Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Trayvon Martin v. Chicago Violence; Juror B-37 Speaks About Trial.

Aired July 17, 2013 - 11:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Welcome back.

To say this next man speaks his mind, a bit of an understatement. Bob Thompson is a comedian and commentator with a whole lot to say. He's taken to YouTube with his raw intense rants on anything from the NBA to Obama-care to Trayvon Martin and the George Zimmerman murder trial. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOB THOMPSON, COMEDIAN AND COMMENTATOR: If you're really angry about the verdict, if you're really concerned about the plight of the African-American in this country, if you're angry that a young black teenager was killed in Florida and there's no justice, you know where you should be? You should be in Chicago. Since the night Trayvon Martin was killed, over 700 black teenagers have been killed on the streets of Chicago alone. Why is the 700 teens killing in Chicago less important than the one killed in Florida? I'll tell you why. When we talk about 700 blacks killed in Chicago, we're not going to polarize blacks against whites in this country.

How long do you think it's going to take for America to forget about Trayvon Martin? Is it going to be two pitches into the All-Star game tonight? Is it going be 15 seconds after Kate Middleton has her baby? I mean, all the people on Facebook that tweeted the night that the verdict came out how angry they were that the young black man was killed and he didn't get justice do, you think they're going to head to Chicago? You think they're going to hand out pamphlets and protest in the street? Of course not. Because they don't care about the death of young black kids. They don't even care about the death of Trayvon Martin. They tweet about Trayvon Martin the same way they tweet about the Super Bowl or the freakin' Oscars and then they go on with their lives.

I mean, one black teenager killed in Sanford, Florida, is a tragedy. 700 black children killed in Chicago is a freakin' epidemic.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PEREIRA: He's passionate and he's live with us.

Good morning. Thanks for joining us

THOMPSON: Thanks for having me.

PEREIRA: Are you concerned at all -- saying one tragedy is less important to the other is going to divide --

THOMPSON: I'm not saying one tragedy is less important. I'm saying we're making it more important. I'm saying one African-American teenager killed in Florida, we're making that more important than 700 killed in Chicago. I'm not saying one less is important. We're making it more.

Talking divide? We're dividing the country in half over this one black teenager but nobody's getting divided over the 700. Nobody's paying attention to 700.

PEREIRA: It's interesting. Part of the outrage from the Zimmerman trial stems from the fact that he a 17 years old and no one is become held accountable. You're talking about some 700 people died since Trayvon's death and there wasn't the same outrage. Are you telling me in Chicago you don't believe those deaths were prosecuted or were pursued, that justice wasn't sought for those people?

THOMPSON: I believe a lot of them aren't being prosecutors and a lot of those deaths are being -- there's no leads. They're just going unprosecuted. That's the thing. Nobody is talking about it. The fact that we're worried about -- the fact everybody's so angry that George Zimmerman wasn't found no guilty, he didn't pay, he wasn't punished. Let's say he goes to jail tomorrow. Does that solve the big problem? I mean the big problem is a black teen can't walk in Sanford, Florida, in the night during the rain with a bag of Skittles. Is that problem solved once George Zimmerman goes to jail? Why aren't we talking about the bigger problem? Why aren't we focusing in a positive direction, is all I'm saying. Like get something positive about this, instead of always hammering on the negative, getting people riled up, angry at each other.

People are in such a fervor about this, such a fervor that a young black man was killed. Why don't we take that, and the media especially, and point that in a positive direction in Chicago and let's use that anger. Let's use that energy to do something good.

PEREIRA: Joining us now from Los Angeles, Joe Hicks, vice president of Community Advocates. We also have Mo Ivory, attorney and host of the "Mo Ivory Show." She joins us from Atlanta.

Joe, Mo, so glad to bring you into this conversation with Brian (sic).

There's a lot of people that I head voices say, is it too much to take this Zimmerman case -- I called you Bob. I apologize.

Is it too much to call this case on display on where race stands in America?

MO IVORY, HOST, THE JOE MO IVORY SHOW: Yes. First, let me address Bob in a little bit. I would invite Bob to pick up a paper and read about the activist groups working in Chicago. I would invite him to remember that the first lady went there to address the violence in Chicago. I would invite him to our town hall meeting where we're continuing the conversation today on B103, where I am a host, to try to solve the problems. I don't know where he's getting his information from that nobody cares about the people in Chicago. There are a lot of groups working to bring the violence down in Chicago. What it doesn't get is the same attention as a case where a white person is involved in the killing of a black person. That's why this case is getting so much attention. Black life is never valued as much until there's a white person involved in that desk. So that is the reason why.

So I ask you not to make blanket statements that nobody cares because I care. I can point out to hundreds of thousands of people who care, black leaders that care, and people who have converged on Chicago, and that is why the death rate in Chicago has decreased 34 percent this year over 2012, because there are people activating to try to deal with this problem.

PEREIRA: Let's let Bob respond.

THOMPSON: Again, I'm not saying nobody cares about the black kids dying in Chicago.

IVORY: You said that.

THOMPSON: I'm saying it's so far under the radar. For 24 hour, seven days a week that we talk about Trayvon Martin, we might talk 24 minutes a month about the kids in Chicago.

(CROSSTALK)

IVORY: That is a problem, Bob.

THOMPSON: Can I finish. Let me finish one sentence. When you say these activists are doing, it's under the radar. Let's bring it out into the open and make it as big a situation as this and then maybe we can solve the problem.

IVORY: Bob, sure. Let's bring it out in the open. I invite you to take your blog to Chicago and write an entire piece or blog and do what you do and bring up the victims. I invite you to get involved. Grab a plane, go to Chicago, get involved.

(CROSSTALK)

PEREIRA: Let's invite Joe Hicks now.

I appreciate the passion, Mo, we really do.

I know, Joe, you believe black leaders need to step up and put this into focus. What do you think needs to happen?

JOE HICKS, VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNITY ADVOCATES, INC.: Bob is exactly right, and Mo is right to a certain extent. Yes, local groups have been active in Chicago. She's clearly one of those and that's a good thing but this shouldn't be a localized issue. Bob is right. The NAACP is meeting in Florida as we speak. This violence is taking place in Chicago. There's a portion of black violence in New York and Philadelphia. They're talking about Trayvon Martin.

(CROSSTALK)

HICKS: They're making that about race and we're hustling that issue.

(CROSSTALK)

IVORY: How do you know --

(CROSSTALK)

IVORY: How do I not know --

(CROSSTALK)

IVORY: How do you not know that the only part that is getting the news coverage is talking about Trayvon?

(CROSSTALK)

HICKS: Hold on. Hold on, Mo.

THOMPSON: That's the only thing that's on 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

(CROSSTALK)

IVORY: Exactly, because that's what we choose to focus on so that --

(CROSSTALK)

HICKS: Mo, focus. Mo, focus.

(CROSSTALK)

IVORY: No, no. You focus.

HICKS: Cite me a speech. Cite me a speech that's been done in Florida at this NAACP convention. You can don't it because you can't tell me that they're talking about it at the NAACP convention, or Al Sharpton isn't talking about it. Jesse Jackson came and gave a few speeches. What has he done? What has the nation's black leadership done, except utilize this case as if one black kid, to hustle the --

(CROSSTALK)

IVORY: You know what I love --

(CROSSTALK)

PEREIRA: Let's give Mo a chance to respond.

IVORY: I love for you do all the work that was done on the days we weren't talking about Trayvon, all the sessions going on at the NAACP conventions right now. What you see when you turn your TV on is a focus of what is the biggest news story of the decade because that's what we all decide to focus on.

(CROSSTALK)

IVORY: But don't ignore the other work is being done.

(CROSSTALK)

PEREIRA: I'm going to send you all to your corners. I feel like there's more to come out of the three of you.

We're going to take a short break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: The conversation is certainly getting hot. We have Bob, a New York-based comedian and commentator. From Los Angeles, we have Joe Hicks, vice president of Community Advocates, and Mo Ivory, an attorney and host of the "Mo Ivory Show" in Atlanta.

Differing opinions. Very passionate about this topic we're discussing today. We're talking about the fact that race has become really a big discussion, renewed once again in America in light of the George Zimmerman verdict.

Bob, I want to ask you, what do you say when you, as a white man in America, get criticized for jumping into this conversation?

THOMPSON: Well, again, I think it's unfair. We keep categorizing this as a white issue -- black/white issue. And that's the problem. Again, that's brought up by the media. A term was invented for this whole case, white-Hispanic. That never existed before this case. It's not a black and white issue. If it's only a black and white issue then --

PEREIRA: What kind of issue is it then?

THOMPSON: I think it's an issue that's been turned into a black and white issue, which was a simpler issue -- was George Zimmerman -- did he have the right or was he -- did he do the right thing that night or the wrong thing? This there's the question right there. Race was brought into it afterwards. You know what I mean? Why is this such a race? Why are we trying to divide the issue when a lot of people agree? Look how many while people are protesting side by side with black people? What do you say about that?

PEREIRA: The protesters that we receive on the streets are not of -- we've talked about it -- across the racial spectrum.

Mo, let's bring you in, because I know you're chomping at the bit to comment.

IVORY: Michaela, thank you so much.

Listen, Bob -- I think Bob's answer right there, that this is the first time we've heard white-Hispanic brought in by the media, is just an example how different people live their lives and how unexposed people are in this country to the races that exist every single day. I'm half Hispanic and half black. I've heard the term "white- Hispanic" my entire life.

So, Bob, just the fact you have never heard it shows me what a limited space you're living your life in and how most people live that way. It's not a new term. It takes a quick like this to, oh, my gosh, polarize you with a new term. This has existed for a long time, just like race in America has, and this case has always been about race. So to make an argument "this is bringing race into the conversation," race has always been a part of the conversation.

And also there have always been white people that have supported the civil rights for awe. To say there are a bunch of white people against the verdict, of there are, because something that is injust is injust no matter what race you are.

And there are some people, white, that can transcend that and look at common sense. And those are the white people you see being outraged about this verdict.

THOMPSON: Right. But here's the thing. This media started this entire conversation about getting me in the gotcha moment that I never heard the word white-Hispanics. That's the problem with these conversations we have in the media, it's all about gotcha. You got me.

(CROSSTALK)

THOMPSON: Look, 90 percent of us in the world haven't heard about the word white-Hispanic. You might have but --

(CROSSTALK)

IVORY: Bob, I don't want to get you.

(CROSSTALK)

THOMPSON: Of course, that's what it's all about.

IVORY: Bob, I don't want to get you. First of all, there's no reason for me to get you. I want to educate you, help you understand that what you're living in right now is not the world that a lot of people live in and certainly not what minorities live in --

(CROSSTALK)

PEREIRA: Joe, before we make this a two-way conversation, I want to get back to why we have Bob here.

Joe, let's talk about the Chicago situation -- 700 young lives, 700 lives of black people cut down in the years since Trayvon died. What specifically can be done in Chicago?

HICKS: Well, you know, see I think we have to first really start talking about this issue. I think it's largely been ignored by the nation organizations and I think there needs to be a campaign. There needs to be a real focus on that. And there is the right work with civil rights groups to really get involved at a national level to focus attention, to talk to the Justice Department about what kind of techniques can be utilized there. How do you create partnerships with communities and policy?

Mo lives there. I'm sure, at a certain level, some of this is getting done. My point is -- and, Mo, if you're involved in community education, as you say you are, you know this issue of black on black violence is viewed as being dirty laundry inside black communities. If you claim it, they'll say, you can't say that, it's racist. It's just crime. That's not black on black crime. So we have to talk about the disproportionate level of black violence in the country. What is it, what's causing it, how do we to the bottom of it, and what are the techniques and strategies that can be utilized to deal with it?

(CROSSTALK)

HICKS: but unless you call it what it is and realize that we're going to continue to utilize individual black killing for purposes like we see the Trayvon Martin case being used.

PEREIRA: We're going to have to leave it there.

I have to say, all three of you are very passionate. Let's hope we can row towards common good and work together to reverse those numbers.

A big thanks to Bob Thompson, Joe Hicks, Mo Ivory.

I know it had you people talking to the camera, to the TV. Why don't you tweet me at michaela@CNN.

Thanks to all of you for joining us.

This just in to CNN. We have just received a statement from Juror B- 37. She references Stand Your Ground. We're going to bring it to you right after this quick break. Stay with us.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: Welcome back. I have in my hands a new statement from Juror B-37. She was interviewed, as you recall, by Anderson Cooper on CNN. I want to read this to you in its entirety. "Thank you for the opportunity to vent some of the anguish which has been in me since the trial began. For reasons of my own, I need to speak alone. There will be no other interviews. My prayers are with all of those who have the influence and the power to modify the laws that left me with no verdict option, other than not guilty in order to remain within the instructions. No other family should be forced to endure what the Martin family has endured.

"As for the alleged book deal, there is not one at this time. There was an agreement with a literary agent to explore the concept of a book, which discussed impact of sequestration on my perceptions of an attorney who was closely following the trial from outside the bubble. The relationship with the agent ceased the moment I realized what had been occurring in the world during the weeks of my sequestration.

"My prayers are with Trayvon's parents for their loss as they have always been. I now wish for me and my family to recover from being selected for this jury and return to a normal life. God bless."

That's again, the statement we just received here at CNN from Juror B- 37.

Want to bring back our legal panel, defense attorney, Jeff Gold, and attorney, Brian Kabateck joining us now.

Jeff, I'm curious of your thoughts when you hear that statement.

JEFF GOLD, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, first of all, I agree with it 100 percent. I attended the trial, and I don't think anyone who attended the trial could not sympathize with a juror. I don't see how in the world anybody who was there could have done anything under the law but acquit. What she's doing, of course, is responding, there was a statement earlier by four other jurors, sort of distancing themselves from her. And she's sympathizing with the Martin family.

Look, all protesters out there, if they're really protesting, they ought to be against the Stand Your Ground law, not really George Zimmerman. I think there was nothing else for this jury to do under Florida law.

PEREIRA: Brian, sounds she felt her hands were tied. Curious about the notion of getting her life back on track. Let's talk about this idea, "my prayers are with those who have influence and power to modify the laws that left me with no verdict option." Jeff, speak to that as to your thoughts.

BRIAN KABATECK, ATTORNEY: I thought the trial was over before it got started because of the jury instruction. I new the jury instruction would be given. We talked earlier in the sow about self-defense, the fight-or-flight provision, meaning you can walk way from a situation, you don't get to use the defense, or at least the jury makes a decision whether or not you could walk away.

Florida doesn't have that. That's the problem. Florida has a law that says you don't have to walk away. As soon as you imply that, as soon as you have that jury instruction in place you are in a situation where the jury doesn't get to consider whether or not George Zimmerman could have walked away from the situation. This is the problem. When I've told people, since this verdict came out, because people approached me, they asked me about the case, they ask me what I think, I say the real problem here is the law. If people don't like the verdict, change the law. Of course, in Florida, that's a difficult situation.

PEREIRA: Brian Kabateck, Jeff Gold, thanks for sticking around with us.

More news after this quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) PEREIRA: It's been a struggle this season for the pitcher from the Red Sox, Jon Lester. But it's nothing compared to the challenge that he faced seven years ago as a rookie.

CNN chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta, has his story in "The Human Factor".

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): A 22- year-old pitcher for the Boston Red Sox when a trip to Fenway Park in 2006 changed his life.

JON LESTER, RED SOX PITCHER: I had gotten in a car accident driving to the field.

GUPTA: The accident seemed to make lingering back pain worse, sending Lester to the hospital where doctors threw him a curveball.

LESTER: Sitting there one minute think, you know, in my case, I have some back pain, need to get anti-inflammatories, maybe rest or something like that, to you have cancer.

GUPTA: Lester was diagnosed with anaplastic large cell lymphoma, a rare, fast-spreading, yet treatable form of blood cancer. He endured six rounds of chemotherapy and, by the end of the year, C.T. scans showed the cancer was gone.

Soon thereafter, Lester met with then-Red Sox manager, Terry Francona, eager to get back into the game.

LESTER: We're going to take this as slow as we possibly can. Obviously, that's the last thing I want to hear.

GUPTA: 2007, just a year after his cancer diagnosis, Lester started, and won game four of the world series, clinching the championship for the red sox.

At first, Lester was reluctant to talk about his cancer.

LESTER: At the time, you know, wanted to move on. Wanted to be -- get back to doing what I loved to do and play baseball and not be the cancer patient anymore.

GUPTA: But that changed in 2010.

LESTER: We had just had our first son. I could only imagine what it would be like for him to go through something like this.

GUPTA: Lester helped launch NVRQT, or Never Quit, in collaboration with the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.

LESTER: I fought and beat cancer. Now it's time to fight for the kids.

GUPTA: Never Quit raises awareness and money for pediatric cancer research.

LESTER: Each ball represents a child diagnosed with cancer. Over 125,000 in the last decade. Children's cancer is a monster and we all need to bring it down.

GUPTA: Having beaten cancer himself, Lester's mission now is to strike out cancer for children.

Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PEREIRA: That wraps things up here. Thanks for watching. I'm Michaela Pereira.

AROUND THE WORLD is next.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUROR B-37: And I feel bad we can't give them the verdict that wanted. But legally, we could not do that.