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Ferguson Protesters Await Grand Jury Decision; Ferguson Peacekeepers Helping Soothe Anger; Myron May Sent Packages Prior to Shooting; Obama Immigration Announcement During Latin Grammys Was Political Strategy

Aired November 21, 2014 - 14:30   ET

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


(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Any minute, the grand jury in Ferguson could be announcing whether Officer Darren Wilson might be charged in the shooting death of Michael Brown. Standing by are many people in Ferguson who want Officer Wilson indicted for killing the unarmed teenager back in August. Some of the people have protested violently while many other supporters of Michael Brown have taken more of a peaceful, calmer approach.

Let me go straight to Washington to our CNN chief Washington correspondent, host of "The Lead," Jake Tapper.

You, Jake Tapper, you just talked to the head of the St. Louis police union. What did he tell you?

JAKE TAPPER, CNN CHIEF WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT & CNN HOST, THE LEAD: State Representative Jeffery Rorda (ph) is his name. He will be on "The Lead" later today. He says that he thinks that Officer Darren Wilson will not be indicted. That is his impression.

BALDWIN: Why?

TAPPER: He has also -- because he says forensic evidence shows that there was a struggle inside the car and there's enough question of whether or not the officer should be charged for the grand jury to ultimately decide that there is not sufficient evidence leaning that way. Remember, there's a very different standard when it comes to what a grand jury decides on whether or not a case should go to trial versus whether or not the decision that a jury makes in a courtroom itself. So that's what State Representative Rorda (ph) says, head of the police union. He also has been with Officer Wilson and his legal team. And he thinks -- this is how he phrases it -- it was his impression, Rorda's (ph), impression, that Wilson and Officer Wilson's legal team have confidence in the grand jury process, have confidence in the judicial system. Obviously, Officer Wilson and his legal team think that he is not guilty of any crimes and that it was a clean shooting. So he was clear to say that's not based on anything they said in terms of them saying we don't think he's going to be indicted. They didn't say that directly. But he thinks that they feel pretty good about what's going to happen. So read into that what you will.

BALDWIN: This is something I don't know if you asked him about, with a nugget today on how they are in talks for this resignation which is predicated on how this grand jury decides. If they feel good about the evidence that's been presented, thus far, and if there is no indictment, then why resign and why now?

TAPPER: Well, that's a good question. He would not discuss anything having to do with any negotiations. I think just, as an observer in the case, I think it's probably fair to say that Officer Wilson, assuming he's not indicted, might feel more comfortable as a police officer in another jurisdiction, both for the police force and for himself. And it might be better to go some place where he could be a little bit more unanimous and focused on his job rather than what he would be if he stayed in Ferguson. That's just my supposition.

BALDWIN: OK. It's an interesting one. Jake Tapper, we'll definitely tune in to that interview on "The Lead," at 4:00 eastern.

Jake, thank you so much for joining us here.

TAPPER: Thank you.

BALDWIN: This case of a white officer killing an unarmed black teenager exposed deep wounds when it comes to race in this country and police using deadly force on people who are unarmed. The anger seen and felt among so many African-Americans in Ferguson, to many, feels similar to it the anger many felt when Trayvon Martin was killed in 2012. You know the story. George Zimmerman was acquitted in the unarmed teen's death. And many thought there would have been violent protests soon after, but that wasn't necessarily the case. Many of the protests against the verdict were peaceful. So what can be learned from the people who called for justice for Trayvon Martin?

Ed Lavandera talked to some of those people who are trying to keep the peace now in Ferguson.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(SHOUTING)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hurting others or destroying property is not the answer.

(SHOUTING)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You are one of a handful of people who were in the middle of it all trying to keep the peace. You were the last line of defense before things went crazy. I watched it. What was it like to be there on that line?

JAMES MUHAMMAD, FERGUSON PEACEKEEPER: Every night that I went out there, I looked at my wife and I looked at my children and I didn't know if I was coming home.

LAVANDERA: On this stretch of road in Ferguson, Missouri, on the nights the protests turned violent, there was a small group of peacekeepers, mostly local religious leaders, who put themselves between the cops and protesters, putting their lives on the line. MUHAMMAD: We were the last line of defense and if we was to fail out

there, if we would have not succeeded out there, could you imagine the blood that would have been on that street?

LAVANDERA: I've gone back and found a couple peacekeepers that I met on those nights here on this street to talk to them about what it was like and to get their perspective on what they fear might happen next here in Ferguson.

You're in the middle of that crowd out there. It's already tense and getting more tense. You have a guy in front of you telling you, I came here to die.

MUHAMMAD: His actual words were, "I came here to die tonight." My response was, why don't you choose life. Why don't you choose to live? You don't have to come to die tonight.

UNIDENTIFIED POLICE OFFICER: You need to exit the roadway.

ROBERT WHITE, PASTOR, PEACE OF MIND CHURCH: I am afraid, as a citizen, that there will be fashions on both sides that will not be able to keep peace.

I remember the night when the frustrations built up between the clergy and the police officers and there was a disagreement with how the police were managing the people. I remember when I was, like, I'm done. I threw my hands up and I was ready to walk away. But there was a sergeant from the highway patrol and as I was taking off my orange shirt throwing in the towel, he took off his baton and his helmet, and he said, if you quit, I'll quit. He said, there are bad protesters on your side and bad cops on my side. If you and I quit, they're going to clash. Right there in the middle of the street, he and I came to tears. We promised each other that we would stand through until the end.

LAVANDERA: Will you be out here again doing what you did last time?

WHITE: We haven't left.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Ed Lavandera, thank you very much.

Coming up, you see this package, mailed by a gunman in the hours before he shot three people at that library at Florida State University. Today, eight of his friends are opening up the mysterious packages. What's inside? We have those details next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: We're learning more about the Florida State University alumnus that shot people inside a campus library this week. Myron May was shot and killed during the Thursday morning incident. Authorities say before May went on the shooting spree, he mailed priority packages to several friends, one of whom was a former classmate. May apparently reached out to each of these friends on Facebook, asked for their addresses, and so CNN located that former classmate. His name is Joe Paul. He confirmed to us that, yes, indeed, he received something in the mail.

Let's go to Tallahassee to CNN's Nick Valencia.

Nick, you talked to him. Why did he get this? Does he know? What was inside?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He doesn't know, Brooke. He's confused and puzzled by why he would be on this list receiving the packages. Joe Paul told me that he had kept in touch with Myron May, who was a former classmate. They went to school together, were in student leadership together but not close friends. He says most of the recent communication came over Facebook Messenger.

Earlier, I spoke to Joe Paul about the package sent to him by the Florida State shooter.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE PAUL, FORMER CLASSMATE OF MYRON PAUL (voice-over): The U.S. postal inspector gave me a call this morning and told me the package had been intercepted and he had me -- he told me it will be forwarded to law enforcement, and I asked him, I said, well, will I ever be able to receive that package or see what's inside? He assured me, yes. He guaranteed that I would. He said that there was no hazardous material in there. There was no bomb-making material or bomb material in there. He said that you'll be able to see exactly what's in there.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: Paul went onto say he was told he believes most of what was in that package were letters. I asked if there was common thread between that group singled out by Myron May and he said many went to Florida State University.

I was back on campus today, at Strozier Library. A lot of kids were going back to school. I spoke to kids about what they felt and were feeling back on campus today.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: When you first walked up to Strozier Library, what was going on in your mind?

TYLER SCHEFFER, FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY STUDENT: I mean, you're definitely looking around the area and seeing the change, like the window is out. It reminds you of what happened. It is an odd experience walking in for the first time after it happened. But, you know, you just got to keep moving.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: Police have not released a motive of the shootings. When I talked to Paul, that friend who got that package sent, he believed that mental illness was the reason why this happened. He said if his friend, Myron May, would have received professional help, that this could have all been avoided -- Brooke?

BALDWIN: OK. Nick Valencia, thank you.

Coming up next, did you hear about this? Last night, President Obama was the warm-up act, sort of, for Pit Bull. The strategy behind Univision's decision to air President Obama's speech from the White House during the Latin Grammys.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: It was definitely not an accident that viewers watching last night's Latin Grammys had to wait as the award show took a back seat to President Obama's announcing the details of his new immigration overhaul.

CNN's Paul Vercammen has more on what is called a unique political strategy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(SHOUTING)

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): The 15th Annual Latin Grammy Awards took a bow to President Obama allowing him to deliver his immigration thoughts to a TV audience.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Our immigration system is broken and everybody knows it. It's been this way for decades. And for decades, we haven't done much about it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERCAMMEN: Then from the MGM Grand Hotel, Latino music and culture wove together with a sense of euphoria for the president's speech.

Obama declared he wants to prevent deportation of an estimated five million undocumented immigrants.

And so, winner, Carlos Vivas, dedicated his trophy to the president.

CARLOS VIVAS, LATIN GRAMMY WINNER: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(CHEERING)

VERCAMMEN: On the arrival line, the usual talk about who is wearing what turned to what will happen with immigration next.

JESSIE CORDOBA, SINGER: It is important because there are so many people that live here for so many years that they need the answer. They need to be able to know where are they going to go.

ROSELYN SANCHEZ, ACTRESS: As a Puerto Rican -- I'm an American citizen -- to me, it doesn't affect me the same way. But I suffer. I know it's a big deal for Latinos in this country to be recognized and represented. And they deserve to be here and they work hard.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AD NARRATOR: This country is a land of dreams.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VERCAMMEN: Demian Bicher played an immigrant gardener in the film, "A Better Life, a role that earned him a best actor Oscar nomination two years ago. The Mexican star applauded the Obama proposal from Hollywood.

DEMIAN BICHER, ACTOR: Even though that does not fix the whole broken immigration system, it helps a lot. And it's a big, big, big step. We have to celebrate that.

VERCAMMEN: Back in Las Vegas, the job and tributes poured out on stage.

Winner, Mark Anthony.

MARK ANTHONY, ACTOR: Wow.

(CHEERING)

ANTHONY: (SPEAKING FOREIGN LANGUAGE)

(CHEERING)

VERCAMMEN: They delayed the Latin Grammys 17 minutes for the president's announcement many Latinos waited a lifetime to hear.

Paul Vercammen, CNN, Las Angeles

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: Paul, thank you.

Coming up next, as Americans flock to movies this weekend for the next "Hunger Games" chapter, I'm hosting a special "CNN Spotlight" tonight on Jennifer Lawrence. Did interviews, and went back to her hometown of Louisville, Kentucky. Interesting stuff we found. We'll preview for you coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BALDWIN: "Mockingjay" is finally here, the third installment of the "Hunger Games" opening across America.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: No one else can do this but her.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTRESS: She won't be able to handle it. The games destroyed her.

UNIDENTIFIED ACTOR: Let her see what the capital did to district 12.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: All eyes on the leading lady in the box office blockbuster franchise, Academy Award winner, Jennifer Lawrence. Tonight, CNN spotlights the Hollywood A-lister. Jennifer Lawrence was a star waiting to be born.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN (voice-over): Her first official performance came at the age of nine.

(on camera): She played a role at church.

JOSH MOSS, MANAGING EDITOR, LOUISVILLE MAGAZINE: Her mother said that they were doing a play about the book of Jonah and her quote was she played a prostitute and she said she played the best little prostitute.

(LAUGHTER)

Which is funny. She was laughing about it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She definitely stood out as somebody that just absolutely wanted to do this.

BALDWIN (voice-over): Jennifer enrolled in her first acting class after her 14th birthday.

(on camera): Do you remember her saying, Charlie, put me in?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. She was precocious. She was energetic.

BALDWIN (voice-over): A few months in and Jennifer was tackling the role of Desdemona in Shakespeare's "Othello," captured in this never- before-seen video.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER LAWRENCE: (INAUDIBLE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(on camera): So did the 14 year old version of Jennifer Lawrence pull off Shakespeare?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think so. She sings in that scene, too.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(SINGING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She had to sing a capella. That's not easy to do. BALDWIN: That's brave.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That doesn't surprise me she had courage to do that. She was determined and unflappable.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BALDWIN: We went back to her roots in Kentucky for that. Don't miss the special. It's "CNN Spotlight," it's Jennifer Lawrence, hosted by yours truly. Hope you watch tonight, 10:00 eastern, only here on CNN.

We continue on. Top of the hour. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you for watching.

A grand jury decision in Ferguson, Missouri, could be hours away. And in just the last hour, we got just another sign of how much a possibility this is looming. We learned that schools in the Jennings District near Ferguson have just extended the Thanksgiving break, so they will be out now the entire week Monday through Friday. That is a change. The holiday was supposed to start on Wednesday. And the school cancellations may be because this could be the last day that grand jurors are meeting.

So the choice, the choice on whether to indict Officer Darren Wilson for shooting death of Michael Brown could come at any time. And as the grand jury nears this end to its deliberations, Officer Wilson may, too, be nearing an end to his time on the Ferguson Police Force because he is in talks to resign to ease pressure on his fellow officers. This is what we're getting here at CNN according to sources close to this negotiation. They also say Wilson insists he has done nothing wrong.