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Don Lemon Tonight

Protests Around the Country; Second Night of Protests in Ferguson; Interview with Brown Family Attorney Daryl Parks; Protests Across the Nation

Aired November 25, 2014 - 22:00   ET

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


ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: General Honore, I appreciate you being with us over these last two hours. That's it for this program. Our coverage continues, though, with "CNN TONIGHT" and Don Lemon.

DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Thank you very much, Anderson. Breaking news tonight. Protests all across this country tonight. You are looking now live at protests in New York City. At Grand Central Terminal.

We are going to be covering the protests all over the country. Including in Los Angeles tonight and as well as in Los Angeles.

This is CNN TONIGHT. I'm Don Lemon.

Here's what we know right now as we progress on here. We have been covering the unrest here in Ferguson, Missouri, as a grand jury decided not to indict Officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown.

The governor has weighed in on this. Also the president of the United States, weighing in, saying he's going to take steps to ensure that law enforcement is fair all across this country. Officer Darren Wilson speaking out to ABC News for the first time since the shooting death of Michael Brown. He is telling ABC News that his conscience is clear because he was simply doing his job. Wilson is on leave from the police department and no decision has been made about his status.

Plus, the ugly outburst from Michael Brown's stepfather, caught on tape by "The New York Times." And wait until you hear what he had to say right now.

But again we're covering protests all across the country including here in Ferguson, Missouri.

I want to get to my colleague Chris Cuomo first who is covering the protest in Ferguson, Missouri.

Chris, what are you seeing where you are?

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: All right. It's a very different night here tonight, Don. You have the National Guard that's protecting the buildings. You see them across the top.

The police are coming out in much bigger numbers and much more aggressive force. Every time there is a source of agitation, they address it. They just came rushing now trying to get some people in the crowd who they believe was starting to throw things and change the dynamic here.

This has been an all most completely while angry, but very peaceful protest. People as you know have many reasons here to feel angry. And that's been going on. But you can see these officers now, there are three times as many here as there were last night. And they're much more aggressive in terms of how they're dealing with protesters.

The main line, Don, has been to stay out of the street. That this is only for the sidewalk. And that's been a point of contention throughout the night. We just saw a big flurry of activity now. Here come the officers again. They're rushing out. You see the -- you see the -- so now that, Don, you just saw what the dynamic is.

They don't like how the encroachment happens from the protesters. They then move up very aggressively. You know, in an obvious situation of what it is. And then people go running away. No arrests made since the first couple over an hour ago.

LEMON: All right. Chris, stand by. We're going to get to you.

We want to get now and show you the site of some other protest in the country.

CNN's Miguel Marquez joining us now from New York where we have been watching the protests there unfold. Looking at FDR Drive where they blocked off traffic just a short time ago and watching them walk all the way downtown to Union Square.

Miguel Marquez joining us now live out with those protesters -- Miguel.

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we've been at it for about four hours on this snaking walk through downtown Manhattan. The crowd has only really gotten louder and larger as we have moved on. We are now on 42nd Street. Moving towards Times Square. The very heart of this city for this crowd.

This will probably be a break point. They have been at it four hours. A lot of folks are tired. They are worn out. But still expressing their anger at what happened in Ferguson. Many will probably leave after Times Square. But my guess is, many will stay, as happened last night. And when mix it up with the police here to some extent.

Several different protests going on across New York City. All at the same time. Clearly, a coordinated effort. But by protesters here and organizers. To take back their streets as they say. So that they can prove to the officials who it is that is in charge of this country and what they want.

They want greater justice. They want to stop police shootings. And people are taking to the streets. Voting with their feet in this case. Moving now to Times Square by the hundreds to continue their protest. The big question is, where will they go from there. Will they continue on -- Don. LEMON: All right. Thank you very much, Miguel Marquez.

As you can see, the decision here not to indict Darren Wilson really sparking protests everywhere. And outrage among the many people who felt that he should have at least indicted so that there could be a jury trial. And what they feel is a more open and transparent process.

What you're looking at now on your screen. The protesters really getting larger and gathering in Ferguson, Missouri, where the National Guard is now out guarding the Ferguson, Missouri, police department. Again my colleague -- to my colleague, Chris Cuomo, who was on the scene there of these protests.

Chris, what's going on?

CUOMO: Tone change here, Don. There's been a lot more aggression on both sides of what's going on here. Something is going to happen. It's just a question. Because every time this new method of aggression is being used by the police officers. And again that's not uncommon in situations like this. You see it all over the country in big cities. You see it all over the world, frankly, where they try to stop small provocations to prevent bigger ones.

But it really is drumming up hostility of the crowd now. So the feel is different. And you are seeing the officers. They just took a couple of steps back. They were just face to face with the protesters. It was really creating a lot of tension here now. So we're going to keep watching the situation. But it does not feel good. It has been mostly peaceful right up until now.

LEMON: All right. Chris, we'll get back to you.

I want to get to my colleague, Sara Sidner also here in Ferguson, Missouri.

Sara, we were all out in it last night. How -- what are the numbers, what are the crowd compared to -- as opposed to last night?

SARA SIDNER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They're fall smaller. And I'm going to have (INAUDIBLE) come with me and give you -- excuse me, and give you a little look at just what we are looking at. I mean, last night this entire street was completely filled with people, who were very emotional about the decision that the grand jury made.

Today, a much, much smaller crowd. A big difference here not only in the size of the crowd. But the fact that the National Guard has showed up here. They have been out here for most of the day. Outside the Ferguson Police Department. And so you're seeing them in riot gear. They've been dressed in the riot gear for hours now.

But we did see some arrests here earlier today. And you're also seeing just raw emotion from people. But I can also tell you that some of the reason why you are hearing people scream and yell, it's because they're telling people, stop throwing things. Stop doing this. We are here to protest and we are here to be here for Michael Brown's family. And they had asked for things to be calm.

And so you can hear, sort of back and forth between some folks are saying, calm things down. And other folks who are doing the complete opposite -- Don.

LEMON: And Sara, you know, the National Guard has been brought in, there were 1700 National Guard members who appeared last -- yesterday. 2200 here. We saw busload are being brought in. At least three buses to guard the Ferguson, Missouri, police department. As we look on our screen there, we see officers in tactical gear.

Those members of the National Guard, are they very visible tonight, Sara?

SIDNER: Look, I mean, let me just let you see. I mean what you're seeing here are those are members of the police department that are inside the crowd there. Not the National Guard. You have the county and you have the state police, state troopers out here. The National Guard is, over here. So they are not engaged yet with the crowd.

This is the first time we've seen them out here, though. But they are not engaged with the crowd. It is the police department. And that's what the governor and the leaders here have said. That the National Guard is going to stand back unless and until, they feel they need to assist. And that's what we're seeing so far here.

I want to talk to you a little bit about some of the businesses that we've been seeing and some of the folks that we've been talking to here about what happened last night. A lot of disappointment. We've heard the word, heartbreak, I kept -- countless times here. From the residents here. Who are extremely concerned that this is going to really hurt this community, economically.

They were very disappointed with what happened last night. And frustrated. And they're very worried that the businesses won't come back. This community is already reeling. They've been reeling for more than 100 days now. For whoever people, are standing up for. For whoever people are out here protesting for. For whatever the reason. There is a lot of concern this community, from the residents who live here. That this community will be hurt for a long time because of all of this -- Don.

LEMON: Sarah, stand by. I am going to be needing to get to you throughout the evening. As well as my colleague, Chris Cuomo also in Ferguson tonight.

Need to tell you, if you're just tuning in, there are protests that are sparking, that are happening all across this country, New York City on the right of your screen. And also in Missouri. Of course. Atlanta, Georgia, this evening. Los Angeles, as well. We are being told in New Orleans. There are protests in Minneapolis today as well as Kansas City.

I want to get now to CNN's George Howell. George joins us from Atlanta. The scene of another protest this evening.

George, take us there.

GEORGE HOWELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, several hundred people marching through the streets of downtown Atlanta. You're looking at a group right now here. Again, just marched down Peach Tree, for the most I can tell you that these protests have been peaceful.

Now when you talk to people, keep in mind, this being the heart of the civil rights movement, many people want these to be peaceful protests. However, we have seen a couple of arrests. At least five people. Rather, we should say, detained people. Not sure of exactly why they were detained, taken to police custody. But again, there were a couple of confrontations with police.

Don, this started really around 4:00 p.m.

Jonathan, can we show some more of just what's happening right now as these protesters continue to march.

Around 4:00 p.m. protesters gathered around CNN headquarters building in downtown Atlanta. A peaceful protest there. But again they refuse to speak. I asked a couple of people if they would give comments. They refused to do so. Then they continued on to the Capital Building. We understand there were a couple of confrontations there. Maybe a traffic sign that was thrown toward the Capital Building.

Police then came forward with a big can of pepper spray and dispersed the crowd. But not using the pepper spray. The people just decided to disperse.

Then they continued on, Don.

LEMON: OK.

HOWELL: Some decided to get on to the Connector. You're familiar. The main interchange in downtown Atlanta. Stop traffic temporarily. And then they continue to march on down Peach Tree Street. And now here to Woodruff Park. So far it is peaceful. And you can see that there are a lot of police officers on the streets here in downtown Atlanta. Some in riot gear. Some with helmets on. But, again, a peaceful situation so far -- Don.

LEMON: OK. George Howell in Atlanta. George, thank you very much.

Again, if you're just joining us, protests all over the country this evening. What you're looking at. George Howell is reporting from Atlanta. What you're looking at now Times Square in New York City. Courtesy of our affiliate WCBS there in New York City. And you can see that there are protesters in the middle of Times Square. In the middle of traffic there.

Significant protests all across the country tonight. Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., as well as New York City.

Our Miguel Marquez in New York City. Right in the middle of all those protesters -- Miguel. MARQUEZ: It is a sight to behold, Don. To see Time Square shut down

like this. This is 7th Avenue. Major artery right in the center of the city. And it completely shut down for the second night in a row by hundreds if not thousands of protesters that have now joined in here. It's hard to tell because Times Square is so filled with people at a normal time more than any other day that it's hard to tell how many have now joined in.

If you are familiar with Times Square, you know the U.S. Armed Forces recruiting station, that famous flag. These protesters going by here. Many of them with their hands in the air. Symbolizing the plight of young black men and the relationship with police departments across the country.

A lot of anger directed at the New York City Police Department as well because of a couple of high-profile cases here as well. One where an individual was choked to death by a police officer and just recently another where a young man was shot and killed by a police officer accidentally says NYPD. But for protesters here, it's not enough. They want more action to make sure that these things do not happen again.

Another night. Another protest. Where we go from here, though, Don, is the big question. Last night, we stopped here for a short period. Part of the protesters stayed in this area of Time Square. Just the center of this -- of Times Square and face-off with police. Others then went on to Harlem and tried to take the Triborough Bridge. We know that part of the Queens tunnel on the east side here has been blocked. They tried to take the Lincoln Tunnel here earlier today and protests, small splinter protests have spread out across city. This is just one of many -- Don.

LEMON: Miguel Marquez in New York City again. Protests as you see on the bottom of your screen from coast to coast. Right here in America in the United States. Boston. Philadelphia. Baltimore. Washington, D.C. Providence, Rhode Island. Chicago. New Orleans. Nashville. Denver. Dallas. San Francisco. Oakland. Portland, Oregon. Seattle. And of course, Ferguson, Missouri. And as we have just been showing you in New York City, in Manhattan, and Brooklyn, as well.

We will be covering this throughout the evening here on CNN. And when we come right back, we're going to talk about the protests again and also the shocking rant by the stepfather of Michael Brown caught on tape before the violence broke out last night here in Ferguson, Missouri.

Plus Officer Darren Wilson tells ABC News he has a clean conscience. We're going to have reaction to that interview coming up.

And how do parents in Ferguson explain the events here to their children? I'm going to ask one mother.

Breaking news right on the other side of this break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) LEMON: I'm Don Lemon, we're now back live in Ferguson, Missouri, where we're showing you protests all across the country. You can see this now. KABC, this is in Los Angeles, protests are happening. We have been showing you pictures from New York City, in Times Square. Of course pictures here from Ferguson, Missouri. Down in Atlanta, as well.

I'm going to be joined shortly by my panel here in Ferguson, Missouri. Van Jones is telling me, and we're going to talk to him about that, that this is a defining moment for activists, young activists all across the country.

Before we get into that discussion, though, I want to go to my colleague Paul Vercammen, joining me now from Los Angeles to tell us what's going on there -- Paul Vercammen.

UNIDENTIFIED CROWD: Don't shoot. Don't shoot.

PAUL VERCAMMEN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, largely a peaceful demonstration. But as you can see we're walking through downtown Los Angeles. Headed right now toward the police department. This protest started in the Crenshaw District. The protesters from time to time have literally laid down in the street. And blocked off intersections. But for the most part, demonstrators -- let's talk to one of the demonstrators.

Andrew, tell us about what do you think is important for people to bear in mind as you march?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think that it's important for people to know that the decision not to indict Darren Wilson means the system does not value black lives. I think that it means that a cop can kill a black or brown kid when he's defenseless and unarmed and not get charged. I think that it means that we either fight back and stand up in police terrorism.

VERCAMMEN: And how long will you march to night? Do you know what's the strategy?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Last night I was in the streets from 6:00 to 1:30 and I know that people were out until at least 4:00. I'm going to be out here until, you know, people seem to disperse. I'm going to fight as long as it seems like everyone else is in for this.

VERCAMMEN: And what sort of changes as she chimed in there? What sort of change would you like to see happen here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I want to see accountability for the police. I don't want to see a camera on the chest. I want the police to stop beating us. I want them to respect us. I think that -- the attitude of the cops and (INAUDIBLE) community is to oppress them and they already have this mentality that we're criminals. I want them to just -- to treat us as human beings with dignity.

VERCAMMEN: Thank you for your time. Well done.

As you heard Andrew expressing his sentiments as this largely peaceful protest continues in downtown Los Angeles. Back to you.

LEMON: Thank you very much for that, Paul Vercammen. We'll continue to show you pictures from all across the country. As these protests are happening from coast to coast. In large cities and it appears to be in growing numbers all across the country. On the left of your screen, Los Angeles. On the right, New York City.

Miguel Marquez, we're getting word, Miguel, that arrests are imminent. If there is more unrest and if it's unruly there. What are you hearing, Miguel?

MARQUEZ: It is not clearly arrests are imminent, but I will say that this is the first time tonight that we have seen police in helmets. They are guiding the protesters as you can see up there now, continuing to move up Seventh Avenue here. It's the first time that we've seen police in this sort of heavy gear tonight.

They have problems here in Times Square last night. That's maybe the reason that they have the heavier gear here. But they are allowing protesters to move on. You can see protesters with their hand up moving alongside the police there. It is not clear, apparently they are going to go all the way to Harlem again tonight as they did last night. So it's going to be a very, very long night.

Many of these protesters have been here for about four hours. And it is an extraordinary view.

Rick, if you can stand up just a little bit, you can see that crowd all the way down Times Square. It has grown and grown and grown. And whether or not these protesters were coordinated enough to come together here in Times Square or whether it has picked up more people as they moved into this heavily trafficked area of the city, it's not clear. But it has just become massive -- Don.

LEMON: Miguel Marquez, thank you very much. And I need to tell our viewers, we'll stick with these pictures as we continue on here. We're looking at protests from -- in Manhattan, New York City, of course, Seattle, Washington, Oakland, Portland as well, San Francisco, in Dallas, Denver, Nashville, New Orleans, Chicago, Providence, Rhode Island, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, Philadelphia, Boston, of course here in Ferguson, Missouri.

Let's discuss what's going on now. I'm joined now by CNN's Mark O'Mara, Van Jones is here with me, Sunny Hostin, and also Michael Smerconish, just some of our CNN analysts and commentators join us now.

So let's talk about this. You said, Van Jones, you believe, this is a defining moment for young activists all across America?

VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Yes, this is a very, very, big deal. The young generation of African-Americans, Latinos, Native Americans, but also their allies. You see a lot of young whites out there. They have had the experience with law enforcement that has been disturbing to them. And older people, sometimes white folks, say, look, maybe you're overreacting, maybe you're fantasizing, maybe you did something wrong.

You have a generational response now. This is a major deal. I hope that America will listen to these young people. I hope that America will say that something here is going wrong.

LEMON: As the president spoke today, the president was in Chicago, was supposed to talk about immigration. Instead, started off talking about the unrest that happened here last night. The non-indictment of the police officer, and saying any one who sparks violence, he's not with those people. But if you want to protest peacefully, he's is with you.

Sunny, both you and I live in New York City.

SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes.

LEMON: And to see this happening, you know, outside of New Year's Eve is a -- a really big deal.

HOSTIN: It's remarkable. You know, I was born and raised in New York. I don't think I have ever seen anything like this. But it's so American for people to be able to protest peacefully. It's constitutional. It's American. It goes back to, you know, Henry Thoreau, you know, it goes back to MLK, Jr., it goes back to Ghandi.

This is just a tenet of our society when you want to affect change. And what we saw last night with the looting, with the rioting, that is not how you affect change.

LEMON: Right.

HOSTIN: You affect change this way. And I think what is so significant, as Van was just saying, this was likely spurned on and organized through social media. I mean, we're talking about organized protests all over our country.

Has anyone ever seen anything like that? People are walking with signs that say, we stand with Ferguson. That is phenomenal. That is really -- a game changer in our society.

LEMON: Michael Smerconish, you have been on the radio today in Philadelphia, discussing this all day long. And as you are watching these pictures, I'm interested in what your callers said. And also just your reaction as you see these protests happening in major cities in growing numbers it appears right now.

MICHAEL SMERCONISH, CNN ANCHOR, SMERCONISH: Well, with regard to the callers, you won't be surprised to know that they were all of very fixed and firm opinions on both sides of the issue. With regard to these protests, you know, not long ago we went through something similar with the George Zimmerman-Trayvon Martin case, which Mark O'Mara knows well, and what occurs to me, Don, is that there were not protests like this across the country in the aftermath.

And so I'm wrestling with the question of why is this case sparking this kind of a reaction when that one didn't. Maybe it's because the Trayvon Martin case ended the way that it did and people are now reflecting on both of these circumstances. Maybe it's also because at least they look at the first of them and they say, Zimmerman had a full-fledged trial. That didn't take place in this case.

LEMON: Yes. And I'll tell you why as well, is because there is maybe a disconnect between generations here that maybe older people don't understand younger people, or are, you know, fed up with it. And the addition of social media.

JONES: Absolutely. And also, you have to remember, this is -- there have been a number now of shootings of African-American men, unarmed. And it seems that there is almost an epidemic of this. And so this is almost like a last straw when you get this decision on the part of the grand jury.

Now the fact of the grand jury, we can disagree about what we think about it.

LEMON: Right.

JONES: But from a generational point of view. You say listen, nobody cares about me. What I saw last night in the eyes of these young people was a lot of helplessness, hopelessness, and despair. I'm glad to see them channeling it in a positive way, peacefully mostly across the country.

LEMON: All right. Stand by. All of my guests. Also getting some new information, as we look at these pictures in New York City and Ferguson, Missouri. Two arrests so far in Ferguson, Missouri. In New York City, we're getting word that arrests are imminent if, if the protesters are unruly as we look at these live pictures here.

We are live on the streets of Ferguson. We're live on the streets of New York City. We're live on the streets of Los Angeles, as well as Atlanta and cities all across this country.

When we come right back, we'll talk about how parents are speaking to their kids about this, about police and race. The generational disconnect as well -- as well as other facets of this growing story here in the United States.

We're back just on the other side of a quick break with our breaking news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Back now live with our breaking news here on CNN. I'm Don Lemon, you are watching CNN tonight. You're looking at live pictures now of New York City, if that -- in Times Square very close. Our Miguel Marquez is there with a growing number of protesters. Miguel, what's going on?

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Just an extraordinary scene here, Don. We are walking backwards up Seventh Avenue here. You can just see the Times Square behind us, this group again walking all the way to Harlem in order to take the seat from south all the way to north. To show the police and show officials here, they're showing their frustration and their anger with everything that has happened. The main contingent of protesters now moving ahead of us, towards Central Park, and then towards Harlem, and it sound like they will go the distance again as far as they can, pushing police who have been incredibly patient all the way along.

They go through the city, the police literally making room for them. It looks down at Times Square are the police are going to stop protesters. They've done that throughout the evening, were they have formed a cordon across the road and they let them go on. I guess hoping that a protestor would stop, when they don't, this happen, going madness, we're walking up Seventh Avenue, against traffic, completely snarling the city.

This is the second night in a row and there are many, many protest going on throughout New York City tonight. A lot of arrests as well, we don't know many at this point, but a lot of arrests in certain areas as protesters has moved towards big pieces of infrastructure, bridges, tunnels, individuals here frustrated and putting it in NYPD's face that two individuals have been killed. Two black men have died in the last several months. One, from a chokehold that, that police officer put on an individual died after, and just recently another individual who was killed in an accidental shooting by a police officer, Don.

LEMON: Miguel Marquez, you said that this is the second night. I would imagine this is a bigger protest than you saw last night. How do the numbers compare?

MARQUEZ: It is interesting. It started off smaller and quieter it grew, and it sort of splintered, and you can see, someone scratches about three or four blocks this way, and then several blocks of this way. And it appears once we want through Times Square they may have joined with other protesters, because we're about 500 or so at the U.N. about 20 minutes ago, 30 minutes ago. And now we're -- it looks like over 1,000 and stretching out throughout city. So, it seems to be growing and not diminishing at all, Don.

LEMON: Yeah. So, Miguel, what about that police officers, because in here at Ferguson, Missouri of course the initial site of the protest in August. There was some concern about that how police handled the protesters. And then we saw what happened last night, the second round of protests. What are you seeing? How are police reacting with protesters there?

CROWD: The people united!

MARQUEZ: The police I have to say have been incredibly patient with protesters. They have taken the -- the -- the direction to allow them to basically go where they want. The protesters took over the STO (ph) major, major freeway on the eastside of the city, to north and south lane at one point. They're moving into traffic like this. Completely impromptu and in fact were how it is going to end. I will say there are all a lot of protester the very front, at certain point they will call for a shield, they have (inaudible) we you saw one of them there. So it is clear that protesters have come, ready, if necessary to mix it up with police, where is not clear it is going to come to that, Don.

CROWD: Hands up.

LEMON: Alright. Miguel Marquez, thank you very much. We'll keep an eye on New York City, we're also -- of course keeping a close eye on Ferguson, Missouri where we are, live tonight. Our Jason Carroll, in the thick of it in the protest thousands in Ferguson, Jason, we were both out in it last night. What's going on where you are?

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, just a few moments ago, police here moved in on the crowd, and moved in on the crowd after they threw some objects at the police here, on the front line. You can see -- the line of police have moved in now, closer to Demonstrators that come out here. Behind them, you've got Members of the National Guard that are out here as well. Despite what you are seeing here Don, I know you were out here last night. The crowd is not as volatile as what we saw out here last night. The crowd is much more peaceful but every once in a while you have a couple of people within this crowd, throwing things at police, when that happens, police have moved in, try to disperse the crowd. The crowd is still here, as you can see, still here, still protesting. Not the same tone that we saw out here last night. But they are here, they're intending to stay here, to confront the police, but they say they're going to do it in a peaceful way, Don?

LEMON: Jason Carroll on the streets of Ferguson, Missouri tonight. Jason, thank you very much. You can see the number of protesters, not as many as last night. Also, you are looking at pictures, live pictures of the Ferguson police department, members of the National Guard, out in force guarding the Ferguson police department, and the streets of Ferguson as well this evening. We're going to continue to follow the protests happening from coast to coast here in America. Protests that are growing with time, make sure you stay tuned right here to CNN, back after a very quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Back now live here on CNN with the breaking news. I'm Don Lemon live in Ferguson, Missouri. What you are looking at now is a very a large gathering, a very large protest. This one is in Boston. The pictures courtesy our affiliate WCVB in Boston and look at the crowds there, many people gathering, most of these protests tonight, have been peaceful, and that is what America is about, peaceful protesting. I've been speaking to my colleague, Van Jones here, and we were saying, last night was not about, peace in America, that was anarchy (ph).

VAN JONES, CIVIL RIGHTS ADVOCATE: I don't know who to blame. But, looting and Arson (ph) that does not going to...

LEMON: Right.

JONES: Move in to forward, but what this is momentus...

LEMON: Right. JONES: Watershed Malawi (ph) generation...

LEMON: Yeah.

JONES: Of Americans who want your country get better not worse.

LEMON: Stand by Van Jones, as we bring you these pictures of protests from all over the country. I want get to Daryl Parks, Brown's family attorney to get his reaction to what's going on across the country. Mr. Parks, you know -- less of explaining (ph) and Michael Brown Sr. have really then pleading with everyone, protesters, here in Ferguson, all across the country that may be peaceful and these are the kind of protests they would want.

DARYL PARKS, ATTORNEY OF MICHAEL BROWN'S FAMILY: Without question, Don. They have -- from the beginning really called out and asked everyone to be peaceful. And such, especially given the bad news they got yesterday. The last thing they wanted to see was the violence we saw last night. So, it gives their heart great joy to see the people are peacefully protesting throughout the country. I mean, it even -- we've actually even got a statement from United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights today. Commenting on -- just the things that are going on in our country, and especially in Ferguson, Missouri. So, they appreciate the love and the support they need it, because things are not going the way they should go right now, as relates to holding Officer Wilson accountable for what happened to -- in the killing of Michael Brown Jr.

LEMON: I want to show you this, Daryl because it got so much attention today. A lot of people were outraged because they believe that this may have helped spark some of the violence and some of the looting and the fires last night. This is his step dad of Michael Brown, his name is Louis Head. This is after the announcement that there would not be an indictment, he's out with the mother of course, the mother, you know, is -- a grieving mom, and no one is contesting what the mom said but, the dad, they belief may have sparks some violence with his comments. Take, take a look.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LESLEY MCSPADDEN, MICHAEL BROWN'S MOTHER: I have lived my whole life. I never had to go through nothing like this. A lot of you don't know me, but I do nothing to nobody. Anybody say so, they're a liar. They're a liar.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We know it, we know it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was somebody's son. That was somebody's child.

LOUIS HEAD, MICHAEL BROWN'S STEPFATHER: Burn this mother (beep) down. Burn this (beep) down. Give me the mic, give me the mic. Burn this (beep) down. Burn this (beep) down. Burn this (beep) down. Burn this (beep) down. Burn this (beep) down. Burn this (beep) down. Burn this (beep) down. Burn this (beep) down.

(END VIDEO CLIP) LEMON: So Daryl, listen, that is a grieving mom, you know, and that's, no one can imagine what the mom is dealing with. But -- the step dad saying "Burn this (beep) down" what's your reaction to that?

PARKS: Without question. Number one, we know that was raw emotion, in a very bad situation. However, those comments were completely unacceptable and inappropriate. However, I have not seen a witness who have tied that comment to any of the violence that took place that night. And I think just to say that, and just to make the, overture that was related, I think is not, not there. The other part I would say is this. Obviously, some media outlet decided to air this and it's really served no good purpose. I don't think it was news worthy for anyone to put out him saying what he said given the situation and totality of what was going on.

LEMON: But, Daryl...

PARKS: If it did...

LEMON: Daryl?

PARKS: Yes? Go ahead.

LEMON: Listen, I've got to push back on that. We've been -- we've have the first we thought it was 12 fires we're hearing today, there were 21 fires. Many people lost their businesses, completely. Their livelihoods were torched went up in smoke. Some came home this morning, I came went to their -- places of business this morning and they just weren't there. So to say, "Burn this (beep) down" and you have that many fires. How can you say that is not news worthy? I beg to disagree.

PARKS: No, no, no let -- I'm -- let me say this to you, you can't show me that there is a connection from him saying that and someone going out and committing a fire.

LEMON: That's why I'm asking, that's why I'm asking.

PARKS: Yeah, but there is no, there's no connection. There is no connection. I saw when it was initially reported, no one can say that from that moment someone heard it and went and called the fire, to report there is a connection between the statement and a fire, I don't think is so, if there is -- if someone can prove that...

(CROSSTALK)

PARKS: That is a whole different story.

LEMON: Hang on. Van Jones wants to get in here. Go ahead, Daryl. Van Jones is here with me.

PARKS: Obviously, obviously that statement was incendiary and not appropriate. I think we forget some times, 99 percent of people who are in public life choose to be in public life. They may have given some thought to how they come across. When you have families like this, really snatched into... LEMON: Ordinary families or extraordinary families.

PARKS: Extraordinary. It snatched on to the world stage. They sometimes do and say things that they probably regret. I -- don't want, so I don't want to excuse any those kinds of statements. But I do think, that what -- that mom and the father, not the stepfather, the father have called for is peace. At least --

(CROSSTALK)

PARKS: And at least so far tonight.

JONES: Sure.

PARKS: You see, black, white, brown, young people, across the country. At least so far tonight actually, acting in peace, and that I think is big triumph tonight.

LEMON: I don't -- I disagree with that. But I just had to let push back when you Daryl, saying that is not news worthy. Of course it is news worthy, to have something like that, to say something like that.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Go ahead, Daryl.

PARKS: But also too, let me say this though. I think the progress is what we see tonight. Tonight, we saw the president come out last night. We saw other leaders today, really call for people to remain nonviolent, I think the protests that we see across the country today and across the world gives Michael Brown's legacy the proper light. We all regret what happened last night, it wasn't good. And the parents upset that -- those things happened there in the city of Ferguson, in the community. I think, when you saw the families, who saw the damage to the communities, we all hurt today from what we saw there. I don't think Louis Head -- I know Louis Head, he's a wonderful guy, wonderful, wonderful guy.

LEMON: Yeah.

PARKS: And the anger that they feel for the loss of Michael Brown -- and they're angry for this reason, they feel that a system that was supposed to go after the murder of their son, completely failed, completely mischaracterized and failed them so, they -- and they felt hey that no one to turn to. They put all the confidence the world...

LEMON: OK.

PARKS: That Mr. McCulloch would do the right thing for them, and it didn't happen.

LEMON: Alright. Daryl Parks, thank you very much, we appreciate you joining us here on CNN. Appreciate your feedback. Thank you very much. My colleague, Van Jones is going to join me throughout the evening as well as the other commentators and reporters who are posted all over the country. Live pictures, now you're looking at the Ferguson, Missouri at the protest in front of the Ferguson police department, the municipal building there. We're also looking at pictures that are happening all across the country, in New York City this evening, in Los Angeles, in Boston as well. Also, those are pictures right now from KABC in Los Angeles, Atlanta, all across the country, protests growing this evening. When we come right back, though, we're going to talk about, a tale of two cities. Are there parallels between Ferguson, Missouri and the riots that broke out in Los Angeles after officers were acquitted in the beating of Rodney King? Back in a moment, with our breaking news.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Back now with our breaking news, live pictures of protests in Boston. We're being told by the mayor of Boston, at least 1,000 protesters out on the streets of Boston. We're also being told that the Massachusetts connector, which -- which is a main artery there, main thoroughfare, it connects. I believe we're looking at a picture now in Ferguson, Missouri, we get to Boston now. In Ferguson, Missouri, police officer -- police car being turned over. Police cruiser being turned over now in Ferguson, Missouri, of course, the National Guard on the scene, last night we saw -- at least, two police cruisers torched, and not exactly sure where this is. Again, this is -- in Ferguson, Missouri, not sure which street it is. We're not in control of these, these pictures. Van Jones where's the National Guard in all of this again, we're looking at another police cruiser being torched in the city of Ferguson, Missouri. They brought in more -- at least 750 more National Guard members, about 2,200 here now. But again, here we go, we're seeing more unrest here.

JONES: Well, you know, it's really, I think that frustrating for people here in Ferguson. You talk to them and say listen, in the summertime when we really didn't need a lot of militarized policing we had over militarized policing. And then, yesterday and in some place today, when -- we actually need to more of a presence, we don't see the presence. And so, I have heard many local activists complaining that -- some parts of town, especially African-American parts of town, seem to be particularly without enough support. So I hope that is not a pattern we see tonight. It really, it really has the bothered look like depending to understand.

LEMON: And these, these pictures are just outside of city hall, here in Ferguson. And on the right of your screen that is, the Ferguson police department, I believe we are seeing arrests there. Again, this is all unfolding live here on CNN. You're looking at the left of your screen. City hall, police cruiser torched now, set on fire by protesters. CNN's Jason Carroll is right there in the middle of it. Jason, what are you seeing?

CARROLL: Don, I can tell you what happened was -- we started at the Ferguson police department. Group of protesters broke off. You can see what they've done here. They've come across a police cruiser. You know, they hit it with fire, broke out some of the windows, now you've got some chaotic activity here as you see, some police units up the street there, they're starting to move in, starting to try to disperse the crowd. The few chaotic moments you we're going to move in a little bit closer and also keep you state distant as well. A lot of people here obviously angry, still about what happened, taking their anger out on police as you see they've now moved in here, Don. Taking control of the situation as best they can. As you came upon here, they're actually trying to turn the police car over, this cruiser over. And that's when police came in from the -- as you see here down the street moving in to disperse the crowd. So, once again that most of the protests that we saw tonight in front of the Ferguson police department was peaceful.

UNIDENTIIFED MALE: Violence from a police, at least two.

CARROLL: Then it started to what we see here now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: By the citizens.

CARROLL: We understand what you are saying.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, you do not, CNN. You do not understand.

CARROLL: OK. Just say it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are promoting.

CARROLL: Right, right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You are promoting certain narrative (ph)

(CORSSTALK)

CARROLL: Thank you, thank you.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Alright, Jason Carroll. Jason, we need you to be safe. Let's -- and make sure -- well, I want -- we just want to make sure that Jason is safe, he's probably better if the cameras are on him. He's got security there and so, Jason will be fine. Alright. Sara Sidner who joins us now, again, from the streets of Ferguson, Sarah?

SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Don, look, we are standing very close to city hall and trying to get a better look at what it is we are seeing. But, it looks as though there is a car on fire, we're told by the protesters who were standing out here that it's a police car, that's on fire. It is literally right in front of city hall. Yes, it is a police cruiser, the fire is going fairly strongly now. I'm going to get up as close as we can, but I warn you there's a lot of police activity here as you might imagine and the protesters have been running back and forth here, seeing sights picture right now, tight in front of city hall here in Ferguson. A police car on fire, you can see them trying to, trying to put it out right now, there. And basically, at some point, folks were just running through the street as they put the car on fire. Then of course, as you can hear the police...

LEMON: Sara.

SIDNER: Are now coming. We're going to move out of the road. We're going to move out of the road. LEMON: Sara, can I say something to you. Can you move back? Because...

SIDNER: Yeah.

LEMON: Yeah, last night they were saying that there was possibly live ammo in the car. But keep talking to us before to make sure that, that you're safe. Go ahead, Sara, continue.

SIDNER: Yeah, we're, we're moving back. We're moving back. We just wanted to see if indeed there is a police car and it certainly it is. City hall, by the way, was just right here. That's the city hall building there. We've been in that hall many times for council meetings recently, where Ferguson of course was top of the discussion there, with a lot of the people, residents here concerned. Let me give you a look at the police car, the cruisers coming in very quickly. Just going around the back and getting set up. Let me give you a look to the right-hand side. You can see the -- the officers, they're starting to surround the crowd. You can hear the protesters saying "let's go. Let's go. Let's go." trying to get out of the way. Certainly, you can tell, like it doesn't take much time for this scene to be cleared quickly. As soon as people think the police are coming in to arrest folks they are, moving out of the way. And we notice that all of these folks came, they're standing in front of the PD, which is just about a couple of blocks away, three or four blocks away, ran down here. Police, police car on fire, you can see --

LEMON: Right.

SIDNER: Down on the ground there. You're looking at some of the -- OK, you're looking at some of the things...

LEMON: Yeah.

SIDNER: That thrown into the police car to start it. You guys are telling me to wrap it up. I'm wrapping it up. That's what is going on.

LEMON: And Sara, we're going to, we're going to get back to you in just a moment. Yes, Sara doing a great job out there. We want Sara to be taking care of -- to be safe as well.