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American Morning

Death in Police Custody

Aired December 03, 2003 - 09:31   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.


SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: New videotape newly released of the man who died while in the custody of Cincinnati police now. The surveillance tape shows Nathaniel Jones dancing in a restaurant just before the police were called. He died after he was subdued by officers. Two and a half years ago riots broke out in Cincinnati after an unarmed African-American man was shot dead by police.
Joining us this morning Amanda Mayes. She is the co-chairwoman of the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati.

Good morning, Amanda. Nice to see you. Thanks for joining us.

AMANDA MAYES, CO-CHAIRWOMAN, COALITION FOR A JUST CINCINNATI: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: You're holding a town hall meeting this evening. What are you hoping to accomplish?

MAYES: What we want to do is recall the mayor. We have asked Charlie Lukin to demand for the resignation of Police Chief Thomas Striker. He has refused to do that. Somebody's got to go. We need accountability in Cincinnati. And what we're going to do is get petitions signed to recall the mayor.

O'BRIEN: There are some people who would say, well, things have changed over time, that, in fact police to some degree have changed their protocol. Maybe not as much as it should be, but they've made some changes. And if you look at this videotape of Nathaniel Jones, you see him clearly, at one point, he clocks a police officer, he assaults a police officer. There are some that say maybe part of this was justified. What do you think police should have done in this circumstance?

MAYES: Police should have restrained the man. They should not have killed the man. There were six of them there. Why does it take six officers to apprehend a suspect, and the end result is death, for what was originally a disorderly conduct charge?

O'BRIEN: We were talking to Johnnie Cochran this morning, the attorney, and he was saying that there are some elements to this story about the circumstances surrounding Nathaniel Jones that make him not a really good test case. The potential cocaine, PCP in his system, the fact that he was acting erratically. Do you think by using Nathaniel Jones, this particular case, to call for the ouster of the mayor, you're going to be successful? Because there are some who would say maybe the police are justified, this isn't the case to go forward with. MAYES: Let me tell you something, the people in the African- American community are upset. We want change, and the mayor's got to go. The people who are happy with the status quo are few, and what we want is accountability. Not enough has changed. Too many people are dying, and the oppressed will not remain oppressed forever.

O'BRIEN: Two and a half years ago an unarmed African-American man was shot dead by police and a riot ensued. Are you concerned that the same thing could happen following, as we wait for the coroner's official report or something like that in the wake of this case?

MAYES: Most definitely. You take for instance the Rodney King case, the people in Los Angeles didn't riot after Rodney was beat. They rioted after justice was not served. And the same thing could happen here in Cincinnati. If we don't see justice, if they keep telling us that what happened to that man was OK and justified, I can't tell you what's going to happen, but I shudder to think of what it might be.

O'BRIEN: You have called for a boycott and, in fact, entertainers Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg, Winton Marsalis have all canceled dates in Cincinnati to uphold that boycott. Do you intend to continue it?

MAYES: Absolutely. Absolutely. The boycott is still going on strong. We don't want anybody coming to Cincinnati who's not from here. We have to impact the city's bottom line, one of the few things that they care about.

O'BRIEN: There are some people who say by impacting the bottom line, one of the few things they care about that you're actually hurting the people who run businesses, some of them African-Americans in Cincinnati who are just trying to run their businesses. Do you think that's a fair criticism?

MAYES: Let me tell you something, African-Americans care more about their ability to have life, their loved ones, their sons and daughters. They care more about their dignity than they do nickels and dimes. We don't have anything but time. We don't have nothing to lose. We'll boycott until we see change.

O'BRIEN: Amanda Mayes from a Coalition for a Just Cincinnati. Thanks for joining us this morning, Mrs. Mayes. We certainly appreciate it.

MAYES: Thank you.

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 December 3, 2003 - 09:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: New videotape newly released of the man who died while in the custody of Cincinnati police now. The surveillance tape shows Nathaniel Jones dancing in a restaurant just before the police were called. He died after he was subdued by officers. Two and a half years ago riots broke out in Cincinnati after an unarmed African-American man was shot dead by police.
Joining us this morning Amanda Mayes. She is the co-chairwoman of the Coalition for a Just Cincinnati.

Good morning, Amanda. Nice to see you. Thanks for joining us.

AMANDA MAYES, CO-CHAIRWOMAN, COALITION FOR A JUST CINCINNATI: Thank you.

O'BRIEN: You're holding a town hall meeting this evening. What are you hoping to accomplish?

MAYES: What we want to do is recall the mayor. We have asked Charlie Lukin to demand for the resignation of Police Chief Thomas Striker. He has refused to do that. Somebody's got to go. We need accountability in Cincinnati. And what we're going to do is get petitions signed to recall the mayor.

O'BRIEN: There are some people who would say, well, things have changed over time, that, in fact police to some degree have changed their protocol. Maybe not as much as it should be, but they've made some changes. And if you look at this videotape of Nathaniel Jones, you see him clearly, at one point, he clocks a police officer, he assaults a police officer. There are some that say maybe part of this was justified. What do you think police should have done in this circumstance?

MAYES: Police should have restrained the man. They should not have killed the man. There were six of them there. Why does it take six officers to apprehend a suspect, and the end result is death, for what was originally a disorderly conduct charge?

O'BRIEN: We were talking to Johnnie Cochran this morning, the attorney, and he was saying that there are some elements to this story about the circumstances surrounding Nathaniel Jones that make him not a really good test case. The potential cocaine, PCP in his system, the fact that he was acting erratically. Do you think by using Nathaniel Jones, this particular case, to call for the ouster of the mayor, you're going to be successful? Because there are some who would say maybe the police are justified, this isn't the case to go forward with. MAYES: Let me tell you something, the people in the African- American community are upset. We want change, and the mayor's got to go. The people who are happy with the status quo are few, and what we want is accountability. Not enough has changed. Too many people are dying, and the oppressed will not remain oppressed forever.

O'BRIEN: Two and a half years ago an unarmed African-American man was shot dead by police and a riot ensued. Are you concerned that the same thing could happen following, as we wait for the coroner's official report or something like that in the wake of this case?

MAYES: Most definitely. You take for instance the Rodney King case, the people in Los Angeles didn't riot after Rodney was beat. They rioted after justice was not served. And the same thing could happen here in Cincinnati. If we don't see justice, if they keep telling us that what happened to that man was OK and justified, I can't tell you what's going to happen, but I shudder to think of what it might be.

O'BRIEN: You have called for a boycott and, in fact, entertainers Bill Cosby, Whoopi Goldberg, Winton Marsalis have all canceled dates in Cincinnati to uphold that boycott. Do you intend to continue it?

MAYES: Absolutely. Absolutely. The boycott is still going on strong. We don't want anybody coming to Cincinnati who's not from here. We have to impact the city's bottom line, one of the few things that they care about.

O'BRIEN: There are some people who say by impacting the bottom line, one of the few things they care about that you're actually hurting the people who run businesses, some of them African-Americans in Cincinnati who are just trying to run their businesses. Do you think that's a fair criticism?

MAYES: Let me tell you something, African-Americans care more about their ability to have life, their loved ones, their sons and daughters. They care more about their dignity than they do nickels and dimes. We don't have anything but time. We don't have nothing to lose. We'll boycott until we see change.

O'BRIEN: Amanda Mayes from a Coalition for a Just Cincinnati. Thanks for joining us this morning, Mrs. Mayes. We certainly appreciate it.

MAYES: Thank you.

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