair bomb threat. They even deployed a
fighter jet to intercept the passenger plane.
The airliner with Protasevich on board had been on route from Athens to Vilnius in Lithuania, when it was ordered to abruptly change course by
Belarusian air traffic control. But Rowan's father told CNN he believes the whole emergency was manufactured to capture his son revenge for standing up
to the Belarusian regime.
D. PROTASEVICH: I think that my son is a hero. And I am very proud of him. I hope that he'll be an example to many young people that they should never
give up. If a person wants to live in a free democratic country, they need to do everything possible for it.
CHANCE (voice over): But amid wide scale allegations of torture and abuse of prisoners in Belarus this may deterred as many as it inspires.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHANCE: Well, Becky, the European Union, amongst others is talking about more sanctions they're planning to impose on those they're holding
responsible for this act. The broader question, though, is what impact if any, are more sanctions on the regime in Belarus, which is already highly
sanctioned, of course, by the international community? At what effect that may have Becky?
ANDERSON: Thank you, Matt. Well, more than two dozen Democrats in the U.S. House are calling on America's top diplomat to condemn the looming eviction
of Palestinians from the Sheik Jarrah neighborhood in Jerusalem. Up next we'll talk to the Congresswoman who co-sponsored that letter.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: We're following the U.S. Secretary of State's visit to the Middle East today. Antony Blinken has just wrapped up talk to the Palestinian
Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, in Ramallah, announcing that the U.S. will provide $5.5 million in emergency disaster relief for Gaza.
Earlier he was in Jerusalem sitting down with the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Now both meetings come in the immediate aftermath of
what has been a bloody conflict between Israel and militants in the Hamas run Gaza. For now a tenuous ceasefire is holding.
Blinken mourn the hundreds of lives that were lost paraphrasing "The Talmud" to lose a life is to lose the whole world whether that life is
Palestinian, or Israeli. Well, a group of U.S. House Democrats say Secretary Blinken needs to use this trip to lay down a marker.
My next guest says "The forced displacement of Palestinian families in #Sheik Jarrah is a blatant human rights violation. I was proud to lead an
effort with Representative Mark Pocan to call on Secretary Blinken to exert diplomatic pressure on Israel to hold these evictions. We must defend human
rights everywhere".
Well, Congresswoman Marie Newman joins me now from Chicago. And of course, these forced evictions very much the flashpoint that has led to this most
recent violence. And in your letter, and thank you for joining me you call on President Biden to do a number of things and I just want to list those
out for the benefit of our viewers.
Immediately send the strongest possible diplomatic message to Israel to desist from its plans to demolish Palestinian homes and evict Palestinians
from their homes. Get the State Department to investigate whether Israel's demolition of Palestinian homes possibly with U.S. weapons violates the
arms control - Arms Export Control Act.
And if Israel proceeds with its plans, then the U.S. Embassy in Israel should send observers to document Israel's forced displacement of
Palestinians. Those are the demands, have you received a response?
REP. MARIE NEWMAN (D-IL): Not entirely. We do believe that there are lots of discussions going on and we have received feedback that they will
continue to review options. I am pleased to see that in fact, Secretary Blinken went overseas and started some additional talks. That is good news.
I'm not fully satisfied with where we're at. Look Becky, these home evictions have to stop and expulsions and demolitions. This is a clear
human rights violation. And that's what you know first things first let's get the human rights violations stopped immediately.
ANDERSON: Hamas initially said or certainly told CNN that it said it would agree to this ceasefire as long as Israel halted these forced evictions of
Jerusalem residents in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood. And they went on to tell us holds any violence in Alaska, in Al Aqsa Mosque.
Israel has not definitively said what it agreed to whether it couldn't agree to any of these conditions. In fact, they say there were no
conditions attached to this ceasefire. I wonder whether it is clear to your mind what the U.S. position will be if these forced expulsions continue.
NEWMAN: I would like it to be clear as well. From my perspective, and many my colleagues in Congress, our perspective is clear is that these human
rights violations must stop.
[11:35:00]
NEWMAN: Well, we have to remember broadly is that this is not helpful for Israel or Palestine. When the Israeli government is seen as committing
human rights violations all the time, it puts them in disfavor throughout the globe, right? So that's - it's not great for Israeli people. So our
recommendation here was really government stop committing these atrocities.
And if you truly want peace, and to live side by side with the Palestinians then do it stop picking fights, because we know what happens. The cycle of
violence is almost exactly the same every time. Settlers come in, steal land and homes, and it gets very ugly. And then Hamas inserts itself
separately, and responds. So if I were the Israeli government, how about stopping the cycle?
ANDERSON: Voices within the Democratic Party, yours and others and are suggesting that the U.S. has a powerful lever, in the amount of foreign aid
that is given to Israel on an annual basis. U.S. provides 4 billion in aid the country also benefits from some 8 billion in loan guarantees most of
this money does go to military assistance.
And many Democrats have called for more accountability. I just want our viewers to understand how the U.S. government and explains what it is
doing. It says that U.S. assistance helps ensure that Israel maintains the QME that's the Qualitative Military Edge over potential regional threats.
And it also states U.S. assistance is aimed at ensuring that Israel is sufficiently secure to take the historic steps necessary to reach a peace
agreement with the Palestinians and for comprehensive regional peace.
It would be hard to argue with any Israeli official at present, that it feels sufficiently secure to take these steps. But just how important is
that U.S. lever at this point? How much leverage does the U.S. have over Israel to push for more than just a ceasefire at this point?
NEWMAN: Well, first of all, hard to say. But let's look at - let's break this down. So there is no issue with the U.S. giving any country that needs
the aid for their people to either protect themselves or make sure that they're protected in the event of war. Every country has the right to
defend itself.
What we're saying for specifically in the letters that I had signed on to and lead on, is that let's not give Israel money that is - money designed
and dedicated to hurting folks in Gaza. That is the difference is that yes, they're giving money to Gaza to aid thank you. And for those in Israel that
need it. Thank you great.
Do not give the Israeli government money that is earmarked to hurt folks in Palestine. It's really simple and don't conflate the two, because every
country needs help. But don't give them an aid that is designed to hurt others. This is very simple.
ANDERSON: The district that you represent has a lot of Palestinian Americans. I just wonder I'm sure you've been talking to your constituents.
They will have been very concerned; I'm sure about the uptick in violence, once again, not just between Israelis and Hamas in Gaza and the depth and
damage that has been caused, but also the violence between Israeli Jews and Israeli Palestinians as well.
Do your constituents genuinely believe that the cause of Palestinians has more momentum at present?
NEWMAN: I think they do. Because I think that around the world, people understand the complexity of this situation. It is not simple. It is not
that Israel is constantly defending itself. Yes, Israel has the right to defend herself. Of course she does. Not dropping bombs. That is wrong. All
violence is wrong.
And that's what I think the world is finally seeing is that Israel picks the fight Hamas it's inserts itself and then we create a conflict. And now
we are sitting where we have over 200 people killed 1700 wounded, many of them are children.
[11:40:00]
NEWMAN: And this must end and I think the world is seeing it for what it is, is that it's much more complex than then saying, hey, Israel has a
right to defend itself. Every country does. But what they don't have a right to do is to commit violations of international law and humanitarian
rights issues.
So that's the difference this time. And that momentum is clear is that it isn't about being anti Israel or anti Palestine. It is about stopping
humanitarian rights being violated all the time. It's as simple as that.
ANDERSON: Well, it's no secret that the Biden Administration didn't consider the Israeli Palestinian issue, front and center on its foreign
file. It certainly has had to pivot towards that Antony Blinken is in region and we will learn more about what happens next.
The immediate ceasefire, of course, must not be the end here. It is no solution. There are enormous issues that must be sorted out. And we thank
you very much indeed for joining us today. Thank you.
Up next, reporters without border say India's government has been tightening its grip on the country's media. Asked journalists in Delhi if
that is changing, because of India's COVID catastrophe.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: COVID had stricken India battling the world's worst outbreak of the virus. Finally, seeing some hopeful news confirmed new cases appear to
be slowing. Indian health officials reporting fewer than 200,000 daily infections for the first time in more than a month that's not to say
India's government may not be reporting the full picture and that the media have been going easy on the government that being the domestic media.
Well in fact, my next guest says "Mainstream media, particularly broadcast media really gloss over the Modi government's failures even while appearing
neutral". That's the view of Abhinandhan Sekhri, CEO of Newslaundry an award winning independent news website that focuses on media and journalism
and he is with me now from New Delhi.
It is good to have you. As we've laid out one of India's leading newspaper has released a report which found over 2000 bodies were buried by officials
along a 600 mile stretch of the Ganges in an apparent attempt to downplay Coronavirus casualties, and many will say this story is emblematic of a
broader push for Modi's government to minimize the scale of this Coronavirus crisis in your country.
[11:45:00]
ANDERSON: Just explain, if you will where you believe the mainstream media is at and why?
ABHINANDHAN SEKHRI, CEO, NEWSLAUNDRY: So, you know, when we talk about the Indian media, one must actually make this one distinction. When you get
guests like me and others, we predominantly talk about the English and Hindi media.
Whereas in India, you know, there are several languages across the country where the local language viewership in newspapers and the broadcasts
viewership, maybe a lot more like there is Malayalam, there is Tamil. So, we restrict our conversation to English and Hindi media and that is also
because English and Hindi media have an outsized influence on policy and the narrative.
So, that should be you know, put out there first because, you know, no one can tell you what Guajarati media, Bengali media and Tamil media is doing?
But because English and Hindi media dominate the narrative, and they pretty much appear to dominate policymaking influence.
It is clear that large parts of legacy media which is broadcast and print, really pull their punches when it comes to the Modi government and
broadcast especially so, because broadcast is in its, you know, in the style in just the way the format is, is all anger and bluster and asking
questions, but often to the opposition, not to Mr. Modi and his government, whereas, you know, he is in charge.
So, night after night, you will see panels on primetime sitting and bashing, you know, some journalists for asking uncomfortable questions, you
know, opposition leader for saying something silly for someone for tweeting something, but the main question of where are the vaccines? Why have orders
not been placed? Why has the Indian government left it to stage to negotiate on their own?
Such questions are kind of glossed over. Wherein just today, the incident, you spoke about all those bodies found 2000 of them along the banks. Today,
you know, India's very well known Journalist Barkha. She has gone and shot, the municipality and the local authorities have got their workers to start
taking the shots of those bodies. So they can't be identified from a distance.
I mean, there's no indignity, there's no dignity in life. And there's no dignity in death, all so that you don't get that picture of thousands of
bodies lined up with cloths on tops. If you just take the cloth out and this and then you can't tell their bodies.
So this is the kind of damage control is being done. Don't control the problem. Try to minimize the visual damage. And I think why the media does
this is because it is heavily dependent on government advertising as well. I mean, I can go into that. But I'll break if you have a specific question.
ANDERSON: Yes. Well, let's talk about that. I mean, you say you understand why not understand you can explain why it is that you believe that in a -
the world's biggest democracy, its media is not holding the government to account what's your view?
SEKHRI: So there are two reasons for this, mainly because there are several reasons of course, it's ideological among many, like what's true for one
media house may not be true for another. But as a generalization for large parts, legacy media while there are you know, individual reporters are
doing fantastic jobs in specific channels and specific newspapers, especially in language, you know, media, which is you know, Tamil,
Malayalam, Bengali, Gujarati.
But in the English and Hindi space, but even there, let me just give you a figure which you may find shocking. The government advertising and I'm
talking with this central government, there are state governments as well. And most of the states have BJP governments.
The central government spends ad revenue, and I'm talking about this is according to the data publisher, the statistical research department for
March 19th, 2021, right? In 2019-20, the central government spent 7120 million rupees in advertising. So that is 19.5 million rupees a day.
And that is the scale and especially when COVID hit and for the private sector revenue came to standstill. I mean, automobiles weren't being sold
like for the first month in 2020, when the lockdown hit. Consumer consumption came down to knot, the only advertiser was the Government of
India and maybe some state governments.
So when you have such an outsized influence in your bottom line by government advertising, and every government department, you know, the
Department of Telecommunications, Department of Environment, the Ministry of Home Affairs, different ministries, they all have budgets.
[11:50:00]
SEKHRI: Now if all of them are going to bombard news media with ads at a time when the private sector has none, then the dependency is all the more.
And other than that, in India, very large corporate houses have holdings in media. So I'm talking about they have interested in mining, telecom,
petroleum petrochemicals.
Now, when you're talking about turnovers that are in thousands of crores we're talking about billions. Why would that industrialist run a channel
that is, you know, a few million? It's like, if you have a mall? I mean, why would you run a little cart next to the mall?
It's because that cart gives you an outsize influence and lobbying so it's for those reasons. And because the Indian government policy dictates
heavily how your industry does especially and heavily controlled industry like telecom, mining, oil and natural gas, et cetera.
ANDERSON: Well, you made some, some interesting allegations. This is the view of Abhinandhan Sekhri. It's good to have you on and we will continue
to have this discussion.
With - and we will invite onto the show those who you have been suggesting need to be held to account because I think it's important that everybody
hears the views of a kind of wider audience here. But sir for the time being thank you very much indeed, for joining us. We're taking a very short
break back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, we are marking one year since George Floyd was killed under the knee of a white Minneapolis Police Officer dying saying I can't
breathe. That officer was found guilty of murder last month. Video footage of Floyd's death sparked global protests against racism and police
brutality a movement that ignited the call for change in how police treat minorities.
Well, today, cities across America will hold marches, memorials and concerts to remember George Floyd's life. But the fight for fundamental
change to policing in America continues since Floyd's death, police chokeholds have been banned in Minneapolis. But is that enough? Well, our
Omar Jimenez spoke to one group fishing for more police reforms.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OMAR JIMENEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): They were unforgettable images born from an unforgettable video.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We put that before us at this time.
JIMENEZ (voice over): Now a year later, activists meet in the basement of this Minneapolis Church with a singular mission.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chief Arradondo's vision reformed.
JIMENEZ (voice over): The Unity Community Mediation Team, as they're known, has been working directly with the Minneapolis Police Department in hopes
of turning it into a better one.
JIMENEZ (on camera): What is different here in Minneapolis and what is different in the fight that you all are trying to wage?
PASTOR IAN D. BETHEL, UNITY COMMUNITY MEDIATION TEAM: The difference now is that there's more awareness of the atrocities that the Minneapolis Police
Department has been getting away with for decades. That's the difference.
JIMENEZ (voice over): Back in 2003, this group negotiated a federally mediated Memorandum of Agreement detailing concern over Use of Force,
Police Community Relations and more a document then Sergeant Medaria Arradondo helped negotiate.
AJ FLOWERS JR., CO-CHAIR, YOUNG PEOPLE'S TASK FORCE: The future is what matters and we all got children and we all got younger people out here and
it's even seven eight year olds who's afraid when they see police.
[11:55:00]
JIMENEZ (voice over): But strategies over how to proceed with police have been divided at times. City Council President Lisa Bender and others have
led attempts to dismantle the Police Department in favor of a wider encompassing Community Safety Department.
LISA BENDER, MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT: We have invested like so many cities for years for decades in policing as basically the only way
we're investing in keeping people safe. So people think of policing as synonymous with safety, but it isn't working.
JIMENEZ (voice over): The Mayor of Minneapolis sees it differently.
MAYOR JACOB FREY, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA: These programs need to operate as supplemental to the work that is underway already in our police department.
You need law enforcement and you need the community driven approach working simultaneously to see safety.
JIMENEZ (voice over): Frey pointed to changes they've made in the past year, bans on chokeholds requiring intervention on unreasonable uses of
force by officers and more. But overall, it's been a process that's been ongoing for decades. Meanwhile, names, hash tags, Tamara Clark, Breonna
Taylor, Philando Castillo, black faces begin to run together.
JOHN THOMPSON, MINNESOTA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES: Cameras up to me like Mr. Thompson, Mr. Thompson? They just kill someone in Brooklyn Center.
JIMENEZ (voice over): State Representative John Thompson's friend Philando Castillo was shot and killed by a Minnesota Police Officer in 2016. That
officer was never convicted on any charges.
THOMPSON: We could have saved George Floyd's life. In 2016 when Philando was murdered, we could have saved Daunte Wright's life when George Floyd
was murdered. Have we just like looked at police accountability pieces seriously and said we're going to put it into this right now.
JIMENEZ (voice over): The stakes after decades of attempts are as high as human life.
BETHEL: We have to be serious about being at the table and making some concrete decisions about reform that will last generationally.
JIMENEZ (voice over): A year after one video shook the world. The effort to bring about long term change continues, so future generations won't have to
watch new ones. Omar Jimenez, CNN, Minneapolis.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: We're going to leave you tonight with a thought from Martin Luther King Jr. that I briefly referenced earlier. It goes and I quote
injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny.
Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly we are all connected. Stay well.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
