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New Day Sunday
Zimmerman Not Guilty; Actor Cory Monteith Found Dead; Heavy Rains Possible in Central U.S.
Aired July 14, 2013 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning, everyone. I'm Kate Bolduan. It's just 8:00 in the East on this Sunday, July 14th. Thank you for joining us for a special edition of NEW DAY.
After 15 months of anticipation, it was inevitable after the verdict came down that one side would be happy and one side would express relief, declare justice -- they would also declare that justice had been done and they would want to move on. Listen here.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDGE DEBRA NELSON, SEMINOLE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT: Your bond will be released. Your GPS monitor will be cutoff when you exit the courtroom over here and you have no further business with the court.
GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: Thank you, your honor.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: But we knew from the beginning if Trayvon Martin was allowed to be killed and the man that did it to not go to jail, there would be outrage and there is. "Justice was denied" is called the streets. They system has failed" is called from the streets.
Civil rights leaders want the justice department to see if there's a civil rights case against George Zimmerman. We're talking about the verdict, the reaction and where we all go from here.
BOLDUAN: Yes, let's start with reaction to the not guilty verdict and let's go straight to George Howell, joining us from Sanford, Florida.
George, you have been following. You have been on the man on the ground really from the beginning of this trial.
So, how did it look last night once the verdict was read inside the courtroom as well as outside?
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Kate, Chris, good morning.
So inside the courtroom, we're talking about jurors who took, you know, very copious notes. They paid close attention to all of this process. They made their decision. And you saw George Zimmerman in the video. You heard the judge say he has no more business with this court. And now, you know, there was a news conference right after that. We heard from the defense team basically saying look, it was a David and Goliath situation. We were outspent, they had more resources but defense attorney Mark O'Mara says, we won.
And with prosecutors, this was interesting, prosecutors certainly held to their facts. They said that, you know, they were obviously going to respect the verdict but they disagreed with the outcome. They believe their facts all along show that George Zimmerman was guilty with a prime here. Bernie de la Rionda was disappointed with the outcome.
There was one question sort of out of the ballpark of the actual case but an issue that became news. This IT technician fired from the state attorney's office. He raised the red flag about possible discovery violations, Ben Kruidbos. But I asked Angela specifically about that. I want you to hear her reaction.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Since testifying in that pretrial hearing about discovery evidence we understand that he was terminated. Can you talk to us about why he was terminated from your office?
ANGELA COREY, FLORIDA STATE ATTORNEY: I believe we released a letter that details why he was terminated. And, again, we want to keep the focus on what we promised 15 months ago which was to get all of the facts of this case in front of a jury or in front of a judge if it had been a "Stand Your Ground" hearing.
And I believe that's what we have done. I believe the focus needs to be on how the system worked and how now everyone in this country, because of you all, because of you all covering this case, can say that they know the facts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOWELL: Angela Corey there released a letter on this but dodged the question entirely. You remember that she all along has been in the situation with the defense team. Defense attorneys have said there have been discovery violations that information was not handed over in a timely manner and Chris and Kate, there will be a hearing set at some point where the defense team and prosecutors will once again return to the courtroom to talk about these possible discovery violations.
CUOMO: All right George. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. We'll be back to you soon.
You know, in some aspects this trial of George Zimmerman was really a tale of two cases. You had the law of course, the legal side, but then the emotional case.
BOLDUAN: Yes, that's for sure. Florida law required prosecutors to prove as we said over and over again, beyond a reasonable doubt that Zimmerman did not act in self-defense. Some find it hard to square, though, with the emotion that they feel about the case.
We've got a great panel of legal minds to join us to talk about the verdict and what it means. What got us to this point and what it means going forward in terms of the case law and the emotion. All the vantage points we want to touch on.
Paul Callan, CNN legal analyst, is joining us here in New York. Analyst and former federal prosecutor Sonny Hostin, is in Sanford, Florida. Tanya Miller works as a criminal defense attorney in Atlanta. And Steve Greenberg, a criminal defense attorney in Chicago.
We have a whole lot of you guys. I want to make sure we can get to each one of you. Let's get to it.
Paul, let's talk to you first. You guys can jump in as well.
The prosecution, they made a very passionate case. They also in closings talked about use your common sense, kind of hitting on that emotional, the emotional cord that Chris was talking about. They were not able to prove beyond a reasonable doubt to the jury that George Zimmerman did not use -- did not use force.
Listen to the lead prosecutor Bernie de la Rionda talking after the verdict and we'll chat about it.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BERNIE DE LA RIONDA, PROSECUTOR: I am disappointed as we are with the verdict but we accept it. We live in a great country that has a great criminal justice system. It's not perfect but it's the best in the world and we respect the jury's verdict.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: So he respects the jury's verdict but if you're him this morning, what are you thinking about? Where did he go wrong? What did they miss?
PAUL CALLAN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Well, they're stuck with the facts that they have and frankly, they didn't have the facts in this case.
Bernie de la Rionda is a talented prosecutor. He tried a passionate -- I call them a high octane, bomb-throwing prosecutor. He brought emotion and passion. He was up against a defense attorney who was like a meticulous carpenter who built a house of reasonable doubt, and the prosecution just didn't have the evidence about what happened at the critical juncture when Trayvon Martin confronts George Zimmerman, how that confrontation actually occurred.
We only know that Zimmerman's nose was fractured. The back of his head was injured and that would seem to indicate that the first punch was thrown by Trayvon Martin, and I think ultimately that's how the jury resolved the case.
CUOMO: Now, Sonny, let me bring you in here. It's been very important to you from the beginning that understanding the prosecutions case as beginning before what Paul just describes. You can't start with the fact that Trayvon Martin was by most accounts giving a beating to George Zimmerman. You have to look at how it started. Explain to us why that part matters legally.
SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes, I think the prosecution's theory was very clear, Chris, that you can't look at the event as starting at the confrontation, you have to look at the event in totality and what we do know is that George Zimmerman made these assumptions about Trayvon Martin, assumed wrongfully that Trayvon Martin was a criminal, was up to no good, wasn't supposed to be there at the retreat at Twin Lakes.
And we know all of that is not true and we also know that George Zimmerman made a lot of statements that were inconsistent. So, I think when you look at it like that, it's -- when you don't look at it like that there's a very skewed perspective.
So legally the argument was, yes, there was a confrontation but who started the event? Who started this thing?
But the jury, again as a former prosecutor I want to make clear. I respect our system and I respect and accept the jury's verdict -- but I do think that the prosecution had the facts for second-degree murder and I think they had the facts for manslaughter.
I think the way the law is in Florida with "Stand Your Ground", with self-defense, the climate in Florida, with the acceptability of firearms the way it is here in Florida, I think the law wasn't on the prosecutions side. Not necessary --
STEVE GREENBERG, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Chris --
CUOMO: Steve, I'm going to come to you.
GREENBERG: What Sunny's talking about -- OK.
CUOMO: Well, I just want to focus it --
GREENBERG: What Sunny is talking about is the bigger social issue which has no place in the courtroom. And what they did here, the facts were never on the prosecution side. They ran a roulette game with this case and said we'll throw something out there.
But they could never tell the jury what happened out there that night which is what they needed to do.
CUOMO: Well, Steve, that's what I wanted to ask you is that the jury seemed to accept the defense perspective on this which is no, it doesn't matter that he didn't listen to the 911 call, it doesn't matter that he profiled Trayvon Martin, all that matters to you jurors, is that once the fight is going, and we don't know who started it -- but once Trayvon Martin was beating down George Zimmerman, was it reasonable for him to believe that he was going to have serious bodily injury or maybe even death? That's what you have to focus on and if the prosecution doesn't prove to you beyond a reasonable doubt that George Zimmerman thinking that was wrong, you must acquit.
Explain to us how that works in common sense terms.
GREENBERG: Well, in common sense, he had a broken nose and bashed up head. So, how could you not think he was in fear of this harm and then you have the very strong "Stand Your Ground" law in Florida which is unusual which says you don't have to retreat at all. And add to that in Florida, they have a reasonable doubt instruction which doesn't say you have to prove them guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. It basically says you have to prove them guilty beyond all reasonable doubt. Any doubt you could have.
How could you look at somebody who clearly had broken bones and not feel they were in danger of bodily harm? Because they had bodily harm.
BOLDUAN: Tanya, I want to bring you into this. One of the big things some folks are talking about. We disagree on this.
That's why I keep asking folks about it. This issue of did the prosecution overcharge? Did they make a mistake by pursuing the second-degree murder charge when the threshold, the burden of proof was too high and they couldn't overcome the hurdle?
Do you think that's the case? Do you think they should have been pursuing manslaughter all along and if that was what they had pursued and targeted in their closing arguments then maybe the jury could have seen this differently?
TANYA MILLER, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: You know, I don't share that opinion that they overcharged this case. I think that you heard them explain really in detail for the first time yesterday why they believed this case was a second-degree murder case. The facts were there.
You know, I think at the end of the day, the jury just believed George Zimmerman was justified. If they believed he was justified, quite frankly, they believed he was justified in manslaughter too.
Prosecutors often go for the highest charge that they believe the evidence will support. This happens all the time. I think it was appropriate and many people, notwithstanding this jury's verdict which I too accept and respect, many people believe that they did prove that this was a second-degree murder case.
CUOMO: Tanya, Kate would have been a great trial attorney because she will continue asking the question until she gets the answer that she wants. She's probably going to ask all of you throughout the morning until you give her the answer.
BOLDUAN: That's not true. Many people are asking this question.
CUOMO: I have a different question for you that -- I want to see if many of you can answer. Go with it if you can.
Angela Corey is known very well down there. Of course, she is the state attorney but also known as a trier of cases. She started off with this case. Why didn't she try it?
CALLAN: Well, Chris, it would be very rare for a prosecutor to try herself a high profile case like this and she -- you know, this whole question of Angela Corey is an interesting one. She was brought in like a hired gun from an adjacent Florida county and there might have been resentment in Seminole County.
Why weren't the locals trying the case? The governor brings in a prosecutor from another county. There's local resentment on that. So I think she assigned it to her top guys and she made the right decision there.
The head prosecutor is usually an administrative head of the office as opposed to someone who actually tries the cases.
HOSTIN: And, Chris, let me weigh in on that. I was in the courtroom watching Angela Corey. She was in the courtroom every single day seated right behind the state prosecutors here. They are considered her top prosecutors but she was very, very involved in this case. When it came down to asking for the lesser included, she was consulting with the attorneys and they were looking to her for guidance.
So, she may not have tried the case personally but make no mistake about it she was extremely involved to have the opportunity to speak with her several times. She's a lovely woman. She is tenacious, certainly, but she was involved. She was involved in this case.
CUOMO: I mean, I ask the question from a perspective of deference because she is known for a great trier of cases. They brought her in for this. That's why I asked. Thank you for the perspective on it and thank you for the ideas about the case. We'll be coming back to you guys. It's important that we give as much insight into this decision because it's divided people.
Paul Callan, Sunny Hostin, Steve Greenberg, Tanya Martin, thank you very much to all of you. Appreciate it.
BOLDUAN: Thanks to all of you. This story we'll continue to watch this verdict and talk more about it but we also have another big story making news today.
The actor Cory Monteith has been found dead. Many of you know this actor, 31-year-old Canadian native was famous for his role on the TV hit "Glee". We'll tell you what police are saying about his death now.
BOLDUAN: Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BOLDUAN: A stunning and tragic story this morning coming from the entertainment world. Actor Cory Monteith, you know that name. He has been found dead. The Canadian native that was famous for playing Finn Hudson on "Glee" was found in a Vancouver hotel room.
CUOMO: Here's what we know so far. That Monteith's body was discovered by hotel staff yesterday after he missed his check out time.
Nick Valencia is in Atlanta with more on this story.
Nick, a lot of open questions here. The obvious part is someone so young is gone. What is the latest?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Chris.
Yes, so young, sudden and tragic. This is a shock the entertainment world. News of his death reported late last night. The cause of death is not immediately known, although Vancouver police have ruled out foul play. They have scheduled an autopsy for Monday.
Cory Monteith skyrocketed to fame as the star of the hit TV series "Glee." he was credited, in fact, for making the show a hit and a very, very successful TV series. He played a very lovable quarterback, a heartthrob for many teens throughout the United States.
Earlier yesterday, the Vancouver department, they talked about the incident in a press conference. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ACTING CHIEF DOUG LEPARD, VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA POLICE: Mr. Monteith checked into the hotel on July 6th and was due to check out of the room today. There were others with Mr. Monteith in his room earlier last night, but video and fob key entries show him returning to his room by himself in the early morning hours, and we believe he was alone when he died.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VALENCIA: Just hours before his death, he had spoken to his close friend, we talked to that close friend and also a guest director on "Glee" just a short time ago. He was shocked about the news. A lot of people very caught off guard about Cory Monteith's death, Chris.
CUOMO: Now, Nick, this is going to be the sensitive part as we move forward. People are caught off guard and shocked. Of course he was young. So much life in front of him.
He had admitted in the past to his own personal struggles, substance abuse. That will be, is that a fair question -- will that be something people will be asking about going forward? Have we heard anything?
VALENCIA: I think it has to be, especially when you consider his history as well as his age, 31 years old. Very, very young. As we mentioned, no foul play is suspected in his death. He returned to his hotel room by himself. But for years, Monteith has battled sobriety. He had checked in initially into a rehab facility when he was 13 years old.
Most recently he was in a rehab facility in March but he was doing well and recovering. He had a girlfriend that's also part of the hit TV series. They're just really caught off guard. A lot of people are caught off guard by his death -- Chris.
CUOMO: All right. Nick, thank you very much. We certainly don't want to get ahead of it. What we know already is bad enough. Our hearts go out to his family.
VALENCIA: Absolutely.
CUOMO: Thank you for the reporting. Appreciate it.
VALENCIA: You bet.
BOLDUAN: Thanks so much.
CUOMO: Now, obviously, this morning we have been focused on the George Zimmerman trial. We're going to bring you up to date with other stories as we see them.
One big part in the verdict in Zimmerman is the reaction to it. We have been following protests in major cities across the U.S. Hundreds of men and women, black and white, taking their frustration at the trial to the streets, making sure they are heard. We'll have more on all of this just ahead.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CUOMO: Welcome back to this special edition of NEW DAY. Thank you for joining us.
Across the United States emotions are running high, in some cities, hundreds of people have gathered to protest the not guilty verdict in the George Zimmerman trial.
BOLDUAN: Some people shouting and chanting, justice for Trayvon. Others saying prayers for the Martin family -- but will they be most remarkable about all of this is what's not happening. That's also important to point at these protests.
What's not happening is violence. For everything that could have happened leading up to this it has been remarkably calm.
Victor Blackwell is at CNN in Atlanta.
Victor, what are you seeing from your perspective?
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The protests across the country on both coasts. We've taken our viewers to L.A., San Francisco, Chicago, Tallahassee, Tampa, New York. Let's go to Sanford, right outside the Seminole County courthouse where the verdict was read. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLP)
PROTESTERS: We demand justice, nationwide protest to demand justice.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BLACKWELL: Do you hear the shouts for nationwide protest. We have shown you where the protests are happening all across the country. For the most part peaceful.
But "The Miami Herald" is reporting that in Sanford, during this protest, there was a heated argument between a Zimmerman supporter and a Martin supporter on the role of race. Everything was cooled off before it got to the point of arrest. No arrests reported across the country.
But let's go to the nation's capital where the element of race was also a motivator. One reads "only white life" is protected in America. They're calling for people to come off the sidewalks and walk in the street.
Now, prosecutors and the defense team, they say that their cases were not about race. Clearly you see from the signs and from what we heard from protestors across the country, they disagree.
Now let's go to Philadelphia. A very different mood at Thomas Payne Plaza. No protests. Instead a vigil -- candles, signs, people praying and the silence there, just people taking a moment to remember that this is about a 17-year-old who lost his life.
Again, there is a demonstration planned for the top of the hour, 9:00 Eastern in Baltimore. We'll see if that happens but no arrests, no reports of physical violence although property damage reported in the bay area -- Chris, Kate.
CUOMO: Victor, you know something interesting there that we saw, the faces. A lot of black people, sure, but there was white, there was Asian, there was man, there was female.
It's important to note there are a lot of people who are sharing upset about this verdict and on both sides of it. A lot of people feel that this was unfair. A lot of people feel that it was unfair to George Zimmerman as well.
There's all types of outrage in the fix, and that's why we're following it.
Victor Blackwell, thank you for the reporting.
BLACKWELL: Sure.
BOLDUAN: Thanks, Victor. Still ahead, some say George Zimmerman's case was not about race while others say it was all about race even though that might not have been part of the criminal case. We'll dig deeper into that coming up next on NEW DAY.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CUOMO: Welcome back, everybody. It's now the bottom of the hour. Welcome to this special edition of NEW DAY. I'm Chris Cuomo.
BALDWIN: Good morning, everyone. I'm Kate Bolduan.
It's about 8:30 in the East. We're watching it all for you on this special edition of NEW DAY.
CUOMO: And if you're just waking up right now, here's what you need to know about the verdict in the George Zimmerman murder trial.
BOLDUAN: A jury of six women found Zimmerman was not legally responsible for the death of Trayvon Martin in February 2012.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the Circuit Court of the 18th Judicial Circuit, in and for Seminole County, Florida, State of Florida versus George Zimmerman, verdict -- we the jury find George Zimmerman not guilty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: Watching last night at about 10:00 p.m. Eastern. The camera was on Zimmerman almost the entire time and you could barely see the beginning of a smile when he hears he is a freeman. Then, he just calmly shakes his lawyers' hands and turns to his family.
BOLDUAN: People angry over the jury's decision hit the streets in major cities across the country.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
BOLDUAN: That was the scene in Washington, D.C. last night right after the verdict. Similar protest played out from San Francisco to Philadelphia, many other major cities in the U.S. There was some vandalism to some police cars in Oakland, and other property in some cities, but for the most part, important to note, people had kept their cool.
CUOMO: Now we've heard quite a bit about race. It's been part of the discussion. The question is was it part of the case? The role of race in the death of Trayvon Martin 17 months ago certainly was at the fore when the story began but there has been little talk about implicit biases. Now let's explain to people what those are.
BOLDUAN: First explaining what we're talking about here. Those are the subconscious subtle racial assumptions that people make that you might not even know you're making in split seconds after encountering someone. Did George Zimmerman for example and Trayvon Martin make the implicit biases -- make implicit biases when they crossed paths?
Well researchers are saying that some 90 percent of Americans make those assumptions. They have those biases. Laura McNeal is leading a new study on implicit bias at Harvard Law School where she is a senior fellow. She is joining us from Atlanta it's great to see you. And also Allie Braswell Jr., is CEO of the Central Florida Urban League he's -- he's joining us from Orlando, really a community activist, a community leader there who can bring us the perspective from on the ground. It's great to see you both. Thanks for joining us.
Professor, I want to start with you so you can kind of lay this out for us. As we see here as I just said, some 90 percent of people they do make these implicit biases. Give us an example of that. Kind of an everyday life and how that may relate to what we're talking about here.
LAURA MCNEAL, SENIOR FELLOW, HARVARD LAW SCHOOL: Yes and a quick example would be I conducted a presentation last week and a judge came up to me. She was a white female and she said she was getting ready to make a ruling in a divorce proceeding for a harassment charge. She said she paused and changed the gender of the harasser from female to male and realized that she was getting ready to give a more lenient sentence because of the implicit association she attached to males having a higher propensity for violence. And so she said that was quite a learning experience for her and from now on when she's sitting on the bench she quickly changes the gender, the race and if known the sexual orientation to make sure that those biases aren't impacting her decisions.
BOLDUAN: And do people -- I mean when you're talking about this -- and talk to me more about the study that you're doing, do people even know they're making these assumptions? Applying this standard and that they have this bias?
MCNEAL: Yes, the study that I'm conducting at (inaudible) is really fascinating because people are unaware of these unconscious biases. They operate unknowingly and they have a very large influence on split second decisions such as the ones that we saw by George Zimmerman when he chose to exit his car and make -- and pursue excuse me Trayvon Martin based on these, again, implicit assumptions that he associated with black males.
CUOMO: So Allie let me bring you in here, when you look at the situation with George Zimmerman and Trayvon Martin, do you believe that Zimmerman was profiling based on subconscious or very conscious bias? What do you think drove this?
ALLIE BRASWELL, JR., CEO, CENTRAL FLORIDA URBAN LEAGUE: I think when you take a look at it Chris and see what -- what went on that night, no one will know other than those two individuals but I think you can see a case of profiling and it does not require you to be a racist to conduct profiling. I think in this case, you know, there were some assumptions, I think as the doctor just asserted. But what we need to move now towards is how do we begin to move this forward? When you think about this still in Sanford, I think one of the things that was really relevant last night is how people handled this. While they were disappointed, they still respected the jury's verdict. While they had protests, it was done in a seasoned manner.
I think when you take a look, as you pointed out earlier in your show people from all backgrounds are calling and saying we need to get past the implicit biases. We need to work on those things. We need to be aware of them and begin to move ourselves closer together and move forward as we continue to, you know, leverage a justice system that needs to represent all of us.
BOLDUAN: Laura, answer that question, though. How do we move forward? You're studying if it exists and how it exists and to what extent but are -- what are you -- how are you talking to people about from your study how do you move from that? What are you learning from that?
MCNEAL: Yes it's very interesting so what we've learned is that the majority of Americans do hold some type of implicit bias towards certain groups of people and what we've learned through research done at the University of Wisconsin is that you can actually self-correct these implicit biases.
One of the strategies, for example, that Patricia Devine developed is called stereotype replacement. And so when you catch yourself making a decision based on one of these implicit assumptions you simply switch the name of the individual. If the assumption is that black males are unintelligent you think of Colin Powell or Barack Obama or (inaudible) so to kind of counteract those stereo types.
CUOMO: Let me ask you this Laura. To pick up on what just happened in this verdict ok. We know what it is, we have to respect it as it is so we have to analyze it as much. The jury had to believe that Trayvon Martin was a big actor in this conflict that wound up leading to his own death.
Taking your idea about subconscious bias and the defense theory that Trayvon Martin was using unflattering words about who was following him. What can we possibly see as insight into what may have been going on in his mind that night? And I ask, clearly he is the victim but because of the outcome of the trial that wound up becoming something very important to jurors. So what might they have seen there in his actions?
MCNEAL: Yes it appears based on the jurors -- the jury verdict that the jurors must not have realized or been able to really understand the implicit assumptions that Trayvon Martin had. Meaning as a young African-American male being pursued by a Hispanic individual, it appears based on some of the court testimony that, you know, he was frightened and rightfully so. I think for many African- American youth, Trayvon Martin represents the type of racial profiling that they experience on a daily basis. And I think from a juror perspective it's hard to really understand that unless you've walked in Trayvon's shoes.
BOLDUAN: Well --
CUOMO: Please.
BOLDUAN: No, I think that's an excellent point. Dr. Laura McNeal it's great to see you. And a very interesting study that you're conducting. Thank you so much for laying it out for us. And also Allie Braswell, thank you so much for bringing the perspective from on the ground.
You know when we have this conversation it reminds us -- it reminds me a little bit of closing arguments where you have -- you had the prosecution talking about use your common sense and kind of playing to emotion and also but then a very different approach from the defense who said do not make assumptions. Only look at the facts and the evidence before you and when you kind of look at this implicit bias concept it's very interesting.
CUOMO: We have parallel realities. In the courtroom we only know what we show.
BOLDUAN: Right.
CUOMO: That's what lawyers are taught.
BOLDUAN: Right.
CUOMO: You have to prove it. But outside, we have moral responsibility. And that's what this study goes to. That's what Allie is talking about in organizing his community. When you go after the kid because you don't like how he looks and what you think he represents and he winds up dead it's wrong and we don't want it to happen in our society.
BOLDUAN: Right.
CUOMO: Then you go into a courtroom where we're supposed to get validation for what our society is about and the outcome doesn't come out the way it's expected from that perspective but in the courtroom it's not about truth it is about proof.
BOLDUAN: Right.
CUOMO: And I don't mean to rhyme as a poem. This is the way you're taught these things as a lawyer.
BOLDUAN: Right.
CUOMO: And that's what we're going to have to negotiate going forward that's why the community organizing efforts that Allie Braswell wants to get into are so important and important for the media to support also.
BOLDUAN: Absolutely. CUOMO: Because at the end of the day where everybody is going to come to the same conclusion is we have to figure out how to move forward together after this. And that's going to be the challenge for all of us.
BOLDUAN: That starts right now. That starts today.
CUOMO: Absolutely -- absolutely right now. Now as I say that I have to segue because we're not just going to follow the George Zimmerman story all day.
BOLDUAN: Right.
CUOMO: We're following other news as well. Notably, the story about a young actor -- Cory Monteith, he's been found dead. The 31- year-old Canadian native was famous for his role in the TV hit "Glee". When we comeback from the break we're going to give you the latest on what we understand about this loss.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CUOMO: Welcome everybody. Thank you for joining us this Sunday morning for a special edition of NEW DAY. Our coverage of the George Zimmerman trial will continue but first we want to get you caught up on other news.
So let's go to Poppy Harlow in Atlanta with the stories that are making headlines. Good morning Poppy.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM: Good morning Chris and Kate. Good morning everyone.
We begin today with shocking and tragic news: actor Cory Monteith has been found dead. The 31-year-old Canadian native who played Finn Hudson in the television show "Glee" was found in his Vancouver hotel room on Saturday. Hotel staff discovered his body after Monteith missed his check out time. He was seen on hotel surveillance video returning to his room alone early Saturday.
Authorities do not yet know the cause of death. They say there's no evidence of foul play and there will be an autopsy on Monday. Our thoughts with all those who love him.
Meantime, more than 100 people gathered Saturday to honor the three girls killed in the crash of Asiana Flight 214 which happened just one week ago. The parents of the first two girls who died in that crash joined the vigil and spoke to the crowd. Pilots tried to abort the landing of flight 214 twice before the plane's tail clipped a seawall just short of the runway.
Another twist, a bizarre twist in the Edward Snowden saga -- the journalist Glenn Greenwald who broke that story initially about the NSA surveillance leaker told an Argentinean newspaper that Snowden apparently still has information that would be the United States' quote, "worst nightmare" if it is released. He warned the U.S. government that if anything happened to Snowden that information would be revealed.
On Friday, Snowden said that he would ask Russia now for temporary asylum but Russian immigration official have reportedly not received an asylum application from him.
Meantime, royal baby watch is in full swing. The Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, spending her due date which is actually today relaxing at her parent's home in Bucklebury, Berkshire. Meanwhile, her husband, Prince William played polo just a short distance from his in-laws' home. When that baby is born, he or she, that's what everyone wants to know, will be third in line to the British throne.
All right, let's take look at the weather across the country right now. Things are starting to heat up as we head into the work week. Alexandra Steele is in the Severe Weather Center here in Atlanta. What can you tell us?
ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi Poppy. Good morning everyone.
Well what we're going to see are some big pattern changes. Usually in the U.S. we see patterns move from west to east. Not so. We've got this kind of very odd retrograding pattern. It's going to do a couple of things it's going to ease that inundation of rain we've had in the southeast. So that is good news.
The heat returns in earnest. We're going to see a heat wave -- 95 degree to 100 degree heat indices in the northeast, temperatures will be between 90 degrees and 95 degrees but the humidity will really be high. And we're also going to see here -- we're going to see a lot of rain come to areas really need it -- the drought stricken areas of Texas and Oklahoma.
So here a look at the high temperatures, Boston -- everyone will be above average for sure -- but Boston's average is 82; so on the whole about 10 degrees above average. Even Hartford gets to 95 tomorrow. New York on average is 84, 94 by Tuesday. and these temperatures really staying in place. Kind of like heat we'll see from Tuesday to Friday and it really begins on Monday.
All right. Washington as well 94 by Tuesday and we'll see a similar pattern. So there's the northeast.
The southeast as well -- temperatures there staying below average because we have seen so much cloud and so much in the way of rain. But that will change because we're going to see a little more sunshine so temperatures not quite to average Poppy but certainly that rain that we have seen so much of really will abate and temperatures will be sunny with warmer temperatures.
HARLOW: I was loving it down here. It's cool, nice here in Atlanta. I'm heading back to New York just in time for mid 90s. All right.
STEELE: Right. HARLOW: Alexandra, thank you. Appreciate it.
STEELE: Sure.
HARLOW: Chris and Kate -- back to you.
BOLDUAN: All right Poppy. Thank you so much. Well, welcome you back with the weather.
HARLOW: Yes.
CUOMO: Yes, count your blessings where you have them. It could be worse than coming back to warm weather.
BOLDUAN: Right, exactly.
HARLOW: Right, right, right. True.
BOLDUAN: All right. We'll see you Poppy. Thanks so much.
CUOMO: We're going to take a break. When we come back, a provocative thing surrounding the George Zimmerman case -- could he face new charges, federal charges, even after his acquittal? It's something NAACP Ben Jealous wants to pursue. Jealous is going to be a guest with us later this morning on CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION". Host, Candy Crowley will give us a preview next. You don't want to miss that.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CUOMO: Welcome back to this special edition of NEW DAY this Sunday morning.
The not guilty verdict in the trial of George Zimmerman drew a strong reaction from the president of the NAACP. In addition to pursuing federal charges against Zimmerman, Ben Jealous vowed to fight Stand Your Ground laws around the country.
BOLDUAN: -- which is why he's a perfect guest for CNN's Candy Crowley, host of CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION". So Candy there's a lot to talk about with Ben Jealous today. You're going to have him on in what -- about ten minutes -- and very strong reaction right after that verdict.
CANDY CROWLEY, CNN HOST: Very and very quick. I think it was the first reaction that hit my e-mail was from the NAACP and various arms of the NAACP. Ben Jealous saying he is outraged by the verdict. That he thinks it's very clear that this was racial profiling. Something that in fact the state -- one of the state attorneys said it was not -- Nonetheless.
So we want to talk to him about that where he sees the civil rights violations. We understand from his office that Eric Holder, at the Justice Department, the attorney general, will be down at the NAACP meeting which is taking place about 30 miles, I think from the courthouse and he wants to talk to him about that and about pursuing a civil rights case against Zimmerman.
BOLDUAN: All right. There's a big question of what that means going forward and what the Justice Department will do about it. Clearly, coverage of the George Zimmerman verdict and what that all means will be a big part of the show but who else do you have on? What else is coming up?
CROWLEY: We also have Governor Rick Perry and Governor Pat Quinn of Illinois. Rick Perry, of course, this week kind of ended the governor part of his career and everyone kind of wants to know whether he's going run for president. I don't think -- we'll try to move him down that road a little. But he's also passed and will sign this week one of the strictest abortion bills in the country. You'll remember the Democratic congresswoman from Texas who held that filibuster and kind of stymied things the first time around but the second time around it passed. So we want to talk to him about that as well.
And Governor Quinn has his own problems with the state legislature. There was also some protests in Chicago last night over the Zimmerman verdict. So, lots to talk to them about as well.
BOLDUAN: A very, very busy Sunday. Great guests, Candy. We'll definitely be watching. It's great to see you.
CROWLEY: Thank you.
BOLDUAN: And we'll talk to you soon.
CROWLEY: Nice to see you.
BOLDUAN: Candy Crowley. And don't miss -- you guys, you want to stay right here, "STATE OF THE UNION" will be starting very shortly. Starts right at the top of the hour, 9:00 Eastern, 6:00 a.m. out West right here on CNN.
CUOMO: One of the provocative questions coming out of the George Zimmerman verdict -- where do you stand? George Zimmerman left off the hook or was the jury right in confirming his plea of self-defense. We're going to find out what you had to say in results from an exclusive CNN poll coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
CUOMO: Good morning everybody. Thank you for joining us for this special edition of NEW DAY. We want to take a look back at the final moments of the trial.
BOLDUAN: This is from the judge's instructions to the reactions on the street after the verdict. It's everything you need to know.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JUDGE DEBRA NELSON, SEMINOLE COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT: To prove the crime of manslaughter, the state must prove the following two elements beyond a reasonable doubt. One Trayvon Martin is dead. Two George Zimmerman intentionally committed an act or acts that caused the death of Trayvon Martin. George Zimmerman cannot be guilty of manslaughter or committing a nearly negligent act or if the killing was either justifiable or excusable homicide.
MARK NEJAME, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Technically, it could be a debate going on between manslaughter and second-degree. It could be a debate going on between manslaughter and acquittal.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: In the circuit court of the 18th Judicial Circuit in and for Seminole County Florida, state of Florida versus George Zimmerman. Verdict, we the jury find George Zimmerman not guilty.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Complete shock. Utter shock. I cannot believe he was not found guilty.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The system has failed us. The system has failed us.
MARK O'MARA, DEFENSE ATTORNEY OF GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: Obviously we are ecstatic with the results. George Zimmerman was never guilty of anything except protecting himself in self-defense. I'm glad that the jury saw it that way.
DON WEST, DEFENSE ATTORNEY OF GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: I am gratified by the jury's verdict. As happy as I am for George Zimmerman, I'm thrilled that this jury kept this tragedy from becoming a travesty. For that we are eternally grateful.
BERNIE DE LA RIONDA, PROSECUTOR: I'm disappointed as we are with the verdict. We accept it. We live in a great country that has a great criminal justice system. It's not perfect but it's the best in the world and we respect the jury's verdict.
ANGELA COREY, FLORIDA STATE ATTORNEY: To the living we owe respect. To the dead we owe the truth. We have been respectful to the living. We have done our best to assure due process to all involved. And we believe that we brought out the truth on behalf of Trayvon Martin.
ROBERT ZIMMERMAN JR., BROTHER OF GEORGE ZIMMERMAN: I really can't put into words how relieved we are as a family. That's the first thing my father said. Having said that, I don't think this is a time for high five-ing. I acknowledge, we all have acknowledged that Mr. Martin, Trayvon Martin lost his life. It was not an act of murder. It was not an act of manslaughter.
The jury has spoken. Our judicial system has spoken. But that does not diminish the tragedy. Death is tragic in any circumstance.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CUOMO: They look very similar. That's actually Robert Zimmerman, George Zimmerman's brother talking about how his brother is a free man this morning found not guilty just hours ago in a Sanford, Florida courtroom.
BOLDUAN: Yes but he still does face really the court of public opinion, if you will, who might -- that court of public opinion might not feel the same way as the criminal court that we learned their verdict. We're going to take a look at the wide scope of opinion online from Twitter to Facebook and everything in between and Victor Blackwell has been keeping an eye on all of it for us.
So what more are you seeing this morning -- Victor?
VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you speak about the court of public opinion. Overwhelmingly since the start of this case it seems the verdict has been in on that. So many people supporting Trayvon Martin but not everyone supporting Martin.
Let's look at some people who are not -- a celebrity. One well- known person off the top Ted Nugent from his team -- "Ultimate Zimmerman lesson tell your kids not to attack people for no damn reason."
Up next, Lindsey -- she tweets, "Everyone is acting like this case wasn't tried fairly because the outcome was not what they wanted. Grow up."
From rapper/actor Ice Cube, "The Trayvon Martin verdict doesn't surprise. Sanford, Florida never wanted Zimmerman arrested. Now he's free to kill another child."
From Barrington Brown, "I'm not going to say I lost faith in America, I just lost faith in the people -- #no justice."
And right after the end of the closing statements -- closing arguments and the rebuttal, we asked through Twitter -- guilty or not guilty -- simply. And here's the result of that survey. More than 2,400 people responded -- 34 percent said not guilty; 66 percent believe that George Zimmerman was guilty of either second degree murder or manslaughter.
Back to you in New York.
BOLDUAN: All right Victor. Thanks so much for tracking -- it's sure a lot to keep count but good to hear everyone's opinions nonetheless. Victor Blackwell in Atlanta -- thank you.
CUOMO: And keep them coming. You can get us both on Twitter and Facebook.
BOLDUAN: That's right.
CUOMO: Feel free and, of course, CNN's going to have continuing coverage of the aftermath of the Zimmerman verdict all day long. Kate and I will be back at 11:00 a.m. Eastern with an interview with George Zimmerman's brother.
BOLDUAN: Yes, you don't want to miss that. And also tonight Anderson Cooper will have a special report at 8:00 Eastern. You don't want to miss that. We're clearly all over this story. We're going to bring it all to you but coming up next, Candy Crowley will be following the very latest on the story on "STATE OF THE UNION" which begins right now.
CUOMO: Thanks for joining us.
