Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Mourners Gather for Rally in Queens in Response to South Carolina Church Shooting; Family and Friends of Church Shooting Victims Express Forgiveness to Gunman; Two Escaped New York Prisoner Remain at Large; President Speaks about Gun Control in Wake of South Carolina Church Shooting. Aired 10-11a ET

Aired June 20, 2015 - 10:00   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:00:18] VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: This morning new details about the mass murderer who killed nine people in a South Carolina church. What we're learning now and what he is telling investigators.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN ANCHOR: And we are just about an hour away from AME Church's gathering in New York for a major rally and a show of unity in response to that massacre.

BLACKWELL: Also breaking this morning, a possible sighting of the two convicted killers still on the run. Witnesses say they have been spotted near a Pennsylvania border.

PAUL: We are so grateful to have you company. I'm Christi Paul, good morning.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Always good to be here with you. It's 10:00 here on the east coast, 7:00 on the west coast. This is the CNN Newsroom. And we begin in South Carolina with new details about the shooter who killed nine people in that church in Charleston. We're learning that Dylann Roof is on suicide watch this morning. That's according to the Charleston County sheriff's office. And we're learning there will be more rallies and marches and vigils across the country in Charleston, also, Atlanta. There is one that will start at the top of the hour in New York as well. There are people who are coming together across the country for the victims of this shooting and their relatives.

Let's go now to CNN's Martin Savidge in Charleston. New information coming out about Dylann Roof this morning.

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: There is. In fact, good morning to you, Victor. The information is coming as a result of going back to the day in which he was taken into custody, last Thursday in Shelby, North Carolina. And he was taken to the local police department before he was transferred back to South Carolina.

And apparently there he was speaking quite frequently and openly about what he did and how he did what he did. And we are talking of course about Dylann Roof. So some of the details that have been gleaned as a result of our affiliate WBTV are the fact that, number one, he had been planning this he said for some time. He had been researching carefully. And the reason he chose Emanuel AME Church was the fact that this church has such historic significance in the African- American community in Charleston. It dates all the way back to 1816.

Also we know the gun that was used now. This is a Glock 41, .45 caliber, could fire initially as many as 14 rounds, with any subsequent reload, 13 rounds. Also learning that there may have been as many as seven magazines, so a tremendous number of shots that potentially could have been fired.

At one point, it is said that he considered backing out of the attack. Remember, he got there an hour early and he had initially been sitting with those in the bible study, and he began to realize what wonderful people they were. He was having second thoughts.

But then he had a terrible thought, which was, essentially, if he didn't do it, he determined that no one else would. So he went forward with it. He thought he had only shot a few people. And then when he learned there had been nine dead, apparently there was some sort of expression or look of remorse. And lastly, the way he was headed, in other words, the direction he was fleeing, he was headed towards Nashville because he had never been there before. So there are some of the insights and just some of the graphic and twisted nature of this crime. Victor?

BLACKWELL: Martin, we have heard from several of our legal analysts that the bond hearing yesterday was atypical, to say the least. And the comment from the judge, Judge James Gosnell, has really set off a bit of a firestorm on social media. I wonder if you could expound.

SAVIDGE: Right. I was at the hearing. And of course we knew that the judge was going to make a statement. And that judge is known in the past for some of the things that he has said previously. And you're right, the statement he said, it's -- well, here, let's just listen and talk about it in a minute.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JUDGE JAMES B. GOSNELL, CHARLESTON COUNTY MAGISTRATE: We have victims, nine of them, but we also have victims on the other side. There are victims on this young man's side of the family. Nobody would have ever thrown them into the whirlwind of events that they have been thrown into. We must find it in our heart at some point in time, not only to help those that are victims but to also help his family as well.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SAVIDGE: No one is denying what the magistrate said there is accurate. Was it appropriate given the fact we are so soon after this tragedy and also given the fact that directly in front of him were representatives of nine families that have had their lives devastated, including one survivor of that attack? Many felt it was just wrong time to express or add that kind of inclusion, if you will. Victor?

BLACKWELL: Martin, we can see that you are just across the street from Mother Emanuel there. Can you describe what's happening there, because there is a much larger crowd than there was earlier this morning?

[10:05:03] SAVIDGE: The crowd comes and goes. Last night, the crowd was so significant that they actually closed down the street. And the church has become a gathering point. It is a touchstone in this community.

Of course, as I already said, it is well-known. Now, it has become a place where people have to be. They come for any number of reasons. Some come to pray, spontaneously. People come to speak, which actually appears is what's happening now, a number of people getting up. People from all walks of life, people of all races, people of all backgrounds, in many cases entire families coming. They have to come, they say, because this is where they are going to begin to heal. So the crowd, again, growing today, traffic still moving on the streets, but you can see there are a lot of people that want to be here, have to be here. Victor?

BLACKWELL: Yes. It is so difficult for so many people to see a church as a crime scene, but that's exactly what it is now. Martin Savidge there for in Charleston. Thank you so much, Martin.

PAUL: Another place where people are gathering, in New York. Fellow AME Churches are there trying to show some solidarity. CNN's Cristina Alesci is in the Borough of Queens for that rally and march. We're about 55 minutes away from that. Cristina, help us understand the sense of energy and they feeling you are getting there this morning?

CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Christi. I am standing actually in one of the biggest AME Churches in the country, as you said, southeast Queens here. And I spoke to one church leader that there is definitely a sense of grieving, but also not entirely shocked there either, because there is a sense that racially motivated attacks against blacks have been increasing.

The community here is obviously grieving, not entirely shocked, although the fact that it was inside of a church is very unsettling. This as many people consider it a safe place, a place to go to get away from all of the violence, and then when it is coming inside the church, it is really seen as a problematic issue.

Now, as you can hear probably in the background, there is a prayer service going on right now. The church expects about 3,000 people to show up at 11:00. The rally starts inside. And after that, that's when people will march four blocks away to a park and the rally there will continue. We expect church leaders, elected officials to speak, even the mayor is planning to attend around 1:00 p.m. today. Christi?

PAUL: All right, Cristina Alesci, we are going to check in with you throughout the morning. Thank you so much.

BLACKWELL: Well, as the country is now mourning those who were killed in that attack earlier this week, the family members in Charleston have already started the healing by forgiving the shooter. Listen. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You took something very precious away from me. I will never talk to her ever again. I will never be able to hold her again. But I forgive you. Have mercy on your soul.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I forgive you. My family forgives you. But we would like you to take this opportunity to repent. Give your life to the one who matters the most, Christ.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We welcomed you Wednesday night in our bible study with open arms. You have killed some of the most beautifulest people that I know. Every fiber in my body hurts. It will never be the same. Tywanza Sanders was my son, but Tywanza was my hero. Tywanza was my hero. But as we said in bible study, we enjoin you, but may God have mercy on you.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everyone's plea for your soul is proof that they, they lived in love and their legacies will live in love. So hate won't win.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I acknowledge that I am very angry, but one thing, the pain has always joined in, and our family with is that she taught me that we are the family that love built. We have no room for hate. So we have to forgive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PAUL: You have to wonder what he thought, this man who wanted to start a hate war, and now he is hearing compassion and love and things like that coming from this impassioned -- "we will not hate" coming from the people. And it's almost as though the opposite of what he wanted is what he started.

[10:10:00] BLACKWELL: I don't know if just a day or two after losing in many cases, a mother, a grandmother in this type of violence, that I would be able to forgive and be able to articulate that forgiveness. I mean, listening to that, you stand in awe.

PAUL: Oh, absolutely. But, my gosh, the strength of those people and what they teach us, right?

BLACKWELL: Yes, absolutely.

PAUL: We are also hearing, as you point out, from the family of Dylann Roof, this for the first time as they offer what they called, quote, "Their deepest sympathies and condolences." The families' written statement was issued through the public defender. And it says, quote, "Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of those killed this week. We have all been touched by the moving words from the victims' families offering God's forgiveness and love in the face of such horrible suffering." So again, just to show how powerful the forgiveness of these families is despite their anger in trying to reconcile what happened.

BLACKWELL: Yes. We will continue to talk about the search for answers in that case. But let's talk about another search, this for those two killers from upstate New York. The trail was cold for some time, but is it heating up again now? A possible new sighting of these two escaped convicts from Clinton Correctional, and another corrections officer at the prison now placed on leave. The details after the break.

Plus, the president is pushing for a national conversation on gun control. Again, what he wants to do to keep this from being the new normal.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:15:00] PAUL: Breaking news this morning in the search for two killers who escaped a New York prison more than two weeks ago. First we've learned that late last night male corrections officer was placed on leave from the Clinton Correctional facility as part of the ongoing investigation. This of course comes as New York state cops investigate two possible sightings of these two men, the convicts Richard Matt and David Sweat. Apparently, the sighting near the New York/Pennsylvania border. Witnesses first spotted two men last Saturday walking near a rail yard some 13 miles from the Pennsylvania border. Two men with that same description were later spotted walking along county route 115 in the town of Lindley heading towards the Pennsylvania border.

CNN's Sara Ganim is live outside the prison in Dannemora, New York. Sara, wondering if you have heard anything more this morning?

SARA GANIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Christi. These two new developments happening overnight as the search for these two men enters its third week. We are just now learning today that last weekend there were these two potential sightings. These are not yet confirmed. They were about 350 miles away from here near the New York border with Pennsylvania, two separate days.

First on Saturday someone spotted two men in a town called Irwin New York, right near the border, two men walking near a railway. And then the next day, on Sunday, someone else spotted two men also fitting the same description about 20 miles south a little bit closer to the border in a town called Lindley.

These two tips didn't make it to the state police until Tuesday. State police telling us this morning that they took those two tips very seriously. They sent investigators to those towns do interviews and eventually found that there was some surveillance tape. They found that surveillance tape yesterday, but the quality wasn't good enough to confirm or deny who those two men were on those tapes, so they have now sent that surveillance tape to the state police crime lab in Albany for further review hoping to get more confirmation one way or the other if that, in fact, could have been Richard Matt or David Sweat. Christi?

PAUL: All right, well, let's move on to what we do or don't know about this correction officer that's on administrative leave. Do we know what prompted it? GANIM: So we don't know what prompted it yet, Christi. This is part

of the ongoing investigation. And the D.A. said to us last week when we talked about the potential for other people to have been involved in this very elaborate plan. He said that's always the possibility. They are very open to that. He said the fact that these two men were able to manipulate and bring in at least one person into their scheme, Joyce Mitchell, the prison seamstress who has now been arrested and charged with helping them, the D.A. said there was always the possibility that there could have been more help and that they were leaving that open and they were continuing to investigate. The department of corrections saying that they would not allow anyone who aided them in any way to go unpunished. And now we see they are at least investigating one more person.

Now, just of note, there has been some talk, especially in the last week, about whether or not Joyce Mitchell's husband, Lyle Mitchell, who also worked at the prison, may have had knowledge prior to the escape. He has now been cleared by the district attorney. This is another person, a separate corrections officer, who has now been placed on leave.

PAUL: Yes, so I guess we're just wondering if it was possibly from neglect that they were able to slip through or if there was some sort of intentional assistance here. Sara Ganim, appreciate it. Thank you so much.

BLACKWELL: All right, let's pick up right there with Jonathan Gilliam. He joins us for more now, former FBI special agent and former police officer. Jonathan, the question here about this male corrections officer who was placed on leave, we do not know the specifics. So let's start there. But what would elevate the investigation around this person to pull them from the job?

JONATHAN GILLIAM, FORMER FBI SPECIAL AGENT: Well, I think the definitely have gotten some information from somewhere, whether it be -- well, you know, here is the problem for this officer is that he works in an environment that's a closed environment. And these prisoners, they know almost everything that's going on inside that prison. So it wouldn't be hard for the prison officials to have certain snitches that are inside the prison that would give them information.

But I can guarantee that this is a story that a couple of people, unless Matt and Sweat were 100 percent quiet, which doesn't typically happen in a prison, that information got out. Then they are going to start looking, and that's probably how they found this guy, I would imagine.

BLACKWELL: So let's talk about these possible sightings. It's important to say that these are possible. We don't know if these sightings were, indeed, Matt and Sweat. But what would elevate this to release this to the media? Obviously there have been hundreds of tips, many of them possible sightings. What would get to this level days later to say, yes, we're investigating this specifically?

GILLIAM: Well, you know, from that report, I have to be honest with you, what it sounds like to me is that they are backtracking because these tips didn't get to the command center soon enough.

[10:20:08] Now, why that is I don't know. But I think these things should be released to the public almost immediately in some of these cases if they are enough of a credible threat. And the fact that they saw these two individuals in two different locations by two different sets of witnesses tells you a lot.

Now, if they went there and they collected the camera footage and they did see two individuals actually walking down the railroad tracks, that would make a lot of sense because traveling a railroad track or a power line is a lot more easier to do without being caught than walking down a road somewhere. And obviously you know that they can't walk through those woods because it is that thick to make any time whatsoever. So it sounds like the police are backtracking, the state police a little bit, to get this information out.

BLACKWELL: All right, Jonathan Gilliam, you are with us all morning. We have more questions obviously with these new developments that we are just getting the authorities there in New York. Thank you so much for your expertise and insight.

GILLIAM: You've got it. Thank you.

BLACKWELL: Christi?

PAUL: Meanwhile, the debate on gun control now in the national spotlight yet again. And the president is vowing that he will not allow this to fade away. His plans to keep the conversation going.

And then a bit later, nine murder counts, the possibility of the death penalty. How can Dylann Roof's attorney defend him? We'll have that conservation as well. Stay close.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:25:15] BLACKWELL: In the wake of the shootings in Charleston, South Carolina, President Obama says he refuses to allow this to be the new normal.

PAUL: And he says it is time again for a national conversation on gun control. He is actually in California this weekend. And CNN national correspondent Sunlen Serfaty joining us from Palm Springs. So Sunlen, talk to us more about what the president is saying and maybe will say today.

SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christi, it's clear that the president is really feeling the weight of this moment and each. At each and every stop that he has made out here in California he has commented on this tragedy and saying things do need to change in our country. But also at the same time, he is really acknowledging that he has little or nothing that he can do to really make those changes himself personally, saying that he does not foresee any legislative action on the part of Congress coming up the pipe and really blaming the NRA. He blames the NRA, saying that it's their grip on Congress that is preventing anything from happening. He has also started to really push back on the defensive against

critics that say this is a sign that says he is resigned that there is nothing he can do in the fourth quarter of his presidency. Here is President Obama last night in San Francisco.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I was simply making the point that we have to move public opinion. We have to feel a sense of urgency. Ultimately Congress will follow the people. We have to stop being confused about this. At some point as a country we have to reckon with what happens. It is not good enough simply to show sympathy.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SERFATY: President Obama will spend the weekend here in Palm Springs for a little R&R, perhaps a little golf. But the White House says at this time he has no plans to visit Charleston. Christi and Victor?

BLACKWELL: I wonder, right after sandy hook, there was a discrepancy and the president said Congress will follow the people. There was a discrepancy between what the people wanted, at least what we saw in the polls then, and what Congress did. Where the people, according to these polls, now?

SERFATY: Well, the country definitely still seems to be divided. A CNN/ORC poll in late 2013, they found 49 percent in favor of stricter gun laws and 50 percent opposed, so really almost cut down the middle. Now that was, as you mentioned, after the White House's big push to try to get some legislation through Congress on background checks. That ultimately failed. The White House and President Obama, himself, personally invested a significant amount of political capital in that push.

And President Obama recently just said that it is up to the American public to create that sense of urgency in the wake of Sandy Hook. Of course, that wasn't enough to get it through. And last night in San Francisco President Obama commented this is very similar in how public opinion evolves, liking it to how gay marriage, the opinion over gay marriage has evolved over the years as well. Christi and Victor?

PAUL: All right, Sunlen Serfaty, we appreciate it. Thank you so much.

Let's talk about Charleston, because the healing obviously is not going to take place overnight. Every day, though, we are learning something different about the nine men and women killed inside the Emanuel AME Church. After the break, we're talking to a friend of one of those victims.

BLACKWELL: And then there is the gun that this man, Dylann Roof, took with him, witnesses, even a reported confession. So how can a lawyer defend Dylann Roof? How will a lawyer defend him? We'll break it down after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:32:43] BLACKWELL: It's 28 minutes to the top of the hour, and right now New York state police officers are investigating two possible sightings of the escaped convicts, Richard Matt and David Sweat. The sightings one week after the June 5th escape were just miles from the New York Pennsylvania border and some 300 miles from the prison in upstate, New York.

We have also learned that late last night, a male corrections officer was placed on leave from the Clinton Correctional facility as part of the investigation into the escape. The details, including the officer's name and specifically why he was placed on leave, those have not yet been released.

Now let's turn to South Carolina and that horrific shooting inside an iconic church. Just a few minutes ago, a new development in the handling of the confessed gunman. CNN's Martin Savidge is in Charleston to explain. What have you learned this morning?

SAVIDGE: Good morning, Christi and Victor. The handling of the suspect is very important to law enforcement, it's very important to everyone, because they do want to see a prosecution go forward. He is being held in the county jail, and we are learning that he is being kept in isolation. That should come as no surprise. They would not want him in any way interacting with the general population for a lot of reasons, security being the primary one.

Then on top of that he is under a suicide watch, which means that he has a more focused attention of the detention guards there in the facility. And we are told he is primarily spending his time sitting on his bed, that information coming from the county sheriff who oversees that detention center.

I want to talk about a victim killed inside of the church, and that is the reverend in this particular case, Reverend Clementa Pinckney. He would be a man who was believed to be the first killed in hatred, and yet the last man you would ever consider who might use hatred himself, the antithesis of that.

To talk more about him we have invited Barry Knighton, he's a good friend. I am very sorry for the loss that you and your community has endured. But tell us about the reverend, who, I should point out, is also a state representative.

BARRY KNIGHTON, FRIEND OF PASTOR PINCKNEY: Correct. Yes sir. I was actually a Senate page for the late reverend Clementa Pinckney. He was a remarkable man. He was a pillar in the community, not just for the community of Jasper County where he's originally from but also here within the Charleston community as well.

SAVIDGE: I think of overachiever. He was a man at 41 when he passed who has done so much in his life. And you know that and see that.

[10:35:08] KNIGHTON: Definitely. I consider him not necessarily an overachiever but just a man of vision, just a man that was really a man of purpose, a man of great character that I believe was destined for greatness. I just think it is remarkable for him to be able to accomplish what he has accomplished, and not just for himself but for the community because he really was a light, a role model, a wonderful example, definitely.

SAVIDGE: We should point out he was not just a person who worked for his government and not just a person that led the church, but a father and a husband. How is the family?

KNIGHTON: Right now, we're just -- our hopes and thoughts are just praying for the family, just praying for their strength, because it is a very difficult time. I can only imagine how they are feeling. Here it is me as a close friend and a former page for him, what I'm feeling, so I can only imagine. So our thoughts and prayers are continuing to be with the Pinckney family, just lifting them up in prayer, just saying that we're here for you, whatever you need, we are here to support you. And that's what it's about.

SAVIDGE: Very nice. Again, our condolences to you and your community and thank you very much for joining us.

KNIGHTON: Thank you for having me. Thank you.

SAVIDGE: Victor?

BLACKWELL: All right, Martin Savidge there helping us understand more about these nine people who have been lost. Thank you so much, Martin. Christi?

PAUL: I want to talk about the legal battle here that is ahead and bring in defense attorney Scott Bolden with us. Scott, we're so glad you're here.

A. SCOTT BOLDEN, DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Thank you for having me.

PAUL: So we're hearing these comments of course about Roof and having planned this for six months. How does that play into charges, even more charges that may come to him, say, conspiracy charges, perhaps?

BOLDEN: Sure. The investigation continues. Think of it as the police and the feds have their man. They have got him locked down and he is not getting out. Now the investigation and the hard work of the investigation expands, if you will, to family, to friends, his last whereabouts over the last 90 days, communications, his phone, his computer.

Right now, even on Saturday and Sunday, they are sifting through it and they are going to reach a determination whether he had any help. Everything we are hearing from the police indicates he was a sole gunman. But the investigators have to confirm that. And that's what they are doing now. And if you are found to have helped him before, during, or after this heinous crime, you are going to be charged.

PAUL: OK, let's talk about the hate crime laws, because they are not available in South Carolina, they are not on the books there. Federally, though, they are. So if the Justice Department, as we know, wants to bring in a hate crime charge into this, how does that play out?

BOLDEN: Well, they are there right now investigating side by side with the state investigators. If the feds decide that we want to send a message, whether it is policy or politics or what the nation they believe needs, then they could take over this investigation. There is a federal capital murder charge they could bring, a hate crime charge. The feds have a death penalty although it has been rarely used. But given the circumstance of this case, they could ask the state to stand down. The state would have to stand down.

In the whole scheme of things, the capital murder charge in South Carolina, they are going to ask for the death penalty. And if the jury, if there is a jury, comes back with no death penalty, the judge will have to impose life imprisonment. If I'm the defense attorney, I am looking for life imprisonment.

PAUL: You are trying to save him from death row. And that's what Joey Jackson said earlier when we were talking to him about it. But you just brought up something very interesting. You said if it goes to a jury. He will have the option, will he not, when he goes to trail, of taking this just before a judge?

BOLDEN: Absolutely. Under South Carolina law, the defense attorney can wave a jury and the case will be heard by a judge. Watch this strategy as it unfolds whether they seek mental instability and say not guilty by reason of insanity. But it would be much easier to convince a judge then perhaps 12 people of this type of crime. You do your research on this judge. If this judge is fairly liberal or fairly conservative, depending on what you're looking for, a judge could determine his guilt or innocence and a judge could determine whether he gets a life sentence or whether he gets the death penalty under capital murder cases or charges law in South Carolina. It's very interesting to watch because if I was a defense attorney, I would I thinking about that along with his mental illness and trying to prove that.

PAUL: Scott Bolden, we appreciate your expertise.

BOLDEN: Thank you very much.

PAUL: Thanks so much for being here. Victor?

BLACKWELL: All right, thank you, Christi, thank you, Scott.

How will the gun debate be shaped by what we saw in Charleston as we head into the 2016 election? We'll tell you what the president is saying about the, quote-unquote, "new normal" and how he will not act like this should be that. And we'll hear from some of the candidates. What are they saying about gun control?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:43:36] BLACKWELL: Well, in the aftermath of the church shooting in South Carolina, this political conversation about gun control and the role of race in America has been reignited. The president even spoke about the issue of gun control during a speech. He says that there needs to be a change in attitude. And he says we shouldn't act like this is the new normal.

Meanwhile, some presidential candidates are expected to address the issue today on the campaign trail. Some of them already have. Let's bring in CNN political director David Chalian along with CNN politics senior digital correspondent Chris Moody. Good to have both of you with us. Let's start with you, David. How large of a role will this play in the months ahead?

DAVID CHALIAN, CNN POLITICAL DIRECTOR: I don't think necessarily gun control is going to be issue number one in the 2016 campaign, but I do think when moments of great tragedy with gun violence like this dominate the national landscape, what does happen is that all of these candidates are tested to see how they respond and react to a moment like this.

So it will be with us now obviously for a little while because of this tragedy in Charleston. But it is hard to say for the long haul that this would be a dominant, major issue playing out in the campaign.

BLACKWELL: Chris, let's talk about the candidates, former governor and now presidential candidate for the second time Rick Perry. He sparked a bit of controversy with some word choice that's being criticized when he talked about the shooting in Charleston. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[10:45:04] RICK PERRY, (R) PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: This is the MO of this administration. Any time there is an accident like this, the president is clear. He doesn't like for Americans to have guns. And so he uses every opportunity, this being another one, to basically go parrot that message.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLACKWELL: Characterize this as an accident instead of what many people believe this to be, a calculated attack, has gotten him into some trouble. It may be a slip, but he has got a small margin of error considering the "Oops" moment of 2012.

CHRIS MOODY, CNN POLITICS SENIOR DIGITAL CORRESPONDENT: I think David is exactly right that this is an opportunity and a test for a lot of these candidates or soon to be candidates to discuss a very serious issue that they will have to face if they are elected president.

Now, Rick Perry, his spokesman spoke to CNN and said he meant to say "incident." And also they're now going to discuss this later today on the campaign trail. Yesterday, a big question for a lot of the candidates came about the Confederate flag that's flying in South Carolina on state land. And a lot of the candidates I spoke to here in Washington D.C. while they were here for a conference, kind of demurred. They said that that is a state issue and they are not going to address it.

So, as David mentioned, I don't think it is an issue that they are going to dwell on for a long time. It looks like it is something they will talk about for a bit. But I agree, I don't think it is going to dominate the campaign going over the next several months.

BLACKWELL: David, we heard from former governor Martin O'Malley. He sent out an email. Let's put part of it up on the screen. He said, "I'm pissed. How many senseless acts of violence in our streets or tragedies in our communities will it take to get our nation to stop caving to special interests like the NRA?" Strong statement. Is it more than just that, though? There are a lot of words. Are we expecting anyone to make a move?

CHALIAN: In addition to the very grabby subject line of "I'm pissed" that Martin O'Malley used in that email to supporters, he again called for renewing a ban on assault weapons, a national ban on assault weapons. Towards the end of his tenure as governor of Maryland, Victor, Martin O'Malley signed a sweeping gun control bill into law. And he uses that as one of his big calling cards on the campaign trail as he tries to galvanize liberal activists across the country as he begins this effort to try to sort of take on Hillary Clinton in the nomination race on the Democratic side. So he uses it both to point to his record now that he did something on this issue and renew calls of what he would do if he were in the Oval Office.

BLACKWELL: Finally, Chris, the president calling for a change in altitude, not so much a change in law. He said that we shouldn't act like this is the new normal. Is there anything that the president can get done, get through Congress considering the failed efforts after Sandy Hook? Those were unsuccessful. Any possibility something is going to happen now?

MOODY: If history is any indication, I think the answer is no at least for the timing about. There was a really strong effort back in 2013. That was as close as any so-called gun control would make it through Congress, and it failed. And the idea that some kind of legislation as we near the corner on the presidential election, while Republicans control the House and the Senate this time around, the idea that that is going to pass or gain traction, it is really not going to happen. I think what we're going to see now is a lot of discussion about this issue, but it's going to stop at the door of Congress.

BLACKWELL: We are going to hear more from these candidates potentially throughout the rest of this weekend. Chris Moody, David Chalian, Thank you both.

MOODY: Thank you.

CHALIAN: Thank you.

PAUL: We are just about 12 minutes away now from a big rally and a march in New York as they honor the victims of the shooting in Charleston. We have a live report for you straight ahead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[10:52:32] PAUL: We are just about eight minutes away from the official start of a rally in New York where fellow AME Churches are gathering in the show of solidarity. CNN's Cristina Alesci is in the Borough of Queens for the rally and the march that's going to be held. What are you seeing there right now, Cristina?

ALESCI: Well, people are starting to file into the church, which is one of the biggest AME Churches in the country. And we are slowing starting to see crowds build here. Some religious leaders have begun speaking about how love can conquer racism, bigotry, and violence. There is a very peaceful atmosphere so far. Church leaders are expecting about 3,000 people from here after an hour of a rally inside the church itself. Everyone will walk about four blocks away to a park where elected officials will speak, more church officials will speak.

And it is very much an environment of grieving, but not too much shock, because as I'm speaking to both people and church leaders, they say that they feel like there has been an increase in racially motivated attacks against blacks and that this has become a real issue for the community. Now this extra twist of an attack inside of a church is definitely unsettling for many in the community here. Christi?

PAUL: Cristina Alesci, thank you so much. And we will be going to you throughout the day.

BLACKWELL: And this morning we will continue to remember the victims in the Charleston church shooting. In the next hour, Fredricka Whitfield will be talking with the friend of Reverend Clementa Pinckney, also a state senator there in South Carolina. Plus Jason Johnson will reflect what he has accomplished and how some are working to carry on his legacy.

Also at the top of the hour, a possible new sighting of the two escaped convicts in New York. We've got details after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

[10:58:53] INEZ RUSSELL, CNN HERO: Sometimes our seniors are forgotten. To be completely alone and every single day to not have anybody to talk to, it's hard for me to imagine how lonely that would be.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I live alone, and I have ever since 1975. The only conversation I get to have is with my kitty.

RUSSELL: Our society has become very mobile and families are now far away. And even though they care about them, they are not able to do the things that these folks need.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Gladys?

RUSSELL: Come on in.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hi.

RUSSELL: There are so many things that are easy for us and impossible for them. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you ready to go get groceries?

RUSSELL: We are working to make sure that people have the help that they need.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to need a walker.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Sure.

RUSSELL: Whether that's small -

[11:00:10] UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This one right here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- or something that's huge like managing their money. We serve as legal guardians for people who are not able to make decisions for themselves.

You still need some more work done.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I regard them as family. They are just there for me.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We get to make a huge difference in people's lives.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You call us if you need us, ok?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And we do it by being their friend.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: My pleasure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Oh, I love that. If you know someone who should be a CNN hero, let us know at CNN heroes.com.

CHRISTI PAUL, CNN HOST: Yes, we love to hear about it. Thank you so much for spending your morning with us. We hope you make some great memories today.

BLACKWELL: There's a lot ahead in the next hour of the CNN NEWSROOM. We turn it over now to our colleague, Fredricka Whitfield.