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Don Lemon Tonight

Republicans Using Monica Lewinsky Against Hillary Clinton; New CEO for Clippers Announced by NBA; Stunning Report on Nigeria by Amnesty International; Exclusive Interview with Laura Sobiech; Kim Goldman Promotes Her Book

Aired May 09, 2014 - 21:00   ET

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

BILL WEIR, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Bill Weir. Welcome to CNN TONIGHT.

Well, yet again, Donald Sterling speaks, someone hits record and America shakes its collective head. This time he gets into the motivational for the racist rant and it is downright creepy.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD STERLING, L.A. CLIPPERS OWNER: And I'm talking to a girl. I'm trying to have sex with her. I'm trying to play with her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: Well, much the way Rob Ford gave us the -- I only smoke crack when I'm drunk defense. The Clippers owner is trying out, I'm only racist when I'm horny.

I'm going to talk to a man who is used to be dealing with scandal of effort proportions and how he might feel about Sterling.

And if you can believe it was 20 years ago next month that 95 million people tuned in to watch a white Ford Bronco roll down the freeway. Some say that moment and the O.J. Simpson trial that followed fundamentally changed American culture. And certainly changed the life of Kim Goldman, sister of the late Ron Goldman. She joins me tonight to talk about anger and the challenge of forgiveness. And the day she had a chance to take deadly vengeance against O.J. himself.

And as we begin a holiday weekend for the most important women in our lives, I will talk to one mom who raised the best kind of internet sensation. A boy who got a horrible diagnosed much too young, but decided to go on helping as many people as he possibly could. And did he ever, to the tune of 12 million and counting. It is a story that will melt your heart.

But we begin, once again with the political fight over a well-worn topic, Benghazi. Check out the tweets Speaker John Boehner fired out today, announcing your majority members of the select committee on Benghazi, the only line missing there is the line, let's get ready to rumble. Democrats is deciding whether to go along with this latest exercise and outrage against the Obama administration and Hillary Clinton's tenure as the state department. And I am joined now by a man who says not only should Democrats attend, but that Benghazi can actually wind up helping Hillary in a run for president in 2016. Joining me now, Lanny Davis, former White house council, special council during the Clinton administration and author of the book "Crisis Tales: five rules for coping can crisis, in business and politics and life."

Hey Lanny, good to see you. Thanks for being here.

LANNY DAVIS, AUTHOR, CRISIS TALES: Well, thanks and talk about the word well-worn, I couldn't be happier that the Republicans are helping to change the subject about why they can't answer questions about health care, jobs and all the things people care about. And are giving us a chance to talk about partisan Republicans. That is all they can do is investigate, investigate, investigate. Well-worn, old news, been there. Done that.

WEIR: Now, the decision for Democrats is whether or not to go along with this or just, you know, boycotted it out right. What is your advice?

DAVIS: Look, when we have facts on our side I see no reason to boycott. I see a lot of reasons to embarrass them. For example, every time they say the word "cover-up" and the word spontaneous demonstration triggered by the Cairo protests, those words have been used to show a cover-up by the White House. When we know the fact that they can't dispute, which is the CIA wrote that sentence based upon then current intelligence and turned out to be wrong, will they be honest, or will we challenge them by showing up saying who wrote the words "spontaneous demonstration?" Are you willing to say the CIA was in the tank for the White House when the deputy director who worked for three Republican presidents over a 30-year career is being accused of what?

No Republican has the guts or the courage, certainly not Congressman Gowdy who is driving this thing, to say it was the CIA that wrote that expression "spontaneous demonstration" turned out to be protests? He turned out to be wrong because he based it on current intelligence that changed over time.

WEIR: But the Ben Rhodes memo that was revealed most recently you have to admit it was a screw-up on the communication shop from the White House.

DAVIS: Well, I know what he meant. He was talking about the protests from the video across the Middle East. We all know there were protests. They were televised. There were demonstrations. It was about the video. I would have taken all of these talking points, 14 versions if I were in the White House and put them out immediately to the American people to show that the phrase "spontaneous demonstration" came from the CIA.

Susan Rice was left to twist in the wind while the White House communication shop sat on talking points. But I believe in getting the facts out. that is why we ought to be at these hearing to embarrass the Republicans with something called facts, rather than the conspiracy theories of Mr. Gowdy, who actually believes that aliases were invented and people were spread around the world and hidden because of Benghazi. This is a man who probably will tell us that green Martians are going to land in Washington and in a conspiracy to take over the country next week.

WEIR: Now, Frank Richard (ph) was with us last night and said voters don't give a damn about Benghazi. Four people died, though. I mean, do you agree?

DAVIS: It is pretty harsh. I give a damn, secretary of state Clinton, President Obama, everybody grieved, especially Hillary Clinton, very close friend of ambassador Chris Stevens. Of course, everybody has great grief for the families, for the people who died. Great regrets that mistakes were made. And intelligence was wrong. That more protection was not granted.

Secretary of state Clinton appointed Ambassador Pickering who served four presidents from Ronald Reagan all the way through President Obama. And Admiral Mullen, the chairman of the joint chiefs two people who can't exactly be called partisan. She appointed them for a board immediately. They studied and interviewed and came up with 29 recommendations. They say there was systemic failure. What did Hillary Clinton say? I take responsibility on implementing every recommendation. And she said recently her greatest regret of secretary of state was what happened in this tragedy. So I do give a damn.

WEIR: You know, they would love to get her in front of the committee to testify. How would you advise her?

DAVIS: Well, look, this is a circus. The white water hearings were a circus. The entire Republican investigation machine only knows how to investigate and make a media circus. They don't know how to solve problems. They haven't told us what to do about people with preexisting conditions while they want to repeal Obamacare. So this is a circus.

Would Hillary Clinton help contribute to this circus atmosphere? I suppose she would. But she also has the facts on her side and the fact she accepted responsibility. I would think that they will probably call her just to increase the circus, but they're not helping themselves. They're helping the democracy party quite frankly. I have no fear about these hearings. That's why I think the Democrats ought to show up.

WEIR: Now, you had kind words in the past for Rand Paul, who might be an opponent of Hillary in a couple of years. And he keeps dusting off these attacks against Bill Clinton in relating to the Lewinsky affair. I know you don't talk about Monica in general. But I want to ask you about his tactic here. Take a listen on what he said today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. RAND PAUL (R), KENTUCKY: Absolutely, I think it is really important that you know, for six months leading up to Benghazi, there were multiple requests for more security and she turned these down. What I would ask anybody is, is it ever appropriate for a 50-year-old man to take advantage of, even if it is consensual a 20-year-old woman in the work place and have relations in the office? No one agrees with that being appropriate. Almost any job in the whole country you would be fired. I think that he harassed people. He was sued multiple times for it.

So yes, I think what he did was absolutely inappropriate. Is that being a predator? I don't know how you want to define it. But the thing is, most people would say it is contemptible.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: Will you react to it, Lanny?

DAVIS: I wrote a column about that man when he ran for senate disagreeing with almost everything he stands for, but saying he was an intellectually nice man. His dad, Ron Paul, who was running for president called me the very next day and thanked me for the column. So let me revise my view.

Nasty doesn't work in America, Senator Paul. You're a nasty person to viciously attack and lay that on Hillary Clinton when the American people long ago heard President Clinton apologize for his private conduct.

I would say that my first donation for president of the United States in the Republican party will be to Rand Paul, may he be the nominee. I hope he is the nominee and we'll win by a 50-state landslide. Because he is nasty and nasty doesn't sell in American politics.

WEIR: Lanny Davis, appreciate your ideas tonight. Thanks for being here.

DAVIS: Thank you.

WEIR: And joining me someone now who is also familiar with political scandal and vein of Lewinsky, the national spotlight, but also familiar with what it takes to make a full recovery from such scandal.

So in this week after the "Vanity Fair" piece came out, we want to reach out Donna Rice, who was famously photographed sitting on the lap of then presidential candidate Gary Hart aboard that yacht, multi- business, remember that? Not only in his second run for the White House, but launched the whole media frenzy, tabloid cover saying that live sketches.

But this days, Donna Rice Hughes is devoted to making the internet safer for kids with her nonprofit, Enough is Enough, and she joins us now.

Hi, Donna. How are you?

DONNA RICE HUGHES, PRESIDENT, CEO, ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: Hi, Bill, good to be with you.

WEIR: What did you think when you saw the piece Monica in "Vanity Fair," looking to take back her narrative?

HUGHES: Well, I have applaud her for trying. And I thought she was very articulate in the article. And I just -- my heart went out to her, Bill. I think she has had a rough time for a lot of reasons. And it is very hard for anybody to really empathize with what it is like to be caught in this kind of perfect storm scenario and not be able to get on with your life. Because I was there. Fortunately, I made some choices that moved me along. But there was not anyone prior to me that had really kind of carved that path. So it is a difficult thing no matter what you are.

WEIR: You are I guess pre-internet, right? That whole story, so you had relative anonymity. But what was it like seeing for you just seeing your face in old fashion news print?

HUGHES: Well, it was not anonymity at all. In fact, what was even worse is when the real news goes tabloid, and that's what happened to me. And so, it is very difficult. It is perceptions to began the form and it is hard to break through those labels and those perceptions. And for me, it was like the daily thinker about a year and a half.

And so, I decided pretty early on that I came to a fork in the road where I could really exploit it and, you know, make millions of dollars and further my career and other things, or just go underground because I really wanted the pain to count for something bigger than me.

And so that is the point I came to because credibility was important to be known for who I was and not for the labels. So I made that choice to get back to my faith, to get back to my roots, and that meant going underground, I didn't know it at the time. And little did I know seven years later I would actually be public again.

And I heard someone say in "the Daily Beast" I think it was or some article that was rewritten. That you know, you can rebrand yourself. Well, I was not trying to rebrand myself. But what I was doing was following God and the way he directed me. And it just so happened I ended up back in the public eye dealing with an issue that put me right back into politics and working with the media and actually helping to pioneered a movement to help other people.

And so, I've been really blessed and very fortunate. My heart just went out to her.

WEIR: Well, Monica at least, expressed a desire, one of the empathies for coming out of the shadow after all this, was seeing Tyler Clemente, that Rutgers student whose tragically took her own life. And her hoping to be an advocate for those shamed in this digital age. What advice would you give her?

HUGHES: Well, actually I wrote a few blogs and spoke and even to "Today Show" on Tyler Clemente, and that is what we do at our work. And I know I would say that is a good and a noble thing because it is so important to be able to empathize with people who have gone through great brokenness and public humiliation. So, I would say go for it. Go for it, definitely. And use your pain to count because it is very redeeming, not only for those you are helping but also for yourself. But the first thing I would tell her is what my mother and my grandmother told me, and that is before you make any big decisions get your life straight with God and he will guide you.

WEIR: Donna Rice Hughes, good to see you after all of these years. Really appreciate it.

HUGHES: You bet.

WEIR: All right.

And we come back, well, it is like only a good case of laryngitis or come sort of audio jamming device can save Donald Sterling from himself. We'll have the new shocking audio, the latest shocking audio when we come back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WEIR: Well, if you have any secret recordings of Clipper owner Donald Sterling you may want to get them out now before the market becomes completely saturated. For the second day in a row, Radar Online has released what sounds like the scorned (INAUDIBLE) defending himself after that racist rant with V. Stiviano cost him a lifetime ban from the NBA. And in it, he explains he was not really thinking with his head.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

STERLING: But I'm talking to a girl, I'm trying to have sex with her. I'm trying to play with her. What -- you know, if you ever are trying to have sex with a girl and you're talking to her privately you don't think anybody is there. You may say anything in the world, what difference does it make? Then if the girl tapes it and releases it, my God, it is awful.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: Meanwhile, as Sterling and his estranged wife try to fight their forced exile, the NBA is naming former Citibank and Time Warner executive Richard Parsons, one of America's most respected African- Americans business leaders as CEO of the Clippers.

And that, joining me now, Roger Mason Jr. He is the NBA players association vice president, former player himself.

Roger, good to see you. Thanks for being with me tonight.

ROGER MASON JR. VICE PRESIDENT, NBA PLAYERS ASSOCIATION: No problem. Thanks for having me.

WEIR: So, where do we start with this latest recording? Yesterday, I thought this may be a very sly way of damage control. Like hey, let me pretend to defend myself and we'll pretend it gets leaked. But when you listen to that, even that doesn't make any sense anymore, does it?

MASON: It is a tough one. It doesn't. The damage is done here. And you know, the more tapes come out, you don't know what is real and what is not. But the bottom line is America and the world heard Donald Sterling's thoughts and views and can't really take that back.

WEIR: Is there any impatience within the player's association when it comes to seeing action? It has been a couple of weeks now. And that first announcement from the commissioner, it seemed like it was going to be more expedient than this. Are you guys getting frustrated?

MASON: I wouldn't say we're getting frustrated. We understand there is a process. You can't just you know kick someone out of the league overnight. And so we understand that. But at the same time, we're paying close attention. We're in touch with Adam Silver and the NBA. And we expect a swift resolution.

WEIR: What is your reaction to this appointment of interim CEO? Dick parsons?

MASON: I applaud Adam Silver and the NBA, what a great choice. Don't know him personally, but great reputation. I have heard a lot of wonderful things about him. And obviously he has been a very successful businessman over the years. So I think that is a step in the right direction for that organization. He is a model citizen. And somebody who is going to be great. So hopefully that is the first step for new ownership.

WEIR: Now, we've heard yesterday from Shelly Sterling, Donald's wife, estranged wife sort of laying down the goblin (ph) saying she is half owner of that team. She is not a racist. You can't take her end of the team away from her. And for some legal reasons she manages to hold onto control what would the players' reaction be to that?

MASON: It wouldn't be good. I have talked to many guys in our league. I have time to go in different locker rooms and spend time with our guys. And everyone pretty much is on the same page that there needs to be brand-new ownership. You know, and whether it is his wife or you know, whoever it is in that family we all feel like it is time for new ownership.

WEIR: Is there a sense among the fellow players that this is a watershed moment when it comes to race relations in your game at least?

MASON: Absolutely. Absolutely. It is, you know, this was a monumental moment. It was an opportunity for the league to step out against racism. And Adam Silver in the league did that. Our players banded together and stood strong with that. So I absolutely think it is.

WEIR: And I want to ask about Jason Collins and Michael Sam who might actually be drafted today over in the NFL. Do you think it is an equal watershed moment for homophobia, or you think those two things should be separate? MASON: Well, at the end of the day it is 2014. And we live in a world where everyone has rights. You know, freedom of speech. Freedom to date who they want, love who they want. And so absolutely, I think what Collins did was terrific. The young kid, Sam, possibly getting drafted is outstanding. And so, you know, sports is an opportunity for anybody, all walks of life to compete. And there should be no problem with anyone doing that.

WEIR: And finally, let's see. Three of your former teams, you got the Spurs, the Wizards, the Heat still in there. Who are you rooting for?

MASON: Well, of course, I'm rooting for my Heat. You know, that is the team I was on this year. I was there the majority of the year. So those are like my brothers and I'm down here in Miami hoping we can get that done. But I still feel good about those Wizards. Those young kids are doing well, too.

WEIR: All right, Roger Mason, Jr., I really appreciate your time.

I'll go with the Heat for no other reason than I love south beach.

MASON: No problem.

WEIR: Thank you, sir. Have a great weekend.

Now, this scandal, of course, is about recorded words and offensive ideas. Twenty years ago, the world was fixated in one that involved two murders, and one that turn names like Thurman and (INAUDIBLE), Ito, and Goldman into household names. None of us can forget the O.J. Simpson trial.

And coming up, I will talk to someone who simply cannot forgive either.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WEIR: It is almost 20 years since 1250 million people tuned in to hear the live verdict of not guilty in O.J. Simpson's double murder trial.

And joining me now, the woman we saw react to that more painfully the most, Kim Goldman, sister of the late Ron Goldman, and author of the new book "Can't Forgive: my 20-year battle with O.J. Simpson."

Good to meet you. Thanks for being here.

KIM GOLDMAN, AUTHOR, CAN'T FORGIVE: Thank you. Nice to meet you too.

WEIR: Is an anniversary like this more painful than the prior years in between?

GOLDMAN: It is not more painful, I mean, obviously, it is getting a lot of coverage, and the media is, you know, marking it two decades later. But for me, it is just like last year and will be like next year, painful all the time. WEIR: Yes. I mean, I think the title says it all, can't forgive. And then when you start the book, my goodness, there is a scene where you are driving in a strip mall parking lot and there he is, there is O.J. Tell me about it.

GOLDMAN: So I was driving in some mall, I don't really remember exactly why I was there. And this figure presented himself in front of my car. He was walking by and, you know, I stopped because I recognized his walk, his swagger, the little limp he had in his leg. And I'm studying its head because I knew the ripples in the back of his head after staring at it for nine months straight. And I white knuckled the steering wheel. I rigged the pedals and I said I could mow him over. I could take him out right here and nobody would know. And I stopped. That is not who I am. That is not my core being. And I thought of my dad and I just would never put him through that.

WEIR: Short of running him over with your car did you think about stopping and having words with him or could you have handled that?

GOLDMAN: No, it really was a purge of emotion. It was just that intense reach that he conjured up in me so long. And I just -- I was so shocked and then he just kept on walking and I took a deep breath and continued on my journey.

WEIR: Imagine the verdict might have been the lowest point. I don't know -- what were the ebbs of this, what were the lowest low for you?

GOLDMAN: My God, burying my brother. You know, obviously, that was the hardest thing for me to watch him get rolled down into the ground. That was horrible. The verdict, obviously was devastating. Just to know that after all we had gone through and fought for that he was found not guilty. I felt really betrayed.

WEIR: But then came the civil verdict.

GOLDMAN: The civil verdict.

WEIR: Was there satisfaction there?

GOLDMAN: Yes, there was -- absolutely. And we fought hard for that. I mean, you know, as a victim's family to feel empowered to be able to take some ownership over your journey, you're your fight. It was great to have 12 jurors to unanimously find him guilty for the crimes. And then he suckered the same door that we did.

WEIR: And then he was sent away for the crazy thing in Vegas for the armed robbery, he is doing time now. You must have taken satisfaction for that.

GOLDMAN: I did, I was a little giddy, maybe a little too much. But you know, we had pursued him so, you know, violently for such a long time, and I think publishing the book pushed him over the edge. And knowing that he stormed into a hotel room in Vegas to steal stuff back. There was a little bit of vindication for us, knowing that he was going to be locked up. And it gave me a chance to breathe.

WEIR: And you actually tried to visit him in jail, why?

GOLDMAN: He had been so large in our brains and in our lives and in my home, that I needed to shrink him down to size so that I could manage him better. I wanted to diminish the importance that he played. And I asked if I could come see him so that I could see him in shackles and the orange, you know, jump suit and me be the one to finally walk away and have him sit behind --

WEIR: No response or did he say no?

GOLDMAN: No, no response. I don't know that I was entirely surprised by that. But no response, tried to negotiate some terms with his attorney but it didn't manifest.

WEIR: Now, you know, few people can relate to what you went through with this, but I'm sure assume most therapists would say you got to let go of the hate at some point. That it is not going to bring back your brother. And you're just living -- letting him live rent-free in your head, you know, which I don't know if that is naive or not, but what would you say to that?

GOLDMAN: I don't think that there is a certain path that we have to follow. I don't think there is a right or wrong way to do this. I have put him into a compartment that sits where it should be on a shelf, tacked away where I don't need to have access to it and when I do, I get it.

And for me, I will have a happy life, I enjoy my life, I have success in my life. I run a nonprofit for (INAUDIBLE) teens. I have a beautiful son. I managed my grief, I managed anger. It is appropriate when someone stabbed your loved one in the heart that you have hatred towards them, but it doesn't debilitate me.

WEIR: And what do you make of all the people, the insularly characters that went on to do reality shows, that even from the forensic scientist (INAUDIBLE)? How do you regards those?

GOLDMAN: You know, I have no ill will. I mean, it is what it is. The only person that I have my feelings towards are the person that who murdered my brother. The rest of that is out of my control. I can't keep fighting that. But that is part of the reason why it is hard for me to find closure. It is hard for me to move on like people want because it is so big. And it is continues to still grow and still draw so much attention that I just take a lot of deep breaths and find my balance in it.

WEIR: And people should take a moment to remember your brother at these anniversaries and not just focus on all the other --

GOLDMAN: And that is what I do. And I appreciate that.

WEIR: Yes. Kim, happy mother's day.

GOLDMAN: Thank you.

WEIR: Best to your son. And thanks for coming in. GOLDMAN: Thank you.

WEIR: The book is "Can't Forgive, 20-year battle with O.J. Simpson," Kim Goldman.

And coming up, I'll talk to a remarkable woman who knows all too well the crisis in Nigeria is not the first time innocents have been caught there. She is also helping girls put their lives back together after they were captured by Joseph Kony. The amazing, you have to meet her next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WEIR: A stunning report by Amnesty International today backs up the allegations that some villagers in northeast Nigeria who claim officials were warned of a pending attack by the terrorist group Boko Haram on that all girls school, but not enough soldiers could be brought to respond. With over 200 kidnapped girls still missing, Nigeria's president denied those allegations today and he insists he is just as upset about their disappearance as the rest of his nation.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOODLUCK JONATHAN, NIGERIAN PRESIDENT: We must work with the global community that are fighting to make sure that we bring back the girls. Complete with the parents, the father and the president of this country I feel pain. I don't sleep with my two eyes closed. And I will not sleep with my two eyes closed until these girls are brought safely back to their parents.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: And joining me now, Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe, of the St. Monica girls school in Uganda. She is one of "Time" magazine's 100 most influential people. Also Lauren Blanchard, specialist in African Affairs with the congressional research service.

Ladies, both, thank you for joining us.

Lauren, please just school us a little bit on Boko Haram. Who are these guys and what do they want?

LAUREN BLANCHARD, SPECIALIST, AFRICAN AFFAIRS WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE: Well, they're a militant Islamist group. They have been operating in northern Nigeria for over a decade now. But really, they are insurgents who sort of came to the fore in 2010. Since them, they increased in strength and geographic reach. And you know, they are conducting attacks almost daily in the northeast these days.

WEIR: I have heard reports that they can almost out-gun the soldiers and police in the area.

BLANCHARD: Those are the reports, and that really left the Nigerian forces on the back foot a bit and left them pretty defensive about their operations today.

WEIR: Why are they links to Al-Qaeda and other extremists?

BLANCHARD: Well, we don't know for sure. They do definitely seem to have some ties to one of the regional Al-Qaeda affiliates, Al Qaeda and the Islamic (INAUDIBLE). But we're not really sure exactly what their ties might be to any other Al-Qaeda groups internationally.

WEIR: And based on your knowledge of this group, you know, what is it that is to their advantage? Is it the geography? The topography? Can these French and American ripper drones help, you know? What is the smartest way to try to round them up?

BLANCHARD: It is a pretty remote part of the country. This is not the sort of triple canopy dense forest that you see in central Africa, for example, where forces are looking for the world's resistance army. But they have caves. They're operating sometimes in a mountainous area along the Cameroon border. Si, it is a difficult terrain. And if the girls have been split up, it is going to make it pretty difficult to find them and rescue them.

WEIR: Well, Sister Rosemary, you do some amazing work. You got a standing ovation at this time event last week. in fact, let's play a little bit of your speech to understand why people love you so much.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SISTER ROSEMARY NYIRUMBE, TIME MAGAZINE'S 100 MOST INFLUENTIAL: I'm really not only to speak but to shout about the pain of these women. And it is no longer an option for us. It is a duty for all of us to get involved in healing the wounds of these women.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: You work extensively with women who have escaped Joseph Kony's Lord resistance army.

Based on what they tell you when they get out, what do you think about these girls that are missing now? Do you think that they have been moved to other parts, other countries, do you think there is any hope they will be found?

NYIRUMBE: It is possible that they might have moved them to other countries. But I don't think it could have been very far. And I really still think that they can be found. The thing is that all of us have to become very, very firm in looking for these girls. Everybody should get involved. And in case they are moved to other countries everybody should pay attention and be alert if these girls to be in the same country. They should get these girls and really take them back.

WEIR: I'm sure you must support the awareness campaign, Michelle Obama and thousands of others around the world, even the single hash tag, do you think it helps?

NYIRUMBE: Yes, it helps, I am supporting it totally. I have already put myself there. And of course I would like everybody to be in the shoes of these mothers. Let everybody feel the pain of these women who are praying for their children. And for us women I think it is very, very important to come together and tell these mothers they are not alone right now. We are with them. And this will help them understand that we are together with them, we are feeling the pain. And we're also going to continue as I say to shout to the world, let everybody get involved. We're looking for these girls.

WEIR: And if the stars were aligned and so many prayers answered and the majority of these girls could be rescued what is the challenge psychologically for them? What is the healing process? Like how long does it take?

NYIRUMBE: You know it is a long process. And I think there are a lot of people who take it easy and think it is easy to treat these girls or heal them in a month, two or three. That is just a disillusion. Because these girls have gone through a very painful process, psychologically and physically. It will take long.

The thing we all have to accept and be convinced about is that we need to work with these girls. We need to accompany them. We need to build in them confidence again. Then they might be ready to talk. But we have to show them that we are listening to them. We are with them and we are going to bring them from where they lost hope.

We have to say hope is still there for you. And we have to tell you that your dignity is actually not stolen from you. We have to restore their dignity. Even their education which is being robbed from them now, we must say you still have a chance. We must give them the opportunity.

WEIR: Sister, you're doing amazing work. Thank you for being here and sharing your story. Lauren, thank you for your story, as well.

Sister Rosemary Nyirumbe is a focus of a new book and film at the same title "Sawing Hope." For more information, you can go to sawinghope.com.

And coming up the inspirational story of a teenager who wouldn't go down without fight. And Zach Sobiech weapons were guitar, a catchy chorus and a huge loveable soul. His video has reached over 12 million people. His message of love and living goes on thanks to his mom. And we'll meet her next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ZACH SOBIECH, AMERICAN FOLK ROCK SINGER-SONGWRITER: My name is Zach Sobiech. I'm 17 years old and I have osteosarcoma. I have been told I have a few months to live. But I still have a lot of work to do. I want everyone to know. You don't have to find out you're dying to start living.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WEIR: Wise words from a young man with a giant soul. While many of us might wither under a medical death sentence at such a tender age, Zach Sobiech put his soul into song and became an international phenomenon.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

WEIR: With no record label or wide radio play, "Clouds" made the billboard hot 100 and hit number one on iTunes a year ago. His story has been seen by seen by over 12 and a half million people on You Tube. All of it, an answer to the prayer his mom uttered when they got the devastating diagnosis, OK, Lord, she said, you can have him. But if he must die I want it to be for something big, and I want someone's life to be changed forever. That is her new book, "Fly a Little Higher" describes it was more than one life affected by her son.

Laura Sobiech joins me now.

LAURA SOBIECH, AUTHOR, FLY A LITTLE HIGHER: Hi.

WEIR: Great to have you here.

SOBIECH: Thank you for having me.

WEIR: I have been teary all day watching the videos reading through your book. Happy mother's day or is that such a thing, do you equate that with a loss?

SOBIECH: Yes. Kind of, May is a big month for us because of Zach's birthday and he died on May 20th of last year and then of course mother's day. But he was a great kid. So I am, you know, blessed to be his mom.

WEIR: Try to explain for us the impetus for writing the book and for his message, as he was so ill. He wanted to, what is it, perk up others who didn't know how to talk to him through this. I mean, where did it come from? Take me through it.

SOBIECH: Yes. So, it kind of started, I think, after we found out there were no treatments left and he was terminal. I asked him if he would consider writing letters to his loved ones. Because I wanted the rest of us to have something to hold onto. After he was gone and he thought about it. He tried, he told me he tried to write letters but it was just not coming out right. And then it turned into songs, you know. That was the way that message came out of him and that's what he left for us.

WEIR: And when it picked up and caught viral fire, what was that like in your house?

SOBIECH: You know, at first, it was so exciting because we, you know, I think within two weeks, we had two million hits on clouds. And it was just surreal. You really can't, when you're in it, it's hard to stand out of it and get the scope of it all. But it was fun at first. But then as Zach got more sick, it was just kind of something that was happening out there. And it didn't have a lot to do with what we were enduring at home.

WEIR: Right. I know you wanted to write this to help other folks out there who are going through this. You describe yourself as being in two separate worlds. There was practical mom world, and my son is dying, I don't want to do this world. I have a 10-year-old little girl. I can't even fathom what that must be like. But what advise do you give? What would tell parents who are going through the same struggle?

SOBIECH: Yes. You know, I think what we learned rather quickly was the way you do it is truly one day at a time, you know. And that was kind of our mantra. We said OK, we're here. This is where we live, in the present. And you always have that backdrop of death.

But if you -- if you live there all the time, you lose the joy that can be found right here. And so we learned to live that way. And that would be my greatest advice to somebody going through this. It's just learn to live now.

WEIR: Right. He was lucky. You were lucky to have him, I can tell from the clips. The folks who sold pancakes, Rain Wilson's group did an amazing little documentary. But he really appreciated you as well. And you can see your parenting. Take a look at this. This is Zach talking about mom and dad.

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ZACH SOBIECH: Mom and dad, the best parents you could ever ask for. I only wish I could have kids and raise them like you raised me. Because you did one hell of a job. You're the best parents anyone could ever ask for. And I love both of you so much. And thank you for being my parents.

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WEIR: My God. It's the good ones. Why the good ones?

SOBIECH: Yes, it happens a lot.

WEIR: How about Amy, his girlfriend? There is just a sweet moment in the doc where they had a picnic date at the Metro Dome, and they talked about getting married and maybe trying to start a family, figured death until us part. I'm dying soon for whatever. How is she doing?

SOBIECH: She is doing so well. She is a remarkable woman. I've said, like I say it in the book too, she is the strongest woman I know. Because she came into this after we knew Zach was terminal. And so that was a decision. And she was -- she was a rock for me. She was a rock for Zach. And she is doing remarkably well.

WEIR: This sort of thing could divide a lot of families and kill a lot of faith out there.

SOBIECH: Right.

WEIR: It seemed to make yours stronger on both counts?

SOBIECH: You know, that was one of the reasons I wrote the book. I wanted to show people. I think it's easy watching the videos to think that we're a perfect family, and we're not. You know, we had struggles. It was hard. And I can totally understand how families fell apart. There is a lot of stress there. But we made a decision that we were going to come together and we were going to fight through. And we're stronger for it.

WEIR: Well, "Fly a Little Higher" is amazing.

SOBIECH: Thank you.

WEIR: It will make you want to hug your mom or your baby. And also very instructive in talking to people who are going through such enormous grief.

Again, happy mother's day.

SOBIECH: Thank you.

WEIR: Thanks for being here.

SOBIECH: My pleasure.

WEIR: Let's go out with a little more of Zach's song.

SOBIECH: That sounds great.

WEIR: We'll be right back.

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WEIR: Well, after a seemingly endless winter around the country, people are gearing up finally for summer. But one group of girls in Harlem, New York is focused on ice all year long. That's ice skating. This is a pricey sport, of course, out of reach for many kids in the neighborhood. But one woman has made it her mission to help these girls succeed on and off the rink. And that's why she is a CNN hero.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I love the crispy feeling of the air. The sound of my skate crunching on the ice. Skating relieves me from everything. I just want to fly. I just don't want to stop.

SHARON COHEN, CNN HERO: I heard that there were some girls who wanted to figure skates in Harlem. Growing up I was a competitive figure skater, and I knew that skating wasn't a diverse sport. There was not access for kids in low income communities. They were so eager to get started. I began teaching them. And it was really inspiring to me. Now we serve over 200 girls a year.

Look at those spins! You did it!

The best part about skating is that it gives you qualities that use the rest of your life. They gain disciplines, perseverance. Step cross, step cross. Excellent, girls.

They fall down and they get back up and they learn they can do that in anything. It's a building block. Skating is the hook, but education comes first.

Before they even get on the ice, they have to get their homework done. They get tutoring. Get the minimum of three afternoons a week.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Algebra was not my best subject, and I failed it. Miss Sharon hired a special tutor for me. It felt like hey, hey, you have to get back up.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It was that simple.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Now I'm doing way better in school. I'm like yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Ladies and gentlemen, Harlem Ice.

COHEN: We want girls to believe and know they can be anything they put their hearts and minds to.

It's not all about skating.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Miss Sharon is teaching us to be the best we can be.

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WEIR: And every week, we try to honor a CNN hero, an everyday person doing extraordinary work to help others who was nominated by someone like you. So if you know somebody who deserves some recognition right here, please tell us about them at CNNheroes.com.

And that is it for us tonight.