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Embattled Prime Minister, Theresa May Is About To Face Questions In Parliament After Downing Street Confirmed, She Is Asking The E.U. For An Extension; Six Days Since The Heinous Terror Attack On A Pair Of Mosques Here In Christchurch, New Zealand. Aired: 8-9a ET
Aired March 20, 2019 - 08:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRISTIE LU STOUT, HOST, NEWS STREAM: Welcome to "News Stream." I'm Kristie Lu Stout in Christchurch with the latest on the New Zealand terror
attack.
ROBYN CURNOW, HOST, CNN: And hi, I'm Robyn Curnow in Atlanta. All the news from New Zealand in just a moment. But first, it is nine days and
counting until Britain is due to leave the European Union. And embattled Prime Minister, Theresa May is about to face questions in Parliament after
Downing Street confirmed, she is asking the E.U. for an extension.
Her spokesperson says she has written to the E.U. to ask for a delay. Mrs. May says, it should be as short as possible, but there is no guarantee that
she will get it at all. Now a day before a Summit of E.U. leaders, their chief negotiator said an extension will only be granted if it's in the
interest of the European Union.
So let's talk about all of this, Anna Stewart is outside the Houses of Parliament in London. Anna, so these are the pictures coming from inside
the House of Commons, and no doubt, the Prime Minister is going to face some questions.
ANNA STEWART, REPORTER, CNN: Definitely, and particularly, as we've heard from Number 10 this morning that she won't be speaking a lengthy extension
and that has provoked the ire of many MPs in Parliament. Those that wanted to have a much longer extension, maybe renegotiate Brexit, maybe consider a
second referendum, but it's only a short delay that she has apparently asked, so we have not actually seen the letter. It hasn't yet been
published.
Now, she stands up to do Prime Minister's Questions this afternoon and following that, we're expecting another sort of surprise, another twist in
the Brexit story. We expect a Labour MP called Alison McGovern to attempt to push for an emergency debate on the length of this delay and if it is
allowed and if the Speaker allows for it, he will ask the House whether they support this. If 40 or more MPs stand up to assent to that, we could
see an emergency debate on the length of the delay as soon as today.
CURNOW: And what does that mean?
STEWART: Well, quite -- what does it mean? It might not be a binding vote if there is a vote on this emergency debate. So we're curious to see how
it could all play out. But, essentially what we're seeing is huge division as ever in Parliament, but this over the delay itself. Huge confusion of
course for Brussels and the E.U. because they can't understand where Parliament stands in all of this.
We don't know yet whether the Prime Minister's letter has been received in Brussels, but we did hear some comments from the E.U. Commission President,
Jean-Claude Juncker earlier today. Now, he says patience is wearing thin in Brussels and he also said that he doesn't expect even if this letter is
delivered and the delay is officially asked for, he doesn't expect it to be agreed upon by the E.U. in the Summit this week which could potentially
pave the way for an emergency Summit next week. Now, the Prime Minister is standing up now for Prime Minister's Questions.
THERESA MAY, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: I would also like to take the opportunity to thank the emergency services for their handling of the
terrorist incident in Stanwell on Saturday. I'm sure Members from across the House will want to join me in sending our thoughts to the man who was
injured and I would like to send my deepest sympathies to the families of those killed and those injured in Utrecht on Monday.
We're in regular contact with the Dutch local authorities and are standing by to offer whatever assistance is required. Mr. Speaker, I am sure that
Members will want to join me in expressing my deepest shock at the loss and devastation caused by the cyclone in Mozambique, Malawi and Zimbabwe.
We have made, as I think it has been made clear by the Secretary of State in International Development questions, we've made 6 million pounds of U.K.
aid available to help meet the immediate needs of people who have lost everything and we've deployed a U.K. team of the best experts to coordinate
our response to this disaster.
Mr. Speaker, this morning, I meetings with Ministerial colleagues and others in addition to my duties in this house, I should have further such
meetings later today.
JOHN BERCOW, SPEAKER, U.K. HOUSE OF COMMONS: Pete Wishart.
PETE WISHART, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, SCOTTISH NATIONALIST PARTY: Thank you. I totally associate myself with everything
the Prime Minister has said. We will never allow hate to succeed and we stand in solidarity with the victims of Cyclone Idai.
Mr. Speaker, The Prime Minister's deal lies in tatters, her Cabinet is in open revolt, she presides over the biggest constitutional crisis this
nation has experienced, and where leadership is required, she has once again cravenly caved in to her hard Brexiteers and will now only seek a
short extension to Article 50, contrary to the expressed will of this House.
[08:05:09]
WISHART: When will she develop a backbone and stand up to those who would take this nation to disaster? As one of her Ministers said this morning,
referencing another feeble Prime Minister: "Weak, weak, weak."
MAY: Thank you, and Mr. Speaker, perhaps it would be helpful, in response to that question, if I update the House on the forthcoming European Council
and the issue of Article 50 extension. On Thursday, the House voted in favor of a short extension if the House had supported a meaningful vote
before this week's European Council.
The motion also made it clear that a longer extension would oblige the United Kingdom to hold elections to the European Parliament. Mr. Speaker,
I do not believe that such elections would be in anyone's interests.
The idea that three years after voting to leave the E.U., the people of this country should be asked to elect a new set of MEPs is, I believe,
unacceptable. It would be a failure to deliver on the referendum decision that this House said it would honor. I have --
BERCOW: Order, order. A long way to go and what the Prime Minister is saying must be heard. The Prime Minister.
MAY: I have therefore this morning written to President Tusk, the President of the European Council, informing him that the U.K. seeks an
extension to the Article 50 period until the 30th of June. Copies of the letter are being placed in the Libraries of the House.
The Government intends to bring forward proposals for a third meaningful vote. If that vote is passed, the extension will give the House time to
consider the Withdrawal Agreement Bill. If not, the House will have to decide how to proceed. But as Prime Minister -- as Prime Minister, I am
not prepared to delay Brexit any further than the 30th of June.
BERCOW: Colin Clark.
COLIN CLARK, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, CONSERVATIVE PARTY: Will the Prime Minister welcome Oil and Gas U.K.'s report today
predicting 200 billion pounds of new investment in the sector, supported by this Government's fiscal policy in direct contrast to the SNP's failure to
stimulate the Scottish economy?
MAY: Can I say to my Honorable Friend that the Chancellor's spring statement last week showed that this is indeed a Government that is
delivering for Scotland. He mentions the issue of fiscal policy in oil and gas. We have also put in 260 million pounds for the borderlands growth
deal, 68 million pounds extra in Barnett consequentials for the Scottish Government, and 79 million pounds for a new national supercomputer at
Edinburgh University. While the SNP is obsessed with independence, it is this Conservative Government that is focused on growing Scotland's economy.
BERCOW: Jeremy Corbyn.
JEREMY CORBYN, LEADER, LABOUR PARTY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to start by sending my condolences to all the families and friends of victims
of the terror attack in New Zealand last week. The terrible events in Christchurch should remind us all that there is no place for hate and I pay
tribute to the way in which Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has responded with such dignity and such compassion to this crisis.
And I absolutely agree with the comments of the Prime Minister concerning the events at Stanwell and Utrecht. I am sure the whole House will join me
and her in sending our deepest sympathies to all those who lost their loved ones and homes in the terrible cyclones that have caused devastation in
Mozambique, Zimbabwe and Malawi. I support the Government in sending 6 million pounds of aid. I hope, if more aid is required, we will be able to
respond urgently and generously to any demand for help from people who are so desperately suffering at the present time.
Mr. Speaker, we are now in the midst of a full-scale national crisis. Incompetence, failure and intransigence from the Prime Minister and her
Government have brought us to this point. Parliament has rejected her deal. It has rejected no deal. The Prime Minister now has no plan. In an
effort to break the deadlock, I have held meetings with Members all across the House and I am having further meetings today to find a compromise that
supports jobs and living standards. Tomorrow, I am meeting E.U. Prime Ministers and officials in Brussels. This, Mr. Speaker, is a -- Mr.
Speaker, this is a national crisis. Will the Prime Minister meet me today to discuss our proposals as a way forward to get out of this crisis?
MAY: It is a -- to the Right Honorable gentleman, It is a bit rich in standing up and inviting me to meet him, when for days and days he refused
to meet me -- and when for days and days, he refused to meet me.
[08:10:09]
MAY: And he then refused to allow the shadow Brexit Secretary to have a further meeting with the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. Of course,
I am always happy to meet Members across this House to discuss the issue of Europe, but I note that Opposition party leaders, when they came out from
the meeting with the Leader of the Opposition made it clear that what they did not want was Brexit.
We should be delivering Brexit for the people of this country.
BERCOW: Jeremy Corbyn.
CORBYN: I am not sure that there was an answer to my question there actually, Mr. Speaker. I wanted no-deal taken off the table; the House has
taken no-deal off the table; it is time the Prime Minister took no-deal off the table. Mr. Speaker, The CBI said: ""he extension vote is a welcome
dose of common sense. Put in place a new process. Drop red lines. Every MP must show leadership through compromise."
Will the Prime Minister drop the red lines? Is she prepared to compromise to get through this crisis?
MAY: The right Honorable Gentleman talks about decisions that have been taken by this House. I am sure that it will not have passed you by, Mr.
Speaker, that of course this House has voted on and rejected a second referendum; it has voted on and rejected no deal; it has voted on and
rejected Labour's deal; it has voted on and rejected a Customs Union; and it has voted on and supported leaving with a deal. It is time that this
Parliament faced the consequences.
BERCOW: Jeremy Corbyn.
CORBYN: Mr. Speaker, the last time the Prime Minister tried her meaningful vote, she only managed 242 votes, slightly up on the previous attempt, but
nevertheless a decisive rejection. Our plan received 296 votes, rather considerably more than that.
Mr. Speaker, her Government is in chaos. She has ignored the House, ignored trade unions, ignored businesses and ignored the concerns of
communities all around the country. She told the House that the E.U. would only allow an extension of Article 50 if there was a clear purpose. She is
travelling to the Brussels tomorrow morning to meet E.U. Summit leaders. What is her clear purpose?
MAY: I think if the right Honorable Gentleman had listened to the answer I gave to the first question that was posed in PMQ's, he would have heard
that.
BERCOW: Jeremy Corbyn.
CORBYN: Well, it was not clear at all, Mr. Speaker, other than she is going to try again with what we will now term MV3. Surely, after two big
rejections by the House, she must have noticed that there is not much support for the deal that she negotiated.
So learned this morning, Mr. Speaker that she is only going to ask for a short extension, which directly contradicts what the Cabinet of his
Minister told the House, saying, "In the absence of a deal, seeking such a short and, critically, one-off extension would be downright reckless and
completely at odds with the position that this House adopted only last night."
So who is downright reckless here, Mr. Speaker. The Prime Minister, plowing on with an unachievable, unsupported deal, or others in this House
who want to achieve something serious and sensible to prevent the damage to the British economy, jobs and living standards all over this country?
MAY: The right Honorable Gentleman talks about trying to achieve something sensible. It is the right Honorable Gentleman who last week abstained on a
vote of a second referendum, despite the fact that it is Labour Party policy, and then have the nerve to stand up in this House and say that he
reiterated their support for a second referendum. He has no idea what he wants on the future of this issue.
He asks about a long extension. He asks about a long extension. I am opposed to a long extension. I do not want a long extension. Setting
aside the issue that a long extension -- setting aside the issue that a long extension would mean we would have to stand -- hold the new European
parliamentary elections, which I do not think is in anybody's interests, the outcome of a long extension would be endless hours and days of this
House carrying on contemplating its navel on Europe and failing to address the issues that matter to our constituents, their schools --
BERCOW: Order. The answer from the Prime Minister must be heard, and everybody else will be heard. The Prime Minister.
MAY: The outcome of a long extension would be the House spending yet more endless hours contemplating its navel on Europe and failing to address the
issues that matter to our constituents -- schools, hospitals and security and jobs.
[08:15:10]
MAY: This House has indulged itself on Europe for too long ...
BERCOW: Order. There is a lot of very noisy barracking. Order. Order. The Prime Minister's reply will be heard, and colleagues know that I am
happy for the exchanges to take place for as long as is necessary to ensure that they are orderly. The Prime Minister.
MAY: It is time for the House to determine that it will deliver on Brexit for the British people. That is what the British people deserve. They
deserve better than what the House has given them so far.
CORBYN: Mr. Speaker, to describe the parliamentary process is one of indulgence does not show much respect for the democratic process that sent
us here in the first place. The House, Mr. Speaker, has twice rejected the Prime Minister's deal, and she is trying to come back for another attempt
on Monday. Further to your ruling last Monday, she has got to come up with something a bit different than she has come up with so far. So what
significant changes will there be either to the withdrawal agreement or to the political declaration that will even allow the Prime Minister to table
it on Monday?
MAY: The right Honorable Gentleman talks about respect for democracy. Respect for democracy means that this House should deliver the Brexit that
the British people voted for. And the right Honorable Gentleman now wants to disrespect democracy by holding a second referendum. It is not this
Government that is being disrespectful to the British people; it is the right Honorable Gentleman and his Labour Party.
BERCOW: Jeremy Corbyn.
CORBYN: The job of Parliament is to hold Government to account and the Prime Minister does not seem to understand that. When she was first
defeated, she promised legally binding changes. I have not seen those legally binding changes; all she is doing is running down the clock after a
second heavy defeat. Today, Mr. Speaker 1,000 days since the referendum, and this Government have led the country and themselves into crisis, chaos
and division.
We are still legally due to leave the European Union in nine days' time. Months of running down the clock and a concerted campaign of blackmail,
bullying and bribery has failed to convince the House or the country that her deal is anything but a damaging national failure and should be
rejected. They have run out of time; they have run out of ideas. People, Mr. Speaker, all over the country are anxious and frustrated with this
Government's utter inability to find a way through the crisis. If the Prime Minister cannot get changes to her deal, will she give the people a
chance to reject the deal and change the Government?
MAY: Can I say to the right Honorable Gentleman, I think the he has actually just made the point I was making in my previous answer to him that
he does not want to actually respect the votes that took place in referendum in 2016. We have a deal that keeps millions of livelihoods safe
and secure. It protects the Union for the future. It means murderers and rapists on the run can be brought back quickly to face justice in this
country. No deal will not do that. The deal is good for this country, it delivers Brexit and it should be supported.
BERCOW: Peter Aldous.
PETER ALDOUS, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, CONSERVATIVE PARTY: Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. The announcement this week of
the closure of Coes Lowestoft shop, following on from those of Beales, Argos and Body Shop, highlights the challenges at the high street in
Lowestoft currently faces. To address these, Waveney District Council is submitting an expression of interest to the future high streets fund, which
I anticipate will be heavily over-subscribed. I acknowledge the various initiatives the Government have put forward, but can the Prime Minister
assure me that a coordinated --
CURNOW: Raucous, rowdy, quite a confrontation there in the British Parliament. The Prime Minister Theresa May facing some tough questions
giving it back pretty well herself, but let's go to our Anna Stewart who is outside the Houses of Parliament listening to that. Theresa May saying
unequivocally that she has written to the European Union.
[08:20:10]
CURNOW: She has asked for a short extension and that she doesn't want to delay Brexit much longer than June 30th.
STEWART: And she came under a lot of fire from the Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn as you heard there and from many other MPs as there was a pretty
noisy session. She says that she wants a short extension because, A, it is delivering the will of the British people. We have heard that line many
times before, but also, she says they doesn't want to oblige the U.K. to get involved in the European Parliamentary elections which are coming up
later in the spring and she also said that she intends to bring forward proposals for a meaningful vote three. How she mans to do that given what
we heard from the Speaker of the House earlier in the week is anyone's guess.
CURNOW: And then Anna, what are we looking at next? With all of these, I mean, let's go to the thousand foot view here. It's nine days until
Brexit. Is it becoming more and more likely that it is going to be a hard Brexit and we also heard that the E.U. will only grant an extension if they
all agree if it's in their national interests individually and as a bloc? What -- do they really want a hard Brexit? Is it becoming more and more
likely that the E.U. is like, "Well, you know, let's see what happens?"
STEWART: Well, the interesting thing is, there is no appetite from the E.U. or from Parliament behind me for a no-deal Brexit, the hardest of
Brexit options. However, a delay has to be agreed upon by the E.U. 27 members unanimously. We heard today from Jean-Claude Juncker who was
speaking to a German radio station that he doesn't think an agreement can be reached within the E.U. this week, perhaps, they will have an emergency
Summit next week, also saying that they are running out of patience.
Here, as you can hear in Parliament, huge division over the delay as well, they also need to vote on any delay as well and the deal in itself which is
obviously needed before the end of next week, with so many questions to whether we can even vote for it again if it's not substantially different
given how the Speaker weighed in earlier in the week. If all of these options don't happen, currently, the legal default is that the U.K. will
leave the E.U. regardless on March 29th at 11:00 p.m. here in the U.K. with or without the deal. That is the default option and it bring with all the
economic and financial consequences we've been alarmed about and have heard of for months now.
CURNOW: Yes, I think that's the point here is that it's been inching closer and closer to that option just because of the lack of agreement on
various sides. It is certainly going to be a frustrating and unbelievably complicated nine days. Anna Stewart, you've unplugged it all for us.
Appreciate you being on the ground outside the Houses of Parliament.
So another story we're following here at CNN, it has been six days since that terrible attack on that pair of mosques in Christchurch in New
Zealand. We are going to be monitoring that with Kristie Lu Stout in just a moment.
But I am going to go back -- there we go, Kristie Lu Stout, you're there for us trying to gauge whether we want to go back to the Houses of
Parliament. We are listening to that. I am being told that we are going to go back to the Houses of Parliament. We'll come back to you in just a
moment. Let's listen in to PMQs.
IAN BLACKFORD, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, SCOTTISH NATIONALIST PARTY: ... not the interest of the whole United Kingdom.
The Prime Minister has failed, this place has failed, and Scotland is watching. The only way forward now, Mr. Speaker, is to put the decision
back to the people. Will the Prime Minister give the people a say in such a referendum? Mr. Speaker, the people of Scotland deserve a choice over
their future, if Westminster fails, Scotland will act.
MAY: Can I say to the right Honorable Gentleman, that there is an enormous responsibility. It is a huge honor and privilege to sit in this Chamber,
to be elected as a Member of Parliament and to represent our constituents, and we all have a responsibility. Parliament gave the decision to the
British people, it took place in a referendum in 2016, and the result of that referendum was that we should leave the European Union.
And the result of that referendum was that we should leave the European Union and I believe -- I believe for people to be able to have trust in
their politicians and faith in this Parliament, it is imperative that this Parliament delivers the Brexit that people voted for.
BERCOW: Mr. Peter Bone.
PETER BONE, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, CONSERVATIVE PARTY: Mr. Speaker, in June 2016, the country voted to leave the European Union.
In February 2017, this House voted by a majority of 384 to trigger Article 50. The Prime Minister in this House has said 108 times that we will be
leaving the European Union on the 29th of March.
[08:25:10]
BONE: Last week, two thirds of her MPs voted against any extension to Article 50. Prime Minister, if you continue to apply for an extension to
Article 50, you will be betraying the British people. If you don't, you will be honoring their instruction. Prime Minister, it is entirely down to
you; history will judge you at this moment. Prime Minister --
BERCOW: Order. I am not having the Honorable Gentleman denied the chance and the right to be heard; the Honorable Gentleman must and will be heard.
Mr. Peter Bone.
BONE: Prime Minister, which is it to be?
MAY: Can I thank -- my Honorable Friend has been consistent in his challenging me on the 29th of March date in Prime Minister's Questions and
in statements, and indeed in debates. I have always wanted us to be able to leave on 29th of March, but I believe, as was said -- as was said during
the referendum campaign by those who wanted to leave, that it was better to leave with a negotiated deal with the European Union.
That is why I am saying that I think we should look again at being able to leave with a negotiated deal, but in order to do that, we need time for
this Parliament to ratify a deal, and in order to do that, we need an extension until the 30th June.
But, as I have said -- as I have said, as Prime Minister, I could not consider a delay further beyond the 30th June. This is the point at which
this House has the decision to take as to what it wants the future to be. That is what is facing this House, and that is a decision I believe we
should take honoring the result of the referendum.
BERCOW: Dr. Roberta Blackman-Woods.
ROBERTA BLACKMAN-WOODS, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, LABOUR PARTY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On Friday, I visited a school in my
constituency where distressing poverty means that teachers are not only providing food for the children at breakfast and lunch, they are sourcing
clothes and buying shoes for them, in addition to raising money for books and equipment. Now that school, the only one in the area, is threatened
with closure, so rather than spending money trying to get people to back her Brexit deal, could I ask the Prime Minister, please, to use it to
address the acute social need in this country that is bringing families and communities to their knees?
MAY: Well, the Honorable Lady will be well aware that we are putting more money into our schools, we are ensuring that we have a welfare system that
does encourages people into the workplace, and we have put more money into various other elements of care for people across our communities. But the
best solution for people to ensure that they are able to provide for themselves and their families is for us to have a strong economy and for
people to be helped into work, and that is why it was so pleasing to see this week that we see, yet again employment level is at a record high in
this country.
BERCOW: Vicky Ford.
VICKY FORD, BLACKMAN-WOODS, MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM, CONSERVATIVE PARTY: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To overcome homelessness, we
need more homes, and in Chelmsford we are building a thousand new homes every year, but we also need the infrastructure, so this week Essex County
Council is putting in bids for housing infrastructure funding, including for the second train station in Chelmsford. Does my right Honorable Friend
agree that world-class infrastructure is vital for our future, and will she support our 25-year campaign for Chelmsford's second train station?
MAY: Can I say to my Honorable Friend, first of all, I welcome the action that Essex County Council has taken in relation to new homes. I welcome
its bid to the housing infrastructure fund. It's important, we have made that money available in the housing infrastructure fund because we
understand the importance of infrastructure for new housing developments ...
CURNOW: The British Prime Minister Theresa May there answer some tough questions in Parliament about Brexit. We'll continue to monitor these
conversations in the Houses of Parliament and we're also monitoring events in New Zealand and we'll go to Kristi Lu Stout after this short break.
Stay with us.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[08:30:00]
LU STOUT: I'm Kristi Lu Stout in Christchurch. It is already 1:30 in the morning on Thursday and that means, it has been already six days since the
heinous terror attack on a pair of mosques here in Christchurch, New Zealand. Fifty people were killed; 29 remain in hospital, eight in
critical condition. Now, some of the victims' families only just started to lay their loved one to rest.
In fact, the first funeral was held earlier on Wednesday for a Syrian refugee and his 15-year-old son. It's just the beginning of days, if not
weeks of emotional goodbyes, and so far, only six of those killed in Friday's massacre have been returned to their families.
The Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern returned to Christchurch on Wednesday. She offered comfort to students at Cashmere High School who lost two
classmates in the attack. She was later honored with a traditional ceremonial Maori haka dance. Now, Arden said that there is a feeling among
New Zealanders to show the Muslim community their support.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACINDA ARDERN, PRIME MINISTER, NEW ZEALAND: What they seek of course is justice for family members and that will happen through our New Zealand
system. But overwhelmingly, they keep reflecting back to me that sense of support they have felt from the New Zealand community, compassion and
empathy. I have not heard that language from the Muslim community in New Zealand. I have heard the complete opposite.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: That horrific video of the attacks which killed 50 people was viewed by about 200 people at the time that it was livestreamed on Facebook
on Friday, but that was more than enough to just unleash it across the internet.
Facebook on Sunday said it removed more than 1.5 million copies of the video and now, governments and CEOs are calling on Facebook, Twitter and
Google to do more to stop extremist content from spreading further on the internet.
The Prime Minister of New Zealand, she wants technology companies to step up their game.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARDERN: We cannot for instance, I think just simply allow some of the challenges that we face with our social media to be dealt with on a case-
by-case basis. There is an argument there to be made for us to take a united front on what is a global issue. This is not just an issue for New
Zealand, the fact that social media platforms have been used to spread violence, material that incites violence. All of us, I think, need to
present a united front.
When it comes to racism, extremism, violence -- we domestically have duties upon us, as well.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LU STOUT: Jacinda Ardern there and joining me now is someone all too familiar with the extremist ideology of white supremacists and the type of
hateful content it breeds. Shannon Martinez is a reformed neo-Nazi who now helps former and current extremists make their way out of violence and
hate-based groups. She joins us now live from Washington, Shannon, thank you so much for joining us.
And before we get into the wider issue, I wanted to ask you about the social media angle. What role does social media play in cultivating
extremists, spreading their message of hate and inciting violence?
[08:35:06]
SHANNON MARTINEZ, REFORMED WHIITE SUPREMACIST: I think that it definitely has increased the expanse of -- the reach of these materials to so many
people. I am hesitant to pin it completely on the back of social media because I do think that there are public figure that are also empowering
people with hate-based ideologies to feel emboldened.
I think social media has some soul searching to do and really examine their terms of service and what they are willing to allow on their private
platforms.
LU STOUT: Shannon, you were a white supremacist. You were a neo-Nazi. How were you able to break out of that cycle of hatred?
MARTINEZ: I was very lucky that I had a personal encounter with a woman who decided to look past the vile and hate-filled human that I had become
and, instead, see a hurting and struggling young woman.
She took me into her home and allowed me to live there and provided stability and a place where I feel the space around me expand so I could
begin to examine this thing that my life had become.
And I was -- in that environment, I was able to begin to re-humanize and come to terms with the terrible and hurt and hate-filled ideology that I
was spewing out on a regular basis.
LU STOUT: You know, Shannon, it really comes down to just that human connection to be able to reach out to one another and to, as you said,
humanize people around us. So such terrible ideology of hatred doesn't continue to circulate out here. Unfortunately, we're going to have to
leave it at that. Shannon Martinez at the Free Radicals Project, a reformed former neo-Nazi now helping others to just break out of that
ideology. Shannon, thank you so much.
Here in Christchurch as you can see behind me, one of the makeshift memorials across the city, the community continues to mourn, holding vigils
and memorials for the 50 lives taken tragically too soon. We'll have more after this short break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LU STOUT: Joining me now is Mohan Ibrahim, a survivor of the terror attacks. In fact, he was in the Al Noor mosque when it took place and he
joins us now. Mohan, thank you for joining me. My sympathies again. And we've talked before. It was in the hours right after the terror attacks.
You shared your story to the world. It is now almost six days since the terror attacks. What is the one thing that still haunts you about what you
experienced?
MOHAN IBN IBRAHIM, SURVIVED CHRISTCHURCH MOSQUE SHOOTING: First of all, I really thank to my Almighty, Allah, that he gave me for the second life.
It's really hard to recall the attack we had on Friday. I can't forget the things. Still, I am just, you know, that fire gun sound is still in my
head, like it's going on. I don't know how long it's going to take to focus that sound and I feel like somebody is just walking behind me.
LU STOUT: You still hear the continuous gunshots.
IBRAHIM: Yes.
LU STOUT: Are you getting any help or support?
[08:40:08]
IBRAHIM: Yes. Since Friday, I have been getting so much help, support from the New Zealand community, New Zealand people especially the -- from
every sector, there is lots of people, like you know, they are coming and they are showing their love to me -- to us from the New Zealand community,
police, and the local people, especially our Prime Minister, the New Zealand Prime Minister, the way she has been showing her love were support
for us, all the victims -- all of us who were part of the incident. It's really helping us to adjust to being all right from the incident, yes.
LU STOUT: This support -- this compassion is helping you?
IBRAHIM: I would really like to mention that it's been six days, still, the people are here. It's 11:30 p.m. New Zealand time, still lots of
people are still here sharing their love, bringing flowers. This is really unexpected. One thing we would like to say is that New Zealand people are
becoming more strong and more supportive to us after that incident happened.
So we just want to say that, stay strong, kia kaha, share one love with us.
LU STOUT: Kia Kaha is a beautiful message, that Maori saying for be strong. I know that you have lost dear friends and loved ones. Have you
been able to attend any of the burials, funeral plans, what can you share?
IBRAHIM: I have lost almost every faces that people -- from the Linwood and Al Noor mosque because I met them on Thursday night in the pray and so
when I went to the mosque on Friday, I saw them that you know, we were waving hands, that means we will see each other after the pray, but I
didn't see them anymore.
LU STOUT: And that was Mohan Ibrahim, a survivor and eyewitness to terror and six days after the terror attacks, as you heard from him just now, he
continues to hear the continuous gunshots in his mind and he really values the ongoing support of the community here in Christchurch.
Now, we learned that on Friday, there will be two minutes of silence in honor of the victims of the terror attacks and we also know that Muslims
will continue to go back to the mosque one week after the terror attacks to engage in Friday prayers, to remember all that was lost, the 50 lives
tragically taken too soon.
I am Kristie Lu Stout in Christchurch. That is "News Stream" and "World Sport" is next.
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