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CNN Live Today
KKK Murder Trial; Detroit Fire; Missing Scout; White House Press Conference
Aired June 21, 2005 - 10:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: A few hours.
Tony, good morning to you.
TONY HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: And good morning to you.
Good morning to you, Miles.
And have a great day.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: You too.
MILES O'BRIEN, CNN ANCHOR: Jacket's on now.
HARRIS: All right. Jacket time.
SOLEDAD O'BRIEN: We can clean him up again.
MILES O'BRIEN: Tony, have good day.
HARRIS: OK. You, too.
And let's get you started this morning on CNN LIVE TODAY with headlines "Now in the News."
And we are following a developing story out of Southern California. Fire crews are scrambling to douse this blaze at a Legend Sports Bar in Long Beach. Judging by the appearance right now, the appearance of white smoke that you can see there, fire crews seem to have gained the upper hand. Once again, this is a fire, if you're familiar with the area of Long Beach, it's at East 2nd Street. And this is at the Legends. There you can see the name right there on the building. The Legends Sports Bar. We'll continue to follow developments in this story.
In other news now, a big brush fire has closed and interstate highway in Arizona. The fire in the Sunset Point area has burned about 1200 acres since breaking out Monday. It's said to be about 40 percent contained. A second Arizona wildfire, the Coldwater fire, has burn more than 15,000 acres.
Three decades after the fall of Saigon, a Vietnamese leader makes his first visit to the White House. Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and President Bush met last hour. They're marking the 10th anniversary of normalized relations between the countries. The prime minister is on a week-long visit to the U.S. meeting business leaders. For the second time in a month, Beirut has seen a leading opponent to Syrian rule killed in a explosion. Today, a car bombing killed the former secretary general of Lebanon's communist party. Earlier this year, Syria was pressured to abandon its longstanding influence over Lebanon after the assassination of an anti-Syrian politician.
An Iraqi government official says the U.S. is trying to delay the questioning of Saddam Hussein. The justice minister says the U.S. is concealing information about the deposed dictator and that there appears to be, "lots of secrets they want to hide." The Bush administration has urged caution before moving ahead, saying Iraq needs to have a solid judicial system in place.
And now cnn.com is offering a whole new way to get the headlines. Just log on to our Web site and click on "watch" to check out the most popular stories. Everything from politics and sports to entertainment. And it's free. Now on cnn.com.
And good morning again, everyone. I'm Tony Harris. Daryn Kagan is off today.
We begin with a violent event 41 years ago and it's linked to a jury meeting happening at this very moment. On this day in 1964, three civil rights worker were ambush by a gang of Ku Klux Klansmen. James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner were shot to death on a country road. Their bodies were found buried 44 days later. This morning, jurors are deciding whether a now 80-year-old man was responsible for those murders. Let's go live to Ed Lavandera outside the courthouse in Philadelphia, Mississippi.
Good morning, Ed.
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Tony.
Well, the jury is back inside the courthouse here in Philadelphia, Mississippi. Deliberations have resumed. They got almost three hours of work yesterday when they came out and the judge asked them how they were moving along. The forewoman of the jury said that they were evenly split six to six. Six not guilty, six guilty. You know attorneys will tell you that it's rare to kind of get a glimpse of what happens inside the jury room as they deliberate and that's exactly what we got yesterday.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LAVANDERA, (voice over): Edgar Ray Killen struggles to stay awake as attorneys argue over his fate. Even his own attorney says he has to nudge Killen to keep him awake at times. But the 80-year-old reputed Klansman woke right up when Mississippi Attorney General Jim Hood lashed out repeatedly calling him a coward.
JAMES HOOD, MISSISSIPPI ATTORNEY GENERAL: That coward want to hide behind this thing and put the pressure on you. He wants one of you to be weak and not do your duty, to find him guilty of this crime. LAVANDERA: Prosecutors are counting on the testimony of five Ku Klux Klan members to prove Killen was the mastermind behind the murders. Killen is accused of rounding up a mob of almost 20 Klansman and instructing them how to carry out the attack against the three civil rights workers.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And only because they wanted to help others, they paid for it with their lives.
LAVANDERA: One witness even described how Killen knew that Michael Schwerner's last words to an angry Klansman were, I understand how you feel, sir. But Killen's attorneys say he's only guilty of knowing about the crime, not carrying it out. And a former mayor of the city testified that Killen was a good man and that the Klan wasn't all that bad.
HARLAN MAJURE, FORMER MAYOR: I know some things about the Ku Klux Klan that a lot of people here don't know.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you know that they are a violent organization?
MAJURE: Not necessarily so. They did a lot of good, too.
LAVANDERA: Defense attorneys attacked decades' old testimony that had to be read from transcripts during the trial because many of the witnesses in this case have already died.
MITCH MORAN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: From what you've heard, members of his jury, the truth still hasn't been told to the citizens in the state of Mississippi. The truth's out there.
LAVANDERA: It will take another day to determine the fate of Edgar Ray Killen. After deliberating three hour, the jury told the judge it was evenly split so far.
JURY FOREMAN: In the last vote that we had, it was six to six.
LAVANDERA: A sign, perhaps, of just how much this case has divided the city for 41 years.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LAVANDERA: Now the last time that Edgar Ray Killen was in a courtroom facing any kind of charges in relation to these murders was in 1967, but that was a federal case brought up on civil rights violations. That case ended in a hung jury, 11-one. The lone holdout juror at the time saying that there was no way she could convict a preacher. We'll see how far things have change here in Philadelphia, Mississippi, as we continue the second day of waiting for this jury to come back.
Tony.
HARRIS: CNN's Ed Lavandera in Philadelphia, Mississippi for us.
Ed, thank you.
In Detroit, the blaze could be seen for miles. The loss extends back decades. A raging fire engulfed the sprawling warehouse and the several businesses that it contained. But it also consumed memories. The warehouse once churned out the first gas-powered Studebakers 94 years ago. We've got the details from reporter Michael Rosenfield of CNN Detroit affiliate WXYZ.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
MICHAEL ROSENFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT, (voice over): Detroit firefighters say this will be a very slow process. They still have a lot of debris underneath all that wreckage you see behind me. They've been out here since 10:00 last night when the fire started. They'll be out here all day today, perhaps into tomorrow.
Until last night around 10:00, this was a bustling marketplace, also a storage facility, a warehouse, a very important part of the community. Also a historic site as well. This is where the first Studebakers were built back in the day. The other half of the complex was vacant. So the early speculation has been that this might have been started by a squatter, a homeless person using the vacant area as a place to call home. But still, much too early to tell on what the official cause of this fire will be. It will take them, firefighters, several days to figure it all out.
They did do a terrific job, though, sparing the buildings next door. One is a facility where they store up to 10 million medical records for Henry Ford Hospital. They also were able to spare the building next door to that, which is a museum dedicated to the Model T. The first Model T was built just down the street here. So really a historic site here in Detroit.
A scary scene last night though when the fire started and into the early morning hours. The walls came tumbling down from this marketplace. You could see it, you could feel it and you could hear it. But firefighters did an amazing job. They're being credited with doing their best to contain it to at least this corner block. But hard to imagine an entire block near downtown Detroit gone overnight.
From Detroit, I'm Michael Rosenfield.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HARRIS: Well, there is nothing to go on. That's what a authorities are saying about the search for an 11-year-old boy in the Utah mountains. Brennan Hawkins was last seen Friday at a Boy Scout camp. CNN's Ted Rowlands is covering the story in Summit County, Utah.
Ted.
TED ROWLANDS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tony, the search effort has begun again here today. The sun is up, allowing searchers another full day of searching for 11-year-old Brennan Hawkins. They are searching again by horseback, by ATV and by foot. And they're also searching a nearby creek. The Bear River here. And there's a real concern that Brennan may have gotten himself into the Bear River, so they are concentrating a lot on this river.
He is the second scout, is Brennan, to vanish in this area in less than a year. Another young boy vanished last August and there was no sight of him, and he has never been found. Brennan was last seen near a climbing wall at a Boy Scout camp. He was not here with his parents. Here was here with another set of parents and a friend of his. They were here sort of observing a Boy Scout adventure. They're not Boy Scouts themselves but they were invited to the event and taking part in the camp. And they just -- and Brennan just simply vanished. Brennan's family, however, has no feelings at all of ill- will against the family that was chaperoning their son.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB HAWKINS, MISSING SCOUT'S UNCLE: There are questions as to how he disappeared. How did he get turn around? I'm not sure that we'll ever know those until we find Brennan. But blaming or any of those things, let's find Brennan. It's -- we're not going to get stuck in that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: Now besides the search efforts, there's also a parallel criminal investigation going on and that is being step up today. More agents from the FBI are coming to town today to interview and help interview all of the people that were at the camp when Brennan was last seen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We want to contact everybody that was in there. We want to talk to people. More than anything, we want to try to develop something. And the way we do that is identify the folks that were there, talk with them, see if they have any videotape possibly or maybe some pictures that we could look at. And, you know, just get some statements about what they saw or if anything.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROWLANDS: This is a look at the Bear River. The current is very strong. There's a lot of runoff here. The temperatures have been mild in the mountains here, which has allowed for the snow caps to melt off. It's a concern, this river, one of the major concerns, and this will be one of the focuses today on this fourth day of searching for this 11-year-old who has vanished.
And, Tony, the sheriff told me that everything is still on the table here. They are looking at it from a criminal standpoint and they continue to search. There is just simply no trace of this young boy.
HARRIS: OK. Hard to imagine. All right. CNN's Ted Rowlands for us.
Ted, we appreciate it. Thank you.
The Summit County Sheriff's Office is asking for help from anyone who might have information on the case. The number for them is 435- 615-3600 or you can call the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST. That number again is 1-800-843-5678.
Now the latest on the search for Natalee Holloway. The Alabama teenager who's been missing three weeks in Aruba. A search crew from Texas is arriving on the island today with 17 volunteers, three search dogs and sophisticated sonar units for boats. Last night on CNN's "Anderson Cooper 360," the teenager's mother commented on the fourth suspect now held, a disc jockey on a party boat.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BETH HOLLOWAY TWITTY, MISSING TEEN'S MOTHER: Well, I'll not sure how much information state crews have and I'll be anxious to find out once that is disclosed. But I do feel that, you know, they are making progress in it and, you know, one step closer. Still frustrated because I don't have answer, but I do feel we are slowly getting one step closer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HARRIS: And none of the four suspects is formally charged.
An update now. We're waiting on comments from President Bush and the Vietnamese prime minister. When that happens, we will take you to the Oval Office live.
And also, still ahead, an update on a search and destroy mission in Iraq. Days of fighting in Operation Spear. We're on the ground and we'll take you along. Still to come, pictures you'll see only on CNN.
Plus, identity theft and credit card fraud is on the rise. So, should companies be responsible if they lose your information? We'll explore some security options.
And you'll want to grab some disinfectant for this one. How clean is your work space? Some offices are put to the test and you won't believe the results.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: All right, let's check out the Big Board on Wall Street. Right now the Dow is down 13 points at 10,595 in early trading.
As we've been mentioning throughout the morning, President Bush is meeting with the Vietnamese prime minister, his name is Phan Van Khai. The two are discussing a number of issues. First of all, continuing the normalization of trade between the two countries. We have also learn that out of that meeting this morning, the president has decided that he will take a trip. He's announced just a moment ago that he will take a trip to Vietnam next year, in 2006. Also in their time together, in their discussion this morning, the two talked about the Vietnam War and they've also talked about, as we mentioned, continuing to normalize trade.
As you may also be aware of at this hour, the president is concerned about certain human rights issues in Vietnam. Specifically, the detaining, the arresting of pro-democracy activists in that country. Let's go to the White House now and do we have -- OK. We've got tape of some of the protesters, I believe, just outside of the White House. And there you see it. And there was a lot of concern, obviously, about this visit. You'll remember back in the '90s, the mid-90s, President Clinton was criticize by some in Congress for his efforts to normalize trade relations with Vietnam. We have not heard those voices this time around.
And in just a moment, we will get some of the comments to come out of that meeting with the Vietnamese prime minister and President Bush. A lot on the table. And let's go now to that tape, we understand, just in, of that meeting between Phan Van Khai and President Bush. Let's take a listen.
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There will be two opening statements this morning.
Mr. Prime Minister, welcome. I want to thank you for the constructive visit we just had.
We discussed a wide range of subjects. We discussed our economic relations. And I noted that the Vietnamese economy is growing quite substantially. But we talk about our desire for the Vietnam to join the WTO. We talked about security issues and the mutual desire to coordinate in the war on terror. And we talk about humanitarian issues.
As the prime minister noted, the United States is supporting the fight against HIV/Aids in Vietnam. And he gave me a report on the progress, about our mutual desire to help those who suffer with HIV/Aids. We signed a landmark agreement that will make it easier for people to worship freely in Vietnam.
And finally, I want to thank the prime minister for his government's willingness to continue to work on the -- on finding the remains of those who lost their lives in Vietnam. It's very comforting to many families here in America to understand that the government is providing information to help close a sad chapter in their lives.
And finally, the prime minister graciously invited me to Vietnam. I will be going in 2006. I'm looking forward to my trip. Also looking forward to the Apex Summit that Vietnam will be hosting.
Mr. Prime Minister, welcome.
PHAN VAN KHAI, PRIME MINISTER OF VIETNAM, (through translator): Thank you very much, Mr. President, ladies and gentlemen.
At the invitation of President George W. Bush, it gives me the great pleasure and honor as the first Vietnamese prime minister to pay an official visit to the United States. And this event, in itself, shows that Vietnam/U.S. relations have, in fact, entered a new stage of development.
My visit to America this time coincides with the 10th anniversary of the establishment of our diplomatic relations. During the talks that I had with Mr. President, Mr. President and I were pleased to note the significant developments in the two countries relations, including the good progress made in addressing the various issues left over by the past, as well as the various steps to be taken to expand our relations in the future.
HARRIS: And there you have it, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai and President Bush discussing theirs meeting with members of press. And they talked about a number of issues, as you heard there. Aids, HIV and Aids in Vietnam and the efforts for that country to combat HIV and Aids in that country. Also security issues as they relate to counterterrorism efforts in Vietnam.
Also, the president announced that he has been invited by prime minister to visit Vietnam next year, in 2006. And they also announced a landmark agreement, as the president noted it, to make it easier for those in Vietnam to worship freely.
As you saw just before we went to this tape, there were a number of protesters outside of the White House who were demanding human rights now in Vietnam. These are live pictures just outside the gates of the White House. One of the issues that the president took up with the Vietnamese prime minister is a number of concerns about human rights violations in the country.
A number of pro-democracy activists, we understand, have been arrest and detained in Vietnam and the president wants that issue addressed by the prime minister of Vietnam. Let's bring in David Ensor, who is at the White House right now.
And, David, I guess, right off the top, is the news of this trip next year, by the president, to Vietnam. What does this indicate about the furthering relationships between these two countries?
DAVID ENSOR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, clearly it show, Tony, that relations have come a very long way since the time when we and the Vietnamese were at war with each other. A presidential visit to Vietnam in 2006, that will be a landmark.
But as you mentioned, the president was also pointing to this agreement that is supposed to promote religious worship more freely in Vietnam. And most of these protesters we're looking at right now, that is their cause, religious freedom and human rights in Vietnam. There are also a few in the crowd we're seeing who are advocating more actions by the Vietnamese government to help the U.S. account for missing in action during the Vietnam War.
But the bulk of these are Vietnamese, Vietnamese-Americans who want to see more religious freedom it their country. And they were marching peacefully around Lafayette Park until recently. Then they broke through police lines and marched over here to the outside the gates of the White House. You saw the secret service running in all directions as that happened. And now there are, I would say, a couple of hundred, maybe a maximum 300, out there, waving flags and protesting this visit by the Vietnamese prime minister.
Of course, this is still a communist regime and there are many Vietnamese-Americans, many of whom had to leave when the war ended, who are very, very angry that that kind of a government is still in their country.
Tony.
HARRIS: And, David, I've got to -- if you're looking at it from the point of view of the protesters, what they're saying is, they know that the prime minister is here on an essentially a trade and economic mission, but he is also asking the president to help Vietnam in its effort to join the WTO. I have to think that those protesters are in part saying, hey look, any help should be tied to these reforms, human rights and religious reforms in the country.
ENSOR: That's right. Many of the protesters may not even want to see any kind of assistance. But certainly they would want to see it tied to progress on human rights in Vietnam. I haven't seen the text of this agreement that has been signed today, but that is obviously going to be -- whether that really does improve the degree of religious freedom from Vietnam is obviously going to be important to the people who are outside the gates here today, Tony.
HARRIS: OK, David. Stand by, if you would, for us, please.
Let's go back to this tape of the meeting between the prime minister and President Bush.
During that session with reporters, the president was asked about the stalled nomination of John Bolton. And let's hear what the president has to say about that.
KHAI (through translator): I am fully confident that my visit to America this time will help uplift the relationship between our two countries to a new height. And may I finally wish America prosperity and happiness to her people. And thank you very much, Mr. President.
BUSH: Thanks very much. Good job. Thank you. Thank you.
HARRIS: OK. As you know, we thought we going to hear from the president on the stalled Bolton nomination. We'll get that up for you in just a moment.
We'll take a break and come back with more of CNN LIVE TODAY right after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HARRIS: Coming up on the half hour now, I'm Tony Harris in for Daryn Kagan. Here's what's happening "Now in the News."
A Mississippi jury is right now deliberating in the trial of Edgar Ray Killen. Killen is accused of masterminding the murders of three civil rights workers. The three were killed on this day 41 years ago. Jurors said they were split six to six at the end of deliberations yesterday.
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