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Terror Attack In New Zealand; Beto O'Rourke States His Presidential Campaign with 2 Apologies; Biden Expected to Announce 2020 Plans Soon; Sanders Keeps Campaigning After Stiches for Head Wound; New Zealand Police Update on Mosque Attacks Investigation; 19 Black Employees Sue UPS for Discrimination. Aired 4-5p ET

Aired March 16, 2019 - 16:00   ET

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

[16:00:00] ANA CABRERA, CNN: I want to welcome our viewers in the United States and around the world. I'm Ana Cabrera, in New York.

The people around the globe especially in New Zealand this weekend are shocked and deeply saddened by the deadliest act of gun violence ever there, the senseless killing of 49 innocent people.

(VIDEO CLIP PLAYING)

CABRERA: This is Christchurch, New Zealand. In public, the nationwide mourning of the victims, men and women shot dead all attending Islamic services at two separate mosques. At least 40 more people injured, including children as young as two years old are trying to heal.

And inside a courtroom, the alleged shooter appearing before a judge and now charged with murder is a 28-year-old Australian. And officials say he announced his intentions in a long manifesto sent to the New Zealand prime minister's office just minutes before his killing spree.

This is how the suspect was taken down by police in Christchurch 36 minutes after shots first rang out in the city on Friday.

Let's go live to New Zealand now and CNN international correspondent Alexandra Field.

Alexandra, there's no way people can be ready for something this horrific to happen? How are the people of Christchurch dealing with this tragedy?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They are stunned to see this happen in New Zealand. They are stunned to see it happen in Christchurch. And what we have seen since we have been here on the ground in the aftermath of the attacks is really an outpouring of love from people in this community. Shows of solidarity and support for those who have been killed, for the loved ones they left behind. And for so many who were traumatized either trapped inside those mosques, trying desperately to get out or those in the neighborhood hearing gunshots going off for 15 minutes at a time as witnesses recounted it.

Listen to one man who told me about what he saw and experienced inside one of those mosques on Friday afternoon.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

AHMED KHAN, WITNESS: So he missed me and I run back to the mosque and tell everyone to go to the ground because there's someone with a gun is going to shoot everyone. Then everyone went to the ground and then he start shooting through the windows. So I went then and hold him and tell him, he was asking for some water. I said to him to calm down. The police is here now and stuff, just because. And then the gunman come through the window again and shot him when I was holding him in the head and he was dead.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FIELD: The stories are truly horrific. What witnesses saw, what people experienced that it is of course seared on their brains. Something they will never forget. Something this community will never forget. The man that you just heard from there, Ahmed, he fled a war in Afghanistan to come to a country where he thought he would be safest -- Ana.

CABRERA: His story is so chilling.

Alexandra, this 28-year-old Australian man now charged with murder. What more do police know about him and do they think he did this alone?

FIELD: They did not have their eyes on him. This 28-year-old was not on any watch list. He is an Australian man who had been in and out of New Zealand. They are now looking very closely at his contacts, who he knew, trying to speak to his family, looking into places that he travelled to put together a fuller picture.

Of course, they also have an 87 page long manifesto, filled with hateful rhetoric to refer to. They took this man into custody some 36 minutes after the first call to emergency services was made. He has so far been charged with just one count of murder as we have heard from authorities. He will certainly be charged with more in the coming days or weeks.

Two other people were taken into custody, not clear what link if any they could have to the attack or the investigation at this point, Ana. But really, police naming this one suspect behind the attack.

CABRERA: OK. That's good to know. Thank you, Alexandra Field, in Christchurch for us.

Now, for his part, President Trump expressed sympathy for the victims of the massacre. But he also downplayed the threat posed by white nationalism. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: These sacred places of worship were turned into scenes of evil killing. You have all been seeing what went on. It's a horrible, horrible thing. I told the prime minister that the United States is with them all the way, 100 percent, whatever they need. We will be there.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you see today white nationalism as a rising threat around the world?

TRUMP: I don't really. I think it's a small group of people that have very, very serious problems. So I guess if you look at what happened in New Zealand, perhaps that's a case. I don't know enough about it yet. They are just learning about the person and the people involved. But it's certainly a terrible thing. Terrible thing.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Joining us now, Democratic senator, Tim Kaine of Virginia. He is a member of both the foreign relations and armed services committees. And he is with us from Colombia today where he is being briefed on the humanitarian crisis in neighboring Venezuela.

Senator, thank you for taking the time. I definitely want to get to what you are doing there in just a moment.

[16:05:01] SEN. TIM KAINE (D), VIRGINIA: Absolutely.

CABRERA: But first, we just heard from the President, did he say what he needed to say in the wake of this tragedy?

KAINE: Ana, no, he didn't. He needs to call out white supremacy. What unified the shooter in the Charleston church, what unified and motivated the shooter in the Pittsburgh synagogue? What unified and motivated the shooter in New Zealand?

It was a white supremacist and bigoted ideology that's a threat. And when he says he doesn't think it's a significant threat, that's what he said after Charlottesville in my Virginia when a paralegal was killed and two state troopers that I know lost their lives trying to bring order to a situation where white supremacists and neo-Nazis descended on Charlottesville.

It's a major problem, he should call it out. But if he doesn't call it out, those of us who care about creating safer communities, we need to call it out.

CABRERA: The tragedy there in New Zealand has once again put the spotlight on the rhetoric around immigration. The attackers manifesto was filled with anti-immigrant, anti-Muslim ideas, talked about quote "invaders," for example. And then yesterday, the President made this comment about many of the people trying to come into the United States.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: We are on track for a million illegal aliens to rush our borders. People hate the word invasion, but that's what it is. It's an invasion of drugs and criminals and people.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: Nothing is in a vacuum, senator. So what do you see as the impact of a statement like that?

KAINE: Well, Ana, when the President calls people coming to America's border invaders, within the same few hours that the manifesto has been released by this horrific criminal in New Zealand talking about invaders, I mean, this kind of language from a leader of the great nation in the world causes massive problems around the world.

We need to tamp down that rhetoric, the President should know that he's got to call out white supremacy. He should be doing that. He should be expressing sympathy to the Muslim victims of these crimes. He didn't use those words as he reached out.

Clearly, these people were targeted because of their religion. We are a country that respects a diversity of religion. And my heart goes out not only to the victims and their families, but to Muslims, anywhere or people who feel that they are persecuted because of their religion. That was the cause of this crime. And again, leaders have to take seriously, this white supremacy movement that sadly is in many nations, but leaders of goodwill have to fight back against it.

CABRERA: Back to the issue of immigration, you are on the border with Venezuela. A country that's been experiencing political violence as well as the blockade of humanitarian aide. You have urged the White House to designate temporary protected status to Venezuelan nationals in the U.S. So they are not forced to return to Venezuela amid the chaos. Are you hopeful that will happen?

KAINE: I certainly hope that it happens, Ana. The situation in Venezuela, is so challenging. I'm standing here in a warehouse. I can look out a garage door here and 300 yards and see a bridge, the bridge of unit it over a river into Venezuela. All this aided that is here which is here from the U.S. and other nations for the Venezuelan people, the dictator Nicolas Maduro has closed the bridge and so we can't get it across inside the country.

People are coming to Colombia where I am right now, to go to (INAUDIBLE) soup kitchens and to get help. A small scale help that's offered by NGOs with the help of the United States and many other nations.

But we should be delivering aid into that country. It is a disaster and a humanitarian catastrophe. Thank goodness the national assembly of Venezuela has recognized that there's an absence of a legitimate President. Acting pursuant to the Venezuelan constitution. They have elevated to the status of interim President. The leader of the national assembly, Juan Guaido, the U.S. and 55 other nations are supporting that use of the Venezuelan constitution. And we are looking for ways to not only support this new government with humanitarian aid, but support the people who are suffering from lack of medical care, lack of food, lack of water. (INAUDIBLE). Now there's a blackout in Venezuela without electricity. We need to be providing all the help we can to the new government to get this aid across the bridge so people can be helped.

CABRERA: Blackouts, looting, clean water, running low. I know you have meeting with these Venezuelan refugees. What more did you hear from them?

KAINE: Ana, the stories were heartbreaking. I went to a soup kitchen (INAUDIBLE) that was run by a local parish, the diocese here in Cucuta. And I talked to mothers with one or two-month-old babies who cross the border every day, paying criminals to let them walk across the river to come and get a meal. I met with (INAUDIBLE), you know, senior citizens from Caracas. A woman who told me that her husband had died. And she lived in Caracas for 30 years. Caracas is far away from here. But eventually the situation become intolerable. She has significant help needs.

Mothers with children under age ten who have cancer who can't get medical treatment. Kids on the other side of the border who can't go to school because the schools are closed. But the Colombian people and the Colombian government are letting them attend schools here in Columbia.

You know, look -- contrast that with the language of President Trump calling people invaders and trying to build walls and look at the compassion of Colombian people who are trying to provide humanitarian assistance to their neighbors and friends in Venezuela. The U.S. is doing a lot. Other nations in the world are doing a lot, but we should do a lot more.

[16:10:50] CABRERA: Let's talk more about the U.S. role there. The Trump administration has increased pressure on embattled President Nicolas Maduro and his government including new sanctions. Do you support the current U.S. strategy?

KAINE: Yes. I will say this, I think the Trump administration's strategy on Colombia and the Venezuelan situation is really representing a bipartisan accord. So I need to point that out. I think the combination of humanitarian aid, the United States has put about $120 million a year into aid in Columbia. That's where Venezuelan migrants. That's been strong.

The sanctions policy to sanction those who violate people's human rights and steal resources from the country, that's been strong. Cancellation of visas, making it harder for some of these (INAUDIBLE) to travel. That's been important.

And then the assembly of a global coalition, 55 nations that have now recognized the action of the Venezuelan national assembly in elevating Juan Guaido to the position of interim President, in accord with the Venezuelan constitution. These are all the things that we have done. I don't like some of the loose talk about military action. I will be blunt that the President has engaged in, because ultimately, that is a matter that Congress must decide. Presidents don't get to initiate on their own.

And look, the person that's using violence and using the military to perpetrate violence right now is one person, Nicolas Maduro. We are here working with partners on humanitarian aide because our only interest is peace and liberty and justice and democracy, finally democracy for the Venezuelan people. CABRERA: Let's talk about the U.S. democracy and look into the future

and who might be best equip to challenge the President from your party. What would you say as a former vice presidential nominee to the candidates running right now?

KAINE: Ana, what I would say is, I think the more the merrier. I am happy to see great democratic candidates, many of whom I know quite well, jumping in and laying out their vision. Some people don't like many candidates because it makes for hard choices. But what I like it gets people out on the field, putting out their agenda for how to bring down prescription drug costs and improve health care or how to improve our education system.

It gets Democrats out on agenda talking about relations with nations in the Americas like Columbia and how to deal with humanitarian crisis like those in Venezuela. And as Democrats are out in Iowa, New Hampshire and Nevada and South Carolina and the other states making their case, I think it has a way of clarifying and improving the prospects that we can elect a Democratic President in 2020.

So we have seen a number of candidates get in this week. And I know many of them. And I like the fact that it's a vigorous and energetic primary right now that's starting.

CABRERA: Have any of them reached out to you? I know you mentioned they are your friends. But have you advised any of them and are you ready to endorse anybody?

KAINE: I am a long way from that. But many have reached out either to ask about, what's life like on the campaign trail if you are part of the ticket or more particularly, hey, what would I want to do if I want to win Virginia's electoral vote. So a lot have reached out to me about that.

And I have - I give advice to anybody who asks and it's worth what you pay for it. But I care deeply about a number of these candidates and know them well. And I'm happy to see that there is so much energy and excitement as we are starting what will be a long election process. We are four months away from the first debate, you know. We are nine months away from the first caucus. So we are a long way from this really starting. But there's a lot of energy and I think that's good.

CABRERA: And the field may not be complete just yet.

Senator Tim Kaine, really appreciate your time. Thank you very much.

KAINE: Thanks so much, Ana.

CABRERA: The attack sparking fears for Muslim communities here at home. Police now boosting security at mosques in major cities all across the U.S. We will get a live look next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:18:54] CABRERA: The terror attack in New Zealand having a ripple effect here in the U.S. Police are ramping up security at mosques in major cities all around the country including Los Angeles, Atlanta, Chicago, and New York.

And that's where we find CNN's Polo Sandoval.

Polo, I know you have been talking to Muslim worshippers. How are they feeling about the increased security and really the fallout since this terrible tragedy?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Ana. We have been welcomed into the mosque here at the Islamic cultural center of New York now for the last two days. And we have found that there are really at least two stories to be told here. One of safety, and the other of solidarity.

The first, the obvious signs of police we spotted out front since daybreak yesterday morning. New York mayor, Bill De Blasio promising to send the city's officers to mosques around the city. The main goal here, even though they have no reason to believe that any of them maybe specifically targeted or are threaten, is to simply make sure the members of the Muslim community feel safe, feel reassure as they come together for prayer.

And then the other angle here of solidarity. Let me tell you, Ana, a majority of the people here - all of the people here have been praying for their Muslim brothers and sisters in New Zealand. However, they also have been the recipients of well wishes.

Yesterday we were inside the mosque here during Friday afternoon prayer as we witnessed members of a Jewish group essentially come in and offer their well wishes to some of the members of this particular mosque because you are about to hear from Mansour Adam, one of the members of this mosque. It is a moment, obviously, this extremely important as a Muslim community continues to grieve.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[16:20:38] MANSUR ADAM, MUSLIM NEW YORK RESIDENT: When there's a problem we stand for each other. It was our Jewish brother yesterday in the mosque. He came to show us solidarity. He was sitting next to me. When it was time for prayer, he just moved back. I have to pray. I have to greet him and hug him. I said thank you for coming. He said thank you for coming. This is the spirit of America. And this is the world we all want to live in.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SANDOVAL: Adam as well as the imam at this particular mosque, Ana, telling me that really, Muslims in America, they are both mourning. But they also have to be vigilant right now.

Back to you.

CABRERA: No doubt about it.

OK, Polo Sandoval, thank you.

Those security concerns come in a recent uptick in U.S. domestic terror arrest. A senior FBI official telling CNN nearly 25 domestic terror arrests were made over just the last three months of 2018. Those arrests include, but are not limited to far right white nationalists. The FBI arrested 120 domestic terror suspects from October 2017 to October of 2018 and 150 people the year before.

Joining us now from London, Bobby Ghosh is a "Bloomberg" editor and editorial board member focused on international affairs and the wider Islamic world.

Bobby, what do you make of these stats and what do you think is driving it?

BOBBY GHOSH, EDITOR/EDITORIAL BOARD MEMBER, BLOOMBERG: Well, we have been seeing this for quite a while now. There's been a -- before this spike in actual hate crimes, there was a spike in hate speech. Quite a lot of that taking place online. But more and more of that taking place in the public square with the people from mainstream political parties. And the President of the United States on down, openly either saying directly or wolf, beg your pardon, dog whistling to white supremacists and all (INAUDIBLE) groups who believe in this sort of ideology.

So the jump from that, from the increase in hate speech, the increase in hate crime was almost inevitable. And especially because our law enforcement agencies are not able to give adequate amount of attention to this, because they don't have the funding under the Trump administration. Funding is actually -- funding for this particular purpose to monitor and track hate speech and activities of these groups has been reduced. So that -- you take those two things together and you have a perfect storm.

CABRERA: The funding is reduced and yet the platforms for this type of rhetoric to be spread and propagated has only grown, right, when you look at all those social media sites that are out there, how big of a deal is what's happening on social media right now. And really, who is responsible for helping to reverse where it's going?

GHOSH: Well, it's very important. And there's an entire ecosystem now of right wing racist, Islam-phobic bigotry out there. And a lot of it is on social media in the digital space. But I think that one of the key things that's sort of -- that's allowed this to leap out from our computers and our smart phones into the real world in this horrific fashion is the fact that people are now seeing this in open, on air, in public spaces.

Politicians, political leaders, people from whom we expect far better things are saying openly what previously only used to lurk in the darker corners of the internet. So yes, the internet is a very big part of it, a very big part of the migration of these ideas, this is how a lunatic in Australia and New Zealand picks up ideas from someone who thinks like that in Norway or in Britain where I am now or the United States. So the internet plays a very big part. But let's not understate the role that is played by people who speak out in the open, out in the real world. CABRERA: Yes.

GHOSH: And espouse these philosophies, these ideologies. CABRERA: Words matter.

Bobby Ghosh, thank you very much for joining us.

GHOSH: Any time, Ana.

CABRERA: As we continue to cover the investigation into the Christchurch attack, I want to take a moment to remember the victims, the 49 people who were murdered as they gathered for Friday prayers.

This is Naeem Rashid. He was 50 years old. He lived in New Zealand for seven years and had taught at the university. Well, he and his 21-year-old son, Talha Rashid, were kill in the attack.

Khaled Mustafa came to New Zealand last year as a refugee from Syria. He went to the mosque Friday with two sons, one of them just underwent a six hour operation in the hospital.

And Dhaji (ph) was born in Afghanistan but moved to New Zealand more than 40 years ago seeking asylum. He had five children, four sons and a daughter.

We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:30:16] ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR: And 2020 candidate, Beto O'Rourke, is apologizing for a joke. He said his wife was raising their children, quote, "sometimes with my help." That remark triggered complaints that female candidates could never say that. O'Rourke later backtracked, saying his wife told him he came off a little flip. And he's learned from that mistake.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BETO O'ROURKE, (D), FORMER CONGRESSMAN & PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: It's absolutely valid criticism. It's constructive criticism. It's already made me a better candidate. Not only will I not say that again --

(LAUGHTER)

O'ROURKE: -- I'll be much more thoughtful going-forward in the way that I talk about our marriage. And also the way in which I acknowledge the truth of the criticism that I have enjoyed white privilege. Absolutely, undeniable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: O'Rourke also apologized for violent writings during his teen years, including a work of fiction from a killer's point of view.

Joining us now, Scott Jennings. He served as a special assistant to George W. Bush. And Karen Finney, who has worked with Hillary Clinton and Stacey Abrams.

Karen, O'Rourke joined the crowded Democratic field on Thursday. Getting a lot of attention. How is he shaking things up?

KAREN FINNEY, POLITICAL CONSULTANT WHO WORKED WITH HILLARY CLINTON & STACEY ABRAMS: Well, you know, he adds a lot of energy and excitement to the field. There's been a lot of curiosity, is he in, is he not? He comes in with a strong fundraising list. Not just in Texas, but he was someone who was able to raise money nationally. Can he put all of those pieces together and really run a presidential campaign? As he just said in the clip you ran, Ana, can he evolve as a candidate. None of the candidates, whether you're a Republican or a Democrat, a year out, is the same they are a year later. They all get better, they learn the issues, they learn better how to work with the other candidates in combines and to campaign in the various states. Let's see. He was off to a little bit of a rocky start the last couple days.

CABRERA: There are already more than a dozen candidates in the Democratic race. Scott, Republicans started with a crowded field in the 2016 election. Now it's the Democrats. What's the downside to having so many candidates in the race?

SCOTT JENNINGS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: The thing that happened in 2016 to the Republicans, Donald Trump was winning primaries, he wasn't winning overwhelming number of votes, so the fragmentation below him allowed him to rack up delegates and, therefore, go on to win the nomination. If Democrats have a long-term fragmentation, it will benefit the candidates who are at the extreme end, that have the most fervent supporters. Take Bernie Sanders, there are a lot of people in the Democratic Party that don't want Bernie to be a nominee. Maybe they think he's too extreme and can't win a general election. Because his core organization is so strong, his core voters are so committed, he will benefit from fragmentation down below. I think you're going to see interesting movements generationally. Right now, the two front-runners are Biden and Sanders, Sanders, whose are younger, Biden, whose are older. I'm wondering about Beto O'Rourke's entrance and who that takes away from. I would think he would take away younger voters, but he tends to be more of a centrist, which would hurt Biden. If he can put some kind of campaign together, we'll see if he can steal away support from either of the two frontrunners right now.

CABRERA: Joe Biden hasn't officially joined the race just yet. He's going to speak at a state Democratic dinner in Delaware tonight, Karen. He seemed to drop hints that he plans to jump into the race. How long can he keep the speculation going?

FINNEY: Well, look, I think he and his team have said that he's got time. I suspect they believe they could wait into the spring. The challenge becomes, there's two things, number one, in terms of hiring staff and talent. One challenge we're having on our side is, there's a real competition for top talent for your campaign. And just because a candidate can wait to get in, doesn't mean a staffer can wait for a job that long. That's one consideration. The other is fundraising. A number of -- a lot of the bigger fundraisers are holding back to see -- because we know it's going to be an expensive cycle. Holding back to see who becomes the frontrunner. Until we get to June, where we have the first debates and people are -- you're in if you're in, and you're declared and you're on stage, and you can really see these candidates in action, folks are holding back a little bit. I suspect there's some donors who are waiting specifically to see if Vice President Biden gets in or not before they start what some of us would call dating the other candidates to see who they might like. He's got time, but there's some other factors that certainly add some pressure.

[16:35:02] CABRERA: Scott, Bernie Sanders didn't let a little head wound keep him from campaigning. He apparently cut his head on a glass shower door. He popped into a walk-in clinic, got seven stitches and walked right back out there. You see the big bandage. Is this evidence of his tenacity as this race heats up?

JENNINGS: Well, I think it's evidence that he needs to get a remodeler to come into his bathroom and fix his fixtures. I don't know anybody with glass that sharp.

(LAUGHTER)

CABRERA: I think he was at a hotel.

(CROSSTALK)

JENNINGS: I hope he's all right. No, look, I think when you show up after a head wound people will say, yes, this guy really wants it. And his organization has come to see him, I guess, as somebody who is tenacious in his views and tenacious in his campaigning. What I think is interesting about Sanders is how much support he has from the younger voters. You look at all the polling in Iowa and nationally, the younger voters are going for one of the oldest candidates in the field. That's the challenge for some of the younger opponents of Bernie Sanders. Can we convince the younger voters, who love his policies, that maybe his time is passed and they should support me? That means they'll probably have to adopt some of his policies if they hope to peel away some of those youthful voters, I think.

(CROSSTALK)

CABRERA: Scott Jennings, Karen Finney, I've got to wrap it there because we have breaking news.

FINNEY: OK.

CABRERA: Thank you both for being with us.

FINNEY: Thank you.

CABRERA: Here's our breaking news guys. We want to take you to New Zealand's capital. Police giving an update on their investigation into Friday's terror attack that we know killed 50 people at two mosques in Christchurch. Let's listen in.

MIKE BUSH, COMMISSIONER, CHRISTCHUCH POLICE AGENCY: It is with sadness that I advise that the number of people who have died in this awful event has now risen to 50. As of last night, we were able to take all of the victims from both of those scenes. And in doing so, we have located a further victim. So that brings the number of those who have died to 50.

I also want to say that the number of injured is also 50. And 36 of those remain in Christchurch Hospital where they're being treated with the utmost care and professionalism by medical staff. Two do remain critical. And we also have one child being well looked after in Christchurch at the hospital.

In terms of the people that we've spoken about that have been arrested, you know, the 28-year-old appeared in court yesterday, charged with murder. And has been remanded to the 5th of April to appear in the high court. You'll also know that two other people were apprehended during this operation, and a firearm was seized from them. One of those persons, a woman, has been released without charge. The man in that vehicle has been charged with firearms offenses. At this point, we do not believe that they were involved in these attacks. Some of you will also be aware that another man was arrested, and as a result of this investigation. What I can say is an 18-year-old man will appear in court on Monday. But the other arrest was tangential to this matter. And we do not believe he was involved in this attack either.

Further I can say -- and you would have seen in media reporting -- that a list of victims' names has been shared with family. That list was compiled as a result of work done with victims and with senior religious leaders and was done to give some certainty to victims' families. This is not a formal list and we will not be able to share the complete list of details until they have been identified. That part of this investigation is continuing as quickly and professionally as possible and we will keep you updated.

In terms of security right across the country, the New Zealand police and other emergency services remain absolutely vigilant to keep all New Zealanders and everyone who lives here and visits here safe from harm.

[16:40:05] In terms of security we have around mosques in New Zealand, that will continue until we believe there's no threat.

Thank you very much. And I'm happy to answer questions if I can.

CABRERA: OK. Just a few top lines there, new information coming from the New Zealand police commissioner, Mike Bush. And 50 people killed, 50 injured, including two people who are still in critical condition. He also addressed the number of people who were arrested. They believe there was one killer, a 28-year-old man from Australia. There were three others taken into custody. A woman released, not charged. Another man who was charged but only firearms offenses, not related to this specific attack. And an 18-year-old man who he described as being accused of tangential crimes, but not involved in this attack. Security has increased as this investigation continues.

You're live in the CNN NEWSROOM. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[16:45:12] CABRERA: We're learning more about a discrimination lawsuit against UPS. And 19 employees are suing the company saying, not only did they suffer racial discrimination at an Ohio facility, but also the supervisor enabled and encouraged the racist behavior, from frequent use of the "N" word to a noose hung above the workstation of a black employee.

CNN's Sara Sidner has this story.

And I have to warn you, it contains language some will find offensive.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANTONIO LINO, UPS EMPLOYEE: It's been there.

PAMELA CAMPER: UPS EMPLOYEE: And nothing happens.

LINO: But it's a job and I got responsibilities.

SARA SIDNER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Pamela Camper and Antonio Lino have worked for UPS in Ohio for almost their entire adult lives, 30 and 25 years respectively. They say all they want is fair treatment at the distribution center. What they often get is it hatred.

LINO: I happened to look over my shoulder and there was a noose hanging over my workstation. First thing Monday morning.

To a black man in America, a noose is death.

SIDNER: He said it took a year for UPS to terminate the person who hung it.

Camper has had her own racist run-ins as a part-time supervisor.

CAMPER: We have a driver, female, white driver, who decided she didn't want to deliver a package because she stated it was a Nigger city and Niggerville area.

SIDNER: the lawsuit also revealed that a rude text message where white employees are texting about winning the lottery. One person remarked, "If they lost and were feeling down, the noose is loose." Another replied, "We can buy another noose with the winnings."

Camper says it goes beyond threatening words, though, it's about inaction. After three decades at UPS, she is still only part time.

CAMPER: I cry every night because nothing has changed.

SIDNER: Lino says he and his black co-workers are often given the backbreaking work of loading and unloading the heaviest packages, not the better-paying driving jobs that their white counterparts get. They say their treatment has almost brought them to their breaking point.

(on camera): What's it like every day?

CAMPER: Just demeaning. It's heartful. LINO: They're not going to win. They're not going to break me. I'm

going to always be somebody. I'm going to always be somebody.

SIDNER (voice-over): Lino and Camper say UPS management is well aware of their grievances because they are not the only ones making them.

(on camera): How many of you have heard a racial epithet, mainly the "N" word, while you were at work or around your co-workers? Raise your hand?

How many of you feel that your skin color stopped you from getting a promotion?

Almost all of you.

How many of you have gone to management and told them about the issues you're having about racial discrimination?

(voice-over): Complaints weren't just filed with the company, but also with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, which is a state law enforcement agency. In June 2017, that agency determined there was probable cause to believe that discrimination and retaliation had occurred at UPS and it needed to fix it.

UPS sent in a statement, saying, "The behavior recorded is abhorrent and in conflict with our values and culture at UPS. UPS promptly investigated and took swift disciplinary action against those found to have engaged in inappropriate actions, including the discharge of two employees. Since that time, the company has participated in remedial actions in cooperation with the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, so that employees are trained and our operations are monitored to assure we maintain a positive work environment free of harassment. The company has strict policies against harassment and discrimination. Diversity and inclusion are core values at UPS."

SIDNER (on camera): How many of you think this problem will be solved and taken care of now?

(voice-over): Nineteen people say their last resort was to sue. Not to get what they want, but to get what they deserve, fair treatment free of hatred at work.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SIDNER: UPS is disputing the time line that a couple of those employees gave.

As far as the person who hung the noose and admitted to it, they say it didn't take a year to get rid of that person. They fired that person within three days.

The person who used the "N" word a couple times and said she would not deliver to a particular area because it was a black neighborhood, they say they tried to dismiss her, but she won her job back in arbitration -- Ana?

[16:49:47] CABRERA: Sara Sidner, thanks for shedding light on this. It's awful.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CABRERA: In Paris, for the 18th straight Saturday, protesters descended on the Champs Elysees setting fire to furniture, smashing windows and clashing with police in riot gear. And 60 people, including 11 police officers and a firefighter, were injured. Authorities have detained almost 200 people. The demonstrations, known as the Yellow Vest Protests, are aimed at the French government and its economic policies. The French prime minister vows those responsible will be, quote, "severely published."

A dramatic moment on live TV when a teenager takes on a far-right Senator from Australia for saying Muslim immigration is to blame for the terror attacks in New Zealand. Watch what happened.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

[16:54:00] FRASER ANNING, FAR-RIGHT SENATOR, QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: What I said is a terribly unfortunate thing, a tragedy. But it's going to be eventually accepted or expected that these sorts of things happen. When people are getting attacked in their own --

(CROSSTALK)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CABRERA: As you saw, the Senator was halfway through a press conference when the teenager cracked an egg right on his head. The Senator responded by punching the boy, who was then tackled. A fundraising page has already been set up to collect donations to cover the teen's legal fees and help him buy more eggs.

Let's go to a break. A programming note for you. Be sure to tune in tomorrow night for the CNN original series, "Tricky Dick: Exploring the Rise and Fall of Richard Nixon." It airs at 9:00 p.m., right here on CNN.

We'll be right back.

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