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For First Time in Weeks, Residents in D.C. Area Going About Daily Activities Without Fear

Aired October 25, 2002 - 11:14   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: For the first time in more than three weeks, residents in the D.C. area now going out and going about their daily activities without wondering if their lives are in danger. The sense of relief has replaced a crowd of anxiety over that area.
Our Michael Okwu is there. He joins us now live from a diner in Silver Spring, Maryland.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, this is in fact the Tastee Diner in Silver Spring, Maryland, which is just in the heart of Montgomery County, and I can tell you that I was certainly feeling relief after hearing that possibly authorities have their man. And in fact, I'm here with a group of co-workers who come here every Friday, I'm told, have a little coffee and talk about work and what's going on. And you guys were all telling me that you've been discussing this issue, haven't you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

OKWU: And specifically you, Harvey, what was your feeling after authorities came forward and said they think they have their guys. Sense of relief?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A sense of relief, yes, definitely.

HARRIS: Why is that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the obvious reasons. It was a scary feeling. You know, something like this really so often could happen. And it's a great relief. I feel bad for the families, though.

OKWU: Just walking here today, any different than it has been in the past two weeks?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, yes, yes, yes. But I wasn't so much worried. I was concerned about what happened. But more focus on him being caught. I have a couple of issues about it. But as far as being really scared, and looking over my shoulder every five minutes, I was not. But no thoughts like, I didn't take any quick looks up to any buildings or anything like that.

OKWU: Understood.

Let me get to you right away. You were a former state trooper.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir. OKWU: In Maryland.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

OKWU: What are your feelings about this? A sense of relief or not?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If these are the gentlemen that actually did it, I'm happy. If someone else is out there doing it again, I'm still kind of concerned. Because my personal opinion is I do believe they're not working alone. I think this is just one part. Something is going to happen later on. But again, if just them, then I'm happy. Let god deal with them.

OKWU: Is that the feeling you all have? I get the sense that people have of this collective relief, but at the same time, in the back of your minds, you're thinking, maybe there's somebody else out there. How about you, sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd agree, no question about that. I really hope that these are the two guys, but it's just -- the way they were able to execute it, it seems like they had help from somebody else.

OKWU: How has your life changed from day to day? We've been talking about lives changing in the suburban D.C. area for the past two and a half weeks. First, it changed because people were so concerned just walking to their cars in a parking lot. And now there's this collective sense of relief. Did it change for you at all?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, not really. No, basically if you're changing your life for everything that happens, you're not going to do very much. So, you know, life was normal in that respect. You know, you go about and do your business and stay that way.

OKWU: Let me get down here. I want to get Chaquita (ph) involved. Make sure we've got the mike over here. What about you? You guys have, they're photographed, they're all over national television for a couple days now. A sense of relief from you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Definitely. Definitely have a great sense of relief. My husband wouldn't allow me to go to the gas station. He would go to the gas station, make sure I had gas in my car. Just taking away from a normal everyday duties, didn't feel good at all. I hope the families are doing the best that they can to get over this whole ordeal. But I am very, very relieved that at least someone or somebody connected has been captured, and hopefully they will be dealt with accordingly.

OKWU: You guys are an interesting cross-section of the area. Obviously you look like you have different ethnicities, you're from all over the place. We've got Montgomery County, Prince George's County, people from Baltimore, Maryland. All of you have kids that you sent to school?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

OKWU: Did you send them to school without any concern?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're trying to be as normal as possible. That's what we were doing.

OKWU: Got it. Thank you so much for talking with us.

Again, Leon, that's the sense here, people have this real sense of relief. And yet at the same time in the back of people's minds, having been on edge for such a long time, they wonder, do we have all the guys -- Leon.

HARRIS: Yes, well, look, you quizzed them, let me quiz you. You've been there, in that area for awhile covering this story. How about you? You feel relieved?

OKWU: You know, I don't mind admitting that for the last 2 1/2 weeks I have been very concerned. Because obviously, the sniper or snipers clearly wanted to speak boldly. And it felt like each time they did something, each time they felt that authorities thought they had them covered they would do something to ratchet up their score. And I, you know, I have to admit that in the back of my mind I thought maybe the media was next. And I know that among the media, even though we didn't talk about it much on the air, it was something that we talked about behind closed doors. So you couldn't -- you couldn't be sitting somewhere in the public outdoors without having it be in the back of your mind.

HARRIS: Well, all's well that ends well. All right. Take care, buddy. We'll see you later on. Michael Okwu in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Schools in the D.C. area are trying to get back to normal after the disruption of the sniper attacks. During this ordeal many schools either canceled classes or they went into lockdown, keeping all the kids inside. Well today, maybe they can finally go outside and have recess outdoors and get them out of the teacher's hair.

Joining us by phone is one of the teachers, Lisa Joiner Greene. She's an elementary school teacher in Prince George's County.

How are you doing?

LISA JOYNER GREENE, 6TH GRADE TEACHER: Hi, how are you?

HARRIS: How are you today?

GREENE: Much better. Much better.

HARRIS: What's the atmosphere there like now?

GREENE: It's much happier, much more relaxed. The kids are excited about recess starting again. The nervousness is not there. The students are talking and expressing how well they slept last night. Yesterday they were still a little nervous, still a little anxious about whether this was the correct person or persons. But today I see much more students at ease.

HARRIS: You know what, what I wonder is, as it was going along, three weeks into this whole thing, were the kids getting more and more tense, or was it did they hit a level and just stay there? Did it seem like they were reaching out to people like you more for any kind of, you know, consolation or support or anything?

GREENE: I experienced a little of both. I mainly work with upper class and sixth grade. And they were, you know, quite nervous in the beginning, but I wouldn't say that it went away. As time kept going, they increased their concern. They weren't anxious about going outside. They never asked when was recess going to return.

I mainly noticed in the primary ages that there was a lot of nervousness, but still they didn't really understand why we were still inside. They want their recess back. I think just the announcement of code blue was quite frightening to some.

HARRIS: So what happened today? When they showed up, and it was all over with today, did they come in here and act like a bunch of hellions or what?

GREENE: No, they really didn't. I have to say, they are excited like I said, but I think they're still a little unsure. They're still concerned, and hoping that everything can go back to normal. They know that the code blue has been released. But they are still OK with just taking it one more day of being inside, just to make sure.

HARRIS: OK. I was going to say, so recess time, Monday about this time, they'll just be going out?

GREENE: They'll be right outside. PE will be back outside. Things -- they have music classes that are held outside in temporary buildings. They'll be going back out, and I think they'll really be ready come Monday.

HARRIS: Let me ask you this, because I know you're a parent, as well. You've got three kids of your own that are going to school there as well.

GREENE: Right, correct.

HARRIS: How was that for you to walk that tightrope there between trying to be a rock there for kids at school, and do the same thing for kids at home, and then deciding whether or not to even send your own kids out to school?

GREENE: Very hard. And I have to admit there was a day where I did not send mine to school. I would have, you know, if they were totally comfortable with it. At the same time, I knew that someone would be home with them helping them, and then I felt that some of my students really needed me, who had to come to school, who didn't have anyone at home.

HARRIS: Are your kids different today?

GREENE: Yes. My -- I have to say my youngest one is quite excited. Last night I saw him just drop to his knees, which I did not expect. And he just smiled and laughed. And I didn't realize that I hadn't seen that type of smile in so long. My oldest child who is middle school, she is OK. She still has a little skepticism going on. But she's excited that they have someone who might be connected for it. She's just praying that this is actually the correct people.

But overall there is a sense of relief. We had very powerful questions, I did, being asked to me from my students. Just wondering if, you know, when they reach adulthood, will they be OK? Because right now they don't see themselves ever being OK after this, you know, sniper attacks going on, and they put it together with September 11th and they just never, you know, can't even imagine that they'll be OK as an adult. And I said you know, in time you'll be OK. I never thought I'd be OK, but we're here and you're going to be OK, too.

HARRIS: You know what, your kids and all those kids in that area, because of September 11th, and this last three weeks, they've had a part of their childhood stolen away from them like no other kid in the country has. That's why we feel so much for them. Thanks for painting an image in our heads. You gave us a great picture there talking about your kids.

GREENE: Thank you. And the principal and everyone has been real helpful toward the parents, and allowing the parents to walk their children all the way in. A lot of times, we have such a backup in the parking lot, they allow the kids to be dropped off right in front of the door and so forth, which is really helpful.

HARRIS: There you go. Way to go. Lisa Joyner Greene, we'll let you get back to work. Thanks for the time. Good luck. Have a good one.

GREENE: Thank you. Bye-bye.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





About Daily Activities Without Fear>


Aired October 25, 2002 - 11:14   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: For the first time in more than three weeks, residents in the D.C. area now going out and going about their daily activities without wondering if their lives are in danger. The sense of relief has replaced a crowd of anxiety over that area.
Our Michael Okwu is there. He joins us now live from a diner in Silver Spring, Maryland.

MICHAEL OKWU, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, this is in fact the Tastee Diner in Silver Spring, Maryland, which is just in the heart of Montgomery County, and I can tell you that I was certainly feeling relief after hearing that possibly authorities have their man. And in fact, I'm here with a group of co-workers who come here every Friday, I'm told, have a little coffee and talk about work and what's going on. And you guys were all telling me that you've been discussing this issue, haven't you?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

OKWU: And specifically you, Harvey, what was your feeling after authorities came forward and said they think they have their guys. Sense of relief?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: A sense of relief, yes, definitely.

HARRIS: Why is that?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For the obvious reasons. It was a scary feeling. You know, something like this really so often could happen. And it's a great relief. I feel bad for the families, though.

OKWU: Just walking here today, any different than it has been in the past two weeks?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, yes, yes, yes. But I wasn't so much worried. I was concerned about what happened. But more focus on him being caught. I have a couple of issues about it. But as far as being really scared, and looking over my shoulder every five minutes, I was not. But no thoughts like, I didn't take any quick looks up to any buildings or anything like that.

OKWU: Understood.

Let me get to you right away. You were a former state trooper.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, sir. OKWU: In Maryland.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

OKWU: What are your feelings about this? A sense of relief or not?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If these are the gentlemen that actually did it, I'm happy. If someone else is out there doing it again, I'm still kind of concerned. Because my personal opinion is I do believe they're not working alone. I think this is just one part. Something is going to happen later on. But again, if just them, then I'm happy. Let god deal with them.

OKWU: Is that the feeling you all have? I get the sense that people have of this collective relief, but at the same time, in the back of your minds, you're thinking, maybe there's somebody else out there. How about you, sir?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'd agree, no question about that. I really hope that these are the two guys, but it's just -- the way they were able to execute it, it seems like they had help from somebody else.

OKWU: How has your life changed from day to day? We've been talking about lives changing in the suburban D.C. area for the past two and a half weeks. First, it changed because people were so concerned just walking to their cars in a parking lot. And now there's this collective sense of relief. Did it change for you at all?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, not really. No, basically if you're changing your life for everything that happens, you're not going to do very much. So, you know, life was normal in that respect. You know, you go about and do your business and stay that way.

OKWU: Let me get down here. I want to get Chaquita (ph) involved. Make sure we've got the mike over here. What about you? You guys have, they're photographed, they're all over national television for a couple days now. A sense of relief from you?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Definitely. Definitely have a great sense of relief. My husband wouldn't allow me to go to the gas station. He would go to the gas station, make sure I had gas in my car. Just taking away from a normal everyday duties, didn't feel good at all. I hope the families are doing the best that they can to get over this whole ordeal. But I am very, very relieved that at least someone or somebody connected has been captured, and hopefully they will be dealt with accordingly.

OKWU: You guys are an interesting cross-section of the area. Obviously you look like you have different ethnicities, you're from all over the place. We've got Montgomery County, Prince George's County, people from Baltimore, Maryland. All of you have kids that you sent to school?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I do. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

OKWU: Did you send them to school without any concern?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're trying to be as normal as possible. That's what we were doing.

OKWU: Got it. Thank you so much for talking with us.

Again, Leon, that's the sense here, people have this real sense of relief. And yet at the same time in the back of people's minds, having been on edge for such a long time, they wonder, do we have all the guys -- Leon.

HARRIS: Yes, well, look, you quizzed them, let me quiz you. You've been there, in that area for awhile covering this story. How about you? You feel relieved?

OKWU: You know, I don't mind admitting that for the last 2 1/2 weeks I have been very concerned. Because obviously, the sniper or snipers clearly wanted to speak boldly. And it felt like each time they did something, each time they felt that authorities thought they had them covered they would do something to ratchet up their score. And I, you know, I have to admit that in the back of my mind I thought maybe the media was next. And I know that among the media, even though we didn't talk about it much on the air, it was something that we talked about behind closed doors. So you couldn't -- you couldn't be sitting somewhere in the public outdoors without having it be in the back of your mind.

HARRIS: Well, all's well that ends well. All right. Take care, buddy. We'll see you later on. Michael Okwu in Silver Spring, Maryland.

Schools in the D.C. area are trying to get back to normal after the disruption of the sniper attacks. During this ordeal many schools either canceled classes or they went into lockdown, keeping all the kids inside. Well today, maybe they can finally go outside and have recess outdoors and get them out of the teacher's hair.

Joining us by phone is one of the teachers, Lisa Joiner Greene. She's an elementary school teacher in Prince George's County.

How are you doing?

LISA JOYNER GREENE, 6TH GRADE TEACHER: Hi, how are you?

HARRIS: How are you today?

GREENE: Much better. Much better.

HARRIS: What's the atmosphere there like now?

GREENE: It's much happier, much more relaxed. The kids are excited about recess starting again. The nervousness is not there. The students are talking and expressing how well they slept last night. Yesterday they were still a little nervous, still a little anxious about whether this was the correct person or persons. But today I see much more students at ease.

HARRIS: You know what, what I wonder is, as it was going along, three weeks into this whole thing, were the kids getting more and more tense, or was it did they hit a level and just stay there? Did it seem like they were reaching out to people like you more for any kind of, you know, consolation or support or anything?

GREENE: I experienced a little of both. I mainly work with upper class and sixth grade. And they were, you know, quite nervous in the beginning, but I wouldn't say that it went away. As time kept going, they increased their concern. They weren't anxious about going outside. They never asked when was recess going to return.

I mainly noticed in the primary ages that there was a lot of nervousness, but still they didn't really understand why we were still inside. They want their recess back. I think just the announcement of code blue was quite frightening to some.

HARRIS: So what happened today? When they showed up, and it was all over with today, did they come in here and act like a bunch of hellions or what?

GREENE: No, they really didn't. I have to say, they are excited like I said, but I think they're still a little unsure. They're still concerned, and hoping that everything can go back to normal. They know that the code blue has been released. But they are still OK with just taking it one more day of being inside, just to make sure.

HARRIS: OK. I was going to say, so recess time, Monday about this time, they'll just be going out?

GREENE: They'll be right outside. PE will be back outside. Things -- they have music classes that are held outside in temporary buildings. They'll be going back out, and I think they'll really be ready come Monday.

HARRIS: Let me ask you this, because I know you're a parent, as well. You've got three kids of your own that are going to school there as well.

GREENE: Right, correct.

HARRIS: How was that for you to walk that tightrope there between trying to be a rock there for kids at school, and do the same thing for kids at home, and then deciding whether or not to even send your own kids out to school?

GREENE: Very hard. And I have to admit there was a day where I did not send mine to school. I would have, you know, if they were totally comfortable with it. At the same time, I knew that someone would be home with them helping them, and then I felt that some of my students really needed me, who had to come to school, who didn't have anyone at home.

HARRIS: Are your kids different today?

GREENE: Yes. My -- I have to say my youngest one is quite excited. Last night I saw him just drop to his knees, which I did not expect. And he just smiled and laughed. And I didn't realize that I hadn't seen that type of smile in so long. My oldest child who is middle school, she is OK. She still has a little skepticism going on. But she's excited that they have someone who might be connected for it. She's just praying that this is actually the correct people.

But overall there is a sense of relief. We had very powerful questions, I did, being asked to me from my students. Just wondering if, you know, when they reach adulthood, will they be OK? Because right now they don't see themselves ever being OK after this, you know, sniper attacks going on, and they put it together with September 11th and they just never, you know, can't even imagine that they'll be OK as an adult. And I said you know, in time you'll be OK. I never thought I'd be OK, but we're here and you're going to be OK, too.

HARRIS: You know what, your kids and all those kids in that area, because of September 11th, and this last three weeks, they've had a part of their childhood stolen away from them like no other kid in the country has. That's why we feel so much for them. Thanks for painting an image in our heads. You gave us a great picture there talking about your kids.

GREENE: Thank you. And the principal and everyone has been real helpful toward the parents, and allowing the parents to walk their children all the way in. A lot of times, we have such a backup in the parking lot, they allow the kids to be dropped off right in front of the door and so forth, which is really helpful.

HARRIS: There you go. Way to go. Lisa Joyner Greene, we'll let you get back to work. Thanks for the time. Good luck. Have a good one.

GREENE: Thank you. Bye-bye.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





About Daily Activities Without Fear>