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CNN Live Today
Police Preparing for More Riots in Michigan
Aired June 18, 2003 - 10:00 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, ANCHOR: And up first this hour here on CNN, a Michigan town erupts in violence after a deadly police chase. A state of emergency is now in effect for Benton Harbor this morning, after two nights of angry riots.
People set the homes and buildings are ablaze and attacked other residents after an anti-police protest spiraled out of control.
Chris Tye from CNN's affiliate WZZM joins us now with the latest.
Chris, good morning. What's the word there?
CHRIS TYE, WZZM CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.
The latest here is, police are taking a bit of a rest. There are over 120 troopers from around the state of Michigan that have been summoned here to Benton Harbor, Michigan, because of the status of things here in the state's southwest corner. They say they have quintupled the number of troops in this city, many of them on the streets right now. But many police are resting after 24 hours of continuing making sure this area is safe.
Yesterday, Benton Harbor city leaders had a committee meeting and they thought progress was made, but officials here tell us judging from last night, the video you're seeing right now is evidence progress was not made. And judging from the tone set by police, they're preparing for a night three tonight. And this time, they have more police here on duty and more reason to respond with heavier force.
Now, we just got back from this neighborhood, where this morning the buildings continue to smolder. Some still have flames about the property. Also the cleanup has begun.
Residents we spoke with, when asked to try to pinpoint what really may have been the straw that broke this camel's back, they say it is not what you might think, many people pointing to race relations problems. One city commissioner here in Benton Harbor tells me she feels it's a problem of the youth not having enough to do, and when they don't have enough to do, this is sometimes what may occur.
So, Leon, to be clear, there is still a tone in this town that there is a concern about tonight and safety tonight, police being summoned in from all corners of Michigan. Smoke still lingering in the air because of that smoldering fire of house-to-house. Last night three houses were set ablaze. To have them occupied. One unoccupied. That's a total of four because on Monday, one other house was set on fire.
But to be clear, it is a definite sense in this town that they're preparing for a night three.
HARRIS: Very interesting. Chris, let me ask you this, why does it seem that the police there are so surprised by the level of anger there in the community?
From what we've been hearing in different comments from both police and the citizens there over the past few hours, it seems the citizens have known this was going to happen for a long time. The police seem to be surprised.
TYE: Well, as you mentioned, there was that situation on Sunday night when that motorcyclist was followed by police. His vehicle then hit a tree and crashed. He later died at the hospital. Whether or not that was the, as we said, straw that broke the camel's back, sort of unclear.
But what does appear to be clear is it was a signal sent to the community and it was a signal that apparently was powerful enough to trigger this kind of response.
But again, what the overall theme here is, it's probably going to take a long time to get to the bottom of.
HARRIS: Thanks, Chris. And we hope that we can talk to you tomorrow about something a bit more positive there. Chris Tye of our affiliate WZZM. Take care.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Aired June 18, 2003 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, ANCHOR: And up first this hour here on CNN, a Michigan town erupts in violence after a deadly police chase. A state of emergency is now in effect for Benton Harbor this morning, after two nights of angry riots.
People set the homes and buildings are ablaze and attacked other residents after an anti-police protest spiraled out of control.
Chris Tye from CNN's affiliate WZZM joins us now with the latest.
Chris, good morning. What's the word there?
CHRIS TYE, WZZM CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Leon.
The latest here is, police are taking a bit of a rest. There are over 120 troopers from around the state of Michigan that have been summoned here to Benton Harbor, Michigan, because of the status of things here in the state's southwest corner. They say they have quintupled the number of troops in this city, many of them on the streets right now. But many police are resting after 24 hours of continuing making sure this area is safe.
Yesterday, Benton Harbor city leaders had a committee meeting and they thought progress was made, but officials here tell us judging from last night, the video you're seeing right now is evidence progress was not made. And judging from the tone set by police, they're preparing for a night three tonight. And this time, they have more police here on duty and more reason to respond with heavier force.
Now, we just got back from this neighborhood, where this morning the buildings continue to smolder. Some still have flames about the property. Also the cleanup has begun.
Residents we spoke with, when asked to try to pinpoint what really may have been the straw that broke this camel's back, they say it is not what you might think, many people pointing to race relations problems. One city commissioner here in Benton Harbor tells me she feels it's a problem of the youth not having enough to do, and when they don't have enough to do, this is sometimes what may occur.
So, Leon, to be clear, there is still a tone in this town that there is a concern about tonight and safety tonight, police being summoned in from all corners of Michigan. Smoke still lingering in the air because of that smoldering fire of house-to-house. Last night three houses were set ablaze. To have them occupied. One unoccupied. That's a total of four because on Monday, one other house was set on fire.
But to be clear, it is a definite sense in this town that they're preparing for a night three.
HARRIS: Very interesting. Chris, let me ask you this, why does it seem that the police there are so surprised by the level of anger there in the community?
From what we've been hearing in different comments from both police and the citizens there over the past few hours, it seems the citizens have known this was going to happen for a long time. The police seem to be surprised.
TYE: Well, as you mentioned, there was that situation on Sunday night when that motorcyclist was followed by police. His vehicle then hit a tree and crashed. He later died at the hospital. Whether or not that was the, as we said, straw that broke the camel's back, sort of unclear.
But what does appear to be clear is it was a signal sent to the community and it was a signal that apparently was powerful enough to trigger this kind of response.
But again, what the overall theme here is, it's probably going to take a long time to get to the bottom of.
HARRIS: Thanks, Chris. And we hope that we can talk to you tomorrow about something a bit more positive there. Chris Tye of our affiliate WZZM. Take care.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
