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Six Baltimore Police Officers Out on Bond; Baltimore Police Speak Out; Baltimore's 10PM Curfew Will Stay in Place. Aired 7-8p ET
Aired May 02, 2015 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, everyone. We're live from Baltimore for you again. I'm Don Lemon. This is special hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. Thank you so much for joining us.
We are right now awaiting a press conference from the Baltimore City police. They're going to be speaking as more protesters take to the streets. You're looking at the live picture from police headquarters.
We need to tell you that some three weeks after police threw 25-year- old Freddie Gray into the back of a police van, we're really seeing a different tone to the demonstrations right now. Folks are out there. They're shouting that justice is winning, that's after the city state's attorney found probable cause to charge six officers, of course, we saw her live press conference yesterday, saying that Freddie Gray's arrest was illegal and his death was a homicide. All six officers are now out on bond. Their whereabouts today are really unknown.
So while demanding justice, justice for Freddie Gray and a conviction for those office today's protests -- officers, I should say -- today's protests have been so far peaceful. Again, we're going to keep an eye on it as we look at those six officers who were arrested and are out on bond.
Again, we're awaiting a press conference from Baltimore police. Wondering that they're going to say.
Look at all these people who are out on the street. Where you're looking at now, this is at Penn and North, that's near the CVS that was looted and burned on Monday. What will they say? Are they going to change their tactics after there was some unrest last night, people who were defying that curfew at 10:00 p.m. Eastern Time, 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m.?
I need to tell you we're covering this story from all angle. Of course our reporters are out on this story from several vantage points. First up is Sara Sidner, Nick Valencia, they're at the rallies. And then there is Ryan Young. He's at the police presser and he's going to join us by phone.
So, Ryan, let's talk about the police press conference scheduled to happen at any moment now. Probably going to speak to the unrest and speak to the curfew last night, some people defying it saying, you know, they don't want the curfew to go into effect. They wanted it to be removed at 10:00 p.m. Eastern tonight.
RYAN YOUNG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We've heard that over and over again from people here, that they want the curfew to end. That's one of the main points we've heard from the demonstrators. Actually, the business owners say they need the city opened back up for business. So, they're hoping soon to hear that, hey, the curfew is over and a lot of people are talking about the idea this feels like a military state. ]
Now that it's peaceful, now the unrest has changed, they would like business to return back to normal. And they also feel like it's time to take the military presence outside of the city. We're here at the police department waiting to see exactly what happens. No official word about whether or not they're going to talk about troops and removing them from all around the city or whether or not they're going to talk about curfew changing. But these are things people were about talking all day long, screaming at officers saying it's time for you to go, this needs to change.
So, hopefully, we'll hear about how long the curfew will last and what the plans are going forward -- Don.
LEMON: Yes.
Ryan, I want you to stand by because I want to bring in a councilman now, Brendan Scott joins us. He's here at the scene.
Brendan, as we look at the pictures, on the left side of your screen it's police headquarters, a press conference will be there shortly, Ryan Young is talking about it, and the pictures on the right, of course, out on Penn and North where a lot of the unrest happened. There was some unrest last night, people defying that curfew, saying that the curfew shouldn't be in place.
Do you think police are going to change their tactic?
BRENDAN SCOTT, BALTIMORE CITY COUNCILMAN: Well, I hope they will. We know that folks want to see the curfew lifted. Folks want to be out and be vibrant. There has been a peaceful vibe in the city, peaceful protests. It's not what we had on Monday and Tuesday. It's very, very, very docile and just jubilant. But also in addition to that, everyone in Baltimore and America wants to see this fight tonight.
LEMON: Yes. I want you to stand by, Councilman.
I want to get to CNN's Nick Valencia.
Nick, you're in the crowd. Get us an update on what's happening where you are?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We talked about that change of tone of the demonstrators. I've been with them all morning long, starting at the Gilmore Home, the site of the arrest of Freddie Gray, following a crowd of hundreds, there's thousands (INAUDIBLE). Now we're here. It's less of a demonstration and more of a party, dancing, having a good time, very jubilant atmosphere.
The tone of this demonstration has changed completely. So has the narrative. We've seen a lot of young people especially here in the African-American community saying that they're disappointed with what they saw just a block away at that CVS on North Avenue and Pennsylvania Avenue. And if this is any indicator that things are changing, we're told for the first time in recent days we haven't seen police in riot gear. In fact, we haven't seen much of a police presence at all.
[19:05:01] And as the demonstrators move throughout the city (INAUDIBLE) it resembles more of a block party than a protest, Don.
LEMON: Hey, Nick, I need you to put that mike really, really close to your mouth because it's very loud where you are. So get it as close to your mouth as possible.
I need to ask you, the whole question has been about really this curfew that takes place at 10:00. Are people talking about that? Do they want that curfew lifted?
VALENCIA: Absolutely. They think it's time for the curfew to be lifted. They think it's a necessary thing in order for this community to start to continue healing. We saw demonstrators with signs saying, "end the curfew", and conversations that we've had with people there at the Gilmore Homes, all throughout the city.
I mean, that's really a point of contention with them right now. They think until that's lifted, the city won't be back to normal. Of course, there is a lot of rebuilding yet to be done. Still those conversations of healing, they are just getting started, Don.
LEMON: Nick, stand by as I want to update our viewers now again. It is seven minutes after 6:00 Eastern Time, and we are awaiting a press conference from Baltimore police. Our Nick Valencia is out there, Sara Sidner is out there, Ryan Young is out as well. I have a councilman here.
We're going to listen to that press conference and see what police have to say.
Of course, the big question is what's going to happen tonight. This is a large rally. Large rallies have been going on all day. But as we've seen over the last couple of days, protesters and many people here and the city of Baltimore have been calling for that curfew to be lifted. We'll see what police have to say about that coming up in just moments.
But I want to get to CNN's Sara Sidner who's also out there in the crowd.
Sara, update us if you will.
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we're here on West North Avenue and Pennsylvania. I want to give you a look at this.
You've got a large group of folks here. It really feels more like a block party. People are out here. They've all got a message, but the message has been one of peace. And we did here some of the protesters talking to one another, when someone came up and started talking about going to jail tonight and all these different things, another protester said, no, that's not what we're doing. Too many black people have gone to jail, and tonight when that curfew comes at 10:00, that everybody should go home.
There are messages being given here, but I want to give you an idea about how many people are out here. There are hundreds of people that are still out here. They're out here, they're dancing, they're talking to one another, they're sharing a message. Their frustrations they say are finally being heard, and people feel vindicated with what has happened with the charges that these officers are now facing.
And what you're seeing really here is a reaction to that. When we talked to one ever the protesters, Don, about what would have happened if those charges never did come down as soon as they did, he said -- and I'm quoting -- this would have been World War III.
So, what you're seeing here, he said, is, look, we're reacting to what we felt like was the right thing to do. And they feel like at least they can get a chance at what they see as justice -- Don.
LEMON: All right, Sara. I want you to stand by. Again, a police press conference about to happen at any moment.
I want to go back to Brandon Scott who joins me from here at city hall in front of the war memorial park here.
So, here's the thing -- the city leadership, they're really in a tough position right now because people want to see the curfew lifted, but we saw there was so much unrest that happened earlier in the week. They're really between a rock and a hard place.
What do you think should happen now?
SCOTT: Well, I think we have to consider lifting it, at least easing the curfew. You can see folks out there, the nation want to know what song they were dancing to. The song is "Hey Knucklehead." That's a Baltimore song that unifies Baltimore, every neighborhood in Baltimore.
Folks in Baltimore now have been peaceful. We understand that the security needs that we have to meet. Maybe we can come up where the National Guard can stand down a little bit and allow people to be in their city. They want to be out there and we know this is the biggest fight in history. Baltimore's fight parties are being canceled. It's hurting businesses.
Folks want to celebrate not just what happened here but they want to celebrate and be able to be peacefully out and be about in their city.
LEMON: So, Councilman, what happened last night? There was a bit of unrest. But, you know, you had city leaders, community leaders that were out there. We saw Congressman Elijah Cummings out there the evening.
What was different last night? Were these people who were from Baltimore? Were these --
SCOTT: Just looking at it, it didn't seem many of them were from Baltimore. There were probably some from Baltimore. A lot of Baltimore leaders have been telling folks to go home. As you saw, Congressman Cumming, Senator Pugh telling people respect the curfew because we do not want this moment ruined for our city. We don't want this moment ruined for our community, for that family.
People have to understand what just happened in the city is significant and any small disruption to that message can be lost.
LEMON: Do you think it would be better if there was no curfew tonight, that there would be no unrest if there's -- and if there is, do you think there is going to be?
[19:10:04] SCOTT: I think it would be best but also you have to think about the security concerns as well. So, the governor and the mayor are in tough position. They have to consider all the things, not just what I want, over one person want, or whether business person, but we know that the overwhelming majority of folks that have been trying to be peaceful and they like the curfew lifted.
LEMON: All right, Councilman, stand by.
I've got my correspondents out in the field. And as you can see, it's really a celebratory type atmosphere happening right now. Ten minutes after the hour. And we are just less than three hours away from that curfew and also just moments away from a police press conference. They're going to update us on the situation.
Bu the big question is, as I've been saying, what happens? What happens at 10:00 p.m. Eastern when the curfew goes into effect shortly? Are they going to lift it tonight? Are they going to keep that curfew in place?
You're not going to miss any of it. So, I want everyone to stand by and make sure you stay tuned because up next, what is next? That's the question. Residents here in Baltimore making their voices heard as you can see on your screen there. But what does their message need to be, as the community moves past Freddie Gray's death?
Stay with us. We're back in just moments with our breaking coverage.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Welcome back to our breaking news coverage. We are live now in Baltimore, almost 15 past the hour and just a couple of hours away from a curfew, a mandatory curfew. It's going to be the fifth day.
But also we're just moments away, as you see the picture below me, from a police news conference where they're expected to update us on the situation. Of course, we want to know about what happened last night, how many people were arrested, what was the reason they moved in so fast?
And the big question, will they keep that curfew in place? Keep the curfew in place, or will they lift it like many of the people here, especially the protesters, want?
You're looking at live pictures -- the big picture on your screen is from the street. Most of what's happening is at Penn and North. That's where the bulk of that unrest was on Monday where that CVS was burned and looted.
We've got our correspondents on the ground. We've got Sara Sidner, Nick Valencia as well, and also our correspondent Ryan Young live for us at the news conference there.
If we can get to the street, I would love to speak to Nick Valencia because I know Nick is down in that crowd.
Nick, if you can hear me, update us on what you're seeing.
VALENCIA: Go ahead, Don.
[19:15:00] Well, you know, I think after what you saw on Friday, charges leveled by Baltimore City state attorney Marilyn Mosby, you saw sort of what can be interrupted as a collective deep breath throughout the city.
Another thing that's really changed here that we've seen, a big shift in the last 24 hours, is people have come from outside of the community to show their support. And when I talk to residents here, they say that that is one of the most genuine, sincere gestures and they welcome people from outside the community to come here and support them.
You see behind me here -- you know, Sara Sidner was talking about it, I spoke about it earlier -- this is a joyful scene. This is a scene of jubilation.
Let me talk to one of the demonstrators.
What would you call yourselves, in celebration mode? Are you still demonstrating? Explain to the audience what's happening.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody is out here having a nice time and having fun, celebrating justice for Freddie Gray.
VALENCIA: What brought you out here? Why did you come out here?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because everybody's just having fun out here. Everybody is coming together being who they are.
VALENCIA: And it's so interesting because that is the exact opposite of what we saw on Monday night. You saw a lot of tense moments. I mean, we're just a block from the CVS that was looted and burned. And now, we're seeing things really change here, right? UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Because it wasn't the people protesting doing it.
It was the people being dumb and just wanting to be seen.
VALENCIA: And what do you think happens next for this city? What happens next?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Everybody coming together and just do what they have to do to make it a bigger family.
VALENCIA: And a lot of people are counting on young people in Baltimore like yourself to make that change happen.
Don, you heard it here from one of those that showed up. You have an impromptu concert happening right here behind me, people are happy. That is a stark contrast to what we've been seeing on the streets of Baltimore -- Don.
LEMON: All right. Nick Valencia, thank you very much. Nick is out on the streets, again.
Hey, Nick, quickly, if we can just listen to the crowd there. You can step out of the way, just let us listen. We want to hear what they're saying.
(MUSIC)
LEMON: And as you can see and hear, it's really a celebratory feeling down there. They're calling it a victory rally.
So, let's talk about what's going on now with Jay Morrison. He's with the YMC Community Coalition. Of course, Brandon Scott, a member of the Baltimore city council.
You know, first to you, Mr. Morrison, it's really interesting because we have seen the tone change over a couple of days. They're saying it's a victory celebration, not necessarily a victory for the officers being charged, but a victory celebrating the life of Freddie Gray.
JAY MORRISON, YMC COMMUNITY COALITION: Absolutely, Don. I was there yesterday, and people were in high spirits. It's all because there's one step towards justice. We're all aware that we have a long way to go as far as a real conviction of those police officers.
But we are happy that there is some progress in our system not -- failing us initially, as we saw in the Eric Garner case, as we saw in the Mike Brown case, and any other cases around the country.
LEMON: Yes. And, Jay, as we await the police to come out, I know, we have spoken about it, you and I spoke about it on the scene, it's really a catch-22 for the city leaders about this curfew that takes place in just a couple of hours. Again, as we await this press conference, they're stepping up to the podium, we have two minutes until that press conference.
But I want to say, do you think the curfew should be lifted? MORRISON: The frustration from the people yesterday when I spoke to
them -- I was out there with them all the way up to the 10:00 hour is that these are real people, taxpaying citizens. They don't want a curfew. They're not kids.
And the revolution that happened on Monday, the revolting, that was just Monday. It got everyone's attention and the media came out and the whole week has been practically peaceful. It's been civil demonstrations. There's no reason to continue a curfew and just keep more police power over the people, more martial law. There's no reason for that.
Let the people of Baltimore, let our youth, let them have fun, enjoy their night. Everybody wants to watch the Mayweather fight, go out, have a drink, whatever they want to do, let Baltimore people live the civil lives they want to live.
LEMON: Yes. Again, about a minute until police hold that press conference.
Councilman, I have to ask you, a lot of money is being lost in this city. People are -- I mean, it shuts down at 11:00, the hotels that our crews are staying in saying that they were 95 percent full or to capacity, and now, not so much.
SCOTT: Yes, it's a bad thing for businesses in the city. This is a tough time. Another reason why people are frustrated, everyone in the city is frustrated with the curfew, everyone is frustrated with the amount of police presence.
But this is my call to the businesses and business community, when this is over, please continue to invest in Baltimore. Don't leave us. We know we've made so much progress as a city and we're going to need you to continue to make Baltimore the best Baltimore can be.
[19:20:05] LEMON: But again, it's really tough for the mayor, because, you know, the mayor got a lot of criticism for seemingly not moving fast enough in the early days of the initial unrest happening here. Have you spoken to the mayor? Have you been able to get inside the decision process that she's going through right now, Councilman?
SCOTT: Well, I was speaking to her off and on over the past week, of course. I haven't spoken to her at length today. You know, I had let them know that I would like to see the curfew lifted, but I'm not in there. I'm not with her and the governor. I don't know everything they know about the security information.
Like you said, they're in a tough spot because if something happened, it will be on them. So, we have to consider that as well, because they know, at the end of the day, they want what's best for everyone in Baltimore as well.
LEMON: Yes, and while the eyes of the world are really on Baltimore, this is a picture that I'm sure everyone involved in this, everyone has a stake in this, of course, they would like people to see. And that is a city that is celebrating what many call justice for Freddie Gray and his family, and really justice for a lot of people who had felt that they had been abused by police.
And as you can see, it's interesting, we're looking at a good old soul train line happening in the middle of the city.
SCOTT: We're looking at a Baltimore house party, that song that's playing right now "Doo Doo Brown" by a DJ named Fran Ski, who's now in Atlanta. That song unites Baltimore across generations. My grandmother knows that song, my little cousins who's 3-year-old cousin knows that song. So, that shows you the progress we've made this week.
LEMON: Again, if you're just tuning in, 21 minutes after 7:00 Eastern Time, you're looking at live pictures of the Baltimore Police Department, Baltimore police headquarters and police are coming out now. They're about to hold a press conference to update really the world on the situation because everyone is paying attention. Here are police, and let's listen.
UNIDENTIFIED POLICE OFFICER: The police commissioner, Colonel Pallozzi and General Singh will be making brief statements. We will not be taking questions at this press conference. We will do a regular briefing shortly hereafter to provide you an update on today's activities, arrest numbers and other events.
ANTHONY BATTS, BALTIMORE POLICE COMISSIONER: Thank you for coming out. We're going to make a quick statement.
We just concluded a meeting with the governor and mayor, and our policy group for a status report. The violence of last Monday was unprecedented for this city.
It was a dramatic impact with a lot of loss of property and damage to the buildings and to officers out here. Our officers with the support of our regional and state partners continue to stand tall and stabilize the city of Baltimore.
Tonight, we see some of the same people in Baltimore that were here last Monday. We recognize the concerns over the curfew. For tonight's and everyone's safety, we're going to keep the curfew in place.
We thank everyone for their patience and cooperation for the last four nights of peace and stabilization within our city. We will all want to get back to normalcy -- can't talk here, so I apologize. We all want to get back to normal and have the city running in the right direction.
I'd like to bring the colonel up to talk from the state police.
WILLIAM PALLOZZI, MARYLAND SECRETARY OF STATE POLICE: Good evening.
Just to echo what the commissioner said, we have had several good days, peaceful days. People have protested, been able to get their word out peacefully. We totally support that. I think you've seen law enforcement help them, and we will continue to do that. But it has always been about safety -- safety of the lives of the
citizens of Baltimore. And secondary about other issues within the city of Baltimore. You know, we want to keep things in place as they have been. We'll continue as a state police of the state of Maryland and every county, I've said before from Ocean City to Garrett County, there is law enforcement here in support of the citizens of Baltimore and support of the BPD to keep people safe.
You know, the issue of keeping the curfew in place is just something that was our decision to make that, keep it that way. It was our policy we set in place, we continue to support that. You know, we just ask for patience as we move forward and continue to move in a safer direction for a safer city.
Thank you.
GENERAL LINDA SINGH, MARYLAND MAJOR GENERAL: So, I also would like to reiterate what's already been said here by the commissioner and the colonel.
And what I would also say is that, you know, we are not here to stay in the manner that you think we are in terms of the military. We are here to stay as community and citizens of the community because many of us live here and work here, as I continue to reiterate that. We will go back to our armory, and we will put our stuff up and we'll have to go back to work.
And I want to be able to get my folks back to their employers within the city outside of the city, which includes myself, because come Tuesday I'm supposed to be at work about four or five blocks from here. So, I want to make sure that, you know, we can close out tonight in a very same, very peaceful and just structured manner.
[19:25:07] That's really what we want. And I can tell you that I went out and I was visiting with my troops and I was visiting with a lot of the citizens here. It's been overwhelming support, and I can't say enough about that because this has not been easy for us to do.
But the most important thing is your safety, the safety of all of the infrastructure that's here because, without that, we have no Baltimore. We do not have a Baltimore.
And so, my focus is ensuring that we keep everything in a safe manner and we pull out, we the military, will pull out in the same manner that we came in, which is very calm. And I want to pull out very calm because we, too, have to come back and be citizens here in the state of Maryland as well as in Baltimore. And I would not have it any other way.
So, I really want us to be peaceful tonight, to be calm. Let's be patient, another night of having wonderful celebration. And then we can all get home.
I can get back to my family. My folks can get back to their families. And then we can kind of move on. Then I can come down and actually eat without my uniform on at the Inner Harbor or one of the other restaurants within Baltimore. Thank you.
BATTS: In all seriousness, just on a lighter note, we understand that the Pacquiao/Mayweather fight is tonight. I predict the winner is going to be -- have a good night.
LEMON: OK. And there you have it. There's a press conference that just wrapped up. The head of the police department here in Baltimore, the head of the state police, also the head of the National Guard, all speaking, reiterating.
Here's the headline here, that curfew, that mandatory curfew that takes place at 10:00, from 10:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m. will be in place again this evening, despite the Pacquiao fight. And so, an Mayweather fight. So, there you go.
I'll get reaction from everyone involved, reaction from the streets, reaction from people on the city council and city leaders as well. But, again, that curfew will go into place about 2 1/2 hours from now. What will happen?
Many people here, the people you see there on the street, they don't want it. They want to be able to be in their city without feeling like they are under a military presence.
Back in a moment with our breaking news right here on CNN.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[19:31:09]
LEMON: All right. Breaking news, live from Baltimore, Maryland. Police just holding a press conference just a short time ago saying that the curfew will go into effect for the fifth night in a row, mandatory curfew, 10:00 p.m. Eastern until 5:00 a.m. Eastern Time.
Let's get out to the crowd to see if there's any reaction. CNN's Ryan Young at the Baltimore Police department, Ryan?
RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Don.
LEMON: Give us the reaction to the press conference.
YOUNG: Well, we've been standing here since the commissioner left. Honestly, I can tell you since we arrived at the rally today, everyone was talking about the idea of hoping this curfew would come to an end. It's kind of interesting you brought up the fight because a lot of people talked about the fight.
Business owners that we talked today were talking about the idea of being open for business and charge people to come in to watch the fight. I know people who have been rallying and doing all this stuff, but it seems like people want a release of some sort, to be able to get out for a few hours.
I've actually talked to several people who say they're not going to obey the curfew tonight and go out on their own because they really want to get out and enjoy their Saturday. They feel like it's gotten peaceful in the city and they don't see the need for it anymore. So it's going to be interesting to see people who are not eventually in those crowds.
In fact, last night as we were driving around, people who were not at North and Penn, they were walking the streets last night. It will be interesting to see if they make people stay inside despite the fact that some people are telling us outwardly, over and over again at this rally they did not want to stay inside anymore. They want to be out. They want to get back to life and they wanted to get back to making money.
LEMON: All right. Ryan Young, thank you very much. Bottom of the hour, again, the latest here in Baltimore, Maryland, that curfew will be in place at 10:00 p.m. Eastern, just 2 1/2 hours from now. Police holding a press conference just a short time ago, announcing that.
I want to get reaction now from Jay Morrison with the YMC Community Coalition, also Brandon Scott, a member of the Baltimore City Council is here.
Brandon said it's going to be tough to enforce this curfew this evening. Can they? You heard what Ryan Young said that he thinks that people are going to - are willing to defy that curfew.
BRANDON SCOTT, BALTIMORE CITY COUNCILMAN: Yes, we know people are going to defy the curfew. We've seen it over the past few days. But I think that tonight there's going to be widespread people defying the curfew. Hopefully we're able to - the police are able to use some restraint and understand that folks are going to be traveling in and out of town.
LEMON: Is that aid wise decision to defy the curfew?
SCOTT: No. We know it isn't a wise decision, but it also depends on how the police carry themselves and how they react. If they see someone driving home, they could be clearly coming home from Baltimore County or somewhere else, watching the fight. They should just allow those people to drive themselves home. There's a difference from driving back into the city or just being out walking about in the city.
It's unfortunate. We could have seen some businesses recoup some money with the fight part - that could have happened. But they made a decision. We know that they're looking at the safety for all of us. We have to understand their side of the story as well even though we - I personally would have preferred not to have it.
LEMON: Are you going to be out there between - are you going to be out there?
SCOTT: I'm going to be watching the fight somewhere.
LEMON: Are you going to be out there at the curfew or are you going to be watching the fight? SCOTT: I'm going to be watching the fight. I don't know where yet. I'll call my friends and see who has the fight and maybe just crash it there.
LEMON: But not trying to keep the peace between the police and -
SCOTT: (INAUDIBLE) you know I'll be on the streets tonight but hopefully it doesn't get to that point.
LEMON: I understand that.
So Jay Morrison, what's your reaction to the police press conference, keeping this mandatory curfew in place?
JAY MORRISON, YMC COMMUNITY COALITION: Well, Don, you know me. I'm a real fair, practical dude. I do understand the strategy side. You just don't want to pull out fast and leave anyone at harm, leave property at harm, military property at harm. I do get a little bit of the strategic element of it. But at the same time as a voice for the people, as a voice for the community, that's very, very frustrating that for five days now people have been under curfew from a revolt on Monday?
[19:35:10]
And my question to your colleague here was, if that was a white community, a European-American community, five or six days later, would they still be under curfew? I think the government is not putting trust in the people, right? Big government is now controlling the people still. I think we need to put trust in the people that they'll be responsible, they'll be mature, they'll be safe on their own. This curfew should have been lifted, to be honest with you.
LEMON: OK. You're agreeing?
SCOTT: You know, I agree with you, brother. I think that it should be lifted, but it ultimately is not my decision. I understand, like you, I understand the strategy, I understand the decision that they made.
We have to look at their side as well. If it were up to me, it would be over. But it's not up to me. It's a decision that the governor and the mayor and those folks who have more intelligence of the situation than we do, have made that decision.
LEMON: All right. The latest from Baltimore, Maryland. Police holding a press conference just moments ago, saying that that mandatory curfew will go into effect again tonight, Saturday night, in Baltimore, Maryland. Friday night in Baltimore, Maryland, at 10:00 p.m. didn't go so well last night. There was unrest. There were skirmishes between police and protesters who sat in the park at police headquarters and defied that curfew.
It all played out live here on CNN. We'll show you what happened last night. We'll keep an eye towards that curfew that happens in just a few hours. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: I'm Don Lemon, the breaking news from Baltimore, Maryland, this hour is that a 10:00 p.m. curfew will be in place. Baltimore Police announcing that just moments ago.
Let's get out to the crowd now. You see CNN's Nick Valencia standing by. Nick, I don't know if you were able to hear the press conference or if the people out there celebrating are able to react to this curfew being in place tonight?
[19:40:00]
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. We're joined by a couple of these folks that showed up here today to celebrate, this sort of victory celebration for Freddie Gray's life. Jordan Short, you're a long-time born and raised young man here in Baltimore. The police just announced that they will still keep in place the 10:00 p.m. curfew. How do you react to that? Are planning to obey it?
JORDAN SHORT, BALTIMORE RESIDENT: I'm going to obey it. That's the only thing I have to do, just obey it. I'll be in the house with my girlfriend and stuff. VALENCIA: You guys witnessed everything that happened here throughout
the course of the last week. How and why have things changed? Because this is completely different from what we have been seeing, right?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, well, people basically they got fed up with the injustice that's been going on, the unfairness, the inequality.
VALENCIA: Why are people celebrating so happy today? What's the shift in attitude?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, they're all happy now because basically they feel as though we took a stand that nobody else was brave enough to take. So they feel like we should celebrate. We did something, we took a big step, something that could possibly change and affect in a lot of places other than Baltimore that may be having the same problem that we had. So they're celebrating and basically a celebration of change of something new, something different.
VALENICIA: We talked a little while ago. Martin Luther King said that riot is the language of the unheard. Do you feel like you've been heard now?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. They've been heard and seen.
UNIDENTIFED MALE: Definitely.
VALENCIA: What's next now for your community, then? What happens next from here?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Well, hopefully, our government serves justice for the crime that took place with Freddie Gray and maybe things will die down a little bit. But unfortunately I would say that if there's no justice served for what took place -
VALENCIA: You mean the cops need to be found guilty. That's what you're talking about?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes, definitely. Because there's no reason they should be released on bail for something that if we did we'd probably be in jail for life for.
VALENCIA: So has the worst of it passed? You guys, do you think the worst of it has passed? Or we still need to wait and see what happens to the police officers?
SHORT: We definitely have to wait and see what's going to happen because if they're not found guilty, I mean -
UNIDENTIFED MALE: It's going to get a lot worse.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: People might take things really overboard this time like as if that last episode was just a sample of what's to come, if there's no justice served. And I personally wasn't a part of it, but there are other people that I'm around. VALENCIA: We hope for the sake of your community and for its
rebuilding that it stays calm and peaceful.
Don, a jubilant scene out here. You heard it from some of the folks who showed up to celebrate Freddie Gray's life. They feel that they've achieved something. They're going to go forward and celebrate that for as long as they're allowed to be out here. Don?
LEMON: Yes, they've got a great attitude, and they had the right attitude. They said they're going to go home, which is what they should do. And listen, you have every right to stay on the street if you want to past curfew, but don't be surprised if you get arrested or if you're detained.
I'm going to go now to CNN's Sara Sidner. Sara is standing by in the crowd as well. Sara, were you able to get any reaction to the curfew being left in place tonight?
SARA SIDNER, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. I mean, we've got protesters who have said, when that curfew is put in place, we will leave. We will go home because they're saying, we don't want to see any other black or brown people put in jail. I want to talk to someone who has lived here in Baltimore her entire life, Ms. Yvonne Thomas. She has been here - I do want to -
LEMON: I need to interrupt you but I need get to another police press conference. I'm sorry, Sara. Sorry about that. I need to get to a police press conference.
ANTHONY BATTS, BALTIMORE POLICE COMMISSIONER: ... come together as one where we've had pastors, young adults, police officers coming together as one city. Peace and calm is always better than violence. My hope is that we work towards a new level of partnership in all parts of our community as we move forward. It is important that we do not lose sight of what brought us here. Many families remain in pain tonight. The Gray family, the family of all of the officers involved, families across Baltimore are touched by this tragedy and have been touched by this tragedy. The case is in the hands of the state's attorney. We will allow and I will allow the process to proceed, and now we will have the confidence that the truth will come out and the truth will overcome for all. Any questions that I can answer?
(INAUDIBLE)
UNIDENTIFED MALE: (INAUDIBLE).
BATTS: I've been here roughly about 2 1/2 years. I was brought here by the mayor and recruited by the mayor to build relationships within our community, to reform this organization and get it on the path and going in the right direction. We have no tolerance for any misconduct that takes place in this organization.
[19:45:00]
(INAUDIBLE)
BATTS: I think that's a process. And I think that's what it's built to do, that we turned in our case. We had several meeting with the state's attorney's office. We turned over pieces of our material as we were going forth. They had it in hand. The process is the check and balance for the state's attorney to do what the state attorney does.
(INAUDIBLE)
BATTS: I'm sorry, one second, ma'am.
(INAUDIBLE)
BATTS: You know, when I came - as I was sharing with you. When I first came, into the organization, one of the things that I brought with me is a collaborative reform document that came out of Las Vegas. And the reason for that is that the mayor had said that we had challenges in the organization, which we have shared.
But we also have very good officers here, too. And I think, like the state attorney says, this is not an indictment on all of the police officers within the organization. We cannot have, I cannot have a tolerance for any misconduct at any time, but I think you don't lose light of trying to shade an entire organization.
You have good police officers here also who take the time to hug kids, who take the time to read to children, who take the time to coach children in this community, who takes the time to get down and make a difference in life within the community.
So it's not a broad brush.
(INAUDIBLE) BATTS: We have a process, and the process is that when the state's attorney has the case I'm not allowed to speak on it. Besides that, I have to rule on that case when we do an internal investigation within this state. You have to do a criminal investigation first and then behind that you have to do the internal investigation. So at this point I cannot comment on the case.
UNIDENTIFED MALE: We'll take one more question.
(INAUDIBLE)
BATTS: You know, the reality is, when the officers heard, just like any other agency, they have worked with the men and women that were there, and they always kind of conclude or look unto themselves and how they're going to be impacted personally by this. And if they make a mistake or step out there, they're asking that same question.
What I shared with them is that we have a responsibility to this community. This community has made it very, very clear the standard that they want, and our job is to live up to that standard. So what we're focused on is going out day in and day out and serving this community in a way that it should in a constitutional way and to be that professional organization that stands tall.
(INAUDIBLE)
BATTS: I can't hear you.
(INAUDIBLE)
BATTS: No, I don't have any thoughts on that.
UNIDENTIFED MALE: Thank you very much, sir.
BATTS: Thank you.
UNIDENTIFED MALE: We'll keep everyone updated on our next press briefing.
LEMON: All right. That is the Baltimore police commissioner Anthony Batts announcing again that the curfew will remain in place but also answering some questions.
He came out earlier and decided not to answer questions and then now they decided to do some. I want to get to Bernard Parks, he's a former Los Angeles Police chief. What do you think about this curfew? Should it remain in place at this point?
BERNARD PARKS, FMR. LOS ANGELES POLICE CHIEF: Well, I think, Don, the curfew is something in which those are the closest to the scene, those that can evaluate what's going on in the community and those who have the officers and the ear of the community can make the best decision. It's almost impossible for somebody outside of that realm to decide whether it should or should not go. But I think the commissioner, the lieutenant colonel, the military are all together in trying to decide as to how and when that should be released. LEMON: And the question is, if they do decide to lift it, does that mean - I guess the National Guard and the state police who have been brought in, do they remain here? Do they feel that they're being put at risk if that curfew is lifted, Mr. Parks?
PARKS: Well, I think that what you're going to find is that, many times when these things are done, it's gradual. Not everybody leaves at the same time. There's a plan, an exit strategy. I think that's probably what you're going to see there. Because just as the military personnel said, there are people that need to get back to their employment, back to their community.
And so I think you're going to see a gradual movement. You're also probably going to see an issue in which people are given missions and assignments that they are released from. But I don't think you'll just see people - people in authority just disappear.
19:50:00
LEMON: Bernard Parks, former chief of Los Angeles Police Department. Thank you very much. We appreciate your expertise.
As we remain on the air here, just 10 minutes till the hour, till 8:00 p.m. Eastern. At 8:00 p.m., it will be two hours until that mandatory curfew goes back into effect. You heard the police commissioner here announcing that it will happen and some folks even where we are now are not happy about that.
In Baltimore though a lot of folks out there are waging a battle for peace, for justice and for civil rights and at the front of this charge, these three women, we're going to tell you how they are leading the charge. That's coming up.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Welcome back to our breaking news coverage. We're out here on the streets of Baltimore watching the fallout of the explosive allegation near that, Freddie Gray's arrest was not only illegal but that his death was a homicide. We're also getting new information now from police that that mandatory curfew will remain in effect.
You know, these are the findings of the chief prosecutor for Baltimore, Marilyn Mosby that Freddie Gray's death was in part because of the police department's inaction. I want to talk about the African-American women who are leading the front, now front and center of this case. Let's take a listen now to CNN's Stephanie Elam as she looks at each of their roles at this crucial moment in history.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This may be the popular image of a powerful woman in Baltimore, but the real battle for peace, justice and civil rights is being waged by these women.
MAYOR STEPHANIE ROWLING-BLAKE, BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: If with the nation watching three black women at three different levels can't get justice and healing for this community, you tell me where we're going to get it.
ELAM: That's right, the mayor, the state's attorney and the head of Maryland's military are all black women.
ROWLING-BLAKE: I love this city and I know we can be better than what we have seen.
19:55:00
ELAM: Perhaps the face of Baltimore politics, Stephanie Rowlings- Blake is the city's mayor, a former public defender, Rowling-Blake walked away with nearly 90 percent of the general vote in 2011 to win her first full term. A Baltimore native, she was first elected to the city council when she was just 25 years old. She is a graduate of Overland College and the University of Maryland School of Law. She's married and has a daughter.
MARILYN MOSBY, BALTIMORE STATE ATTORNEY: I come from a long line of police officers.
ELAM: Marilyn Mosby is Baltimore's newly elected state's attorney. After graduating from Tuskagee University, Mosby earned a law degree at Boston College and then joined the Baltimore City State's Attorneys Office before becoming a prosecutor. She and her husband have two children.
ADJUSTANT GENERAL LINDA SINGH, MARYLAND ARMY NATIONAL GUARD: I did not have any racial issues coming through all of my career. I would have to say it's more about me being a female versus being a male.
ELAM: As the Adjutant General for Maryland Linda Singh is in charge of the state's military department including its National Guard. Having just taken the helm in February, Singh is the first black person and the first woman to hold the post. She is also a member of the governor's cabinet.
SINGH: I just hope that we remember that trying to change culture, trying to change habits does not happen overnight.
ELAM: A high school dropout, Singh went on to graduate from college, earn two masters degrees and received a bronze star. The 50-year-old Maryland native is married with two daughters.
Watching closely the first black female attorney general of the United States who took office on Monday, the day the protests intensified. All powerful black women whose legacy may forever be tied to this moment in Baltimore's history.
Stephanie Elam, CNN.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
LEMON: All right. Stephanie, thank you very much.
We heard the state's attorney say that now she has delivered the justice. She is hoping protesters will deliver the peace but the real question is now how hard will it be to keep the city calm as we approach that 10:00 p.m. curfew, it happens in just two hours, and a couple of minutes here, someone who knows about that joins me now, she's the majority leader of the Maryland State Senate. Her name is Catherine Pugh. She's also the president of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators.
Senator, thank you very much here. I want to get - before I get that, you're a powerful black woman in the city of Maryland.
CATHERINE PUGH, MARYLAND STATE SENATOR: Thank you.
LEMON: But I want to get your reaction to the curfew remaining in place.
PUGH: Well, it was supposed to remain in place until Tuesday. I think there were many in the community who wanted to see the curfew lifted but I believe there's probably intelligence out there that we don't really know about.
But you know, I have real faith in the Baltimore community as you well see in the last few days that you've been here. We have peacefully demonstrated. So people really are prepared to go home at 10:00. There will be folks who will travel. I think the only concern that we should have is that there are some out of towners who are here and so what I want to ask them is to please remain at peace. Because Baltimoreans will remain at peace and understand that we feel that justice is moving forward and we know Mr. Gray has become symbolic of the problems that are occurring throughout the country as we well now but Baltimore knows what we need to do.
LEMON: We hear about people setting up voter registration lines. Is that the real way to affect change?
PUGH: Well, absolutely. When we came out the first day we sat out on the corner, I call them my troops out there, they're registering the people to vote, I understand the NAACP is out there registering people to vote but certainly it is.
I know that there are a lot of people who are frustrated with the voting process, but it certainly is a way to have input. We select juries based on people who are registered voters. So if we want to be members of juries and so forth, this is how we get to be involved in that process and this is how we change things, if we change things through the right to vote.
LEMON: And as we're looking at those pictures right there again, out on the streets of Baltimore, Maryland, again. State senator, thank you very much.
PUGH: Thank you.
LEMON: I want to spend more time but you know, they have the press conferences.
PUGH: Absolutely.
LEMON: Thank you. Real quickly, are you going to be out there on the streets?
PUGH: Absolutely, that's what we do every night we walk with the community.
LEMON: State senator Catherine Pugh, thank you very much here. We appreciate you joining us on CNN.
PUGH: Thank you.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN's Breaking News.
LEMON: Hello everyone. Don Lemon here live from Baltimore. This is a special hour of CNN "Newsroom." I appreciate you joining us. We have just heard from the Baltimore Police and they said that a curfew will go into effect again tonight, 10:00 p.m. Eastern, a mandatory curfew, fifth night in a row. That is just two hours from now.
Of course we're following it all for you. But as more protesters take to the streets today, you see the live pictures from Baltimore, some say that that curfew may be hard to keep, that it may be hard to keep - that it may be hard to keep them. Three weeks after police threw 25-year-old Freddie Gray in the back of that police van we're seeing a different tone to these demonstrations at this point.
Celebrations really, instead of anger, folks out here shouting that justice is winning. Justice is winning. You can hear some of them behind me right now. Justice is winning, they say after the Baltimore City State's attorney found probable cause.
