Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Remembering Muhammad Ali; Iraqi Forces Advance against Fallujah. Aired 12-12:30a ET

Aired June 05, 2016 - 00:00   ET

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


[00:00:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Muhammad Ali was a fighter. He first garnered fame in the boxing ring but he fought his biggest fights in the name of religious freedom and social justice. Long after he hug up his gloves, he kept fighting for the causes he stood for. He remains a champion for peace even in death as the world mourns the loss of a legend.

And this is a special CNN NEWSROOM. Hello. Thank you for joining us, I'm Natalie Allen.

As we continue to focus on the life and the gifts of Muhammad Ali, who died Friday at the age of 74, surrounded by his family when he took his last breaths. His body will be moved to his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, in the coming days ahead of his funeral.

Ali was a beloved figure. Even those who have never seen a single fight certainly know who he is and followed along with his career and life. Our Polo Sandoval shows us how he's being remembered.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MUHAMMAD ALI, BOXING CHAMP: I shook up the world! I shook up the world!

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): In the boxing ring, Muhammad Ali brought grace and power.

MUHAMMAD ALI: I'll be pecking and a-poking, pouring water on his smoking.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): His wit always packed a punch as well.

MUHAMMAD ALI: Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee!

SANDOVAL (voice-over): He passed away at an Arizona hospital Friday. His family spokesperson says he died of septic shock due to unspecified natural causes. Ali was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 1984. His funeral will be in his hometown of Louisville, Kentucky, Friday. It will be open to the public.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Muhammad Ali was truly the people's champion and the celebration will reflect his devotion to people of all races, religions and backgrounds.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr. in 1942 and quickly started fighting at the age of 12. After discovering the nation of Islam in the politically turbulent 1960s, Clay changed his name to Muhammad Ali.

He retired in 1981, a three-time world champion and Olympic gold medalist. He won the adoration of fans around the world who admired him for both his boxing accomplishments and his humanitarian work.

One of those fans, President Obama, put out this message on Twitter.

"He shook up the world and the world's better for it. Rest in peace, champ."

Back in Louisville, the city that once segregated African Americans, is lowering flags in his honor. This man says Ali funded his program to help the city's hungry.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He'd been great in the ring but I think he were more greater outside of the ring, encouraging others to be the best they could be.

SANDOVAL (voice-over): In Louisville, Kentucky, I'm Polo Sandoval, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: People know Ali as the greatest but the media first dubbed him the Louisville Lip back in the day. It's a tribute to, of course, his gift of gab and his hometown there. CNN's Martin Savidge and Jonathan Mann spoke earlier about how Ali's birthplace is paying tribute.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: His body is expected to be transported here in the next 24, 48 hours. But come Friday, first there will be a procession. And that procession will wind both on highways and on side streets.

It's going to go by areas that were very important in his life as he grew up. But then there is going to be this very public memorial funeral service. It's going to be held in an arena.

That arena has, depending on which way they set up the stage, a capacity for 17,000 to 22,000 people. I'm a little worried it may not be enough. You will be able to see it streamed online as well. So lots of ways for people to share.

JONATHAN MANN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: I don't know how you parse this. I'm trying to get over it myself. When you think about Muhammad Ali and the life he lived, he was in a very violent profession, he was a professional boxer.

He was a very controversial figure who took stands that really offended a lot of Americans in his day and divided people because they didn't agree about some of the issues of race, of war and peace, of religion that he addressed.

And yet he's remembered in this just warmth and joy as if he's never -- he never ruffled a single feather his whole life, it's extraordinary.

SAVIDGE: I think in a lot of ways it's a very American thing, too, to respect a person that maybe you had a disagreement with.

Then on top of that, Muhammad Ali also matured and in some ways did change some of his thinking.

But he was a controversial person and I think what many Americans admire most is that he stood up even when there were so many that said he should sit down. And it's that which carries his memory far beyond the ring.

To young people, when he was against the Vietnam War, he became an icon of the counterculture. So he impacted in race, he impacted in sports, he impacted in culture and he changed -- in many ways --

[00:05:00]

SAVIDGE: -- helped change a nation, at least those of us who grew up at that time.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Martin was just talking about it, he did dedicate his life to the fight for peace and equality and he refused to serve in the Vietnam War on moral grounds. He spoke openly against racism.

Later he served as an ambassador of peace and was a tireless advocate for people in need around the world. His daughter, Laila Ali, recalled that part of his life when she talked with us in 2013.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LAILA ALI, MUHAMMAD ALI'S DAUGHTER: I think that just everything my father went through, fighting for social justice, all the people that he inspired along the way, you know, and all of the love that he's shown to everybody, no matter what color, race, how much money they had or didn't have, it's just a true example of what human beings should be.

And it's just who he is. When I think of my dad, I don't think about him as the fighter and all of his accomplishments in the ring. I think more of who he is as a man outside of the ring.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Everyone's focusing on everything about him. He was so fascinating. Many aspects to the man. Joining me now, CNN "WORLD SPORT's" Don Riddell with more on how athletes are responding.

DON RIDDELL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, thanks very much, Natalie. He was a hero to so many athletes for so many different reasons. The Cleveland Cavaliers and the Golden State Warriors are in the midst of the NBA finals right now but their top stars took a moment to reflect on what Ali meant to them.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

LEBRON JAMES, CLEVELAND CAVALIERS FORWARD: For an athlete like myself today, without Muhammad Ali, I wouldn't be sitting up here talking in front of you guys. I wouldn't be able to walk in restaurants. I wouldn't be able to go anywhere where blacks weren't allowed back in those days because of guys like Muhammad Ali.

STEPHEN CURRY, GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS GUARD: Ali was the example of how you use your platform and speak what you believe, no matter what people say. And he gives -- look at him as a sense of confidence in that regard for sure.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

RIDDELL: LeBron James said that he watched one of Ali's most iconic fights, the "Thrilla in Manila," in his hotel room last night after he learned of the news.

Probably the only athlete that comes close to Ali's global fame is Michael Jordan. He released a statement saying, "This is a sad day for me and for the world. Muhammad Ali was bigger than sports and larger than life. He said he was the greatest and he was right."

The tennis star, Serena Williams, one of the all-time greats in her sport, posted this to Instagram, "The true greatest of all time, what a sad day for everyone to lose someone so great and kind and someone who really stood up for what they believed in. He was my hero. He always will be."

Former heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, posted this message on his Twitter account, "God came for his champion. So long, great one."

The golfer, Tiger Woods, who broke down barriers on his way to 14 major titles, tweeted this praise, "You'll always be the greatest for more than just what you did in the ring, a champion to so many people in so many ways."

And the Formula 1 three-time world champion, Louis Hamilton, wrote this, "I'm gutted. Rest in peace, champ. God bless and help his family get through this incredibly hard time."

All of these athletes were in some way inspired by Ali.

But it's in boxing where he'll be missed the most. Former champions like Evander Holyfield and Manny Pacquiao are among the fighters who have paid tribute to the greatest.

EVANDER HOLYFIELD, BOXING CHAMP: When you look at Ali, he stood up. It's easy to say something after somebody has done it. But to be the first person to stand up and face, you know -- face the world. He was all around the world about what he believed. And it's a lot different than somebody already did it and you come behind him.

Ali was in this era the first person to do that and being the skin color that he was and to stand up. And it's amazing to be the one that everybody looking at.

LARRY HOLMES, BOXING CHAMP: He always treated me good. I tell you, listen, when I first went to listen to Ali, I went up there with no equipment, because I had no equipment.

He gave me my boxing shoes, he gave me boxing gloves, he gave me boxing trunks, he gave me hand wraps. He said, now you got this equipment. And that's how we became friends.

And then we went down to Reading, Pennsylvania. And we put on a boxing exhibition. He gave me a black eye. And everybody was trying to get ice -- put ice on it, put ice on it.

And I said, no, I'm not going to put ice on it, I'm going to show this one off. Because nobody believed that I was working with Muhammad Ali.

CHRIS EUBANK, FORMER BRITISH BOXING PRO: He used his platform, which was boxing, to be the humanitarian that he was and still is because that spirit is still vibrant.

You know, Mandela, in his inaugural speech, he said, the world cannot be served by your playing small. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so others around you won't feel insecure. We were born --

[00:10:00]

EUBANK: -- to make manifest the glory of God, which is within us.

And when we let our own light shine, we unconsciously allow others to do the same. And in liberating ourselves from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others.

So here's a man embodying the spirit of a Mandela, the great man. And as was said before, in order to see further and to be better, we have to stand on the shoulders of giants, which is what these men were.

MANNY PACQUIAO, BOXING CHAMP: I always admired him. I always thought he was my inspiration and here in boxing. And we know that, all know that what he has done and accomplished in boxing history.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

RIDDELL: So many tributes pouring in from all over the world, Natalie. We don't have time for all of them.

But I'll leave you with one more. The basketball legend, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, said he never felt taller than when he was standing in Muhammad Ali's shadow. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is 7'2".

ALLEN: That's very nice, and next week the public funeral, Billy Crystal will be giving a eulogy and Bill Clinton as well. Very interesting. Thank you, Don.

Speaking of former U.S. President Bill Clinton, speaking next week at his funeral. We'll hear from the president, his thoughts about Muhammad Ali as we push on here. We'll be right back.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ALLEN: Welcome back to our special coverage of the life of Muhammad Ali. We're taking a look at the man who was much more than a sports hero to millions of people around the world. He was a powerful force who thrust himself into the spotlight and proved why he should be there.

His death has cast a shadow on the world and on the U.S. presidential campaign trail this weekend. That's former U.S. President Bill Clinton there, who will give a eulogy at Ali's funeral next week. He says Ali was an inspiration to him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: When I was a boy and I saw him box the first time, I thought, you know, we're looking at something we may never see again. I mean, he was like Golden State on the basketball court now. Right?

It was like watching somebody -- you couldn't decide, is this guy a boxer or a ballerina?

The way he moved, the speed, the grace.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Donald Trump joining in, remembering Ali, who just months ago tore into Trump for his proposed ban on Muslims entering the U.S., Ali critical of that stance by Donald Trump.

After Ali's death Trump tweeted, "Muhammad Ali is dead at 74, a truly great champion and a wonderful guy, he will be missed by all."

In December, Trump responded to a speech by President Obama where he mentioned Muslims.

Back then Trump tweeted --

[00:15:00]

ALLEN: -- "Obama said in his speech that Muslims are our sports heroes.

"What sport is he talking about and who?

"Is Obama profiling?"

Days later Ali told NBC News, "We as Muslims have to stand up to those who use Islam to advance their own personal agenda. True Muslims know or should know that it goes against our religion to try and force Islam on anyone."

(MUSIC PLAYING)

More now on the presidential race. Many considering this race, Donald Trump versus Hillary Clinton contest. The Democrat Bernie Sanders and his supporters are still holding out hope.

The Vermont senator trails far behind Clinton in the number of delegates but he says he's still in it to win it, especially in the state of California, which votes this week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

SEN. BERNIE SANDERS (I), VT., PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: If you promise to keep it a secret, don't tell anyone. But Secretary Clinton is already getting very nervous. I don't want to get her even more nervous.

But if you don't tell anybody, I think we're going to win here in California on June 7th.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is still meaningful. It's meaningful to stay in this race.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm not giving up on him.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're going all the way to convention.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He still has the convention and we can always write him in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Bernie Sanders is going to win California. He is going to go on and win the nomination. And he's going to defeat Donald Trump.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Honk for Bernie.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We're all here and we're animated and we're energized and we're ready to do whatever it takes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Even if he doesn't get California he's going to go to the convention, he's going to share his ideas.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I think we need a new political party, a party that doesn't allow super PACs. (MUSIC PLAYING)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The fact is, I don't trust Hillary Clinton to follow through on any of his platforms.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hillary is a thief and a criminal. And Trump is a moron. So he's the only choice. He's the only rational choice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This Democratic machine is trying to smash the grassroots.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Movements take decades and I think regardless of whether he gets the nomination or not, the ideas are moving forward.

SANDERS: I'm asking the people of California to help lead us into the political revolution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: We will know this week where California stands. The primary two days away. We'll have all the coverage here on CNN. Be sure to tune in June 7th for the final Super Tuesday of the election season. We're marching on.

Some tense moments on Saturday for a community just west of Los Angeles in California. A brush fire came dangerously close to a group of houses. People were forced to leave.

There are about 50 homes here. Fortunately no injuries to report. Officials think the fire may have started after a car hit a pole and knocked down power lines.

Scores of people were hospitalized in Germany after lightning struck a music festival. Derek Van Dam is following that. And it's the second time that people in Germany have been hit by lightning in the past week.

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: This is the second time that this music festival has actually been impacted by lightning in the past year, Natalie. Unbelievable stuff. You can see the picture behind me. Just what people had to deal with in terms of the excessive rain that caused flooding.

But that wasn't the only thing. Obviously the lightning strikes that really picked up in intensity and have caused authorities to actually cancel the entire festival or at least suspend it. About 82 concertgoers were injured by lightning strikes, some of them seriously injured. There was about 90,000 attendees.

Just take note of how open this particular area is. A few trees scattered about the areas. A few obvious metal poles in the distance as well, lightning rods. Now this festival was originally halted for about five hours but then suspended as the lightning strikes increased.

And again, this festival was actually delayed last year as 33 people were injured by lightning strikes as well. So this particular area prone to lightning. Looks as if it's on kind of a heightened region.

I just want to give a couple of stats to put this all in perspective.

Did you know that one in 12,000 people have -- that's the odds of being struck by lightning in your lifetime -- 90 percent of those people --

[00:20:00]

VAN DAM: -- will actually survive, so that's good news.

But here's a few other interesting lightning facts. That most lightning victims are in open areas near trees. Think about the concert venue we saw just a moment ago. And by the way, lightning strikes can occur 15 kilometers away from the center of a thunderstorm.

So if it's off in the distance that doesn't mean that you're safe. So take shelter as quickly as possible. This is all part of a large storm system that continues to rotate across the area.

There's a chance for more severe weather throughout the afternoon today. Parts of Belgium into France and Germany. Cut-off low just preventing the storm system from really moving anywhere. And it's brought excessive rainfall to this area.

This has been one of our top weather stories lately. Over 250 millimeters of rainfall for parts of Austria and into Belgium.

And you know this, Natalie, this has been one of our top stories lately. The flooding in Paris, the Seine River did crest at about 6 meters on Friday but is slowly starting to recede. Good news, that.

ALLEN: Yes and the museum's open next week.

VAN DAM: And the museum's open --

ALLEN: Tourists will appreciate that who are stuck in the flooding. All right, Derek, thank you.

Iraqi security forces are advancing against ISIS in the militant- controlled town of Fallujah near the capital, Baghdad. Iraqi forces recaptured a key small town north of Fallujah in a separate offensive. CNN's Ben Wedeman has more for us. But we want to warn you: some of the video is disturbing.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BEN WEDEMAN, CNN SR. INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Iraqi army armored personnel carriers rattle through the dust at the edge of the ruins of the town of Saqlawiya.

Iraqi officials announced Saturday they had taken control of most of the town a short drive from the besieged ISIS stronghold of Fallujah. The battle rages on, however, as a combination of Iraqi military, police, Shia-led popular mobilization units and Sunni fighters prepares for the next phase.

These locally made rocket launchers have been brought up to the front for the eventual offensive to retake Fallujah. They have a range of about two and a half kilometers. Fallujah itself is about four kilometers from here.

Fighting has been intense. But Abu Haiba (ph), a veteran of many battles with ISIS, senses an enemy beginning to wither away.

"Their forces have dispersed," he says.

"Some have retreated to the center of Fallujah, others have fled into the desert."

Nearby, the half-buried corpse of an ISIS fighter rots in the sun.

In the areas of Saqlawiya we drove through, the damage was extensive, not a civilian in sight.

"Where are they?" I asked Saba Handani (ph) of the Iraqi police.

"We found them here in their homes," he responds, "and took them out, put them in our vehicles and took them to camps."

On the lookout for ISIS infiltrators, Iraqi intelligence is holding local men and teenage boys for interrogation. At this spot Friday morning, an ISIS suicide bomber blew himself up among a group of fleeing civilians, killing three children.

Gassad Ikledi (ph), a spokesman for the popular mobilization units insists most of the ISIS militants in the area aren't from here.

"We have information," he says, "that 75 percent of the ISIS members in Fallujah are foreigners and Arabs and 25 percent are Iraqis."

Iraqi officials won't say when the final push into Fallujah will begin. On the front, they wait and listen to the gathering storm -- Ben Wedeman, CNN, Saqlawiya, Iraq.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Muhammad Ali was a quick fighter in the ring and his wit even quicker. His life in his own words -- that's just ahead here.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[00:25:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ALLEN: A public memorial will be held for Muhammad Ali on Friday in his hometown, Louisville, Kentucky. As impressive as Muhammad Ali's punches were in the ring, the power of his words also legendary. Here are some of his most memorable moments. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MUHAMMAD ALI: I don't like fighters who talk too much.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

MUHAMMAD ALI: I must be the greatest! Tell the world!

Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee! Ho, rumble, young man, rumble!

I'm the greatest fighter in the ring today. That's my label.

And this might shock and amaze you but I will destroy Joe Frazier.

I'm so bad you know what I've been doing?

Last week I went out to the jungle. I wrestled with an alligator. I tussled with a whale. I done handcuffed lightning, throw thunder in jail. I'm bad, man.

Can I dance?

Is the pope a Catholic?

The man to beat me hasn't been born yet.

I'm the greatest. And I'm knocking out all bums. And if you get too smart I'll knock you out.

Last week I murdered a rock, injured a stone. I penalized a brick. I'm so mean I make medicine sick.

Because they's fat. Look at me now. Don't tell me that ain't a perfect specimen of a man. Look at that body. Slim, trim and on my toes.

And I'm -- I don't get hit. I'm the fastest thing on two feet, man. You crazy?

I'm tired of punking.

I'm not only a fighter. I'm a poet, I'm a prophet, I'm the resurrector, I'm the savior of the boxing world. If it wasn't for me, the game would be dead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Muhammad Ali, telling it as only he could.

I'm Natalie Allen. Thanks for watching. Our top stories are right after this.