Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

Americans Protest Racism, Police Killings for 11th Straight Night; Buffalo Mayor Blames Police Union for Mass Resignations; Many U.S. Cities Staging Protests; Trump Invokes George Floyd in Self- Aggrandizement; Global Protests Increase Fears of Coronavirus Spread; Top Swedish Scientist: COVID-19 Strategy Could Have Been Better; Protests over Police Brutality Spread Worldwide; Black Lives Matter Supporters Demonstrate in London; Tokyo Officials Warn Olympics Might Be Slimmed Down in 2021; Lance Armstrong: "Gained the World but Lost His Soul." Aired 3-4a ET

Aired June 06, 2020 - 03:00   ET

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


[03:00:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

NATALIE ALLEN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Live from CNN World Headquarters, in Atlanta, hello, everyone, thank you for joining us, I'm Natalie Allen and this is CNN NEWSROOM.

We begin with the 12th day of protests expected across the U.S. on Saturday with large crowds calling for social justice and police reform following the violent death of George Floyd.

In Washington and elsewhere, the demonstrations have been overwhelmingly peaceful. This area, near the White House, has now been designated by the mayor as Black Lives Matter Plaza after protesters were pushed out of an adjacent public park.

Here in Minneapolis, where Floyd died on Memorial Day, protesters chanted his name as they marched. Floyd was killed, after a police officer knelt on his neck, for nearly 9 minutes. The city government has now voted to ban police chokeholds.

Now we take you to Los Angeles. There is a growing sense among protesters here, that they are on the forefront of a movement for racial justice. To that end, a massive voter registration drive was folded into Friday's demonstration.

In the midst of the nationwide protests, numerous instances have surfaced of police using a heavy hand against peaceful demonstrators. CNN's Jason Carroll has our report in New York.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): After 11 days of nationwide protests, anger, outrage and a call for change after George Floyd was killed with a police officer's knee on his neck.

This is the message on a street leading straight to the White House, the words "Black Lives Matter" now emblazoned in yellow paint. Part of that call for change, renewed scrutiny on police. In Minneapolis, the city council voted to ban the controversial choke hold and vowing to work towards systematic change in the department.

All four former police officers in the department are in jail, charged in George Floyd's killing, this as a growing number of disturbing police incidents on video are emerging.

In Buffalo, New York, two officers have been suspended after a 75- year-old protester was pushed and left bleeding on the ground, an initial message from police described as a man who tripped and fell.

GOV. ANDREW CUOMO (D-NY): When I saw the video, I got sick to my stomach.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh, my God, that looks so scary.

CARROLL: In Tacoma, Washington, a new video posted to social media appears to show officers violently striking Manuel Ellis as he lies on the ground. A second video also appears to show officers holding Ellis while he's on the ground and telling him to put his hands behind his back.

Ellis died after being physically restrained by police. His family is calling for four officers involved to be fired. The medical examiner ruled his death a homicide.

MARCIA CARTER-PATTERSON, MANUEL ELLIS' MOTHER: He was a blessed child, OK? He was blessed. He was good and did not deserve to be murdered at the hands of the police.

CARROLL: And in Atlanta, new video of a woman being body-slammed by a police officer, breaking her collarbone, at a protest May 29. No word yet from the Atlanta Police Department on whether the officer involved will face disciplinary actions.

While in New York City last night, a small sign of hope, as a police chief in Brooklyn de-escalated a situation with protesters by shaking hands and listening.

(on camera): As an African American law enforcement officer, I mean, how does that make you -- how does that fit with you?

JEFFREY MADDREY, NYPD ASSISTANT CHIEF: Well, I'm a black man, but I love being a police officer. So I'm not resigning. And I'm going to continue to make sure everybody's safe.

CARROLL (voice-over): Jason Carroll CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Since Jason filed that report, we learned the Atlanta police officer in the body slamming incident has been put on administrative assignment while that incident is being investigated.

After two Buffalo, New York, police officers were disciplined for shoving an elderly man to the, ground 57 other fellow officers resigned from that elite squad known as the emergency response team. The mayor blamed the police union for the mass registration and he spoke earlier with our Chris Cuomo.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR BYRON BROWN (D-NY), BUFFALO: The police union indicated, if those officers continued to participate in that unit, they would lose the support of the Police Benevolent Association in Buffalo.

The Buffalo police union is on the wrong side of history, they are wrong in this situation, they have been a barrier to further police reform in the city of Buffalo and that barrier that the police union presents needs to be addressed.

[03:05:00]

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: The idea that the initial response from the PD was that he tripped and fell. That's a B.S. explanation. They had to know it was on video.

What does that tell you about what you're dealing with there?

BROWN: The exclamation I got was it was a fluid situation, commander were in a command center. They were getting information back from the field; that is, the initial information that came in, it was wrong, they got it wrong very shortly video evidence came in.

They were clear that they were wrong, they corrected that they were wrong. They put out the correct information. That information led to the police commissioner and myself and the police commissioner made the immediate decision to suspend those officers without pay.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Earlier we asked CNN law enforcement analyst Charles Ramsey about this mass resignation of police officers, here is where he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHARLES RAMSEY, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Anyone who saw that video realizes that, one, the use of force was inappropriate. That even if they shoved him and didn't intend for him to fall, which I don't believe they did, once he hit his head and you saw that pool of blood begin to form around his head, you have to immediately take action and do the best you can to provide some aid, some first aid to that individual.

And what hurt me more than anything was seeing all those officers just file past him as he was laying there, not taking any action. Those 57 officers, they want to resign, that's fine, let them go. Let them go.

I would only ask that they not only resign from that unit but please resign from the police force because we don't need people like that in our profession. We truly don't. (END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Charles Ramsey, former Philadelphia police commissioner, former Washington police chief, talking with us earlier.

Breonna Taylor is another victim who was killed at the hands of police, she would've turned 27 on Friday. Taylor was shot multiple times in her own home in Louisville, Kentucky, after officers stormed the apartment to serve a search warrant in a drug investigation.

With little movement in her case, Taylor's name has become a fixture in recent protests.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN (voice-over): Now we turn to Portland. Hundreds gathered there to honor Taylor's memory and demand the arrest of officers involved.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Activist Lilith Sinclair is among those who had been taking part in protests in Portland. Lilith joins me now.

Lilith, we appreciate you being here. We've seen so many people take to the streets, a diverse crowd in Portland.

So what is the atmosphere mainly?

LILITH SINCLAIR, ACTIVIST: The atmosphere here in Portland, firstly, thank you so much for having me as a representative of our community at large.

But the mood here in Portland is urgent, I don't know if people can hear, it but a group of people just walked down the street, chanting, ACAB and, whose streets, our streets, down the avenue where a significant portion, a significant distance away from the main protests that are happening.

The energy in the city is palpable. The people are united.

ALLEN: You sound upbeat about it.

SINCLAIR: I should share with you that after helping lead a little protest tonight, I definitely do not want to be -- I had to share it with the crowd but I don't want to be doing this but I know that now is time.

But on the walk back to the car i sat down in front of the memorial, that had not just Bill Taylor and George Floyd but also the names of all of the Portlanders killed by police and names of victims across the country and I sobbed, to be honest, in front of a crowd.

I'm sure someone has media of it, thinking that my brothers and myself. So I'm not happy to be out, here a lot of us are not happy to be out, here but for those of us who have been doing this for years, we see the energy in the moment and a lot of people waking up to the reality of what it means to experience trauma at the hands of a state because of the pandemic.

And that trauma that the state has put on us because of their failure to act has caused a lot of people to wake up to the other trauma that the state does and to stand behind the Black Lives Matter movement.

[03:10:00]

ALLEN: Portland does have a long history of oppression when it comes to black people.

Is this the issue, the killing of George Floyd and others, will it change things?

SINCLAIR: This moment will be recorded in history. I think it is important for people to understand the language we are using is important and we are not looking at riots right now.

Riots are what a lot of white Americans have a history of doing after sports teams lose. Instead, we are seeing a people united in an uprising. This is the type of moment that lasts only once in 100 years and lots of, folks like myself are recognizing that now is the time when we need to teach our communities how to take care of each other in a way that exists outside of the state and in a way, where we can see the abolition of police and understand that that means, instead, we can turn to a victim led, trauma informed restorative justice.

These are things that black people have been writing about for years. The language is starting to be transferred over for people to even be able to imagine, what a life without so many of these statist systems, that have all this red tape, without that. We could just be taking each other, and building community and relationships and understanding that no one deserves to be thrown away or put into a cage.

It's one of the demands we gave to our mayor today, is to release --

(CROSSTALK)

SINCLAIR: Yes?

ALLEN: I want to talk to you about that. Many cities are now asking if it is time to defund police and rethink public safety and how cities go about that. You and others did meet with the mayor of Portland, you offered a list of requests, demands. So tell us about them?

SINCLAIR: Yes. Specifically, I want to make sure that we are using the language of demand and I want to say to everyone watching, when I share these demands are the same thing I told the mayor of Portland today is that we cannot have this conversation in an hour, let alone within 5 minutes.

So what we did, is summed up the goals of our demands, the overreaching end goal of our demands, and told him we would like to me daily with, him until we understand the steps he can take to get there. And he agreed.

So I would be happy to tell you about the ways in which we are holding him accountable to these demands. Some of these demands include the abolition of police as an end goal, with the recognition that the steps to get there include immediately disarming and demilitarizing the police, immediately defunding the police and ceasing new hires, looking into redistributing those funds for our communities, prioritizing black and brown people and, then working to disband the police, entirely in replacement of a system where we send trauma informed and culturally specific people out to the communities that they represent and are a part of, to serve them in mental health crisis or in emergency scenarios, in need of medical attention, without weapons and without a militarized state.

ALLEN: We appreciate you joining us, we know that you are a leader in this movement, they are in Portland, and keep us informed, Lilith.

SINCLAIR: Yes, will do.

ALLEN: All right, Lilith Sinclair, thank you so much, take good care.

SINCLAIR: Thank you.

ALLEN: Early Friday morning, a message appeared on the Washington street that leads to the White House. The message is clear, you can see it there, covering the street. Black Lives Matter.

The word spanned the width of both lanes and the message covers 2 whole blocks of 16th Street, which leads straight to the White House. That section of street has been renamed, as well, it is now called Black Lives Matter Plaza. You can see, they have already changed the street signs.

President Trump is celebrating the new unemployment numbers that came out on Friday but, in doing so, he made a shocking reference to George Floyd, the man whose death spurred these protests and widespread unrest gripping the country. Kaitlan Collins has more about it from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: After the unemployment rate unexpectedly dropped to 13 percent, President Trump seized on the first good news he's had in months during a last-minute address in the Rose Garden today.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Everything that you've seen this morning was unexpected, even the pro sitting here would understand that. Everything.

[03:15:00]

COLLINS: The president predicted that an economic turnaround could happen sooner than expected. And as he acknowledged the unrest across the nation, he invoked George Floyd's name.

TRUMP: Hopefully, George Floyd is looking down right now and saying this is a great thing that's happening for our country. It's a great day for him, a great day for everybody. COLLINS: The president hasn't held any listening sessions with leaders of the black community but he claimed a rebound in the economy could address racial tension in the U.S.

TRUMP: That's what my plan is. We're going to have the strongest economy in the world.

COLLINS: As Trump was taking his victory lap, his former chief of staff that he agreed with the scathing assessment of his leadership by the president's former defense secretary.

JOHN KELLY, FORMER WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF: I think we need to look harder at who we elect.

COLLINS: John Kelly said if he was still chief of staff, he would have argued against clearing the street of protesters for the president's photo op at St. John's church.

KELLY: I would have argued that the end result that have was predictable.

COLLINS: As more of his former top aides turned into critics, "The Wall Street Journal" editorial board wrote that Trump's "demand for personal loyalty and his thin skin clash with people who care about larger causes."

That breaking point could have consequences for the president's support within the Republican Party. The GOP only has a three-seat majority in the Senate but after Senator Lisa Murkowski said he was struggling with whether to support Trump in November, he vowed to campaign against her and support any candidate with a pulse.

And another feud may be brewing for the candidate, Muriel Bowser wrote a letter requesting that he remove federal law enforcement and military presence from Washington, D.C.

Trump called her by calling her incompetent, saying, "we will bring in a different group of men and women."

And after sources and even the White House press secretary said on the record that it was the attorney general who had made that call to clear the park before the president later walked over for his photo op, attorney general Barr told the Associated Press in an interview tonight that he did not give the ultimate directive.

He claims he does not have the control to give those directives and he said, instead, they were just clearing the park because of orders from the park police after, of course, they had discussed extending the perimeter earlier that day -- Kaitlan Collins, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Mr. Trump said recovery in the economy will help address racial inequality. The newest jobs report says the unemployment rate fell to 13.3 percent in May. But it does say white unemployment dropped, Hispanic Americans are also feeling some of the recovery. But unemployment among black American stayed steady, at 16.8 percent, which is disproportionately high.

CNN's Abby Phillip pointed, out black American are the first to lose their jobs and the last to regain them.

Mr. Trump's comments about it being a great day for George Floyd, that is a quote Friday, drew a sharp rebuke from his likely Democratic challenger for president.

Joe Biden slammed Mr. Trump's remarks in a speech at Delaware State, a historically black public university.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: George Floyd's last words, "I can't breathe, I can't breathe, " have echoed all across this nation and, frankly, around the world. For the president to try to put any other words in the mouth of George Floyd, I frankly think, is despicable.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: Next, a U.S. disease expert warns of a possible spike in coronavirus cases and it might be because of the protests on the streets.

Also, one of Sweden's top scientists is admitting that the country's COVID-19 strategy could have been better. You are watching CNN NEWSROOM.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:20:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ALLEN: The top U.S. disease expert is warning about the risks of the coronavirus spreading during these protests. Dr. Anthony Fauci is reminding demonstrators that gathering in crowds is risky. He added, chanting, yelling, coughing from tear gas could increase the chance of more cases.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALLERGY AND INFECTIOUS DISEASES: It's the perfect setup for further spread of the virus, in the sense of creating these blips which might turn into some surges.

So I get very concerned. People, running back and forth, taking their masks off, being close in proximity, that absolutely poses a risk that there might be spread of infection.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ALLEN: With protests showing no signs of letting up, health officials have good reason to be concerned. The number of new coronavirus infections is up in nearly 2 dozen states this past week. CNN's Erica Hill has more about it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERICA HILL, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): Peaceful protests, across the country, have health experts worried.

DR. ROBERT REDFIELD, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: There is a potential, unfortunately, for this to be a seeding event.

HILL (voice-over): New York streets, filled with demonstrators, just days before the city's planned reopening.

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D-NY), NEW YORK CITY: I understand still, this painful, real moment in history. But I want to remind, people it is dangerous to be close together. If you've been at a protest, I strongly urge you to get tested.

HILL (voice-over): Minnesota's governor, encouraging the same.

As officials sound the alarm, again, about the need to wear masks.

REDFIELD: We are very concerned our public health message is not resonating.

HILL (voice-over): The World Health Organization, expanding its guidance on Friday, recommending fabric face coverings in areas where the virus is still spreading and medical masks for those over 60 or with underlying conditions.

Sobering numbers about the nation's nursing homes, 26 states say 50 percent or more of their COVID-19 related deaths, were in long-term care facilities, according to a new report.

Minnesota and Rhode Island posting the highest numbers, 81 percent, followed by Connecticut and New Hampshire. Meantime, the number of new cases over the past week is up in 21 states. Testing is also on the rise.

Florida saw its biggest one day jump in weeks, adding more than 1,400 new cases on Thursday. Much of the state is now in phase 2 of reopening, Universal Orlando, welcoming guests, Friday morning.

CHANNING WILHOUGHBY, UNIVERSAL STUDIOS VISITOR: I felt very safe in bringing my family here.

HILL (voice-over): The NBA looking to bring its players to Orlando, using Disney World as home base, aiming to restart the season on July 31st ;22 teams added safety measures and regular testing part of that plan.

ADAM SILVER, NBA COMMISSIONER: The belief is we would not have to shut down if a single player tested positive.

HILL (voice-over): Major League Baseball, however, still on hold after the players' association rejected the league's call for further pay cuts.

HILL: In its weekly health report, the CDC saying a third of Americans have been engaging in some sort of risky behavior with household cleaning products or disinfectants to stop the spread of COVID-19.

An online survey from last month found that some admitted to putting bleach on their, food washing their bodies with household cleaners or disinfectants or even gargling with bleach. None of that, of course, is recommended by the CDC or by the companies that make those products.

Household cleaners and disinfectants should ever be ingested and should only be used for their intended purposes as expressed on the labels -- back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[03:25:00]

ALLEN: One of Sweden's top scientists admitted its COVID-19 strategy could've been better. Sweden relied on its citizens' sense of civic duty but the strategy resulted in one of the highest per capita death rates from the virus in the world. Our Phil Black has this, from London.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PHIL BLACK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Even in a country that has shown a light touch for dealing with COVID-19, this is against the rules.

There is a 50 person limit on groups in Sweden. It didn't stop thousands crowding close together in Stockholm to protest against racism.

There is no lockdown in Sweden. Never has been. A radically different approach to the rest of the world. It is driven by the state epidemiologist who, throughout the pandemic, has proudly argued, Sweden has found the right balance by focusing on voluntary social distancing.

One of the strong reasons for why we've been doing what we're doing, what we are, doing is (INAUDIBLE) feel that this is very sustainable. We can keep on doing this for long, for months at the end without any real harm to society.

BLACK (voice-over): It hasn't all gone to plan. Sweden's death toll, more than 4.5 thousand, is disturbingly high for such a small country. There's still no evidence to support claims his policies have allowed widespread immunity to build in the capital.

Denmark and Norway, locked down, suffered relatively few deaths and now refuse to open their doors to Sweden, those facts triggering scathing assessments from other Swedish scientists.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: The biggest problem today, there is no willingness to change. A failed policy and proof is in the pudding. Death numbers are staggering.

BLACK: He has now admitted, for the first, time, with today's knowledge he'd have done things a little differently. He is still no fan of lockdowns but says with, hindsight that Sweden should have gone for a plan somewhere in the middle, between this current open, approach and stricter measures.

He's not saying that he got it wrong, he just was not right about everything.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Unfortunately, we have a high death toll here (INAUDIBLE) and we wish we could have avoided more (INAUDIBLE).

BLACK: Traditionally, in Sweden, public officials like Tegno enjoy significant autonomy and high public trust but his policies will now be examined closely. The Swedish government has promised a rapid inquiry into the pandemic response.

While most Swedes are still happily enjoying the freedoms that come with keeping the country open, there is growing pressure to determine if the cost in lives has been too high -- Phil Black, CNN, London.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: Demonstrations are spreading around the world against racism, police brutality in the death of George Floyd. We just saw pictures there of people in Sweden. People in many countries, around the world, are taking it to the streets.

Let's take a closer look and some live reports for you, straight ahead.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[03:30:00]

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ALLEN: Welcome back, I'm Natalie Allen, from CNN Center in Atlanta, you are watching CNN NEWSROOM, we appreciate it.

Let me get you the latest on our top story. An 11th straight night of protests across the U.S., demanding justice for George Floyd, killed, nearly 2 weeks ago, while in police custody.

In the nation's capital, demonstrators gathered near the White House as they called for sweeping change across the country, while thousands peacefully took to the streets of Los Angeles, standing hand at hand in solidarity. Many seen holding voter registration forms.

And then Denver Colorado people marched well into the night, Friday was the first time in a week it did not have a curfew.

Demonstrators around the world stand with those in the United States. Thousands of Black Lives Matter supporters gathered Friday in two German cities, Frankfurt, in Hamburg and dozens of Black Lives Matter supporters gathered in London's Trafalgar Square, taking a knee in the iconic square. And, in Australia, huge crowds in several cities supporting Black Lives Matter in Adelaide.

And they are there to condemn mistreatment of indigenous Australians. Let's get a sense of what these protests look like. Journalist Angus Watson joins me from Sydney, which is remarkable, Angus, that all in all of these major cities in Australia, the throngs of people who are out, about, what can you tell us about what you are seeing?

ANGUS WATSON, JOURNALIST: It's relatively successful protests across the country. You can see the tail end of a protest in Sydney, Australia, thousands turned out to protest racial injustice in the United States but also here in Australia.

They say the indigenous population here is (INAUDIBLE) police and (INAUDIBLE) Australians who are in jail and aboriginal deaths in custody have never yet been convicted. This is for a 25-year-old indigenous Australian, who died in prison in 2015, while being held down by prison guards. His final words were, I cannot breathe.

ALLEN: Words that we are familiar with.

Is the government listening?

WATSON: Authorities didn't want people to protest today. Australia has been successful in its fight against coronavirus. In New South Wales, there has not been a single case in the last 24 hours, that is, huge because this was the epicenter in Australia for COVID-19.

People did not want the hard work to be undone and the police don't want that either, so they took the issue to the supreme court, last night, which ruled that the protest should not go ahead because of a public health order. It said that large crowds are banned.

Earlier today, we had a court of appeals, that protests should go ahead. So a legal protest here and a very successful one.

ALLEN: People taking to the streets regardless, Angus Watson, thank you so much for your reporting.

WATSON: Thank you.

ALLEN: Protests are about to kick off now in France. Senior international correspondent Jim Bittermann, joining me live.

What is expected there?

Good morning, Jim.

JIM BITTERMANN, CNN SR. INTL. CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Natalie. In fact, protests here are set to begin here There will be demonstrations as far as the organizers are concerned, across 7 other cities in the country.

They are showing up here, on the George Floyd case, of course. But also about a young man, 24 years old, who died in police custody in 2016. The authorities are now reopening an investigation into his death, because there is a feeling that some of the things and conclusions of the first investigation were inadequate.

There are now new witnesses coming forward.

[03:35:00]

BITTERMANN: So it is something that goes back years and in, fact the problem with racial injustice with the police goes back several decades. There are riots out of the suburbs in 2005 and were largely because of the kind of injustice in France but in countries around the world.

ALLEN: It seems like George Floyd's case is a catalyst to get other countries to revisit the inequities that they're seeing at the hands of police.

BITTERMANN: Absolutely, I think it has spurred everyone to think about this problem, including the interior minister here in France, who said that they will launch an investigation into a Facebook group, that a number of members of police and security officials are a part of.

This Facebook group has been described as being racist and homophobic. Of course, the interior minister has said that that is totally unacceptable.

ALLEN: We will wait and see what happens there as the protests get underway in France. Jim Bittermann, thank you.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ALLEN: Now to Ottawa, Canada, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, joining Black Lives Matter protesters, there, on Friday, who knelt silently for almost 9 minutes. The amount of time the fired police officer knelt on the neck of George Floyd.

There were several protests in Canada Friday against police brutality and systemic racism.

Protests flared up again on Friday, in Mexico's second largest city, after a 30 year old man died in police custody last month. Authorities are trying to clamp down on the growing anger but the protesters are not backing down. Matt Rivers is there and a warning, some of the images are graphic in the story.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MATT RIVERS, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Jivani (ph) Lopez was arrested the night of May 4th, video of the scene outside of Guadalajara, Mexico, shows the 30-year-old struggling with police.

People nearby can be heard saying the police arrested him because he wasn't wearing a face mask, though authorities say he was detained not because of mask issues but for, quote, "acting violent," without giving more detail.

"You can't treat him like that," somebody nearby shouts at police.

"If you kill him, we know you."

The next day, Jivani was dead. Authorities would only say he died in police custody. They won't say how it happened and police have not answered our request for comment. They have arrested 3 people, including one cop.

But a month later, people are still angry. Peaceful protests against police brutality Thursday in Guadalajara turned violent. Police vehicles were destroyed, set alight or smashed in; protesters brawled with police in the streets, as some sprayed "asesinos," "murderers" on government buildings.

But the enduring images from the day will be this, police officer standing in the street when someone comes up, pours liquid on his back and sets him on fire. He runs away and his colleagues try and put out the flames. He is alive but he has severe burns across his body.

The video will likely take away from the message millions of Mexicans have tried to send for decades. They are tired of abuse from police. Jivani Lopez perhaps just the latest example of many -- Matt Rivers, CNN, Mexico City.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: We want to take you to London now to get perspective from one of the organizers from London's Black Lives Matter demonstrations. We are joined by Dee Ndlovu, who joins us from London.

Thank you so much for joining us, Dee, good morning.

DEE NDLOVU, BLACK LIVES MATTER ORGANIZER: Good morning, how are you today?

ALLEN: I'm good, thank you. I want to ask you, about these rallies and you are a leader of them.

Who is coming and what are you hearing from people on the streets?

NDLOVU: I think we are getting an eclectic mix of people. There is a huge population that is coming. We are talking something around 16 to 13 but we are also getting a huge influx of those who are 40 and above.

There is a big collective movement. I think everyone is tired, across the ages, if you live long enough, this is another decade where this happens again. If you are the youth, you are not in a place where you can digest the images that are being shown, especially the one of George Floyd. So we are galvanized to action and -- yes.

ALLEN: It is extraordinary how cities across the world, countries continue to take to the streets over the story of George Floyd.

[03:40:00]

ALLEN: It is interesting that this particular story is resonating so deeply with people.

Do you truly get a sense that this could be a catalyst for change?

I know that there is also inequities with police treatment of blacks as well, over in the U.K.

NDLOVU: Yes. I think what it fundamentally boils down to is that this video of George Floyd, I came across it through Facebook and Facebook has an auto scroll. So if you scroll, it automatically starts, playing so I did not get a counted (ph) one. And I was drawn in and I saw myself in George.

And I think in doing that, it is forcing us to think about the systems that are under hold and underpin Western democracy and white privilege and how we negotiate and navigate them and how we dissented them from their cachet as the baseline to normality.

I think that is what is happening in the world. Particularly in London we see people actually address what is happening in terms of police funding, in terms of state sanctioned violence, against black bodies?

So I do believe, this is a big catalytic moment of change, 18 countries joining us, to say Black Lives Matter but to realize until you realize Black Lives Matter as well.

ALLEN: We see people kneeling, quietly and people are going down on their knee has been a poignant expression of support.

Here, in the United States, we are now seeing some atrocious back and forth between the police officers, using heavy handed tactics, citizens attacking police officers. I would imagine you are not seeing that level of anger in London. I don't know but part of the situation on the streets in the U.S. is it's a political issue.

It is a police brutality issue.

NDLOVU: I think in the U.K. we have had instances of police getting involved but I think the difference comes about is for example in the demonstration I led yesterday, there was already a strong police presence.

When I arrived there were riot cops and helicopters circling and I was the first to arrive. It suggests that we are causing those in power to become aware that something is happening.

Now do our actions provoke a violent response between us and the police?

Not as visible as America. But it is there. There are antagonists that are happening between protesters and police. A part of what our movement is trying to do, is to try and, say, police, hold each other accountable and it should not take me to ask your bosses or legislators to hold you accountable. You should be holding each other accountable because you are 18 is the police force. And we cannot move anywhere, until you hold each other accountable.

ALLEN: What response are you hearing from local government, from Boris Johnson?

NDLOVU: The local government is redirecting it toward the COVID-19 pandemic. We cannot gather to protest in more than groups of six. But this is where things get to me. As a black person, I am aware of the dangers of COVID-19. To insinuate I am not, I find that incredibly asinine (ph). We are aware as black people but we are also aware if the pandemic does not kill us, state sanctioned violence will.

We do not get the luxury of choosing one or the other. We have both. Both face us. I think that is the mindset of lots of people who come to the coast, it's aware that there's a pandemic and we're doing everything we can to protect ourselves.

Don't infantilize our rage so you can drive the narrative of the pandemic.

Where was this outrage when people gathered on the beaches of Victory Day celebrations?

This is where London is at the moment.

ALLEN: Dee Ndlovu, we certainly appreciate your time and, your input.

[03:45:00]

ALLEN: Wishing you the best, Black Lives Matter London organizer, thank you so much.

NDLOVU: Thank you very much.

ALLEN: Officials warn the already postponed Tokyo Olympics could be drastically slimmed down. We sit down with the governor of Tokyo.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ALLEN: The 2020 Tokyo Olympics have already been postponed until next year, due to the coronavirus pandemic and, now Tokyo officials warn that a possible second wave could cause a drastically slimmed down schedule. Our Will Ripley sitting down with the governor of Tokyo, talking about how the games could be impacted.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Tokyo governor Yuriko Koike, thank you so much for joining us on CNN.

GOV. YURIKO KOIKE, TOKYO: It's my pleasure.

RIPLEY: You have said that it might be necessary to host a simplified Olympics next year due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. And I see you had your mask on there. You are practicing all of the social distancing and protective measures.

But aside from everybody wearing masks, what could a simplified Olympics actually look like?

KOIKE (through translator): The Tokyo 2020 Olympics are an important event everybody has been waiting for. The postponement cost a lot and, more than anything, we do not know what the coronavirus situation will be like in July next year.

We have a few uncertainties here. It costs a lot to begin with. We need to understanding from the people of Tokyo for it. We must not spend too much. We have to make the games safe for athletes and spectators.

We have to identify the specifics of the virus, develop the curing medicine, improve the testing facilities. But we cannot afford to let the battle against the coronavirus last for 10 or 20 years.

RIPLEY: I would like to ask you to address the speculation that was out there in previous months, that Japan deliberately downplayed the virus situation in the early stages of the pandemic because the government wanted to host the Olympics on schedule.

How do you respond to those critics?

KOIKE (through translator): The Tokyo metropolitan government has been accurately updating the number of deaths and infections. I understand that updating with accurate numbers and observing the infection trends on a daily basis is necessary to curb the second wave to come.

RIPLEY: So the Olympics did not shape Japan's pandemic response in any way, is that what you're saying?

KOIKE (through translator): The Tokyo Olympics are the goal in timing to win over the coronavirus. But the coronavirus counter measures need to be built in a hurry to protect the lives and health of the Japanese people, regardless of whether we have the Olympic Games.

RIPLEY: As you know, Governor, Tokyo is a mega city, densely populated and yet you continue testing a very small number when compared to other large cities. Health experts have speculated that there are likely many more cases in Tokyo and in Japan than the official numbers reflect because of the limited testing.

[03:50:00]

RIPLEY: And yet your death count remains extraordinarily low.

How is that possible?

KOIKE (through translator): That is all thanks to the cooperation by the people of Tokyo. In the past, masks were only worn by the Japanese and bank robbers. Wearing masks has become the ordinary custom for the Japanese since the pandemic of Spanish flu in 1918.

And we have been advocating through this time to avoid these three C's: closed spaces, crowded places, close conversations.

This curbed quite the number of infections. The sense of hygiene of the Japanese people was superb and that helped to suppress the number of deaths compared to the Western countries.

RIPLEY: We wish you well as you navigate through what are undoubtedly going to be challenging times ahead. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike, thank you so much for joining us.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: We will have more news right after this.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

ALLEN: Lance Armstrong was once on top of the cycling world with numerous championships. Then the admission of cheating brought it all to a crashing halt. Now he is the subject of an ESPN documentary, entitled, "Lance," which charts his rise and his fall. CNN "WORLD SPORT's" Christina Macfarlane has more about it.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC PLAYING)

LANCE ARMSTRONG, FORMER PROFESSIONAL CYCLIST (voice-over): If I was competing today, I could tell you who my peers would be. My peers would be Michael Phelps, LeBron James. I see where they are. It is only now that I realize, OK, that's where you were. That's where I was. I really don't miss that.

(MUSIC PLAYING)

CHRISTINA MACFARLANE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): He was untouchable, a force of nature, whose fight back from cancer to win 7 Tour de France titles captured the imagination of the world.

But it was a legacy built on lies. Lance Armstrong was the ringleader of the biggest doping conspiracy in cycling history. Stripped of his titles, his reputation in tatters, it's been years since the disgraced U.S. cyclist has spoken publicly.

But in ESPN's new four-hour documentary, titled, "Lance," the 48-year- old was given a platform to try and redeem himself.

MARINA ZENOVICH, DIRECTOR: Lance is a complex character, who did a lot of good and bad. What I love about the film is that he is just there, warts and all.

Did he give me the gory details of what a lot of people want to know?

No. But I think you see him in a way that you haven't before.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): But not everyone is buying his version of the truth. Betsy Andreu, who helped expose Armstrong's doping offensives 15 years, ago and suffered as a result, says this is not a changed man.

BETSY ANDREU, FRANKIE'S WIFE: You cannot believe everything that he says.

If a man gains the world but loses his soul, is that OK?

[03:55:00]

ANDREU: He's a lost soul, it's pretty bad.

MACFARLANE (voice-over): He remains a polarizing figure but many question whether that alone is enough to justify a four-hour documentary on the man who devastated his sport and destroyed the lives of those around him.

ZENOVICH: What do people want to watch?

They want to watch drama. They want to see people fall. They want to see people suffer. They want to see people rise up.

ANDREU: I do not think, to this day realizes the damage he has done to people. I don't really think he cares. I think he must be adulation and (INAUDIBLE) of the public and the media and he wanted to get back into good graces.

ZENOVICH: You're not going to please everyone but some people want to hear. Others, no. It's controversial, he's controversial.

ANDREU: You have a guy, who is on top of the world, then, all of a sudden, you got to wonder, does he get it?

Does he really realize what he has done?

And I don't think he got that at all. And I think that aspect of it is fascinating to people.

ZENOVICH: It's such a big story and I think so many people felt so taken by him and his rise and the cancer survival. And then to find out he lied, it is a once in a lifetime character for me.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ALLEN: We wanted to give you a programming note right now. CNN and Sesame Street teaming up, today, for a new town hall to help kids and families discuss racism and the worldwide protests. The hour-long special, "Coming Together: Standing Up to Racism," will be hosted by CNN commentator Van Jones and CNN anchor Erica Hill, joined by Sesame Street's Big Bird, Elmo, other Muppets and cast members.

That's 10:00 in the morning Eastern, right, here Saturday and 3:00 pm in London. We hope you watch it.

It has been a week of powerful and poignant moments as protests grow across the United States. We want to leave you this hour and I'll be back in a few moments with our top stories, but we want to leave you with these images.

Two officers, from the Ocean City Police Department, in New Jersey, one, white one black, both taking a knee alongside protesters. That city's police department, thanking the protesters who came out, thanking them for their respect and for their support. Saying, their voices are being heard.

I'm Natalie Allen at the CNN Center, I will be right back with our top stories.