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Terrorist Seige on a College Campus in Kenya; Chris Rock Stopped by Police Three Times; Siobhan O'Dell Becomes a Viral Sensation after Writing Scathing Letter to Duke University

Aired April 03, 2015 - 15:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:32:01] BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Past the bottom of the hour. You're watching CNN, I'm Brooke Baldwin.

We have to tell you this story out of Kenya here, the disturbing new development and new pictures coming out of that country following the bloody terror siege at a university campus.

First today, during the grisly search and recovery out there at Garissa, our CNN crews witnessed a man hiding under a bed. He wasn't a student. He was taken into custody and is being actually treated as a suspect. According to sources, three students were found alive today, including a young woman hiding under a pile of bodies.

And now to some of these pictures of this campus. You can see obviously broken glass, damaged buildings. There are bullet holes in some of these walls and the personal belongings of the students. Witnesses tell horrifying stories of gunmen storming this campus, setting off these explosions and just opening fire. Gunmen killed 147 people before they were ultimately killed.

CNN's David McKenzie is in Garissa, Kenya.

And I mean, I just would love to, David, begin with these stories of survival. I mean, the idea of someone hiding under bodies to survive.

DAVID MCKENZIE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Brooke, it's really extraordinary. I spoke to one woman, Helen is her name. She moved away from the gunfire as it happened, hit in a wardrobe for an hour. She said the gunmen were walking around without shoes, so that no one could tell where they were, but they gathered them in a common area on the ground floor. And then after giving them a religious sermon, according to the survivor, they then summarily executed one by one. First the men, she says, and then the women. When they got to her turn, she managed to somehow, you know, fake her death by pulling blood over herself from her friend who was lying next to herself. She lay there, she said, for ten hours before the Kenyan defense force had cleared the area and brought them out. Just one of the survivors I spoke to today, certainly horrifying and miraculous stories coming out, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Horrifying, absolutely grisly scene there on campus. What more, David, do you know about these attackers? MCKENZIE: Well, (INAUDIBLE) at least two, maybe three suspects were

detained at the scene today who had been hiding out. Still, it's a bit unclear yet whether they were connected directly with this attack. It seems that four gunmen were killed on the scene. It appears to be a coordinated attack. And also what I found interesting is that the survivors I spoke to, Brooke, said that the men were speaking Swahili, the Kenyan national language, not Somali, which suggests they had been spending at least a significant amount of time in this country. Prior reporting that we've done suggests many Kenyan Somalis have been recruited to al-Shabab. They are looking for a chief suspect, they put a bounty on his head, that they say was the mastermind of these attacks.

But many questions being asked of how they managed to gain access to the university and why it took so long to stop this carnage. They said that in one case they had scores of bodies in just one room that they were pulling out piece by piece, bit by bit in terms of the bodies, placing the remains in trucks which they then took to the air strip. We witnessed those trucks. Took to the air strip and then flying it to the national morgue in Nairobi. It's almost too hard to contemplate. And some people don't know yet whether their loved ones are even alive or dead -- Brooke.

[15:35:35] BALDWIN: David McKenzie, thank you.

Coming up next, the response to Chris Rock's recent tweets about getting pulled over by police. Actor Isaiah Washington from "Grey's Anatomy" talked to my colleague, Don Lemon, and he said basically that Chris Rock needs to adapt. What does that mean? What did Don think about that? Our conversation coming up.

Plus a 17-year-old is getting a lot of attention for her letter to Duke University. Here's the thing, Duke University sent her a rejection letter. And you know what she did in response? She sent them a rejection to their rejection. We'll talk to her, live ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:40:23] BALDWIN: Driving while black. Something Chris Rock would say he's been guilty of. The African-American community says police have stopped him three times in the last seven weeks all documented with these selfies posted on twitter online. One caption reading "stopped by the cops again, wish me luck." And in response this tweet from TV actor Isaiah Washington urging him to #adapt, perhaps to avoid racial profiling. The tweet reads I sold my Mercedes and brought three Priuses because I got tired of being pulled over by police. #adapt. Washington defended his response on CNN tonight. Here is part of Don Lemon's interview with that actor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ISAIAH WASHINGTON, ACTOR, GREY'S ANATOMY: Obviously they're not looking for Chris Rock. Obviously he hasn't broken any laws and what you drive shouldn't matter, particularly if you're an African-American man. But if you are at war, which we all know that we are, there is a sentiment in the air that is highly toxic and highly negative. And what I was doing by that tweet is doing exactly what I wanted to do, is excite a conversation. That if we're looking at this term black and we're looking at this term driving while black, maybe we need to really look at the term black itself.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: I've got Don Lemon with me. And I just really wanted to have you on to talk about your interview with Isaiah Washington in the wake of these tweets from Chris Rock and then his tweet saying, hey, I turned in my $90,000 Mercedes for three Priuses, #adapt. And so, you had him on, first, to explain what he meant because he faced a huge firestorm online. What did he tell you?

DON LEMON, CNN HOST., CNN TONIGHT: Well, everyone thought that he, you know, was talking about -- everyone felt that he was putting the onus on, I guess, black drivers or himself to change behavior.

BALDWIN: Saying we need to adapt.

LEMON: We need to adapt. What he said was, and this is my understanding of it, is that he said we're in a war. And when you're in a war, you have to do anything to survive. And part of that is adapting to what's going on by trying to figure out, I guess, how to change it and what ways you can change it.

BALDWIN: So how was he explaining by changing cars that would help him adapt?

LEMON: Well, I kept pressing him on that and he really didn't say. Bust what he did tell me was that when he had a -- he had a G-500 white wagon, G-wagon, a $90,000 car and he said he would get pulled over all the time. And then he said finally he got sick of it. He sold it, bought the priuses, that was five years ago. He has not been pulled over since, he says.

BALDWIN: Really. OK.

LEMON: Yes. But he also said they must be looking for something if he's getting pulled over in the same place if Chris Rock is getting pulled over in the same place. He should go to his local police department and figure out what they're looking for and meet them and tell them and those kinds of things. I don't know if he means -- I don't know if Chris should buy a different car, I don't know.

BALDWIN: You took issue with all this?

LEMON: Well, because I feel like -- the assumption, and I hate to assume things, right? You don't want to take people out of context or assume something they don't mean.

BALDWIN: Right.

LEMON: He felt -- it felt to me that he was putting the responsibility on the victim, on the person who was possibly, and we don't know why Chris Rock was pulled over, who is possibly being pulled over unfairly by police or targeted by police, and even himself who he says -- he says that he was unfairly targeted by police. Is it up for him or the person who is being targeted to change their behavior?

BALDWIN: What do you think?

LEMON: No!

BALDWIN: No, you don't think that.

LEMON: I understand a bit about what he says about when you're in a war you have to change. But for me that means if the police do stop you, you comply, you don't fight because you want to stay alive, right? Why should I have to take the extra step or extra responsibility to change what I drive? I'm an American citizen. That part of it I don't get. Or to go down to the police station and talk to someone. I'm not sure. You know, it's a good idea for everyone to know police in their area, right? But why would you have to -- why does anyone have to do that. Do you have to do that? No.

BALDWIN: No, I don't think so.

LEMON: And wouldn't you sort of take offense --

BALDWIN: Of course I would. Of course I would. And back just with the Chris Rock, the selfies being pulled over.

LEMON: Three times, seven weeks.

BALDWIN: Has he ever explained why he was taking the selfies, why he was being pulled over? Have we heard any more from him?

LEMON: Not that I know of. As of this conversation as we're talking about it, I have not heard of it. I know he has spoken out to "New York" magazine and I think maybe a "New York Times" article but has spoken out about racism, about police, you know, brutality or, you know, excessive force with police officers, it's not going away it's a real issue. So it leaves one to assume if he's taking selfies about being pulled over and he says wish me luck, that he's afraid.

And also, this is very important, "Seinfeld" had this series, I think it was getting coffee in cars or something with comedians, comedians getting coffee in cars. They were pulled over and they have this conversation. And Chris Rock said, you know, I feel safe that you're here. If you weren't here, I would be really scared.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[15:45:23] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Did he give up?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, he got him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Here's the crazy thing. If you weren't here, I'd be scared. I'm famous.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, let's not --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Go black.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: Well, we'd love to talk to Chris Rock about all this. Chris Rock, come on, CNN, that would be a great conversation.

LEMON: We've invited him, have you? I'm sure everyone has invited him.

BALDWIN: Don Lemon, thank you very much, host of "CNN tonight," appreciate it.

LEMON: Thank you, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Thank you.

College. A college-bound 17-year-old has turned into a viral sensation after writing a scathing letter to Duke University. Her college admission application was rejected which refused to take no for an answer, instead she sent Duke a rejection letter of her own and she posted it online for everyone to see.

Siobhan O'Dell joins me now.

Siobhan, I need to put this out there. I went to the other institution in North Carolina in Chapel Hill which I finding to be a tad better, so I'm going to attempt to go into this with objective eyes, so just throwing that out there. Nice to see you, welcome to the show.

SIOBHAN O'DELL, 17-YEAR-OLD: Thank you. It's good to be here.

BALDWIN: No one likes rejection, I know including you. You wrote this rejection letter to Duke. It's short. Will you read it for me?

O'DELL: Yes, I will. It says dear Duke University admissions, thank you for your rejection letter of March 26, 2015. After careful consideration, I regret to inform you that I am unable to accept your refusal to offer me admission into the fall 2015 freshman class at Duke. This year I have been fortunate enough to receive rejection letters from the best and brightest universities in the country. With the pool of letters diverse and accomplished I was unable to accept reject letters I would have several years ago. Despite Duke's outstanding success in rejecting previous applicants, you simply did not meet my qualifications. Therefore, I will be attending Duke University's 2015 freshman class. I look forward to seeing you then.

BALDWIN: Why do you think you were Duke material Siobhan?

O'DELL: Apparently I wasn't. I don't know, I really liked what -- you know, what they stood for, a lot of the research that I'm really interested in. So that's what drew me there.

BALDWIN: Why -- how did you even come up with this idea? Why take the time to write a rejection letter to the rejection? O'DELL: Well, I saw all my friends and all my peer, you know, we

stress over the applications, we wait longingly for the answer and then when we get them and we're rejected, you know, I've seen students cry over it before. And so I was like, you know what, what if they didn't have the last say. What if students got to decide instead. And so, I just gave them a taste of their own medicine.

BALDWIN: I mean I can still remember, I'm 35 now, this was a little while ago, but the heart palpations and the long walk to the mailbox to see if you were going to get the big envelope versus the small one.

O'DELL: I know.

BALDWIN: Is there anything you wish looking back, you know, that you had told Duke that had you had somebody from duke admissions standing in front of you, what would you have told him or her?

O'DELL: I would say I wish I didn't make so many typos in the letter I sent you.

BALDWIN: Do you know, did you get any acceptance letter, Siobhan? Where are you going to school?

O'DELL: I'm going to the University of South Carolina.

BALDWIN: University of South Carolina. Did you write an acceptance to their acceptance?

O'DELL: I did not. No, I haven't.

BALDWIN: I think you should get on that. Siobhan O'Dell, congratulations. Enjoy college.

O'DELL: Thank you.

BALDWIN: It's a good time. Thank you very much.

O'DELL: Thank you.

BALDWIN: Coming up next here, Venice is known for its beautiful canals, a floating city. Now it may be a sinking city. Bill Weir with CNN's "THE WONDER LIST" went there to find out how much danger Venice, Italy, is in. He'll join me next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:58:18] BALDWIN: A professional musician is bringing his passion for music to kids in Miami, keeping them away from violence and encouraging them to choose guitars over guns.

Here is CNN hero Chad Bernstein.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHAD BERNSTEIN, CNN HERO: As a professional musician, the disappearance of music in schools concerns me, because I would be lost without music.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Guitar over guns will be meeting today. Please be on time and ready to rock.

BERNSTEIN: Our program offers free after school programming to at- risk middle schoolers. Music is the most important tool we have in reaching these kids.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Guys, if we can please finish up with the grades and go to the instruments.

BERNSTEIN: In the classroom we split the program up in 30-minute chunks, mentoring exercise, instrument instruction and ensemble experience. I'm a professional musician. We build relationships. We get to know their families and what their lives are like at home. A lot of times, these kids only see to the end of their block. We like to give them exposure to the rest of the world.

Over there is where we will be recording vocals.

The best part about our program is watching these kids really transform.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Before the program I really wouldn't think I would be in a studio. But now I could do medicine, I could do music, I could probably even be like a teacher.

BERNSTEIN: When I see a kid have their moment, it makes you realize that we are doing work that matters.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[15:54:49] BALDWIN: Each week we honor a new CNN hero. We would love for you to go to our Web site and nominate someone you know, someone you respect. CNN heroes.com.

Venice, Italy is a beautiful place known for its canals and its connection to the sea, but what also makes the city so special could also become its demise.

Sunday night, CNN's Bill Weir makes a splash on this week's "WONDER LIST."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL WEIR, CNN HOST, WONDER LIST: Coming in winter means Venice is lonelier, gloomier but an empty St. Marks square makes a great vantage to watch her other famous phenomenon which begins with that siren.

It is the sound of an approaching high water propelled by moon and wind. You see a full moon brings higher tides and when the (INAUDIBLE) winds are blowing up the back of the Italian boot, Adriatic sea water comes rushing through the three inlets of the Venice lagoon. It's predicted so three hours before the liquid lifts comes that haunting alarm. One zone means the water will reach 110 centimeters above normal, two

tones, 120 and so on. Today it will top 130, four feet, three inches above normal. Higher parts of the city will stay dry but here in San Marco, 130 is just high enough to render your wellies (ph) worthless.

I don't know why I bothered to put on the boots. That's cold!

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BALDWIN: You're making me cold just looking at you. What was that like?

WEIR: It was really amazing. I had been to Venice before, went there my first anniversary, fell in love with the city. But then heard so many stories about people saying there's too much water, too many people so we had to go back and see what was happening. And that phenomenon, that aqua-(INAUDIBLE) knee-high in St. Marks, that happened about 400 times in the 1920s or '30s, that decade, in the '90s it's 2400 times. New records are set every year. And so there's this multi-billion dollar plan to save Venice, these gates, one of a kind flood protection system that ended up spiraling into this opera of scandal and greed. The mayor of Venice was arrested as part of this whole -- so it's an amazing yarn when it comes to understanding a world with a lot more people, lot more water.

BALDWIN: Take the three shot. Because as I'm listening to you, Bill Weir, we have, here we go, a little Weir sitting in our midst. This is Olivia. She's 11. And you brought her in to work. We thought let's have her on because I love the whole premise of your show is you are going to all these places around the world that are disappearing because little Olivia here in her lifetime may never see this stuff.

WEIR: The places we love as we love them today, right? I want her to go to Venice on her first anniversary. She's going to turn my age in 2050. You hope that at that point it won't have sunk into the place where you really can't visit and you hope they have figured out a visitors system where the soul of that city isn't loved to death, you know. It's an interesting question, the choices we have to make.

BALDWIN: Has your dad, you understand why he's going all these places. Obviously you are looking at that talking to your dad as we were watching the piece about all the water. All these places, where do you want to go?

OLIVIA WEIR, BILL WEIR'S DAUGHTER: Well, Venice --

B. WEIR: Venice is up there. We were going to go in season one. It just didn't work out.

O. WEIR: Yes. We were going to go to Africa.

B. WEIR: Africa. Yes. And look at elephants and chimpanzees and stuff because who knows how many, how long those guys will be around. But maybe, maybe, fingers crossed, we will get a chance to go maybe season two.

O. WEIR: Yes. I want to go.

B. WEIR: OK.

BALDWIN: Does he ever take you around the world yet? No? I see we were joking in the commercial break you have been all the way to Coney Island. I have a feeling you have been some other cool places. I have a feeling.

O. WEIR: Yes, I guess, but not like on a business --

BALDWIN: Not a serious business trip.

B. WEIR: I'm actually going to get away from you for a little while. It's really fun when I come home. Your absence makes the heart grow fonder.

O. WEIR: Yes.

BALDWIN: In the final 60 seconds, though, I mean, I really think this is so special and I'm sure you are so mindful of your daughter when you are away. Every single place you leave, is there a sense of sadness that she really may not get to check it out?

B. WEIR: I felt little glimpses of hope everywhere we went but if you look at the trend lines, you've got to worry. But that's sort of the intent of the series is we want parents out there who have little grommets like this to fall in love with these places again and realize if we don't pay attention they could slip out of our grasp in their current form. And what adjustments do we have to make, what sacrifices do we have to preserve out past and our beautiful places like that as and still going to the future with so many more people joining us on this planet.

BALDWIN: You know, little lady, I just went to Africa for the first time in my life and I'm 35. I have a feeling you are going to see those elephants a lot earlier than I did.

It is so nice to meet you. Thank you so much. And thank you, Bill Weir.

Quickly, you can watch the "WONDER LIST" Sunday night, 10:00 eastern right here on CNN.