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Ole Miss Students Posed with Guns at Emmett Till Memorial Sign; 16 Marines Arrested on Human Smuggling & Drug Charges; Boris Johnson; Speculation Grows Boris Johnson's Girlfriend Will Move into Number 10 Downing Street. Aired 1:30-2p ET
Aired July 26, 2019 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
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[13:34:23] BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: The manhunt for two Canadian teenagers suspected of killing three people has descended on a small town in northern Manitoba. This search has taken authorities across 2,000 miles of Canada's northern rural area. It's intensified after the father of one of the suspects said his son was going to go out in a blaze of glory.
Authorities believe the two suspects are somewhere near Gillam, which is a town with just over a thousand people and only one road leading in and out. They are considered to be armed and dangerous.
Three white University of Mississippi students are facing consequences after posing with guns in front of an Emmett Till memorial. The photo surfaced last week. It shows the students standing in front of the bullet-riddled sign. Though, CNN has not confirmed that they shot the sign. The students' fraternity has suspended them and now the Justice Department's Civil Rights Division is investigating.
[13:35:15] Our Martin Savidge is in Oxford with details.
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MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The University of Mississippi today identified two of the three men in the photograph. It says that one of the men is currently enrolled as a junior at the university. The other. they say. is no longer enrolled. And the third person remains unidentified.
This photo first came to light when it was posted on Instagram in March but became nationally known this week when an investigative journalist in Mississippi revealed the photo and wrote about it.
The photo shows three white men standing in front of a memorial marker to Emmett Till. He is the young man that was murdered in 1955, who has become an icon for the civil rights movement. Two of the men in the photograph are seen holding guns. And the memorial itself, at least the sign, is riddled by bullets.
Now, at this point, we are not identifying the men because we have not had the opportunity to talk to them.
Also, we should point out it is not clear if they're the ones that shot up the sign or if it was the work of others.
Unfortunately, the sign has been routinely vandalized. In fact it is going to be replaced now for the fourth time. But again, it marks a very revered and very somber site.
The fraternity for which these three men belong, that's Kappa Alpha, has put out a statement and it says, "This photo is inappropriate, insensitive and unacceptable. It does not represent our chapter."
Meanwhile, the University of Mississippi has also said that the photo is "offensive and it's hurtful." But it also said that it does not in any way apparently impact the student code of conduct. In other words, the university doesn't appear it's taking any action. University officials also note this was a photograph that was taken off campus.
Meanwhile, the U.S. attorney for northern Mississippi is taking the photo and information and handing it over to the Justice Department. They could possibly investigate.
Lastly, we should say that the family of Emmett Till has responded to the photo. They say, "To see them standing there smiling is disappointing, but not surprising. We have to stay focused on what is really important. Our mission is justice for Emmett Till."
And that is, of course, a reminder that no one was ever convicted for Till's murder in 1955. He would have been 78 years old yesterday.
Martin Savidge, CNN, Oxford, Mississippi.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: And a dramatic arrest of 16 Marines as they were in battalion formation. We're going to have an update from Camp Pendleton, next.
Plus, new details on how accused sex trafficker, Jeffrey Epstein, received money and access to his victims. And why the feds are investigating, quote, "uncharged individuals."
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[13:42:32] KEILAR: Sixteen Marines remain in custody after they were arrested while in formation at Camp Pendleton in California yesterday. These Marines are accused of taking part in an array of illegal activities, ranging from human smuggling to drug-related offenses.
Our Stephanie Elam is at Camp Pendleton and has the latest for us.
Tell us what you're hearing.
STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Right, Brianna. This happened yesterday during that battalion formation of about 800 Marines when these 16 Marines were arrested. Now what we understand is that this is relating to human smuggling and drug charges.
We also know another eight Marines were also questioned during that time related to other drug questions that the Marines had there, but that was separate from this other investigation where these 16 were taken in.
We also have learned that this is related to something that happened earlier in July when two Marines were arrested about 20 miles east of the Tecate port of entry near the southwestern border. That is when they were pulled over and found with three Mexican nationals in the back seat of their car. They did not have documentation to be in the country.
At that point, they said that two of those Mexican nationals told officials that they were going to pay $8,000 each to get smuggled into the United States, one planning to go to Los Angeles, the other planning to go to New Jersey.
Once they started to probe into this, officials found out there might be other people within the Marine Corps base here at Camp Pendleton who are involved and that is why these other 16 people have been arrested at this point.
I can also tell you, though, that, at this point, they're saying none of the people who were arrested were actually supporting the southwest border operations here. They had nothing to do with that, so it's a separate story.
But still quite shocking that 16 people have been arrested here, 16 Marines.
KEILAR: It's completely shocking and so concerning for the military leadership as well.
Have they released the identities of these 16?
ELAM: No, we have not learned their names yet. From what we understand, they're still compiling the charges. Once the charges are released, then we will know. We do know the names of the two arrested, both lance corporals, they were arrested earlier in July so we could learn the names of the other 16 people as these charges become available.
KEILAR: All right, Stephanie Elam, thank you so much.
Boris Johnson is already breaking the norms. Why his personal life is making headlines in the U.K.
[13:44:55] And dramatic video of the moment ICE smashed a car window to arrest a man, but his girlfriend says they didn't have a warrant.
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[13:49:58] KEILAR: CNN's original series, "THE MOVIES" travels back in time to the disco era, the 1970s, and what some consider the second golden age for American movies. The '70s were a time that pushed the medium of movie making and gave Hollywood directors wider control to make to make blockbuster classics like "The Godfather," "Jaws" and "Foxy Brown." (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The queen to me of the 1970s was Pam Greer. There were never black women who got to be assertive. And guns and took on villains. And as a black girl, as I was at the time, seeing this larger-than-life beautiful woman was amazing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What I love about Pam Greer is that she is (INAUDIBLE) but she's sexy at the same time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: She was a unique presence at that time. Guys interested in her as a sex symbol. Females interested in her as feminist symbol. Everyone interested in her as a movie star. She was that in the culture.
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KEILAR: You can watch the latest episode of CNN's "THE MOVIES," the stories about the movies we love, this Sunday night at 9:00 Eastern.
The British are known for their stiff-upper-lip mentality. But the new U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is making jaws drop. Not so much for his politics, but his personal life.
CNN's Anna Stewart explains.
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ANNA STEWART, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Just as Boris Johnson made a statement of defiance in his debut as Britain's new prime minister --
BORIS JOHNSON, BRITISH PRIME MINISTER: Never mind the backstop. The buck stops here.
STEWART: -- he also made a statement about his personal life.
Walking through the famous black door of Number 10 Downing Street alone, an iconic moment usually shared with the prime minister's partner or children. He wasn't completely alone. Boris Johnson's girlfriend, Carrie Symonds, watched from the sidelines. Now speculation grows as to whether she's going to move in, making Boris Johnson the first prime minister to live unmarried with a partner.
CAROLINE WHEELER, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR, THE SUNDAY TIMES: They will make history by being a boyfriend/girlfriend couple, moving into that power base at Number 10 Downing Street.
STEWART: The British media is fascinated by this relationship, given the new prime minister's reputation for a colorful personal life.
Boris Johnson is going through a divorce after a marriage of 25 years and four children. The relationship with Symonds, more than 20 years his junior, began last year.
Despite the couple often living together in Symonds' London home, they succeeded in keeping their romance out of the limelight.
Then the leadership contest began. Police were called to their address by neighbors who complained about a loud argument. Questions swirled in the media about Boris Johnson's fitness to become the next prime minister.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're not going to make any comment at all about what happened last night?
JOHNSON: I think we got pretty -- that's pretty obvious for the forgoing.
(LAUGHTER)
STEWART: Symonds, though, is no stranger to the world of politics or the media, formerly working as a communications officer for Boris Johnson's Conservative Party and an advocate for environmental causes.
And as a couple, she's even credited with giving Boris Johnson a makeover.
WHEELER: Ever since she became on the scene, he's become a much trimmer figure. He's had his haircut, so he doesn't look quite so disheveled. He's definitely smartened up his appearance. He's been a much more disciplined Boris Johnson than we've come to see.
STEWART: It will be unchartered territory for the couple and the country, as Britain's new prime minister carries out some duties that would normally include a spouse.
Although Symonds' presence on the first day does suggest he's not alone, he may need the support given the daunting challenges he faces. Not the least, Brexit.
IAIN DALE, LBC PRESENTER: This will be a very solitary existence. And I think all prime ministers need to have a partner that they can, not just rely on, but maybe consult on some things. I think she will be a real rock for him in many ways.
STEWART: Johnson may also now be relying on Carrie Symonds to be his rock for turbulent times.
And if the prime minister and his girlfriend choose to take their relationship further, well, the world may witness the first wedding of a sitting prime minister in over 200 years.
If that happens, of course, it's likely to be after Brexit, for better or for worse.
Anna Stewart, CNN, London.
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[13:54:24] KEILAR: A heartbreaking image from Syria, showing a young girl rescuing her baby sister after an air strike. Please don't miss this heroic story. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: I want to warn you the image we're about to show you in a few moments is very disturbing.
The Syrian government has recently increased its airstrikes in and around Idlib, the last areas controlled by the opposition. Civilian deaths have spiked. And that means the deaths of children have spiked as well. In the past four weeks, more than 30 children have died. And this is more than were killed in this civil war in all of last year.
One of those children is 5-year-old Reham Abdullah (ph). You can see her shortly before her death. She's trapped in rubble, and in her hand is her 7-month-old sister Tuca's (ph) green shirt. Tuca (ph) is dangling from the rubble as Reham (ph) holds on tight moments after the building they were in was hit by an airstrike. Their father, watching in horror, he is yelling out to his daughters, "Don't move." That is what the photographer of this photo said.
[13:59:07] The moment after this picture was taken, the house collapsed.
