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Don Lemon Tonight

President Trump Chooses Significant Dates for His Campaign; Mayor Sylvester Turner (D) Houston Was Interviewed About the Rise of Coronavirus in His State; Coronavirus Pandemic; Rate Of New Coronavirus Cases Trending Up In 19 States; Harris County, Texas, Seeing Biggest Spike Yet In Cases; NASCAR Bans Display Of Confederate Flags After Driver Bubba Wallace Called For A Ban On CNN; Newly Released Video Shows Black Man Saying I Can't Breathe During Arrest In Oklahoma City In 2019. Aired 10-11p ET

Aired June 12, 2020 - 22:00   ET

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

[22:00:00]

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: His killer avoided justice twice when all white juries deadlock. He wasn't convicted until 1994. Why do we have to look at the past? Because we don't want to be doomed to repeat it. We don't want it to be the way that it was. We want it to be the way we always wished it would be.

And when you think about the future, you have to think about the pain of the past and how it's carried into the present and how we can make it better by coming together to be our best.

Thank you for watching. CNN Tonight with our best, D. Lemon right now.

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: I hope the right people are watching to hear that message. When you think about how long it took Medgar Evers and his family to get justice and you think about what happened with the lovings. I mean, it took a while. I don't know if you -- have you seen the -- there's a documentary, a great documentary about the lovings on PBS? And it just follows them almost like a docu series like a modern docu series and their story is amazing.

This is about civil rights, equality. Human rights. But it doesn't always come easy and it doesn't always come fast as the president would like to say.

CUOMO: We've always struggled.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: But he says, at least.

CUOMO: We've always struggled. This is always been an experiment. What we have been trying to do here is always been hard. The founders knew it would be hard. They were here running for their lives as well, different issues. But the same idea of letting minority be able to live out on its own terms. And we're still fighting for it. But it is not easy, Don. I don't think anybody can really imagine how hard it is. LEMON: Yes. The weird thing is that, you know, people say I look at

interviews and I look at things that happened. I was talking to your wife today. We have had a long conversation. And she said, you know, I was looking at some things in the 60s during the Civil Rights movement, she's talking about some of the artists who were out front in the Marlen Brando and Sammy Davis Jr., and on and on.

And she said the same conversations these very smart very bright gentlemen were having the same conversations that we have now. Or could have been -- or it could have been 2020. And it's amazing.

Yes, we have come a long way. I'm not sure in some corners if we've changed enough hearts. And I'm not sure if you can actually do that if you can change hearts. I don't know. I know you can change legislation. But I don't know if you can legislate someone's heart.

CUOMO: I think what you have to do is appeal to the collective. I think that what you and I have both seen in our lives is that even if people don't get it, when there are enough people who are like them who they want to be like, who seem to be getting it, they go along. And there's something adaptive about that.

And this country has been through that several different times. But, look, it will be interesting to see who the next generation of great voices are on this. That's why I want Chuck D on tonight for some perspective about you've been doing a beautiful job --

LEMON: Yes.

CUOMO: -- and bringing in voices about the next. You know, who will be a Harry Belafonte? Who is going to be a Tony Bennett? You know, who is going to --

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Who's going to be -- who is going to be -- do you remember where we first met, Chris? This was a rally during the Iraq war. We met at a park I think it was on the west side.

CUOMO: Yes, yes, yes.

LEMON: Upper west side. Ruby D. and Ossie Davis were holding -- and that's where we first met.

CUOMO: That's right.

LEMON: You were working for ABC. I was working for NBC. Yes, there you go.

CUOMO: Ossie Davis.

LEMON: So.

CUOMO: The real deal.

LEMON: Yes. There you go. CUOMO: And that's why you reach out to people's heart too. You love them as an artist.

LEMON: Yes.

CUOMO: You love what they mean to you. And it gives them an attachment to give you different message. Boy, we've known each other a long time.

LEMON: Well, a long time.

CUOMO: You look exactly the same.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: I'll tell you what my soon to be mother-in-law's -- I know except I'm a little heavier.

CUOMO: I look like my dad.

LEMON: So, yes. My soon to be mother-in-law says she believes -- because you know I'm in an interracial relationship. She believes that this will change the more that people like the lovings get together and show people that they can love each other and be different. So, there you go.

CUOMO: You've always been right. When you said the other say, hey, if you are a black person, talk to your white friend. If you don't have one, find one. White person, talk to your black friend. if you don't have one, find one.

LEMON: You don't have one.

CUOMO: And you know, you're right, though. You're right, though, because everything goes away.

LEMON: Yes.

CUOMO: The best gift I was given in my life was coincidental. My parents just put me in a Catholic school in Queens that was just a melting pot. So, I grew up in a way where a lot of the stuff was foreign even within our ethnic enclaves. We all played ball together. We're all in church together. We're all in school together. I just didn't have the experience of being separate the way so many in this country do. We were lucky that way.

LEMON: Now I know why you're so mean and me too. Because those nuns let us have it, man.

CUOMO: Not me. I was a great student.

[22:05:03]

LEMON: They don't take any gaffe. I got it with the ruler on the hand and butt everywhere.

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: I'm sure you did.

LEMON: They're like, sit down, Don Lemon.

CUOMO: Still need it.

LEMON: All right. Have a great weekend, my friend. I love you. I'll talk to you later.

(CROSSTALK)

CUOMO: I hope I see you. I love you. Have a great night.

LEMON: All right. This is CNN Tonight. I'm Don Lemon.

Thanks for joining us, everyone. Can you hear it? Can you hear Americans all across this country? Well, they are peacefully protesting. They are demanding justice. Can you hear it? Can you hear them crying I can't breathe?

It has been happening for weeks. We can all hear it but not this president. He just won't hear it. He won't hear the protestors. He won't hear his own four-star generals and admirals, denouncing his threat to use active military to put down protests.

He won't hear his Republican allies who want to take the names of confederate generals off military bases. He won't hear the NFL. The NFL admitting that they were not -- they were wrong not to listen to protesting players.

He won't even hear NASCAR. NASCAR is banning confederate flags. He won't hear his own advisers, his White House aides, members of Congress, Corporate CEOs trying to convince him to stop dividing us. Stop stoking division like he did as a candidate, like he is still doing today.

Here's what sources are telling CNN. That the president is convinced dividing America is a winning strategy. Well, he is wrong. He is out of step with this country on race, on policing and on how America moves forward.

Look at this. Sixty-three percent of Americans in the latest CNN poll disapprove of how this president is handling race relations. He just won't hear them. But you can hear him, right? You can hear him comparing himself to President Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln who freed thousands and thousands of enslaved black people?

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think I've done more for the black community than any other president, and let's take a pass on Abraham Lincoln because he did good although it's always questionable. You know, in other words, the end result --

(CROSSTALK) HARRIS FAULKNER, FOX NEWS HOST: Well, we are free, Mr. President. He did very well.

TRUMP: But we are free. You understand what I mean.

FAULKNER: Yes, I know.

TRUMP: So, I'm going to take a pass on honest Abe as we call him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Questionable? Abraham Lincoln's legacy is questionable? That's pathetic, really pathetic and unworthy of his office. I don't know whether this president is actually questioning the legacy of Abraham Lincoln or whether he just can't admit that anybody, even Lincoln, was a better president.

And then there's what this president says about police using chokeholds, a tactic that has become a symbol of police brutality, cities and communities all across the country including Philadelphia, Phoenix, Los Angeles, Sacramento. Look up there on your map. San Diego, Miami, Broward County, Florida, Chicago, Washington, D.C., Minneapolis, New York City, Denver, Houston, and Austin, all banning chokeholds. And the president said he thinks generally speaking, chokeholds should be banned but he also says this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I think the concept of chokeholds sounds so innocent and so perfect. And then you realize if it's a one on one. Now if a two on one that's a little bit of a different story depending, depending on the toughness and strength. You know, we're talking about toughness and strength.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: You know, it really doesn't sound so innocent and perfect to someone who can't breathe. To someone who is literally having the life choked out of them. That's why cities all across the country that's why they are banning these chokeholds.

And then there's what this president says about gassing peaceful protestors in Lafayette Square so he could have his law and order tough guy photo-op in front of St. Johns Church.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: I think it was a beautiful picture.

FAULKNER: Why do you think that you're --

(CROSSTALK)

TRUMP: And I'll tell you, I think Christians think it was beautiful picture. FAULKNER: But why do you think you're hearing from General Milley,

from Secretary of Defense Esper and not why you think you are, but do you think it's significant?

TRUMP: No. I don't think so.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Nope. He doesn't think it's significant that the chairman of the joint chiefs, General Mark Milley apologized for appearing in fatigues with the president in Lafayette Square after those peaceful protestors were gassed.

He doesn't think it's significant that his own secretary of defense didn't support his threat to use active duty troops to put an end to protests.

[22:09:54]

And then there's what the president says about his coming campaign rally June 19, Juneteenth, the very day that we commemorate the end of slavery in this country. He's having that rally in Tulsa where 1921, hundreds of black Americans were massacred by a white mob in a part of town known as Black Wall Street.

A campaign rally on Juneteenth in a city where hundreds of black Americans were massacred. And the president says this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: It's going to be really a celebration. And it's an interesting date. It wasn't done for that reason. But it's an interesting date. But it's a celebration.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And interesting date. Guess it's not that meaningful to this president after all.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KAYLEIGH MCENANY, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: It's a meaningful day to him. And it's a day where he wants to share some of the progress that's been made as we look forward on more that needs to be done, epecially as we're looking at this police reform.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: I'll tell you what is interesting. It's interesting that this president chooses that particular date for his own campaign rally. And it's interesting that he is accepting the Republican nomination in Jacksonville, Florida on August 27th, another bloody day in this country's history.

What's going on here? What is going on here? Coincidences? Come on, people. Let me tell you a bit about August 27. On that day in 1960, in Jacksonville, a mob of several hundred white

men attacked protestors who were holding sit-ins at segregated lunch counters. Life magazine published this photo. The Florida historical society says some in the white mob were allegedly members of the KKK, the Ku Klux Klan.

Violence spread as the mob armed with baseball bats and ax handles attacked all the black people in sight. That day came to be known as Ax Handle Saturday.

And this president is accepting the presidential nomination in Jacksonville, in Jacksonville on the 60th anniversary of Ax Handle Saturday. He is restarting his campaign rallies on Juneteenth in Tulsa. You got to wonder, is it all this, is all of this willful blindness?

At the very least this president is completely out of step with America, even the NFL which is announcing a Juneteenth league holiday. I remind you of what the president said about players peacefully protesting racial injustice.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners when somebody disrespects our flag to say, get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out. He's fired. He's fired.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: This has been a man stoking racial division for years, decades, polarizing the country. Because he thinks it will help him at the polls. Don't forget this is man who promoted the racist birther lie that President Barack Obama was not born in this country. This is the president who said this about deadly white supremacist violence in Charlottesville.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CROWD CHANTING)

TRUMP: So, you had people that were very fine people, on both sides. You had people in that group -- excuse me. Excuse me. I saw the same pictures as you did.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: This is a man who danced around the question of whether he disavow David Duke. David Duke is the former leader of the Ku Klux Klan. He called African nations sending immigrants to this country, quote, "shithole countries."

America is crying out for justice tonight. Did you hear it? Because this president refuses to hear it. In the face of all that the president says he thinks that he is the one to unite us. But do his actions speak louder than his words?

Kaitlan Collins, Astead Herndon weigh in, next.

[22:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: The president is digging in on his protest response even as CNN learns that aides, members of Congress, and even corporate leaders are trying to get him to change his tone.

Let's discuss now. CNN White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins is here, and political analyst Astead Herndon here, as well. Good evening to both of you. Happy Friday. Good to see you, Kaitlan. Good to see you, Astead.

Kaitlan, President Trump is all in with his strategy of stoking culture wars, racial division, even his advisers they are urging him to change course. Why is he refusing to adapt?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: I think based on what we have heard from people, Don, is that the president is always thought his instincts are better than the advice that he gets from some of his political advisers.

But what's different about this time is that we're hearing from some of those advisers worried that the calculus has changed here. That the nation is moving on and the president himself has been the outlier through all of this.

I mean, they have noticed that NASCAR is banning the confederate flag. The NFL is apologizing to its players for how it treated them for how they protested police brutality. But the president himself is still focused on these culture wars that he does think played a role in getting him in office in 2016 and he thinks it's going to help him in 2020.

The concern among his advisers is that we're five months out from the election. They're worried that he is going to hemorrhage any of the black support that he had gained over the last few months, and they're worried that he's alienating those suburban women voters that they have been trying to capture for several months now.

[22:19:56]

LEMON: Yes. Astead, I think Kaitlan put it exactly right. The president is the outlier. That is a really good way of saying it. He is sticking with what worked for him in 2016 even as the entire country around him is changing. We know he sees everything through a political lens, everything politically. What do you think his calculation is here?

ASTEAD HERNDON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Well, I think there is a couple things happening. Like Kaitlan says, this is a president who has saw -- who saw that his rise to power as someone that was driven through his political base, and overwhelmingly white, overwhelmingly conservative base. And that's where they have held their administration. That is where

they have governed for in their interest and that's who he looks to for support and advice, sometimes over the advice of the more unity- minded advisers.

But I also think that some of this is not political. This is who he is. This is who he has been throughout his life. And at some point, you're asking someone who has been set in those ways to make a completely different -- different stance, different diversion than who he has been previously.

Let's not go back before he -- before he ran for president and there was the Central Park Five, the stoking the birtherism as you mentioned. This has been a president and kind of public figure who has capitalized on these issues at every turn.

And so, at this point to ask him to be something different just because this is this election year is a tall order for his advisers and for our country even if it doesn't make any political sense.

LEMON: Well, even, you know, in addition, Kaitlan, to rebooting his rallies on Juneteenth in Tulsa, the site of the race massacre in 1921. The president will give his convention speech on August 27 in Jacksonville. Exactly six decades after racist violence there. Listen, it just seems incredibly -- I don't know if not deliberately tone deaf here.

COLLINS: That's the question. And the president said today, he said he didn't know it was going to be the anniversary of the Juneteenth the next Friday. That comes after his own aides had been saying, actually he was going because he knelt that date was really meaningful to him.

So, they often try to explain things around the president and then of course we know that he undercuts them at times. But it's just really notable to see how the president is responding.

I mean, you saw in that interview today he was trying to explain away when he tweeted, you know, when the looting starts, the shooting starts. And Harris Faulkner confronted him over that saying that is not where you think that came from. That is from his 1960s racist police chief and the president tried to argue and say, no, it has two meanings.

He also tried to argue that he has done more for the black community and he said maybe except for Abraham Lincoln. They pushed back on that, too. The president just tries to write his own narrative when it comes to his relationship with the black community even when he's being confronted with what is actually happening head on. And he just, is resisting to it.

His aides are pushing on despite the criticisms over that. They're saying it's going to be a celebration when he's there next Friday. And of course, the question is, you know, the president's rhetoric has not matched the moment that we're seeing play throughout the country so far.

The idea that it's going to change before next Friday even to his own advisers doesn't seem to compute.

LEMON: Astead, when you -- think about all this coincidence or whatever it is. I mean, he has to be aware of how African-Americans feel about this, especially considering his history with racism. And not even history, his present with racism. I mean, what is going on here? Is it just flat out I don't care and does he understand that if he wants to gain some voters in the African-American community, this is not it.

HERNDON: The White House is tried to make these attempts to reach out to black voters. They have seen that as a constituency that they can make inroads for in November. And they would like us to believe that these are good faith attempts that they are doing so with the kind of best interest of the community in mind. And that that is some place that they can take people away from Joe Biden.

But it is hard to think of these as good faith efforts when there are repeated instances of these kinds of -- of this backlash. If the president wanted to make inroads that the kind of first level, the baseline is to do things that seem like a uniting figure that show a pivot or a change from his most incendiary instance of the past.

And that is not something he has shown a consistent willingness to do. There are individual moments, they are calling -- they are calling for an investigation into George Floyd's death. Or a set speech where "he says the right thing or does the right thing," quote, unquote.

But in his personal moments when it's off the cuff, when we see the a.m. tweets, that always rolls back what we have seen previously. And so, it makes it hard to believe that the president and the administration are taking that type of outreach seriously when they are not doing the kind of baseline levels of respect to black voters and black communities that almost anyone, Democrat or Republican, would say that you need to do to be able to reach out to folks.

[22:25:08]

LEMON: Astead, thank you. Kaitlan, thank you. Enjoy your weekend. Get some rest. Please.

COLLINS: You too, Don.

LEMON: Coronavirus -- thank you very much. Coronavirus is rising in Texas, the city of Houston even turning a stadium there into a field hospital. a field hospital. Are they ready? I'm going to speak to the mayor of Houston, Sylvester Turner. He's here. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: This is not over yet. It's not over yet. New coronavirus cases on the rise in 19 states. In Texas, the governor there, Greg Abbott, still says he is looking for the state to fully reopen by July 4.

And this week, Harris County Texas, which includes Houston, is recording its highest number of coronavirus hospitalizations yet. So, let's discuss now with the mayor of Houston. And that's Mr.

Sylvester Turner. Mayor Sylvester Turner. Thank you, Mayor. I appreciate you joining us. Sorry this is happening --

(CROSSTALK)

MAYOR SYLVESTER TURNER (D-TX), HOUSTON: Thanks for having me. Thanks for having me again.

LEMON: -- in your city. Harris County judge --

[23:30:00]

TURNER: Yes.

LEMON: -- Lina Hidalgo or Hidalgo said that the county it could be approaching the precipice -- and this is a quote, the precipice and this is a quote precipice of a disaster. Is Houston ready to handle a surge in cases?

TURNER: Well, Don. We're hoping that we can stop a surge from occurring. The numbers had been increasing. We have ample capacity within our hospital system right now. We want to keep it that way. In the city of Houston for example, we have been reporting anywhere between 150 to 200 cases on a daily basis.

And if I go back to the end of April, you know, we had flattened the curve and we were in a good position. And didn't have nearly as many deaths as back then. But since things have started to reopen, the number of positive cases have been ticking up. But we want to try to contain that. And we're messaging the people, put on your mask, engage in social distancing and exercise proper hygiene.

LEMON: Let's talk about preparedness. Because the NRG stadium in Houston is being prepped to reopen as a possible field hospital for coronavirus patients if needed. Are you concerned that hospitals could be overwhelmed there?

TURNER: You know, if people act as though the virus is yesterday's news and as we reopen, re-socialize with one another. If people get away from the things that work so well for us in March and April. Then we could face a more serious problem. I think right now what we're doing is that we are putting forth the alert. We are saying people look, we're moving.

We are starting to move in the wrong direction. What worked for us successfully in March and April are the same things. They need to work for us as we move forward and start to reopen. If we don't do that, if we are reckless and treat this virus as if it's not here, then we could face some danger.

LEMON: Dr. Fauci was on --

TURNER: We are concerned -- Don, we are concerned but we're sounding the alarm. Let's put it that way. LEMON: OK. I got you. And as well you should. Dr. Fauci was on CNN

earlier with Wolf Blitzer and he's talking about the rising hospitalization that should get states to rethink reopening. Here he is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DR. ANTHONY FAUCI, DIRECTOR, NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF ALERGY AND INFECTOUS DISEASES: When you start seeing more hospitalization that is a sure fire sign that you're in a situation where you're going in the wrong direction. When you see more percentage of the tests that are positive and more hospitalization, that's something that should get you to pause and say wait a minute, let's rethink this and see where we're going. Maybe we need to slow down a little. Maybe we need to intensify our capabilities to identify isolating contact trace. We don't want it to get out of hand again.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: What do you think? Do you think Texas need to reconsider reopening? Is Texas moving too fast?

TURNER: I have said in the first part of May that I thought we were moving faster than I would like. The reality is that we are reopening. We're reopening at a fast pace. Restaurants I think today can go to 75 percent of their occupants. In first week in July, pretty much will be open. You know, that's the pace that we're on.

Having said that, I agree with Dr. Fauci. Now it's very important for us -- precautions that the medical professionals are telling us we need to do. If we reopen at the rate that we're doing, and if we don't put on the mask and engage in social distancing and exercise proper hygiene, then we are going to face -- we are going to set pace in difficult problems. I look at the reports coming from the hospitals every morning. And the number of hospitalizations, that number is increasing.

Now, if we are still way within our ability to handle that, our hospitals have ample capacity. Bot in terms of general admission and ICU beds. But I don't like the fact that the numbers of people testing positively that that number is going up.

So, you know, again, we're just sounding the alarm. We are telling people come on now, since we are reopening and the county and the local officials we don't have any authority to close anything down. We just -- we do have our voice and we are exercising our voice and we are telling people please, please put on the mask.

LEMON: Got you. Mayor Sylvester Turner. Be safe and thank you.

TURNER: Thanks, I appreciate you.

LEMON: NASCAR banning confederate flags after Bubba Wallace called on them to do that on this show. So, what's he going to call for next? There is Bubba Wallace. He's back with us. Right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[22:35:00]

LEMON: OK. So on Monday, driver Bubba Wallace right here on this show called on NASCAR to ban the display of the confederate flag at their races and events. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BUBBA WALLACE, NASCAR DRIVER: My next step would be to get rid of all confederate flags. There should be no individual that is uncomfortable showing up to our events to have a good time with their family that feels some type of way about something they have seen an object, they have seen flying, no one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race. There's going to be a lot of angry people that carry those flags proudly. But, it's time for change. We have to change that.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: OK, so, you know, I thought it was the next day. But it was actually on Wednesday.

[22:40:00]

So, the day or so after that. NASCAR did, they banned it. Banned the flag. Saying this in a statement. The presence of the confederate flag at NASCAR events runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry.

So, Bubba Wallace is here. Bubba, thank you so much. When last we talked, that's what we were talking about. How did it play out? How did you hear about it? What happened?

WALLACE: Yes, I was actually on my way up to Martinsville, the speed way there. it's about -- I don't know about 2:00. Steve Phelps, the president called me and he was like, hey man, I just want to let you know we're about to announce that we're are going to ban the confederate flag and I was like, all right. Awesome. Congratulations. This was a move that needed to happen a while ago for sure. But I was proud of the effort by NASCAR. So, hats off to them and have some great leadership for the last couple of years, to be able to kind of start getting some things going.

LEMON: Yes. Well, I mean, I'm glad -- I hope, I think they were watching this show. Be I think we were the first ones to raise that issue with you. We were one of the first interviews that you did. So, listen, I appreciate you taking a stand on that.

WALLACE: Yes. Absolutely.

LEMON: Listen, what are you hearing from fans about the NASCAR banning the flag?

WALLACE: I hear both sides of it. A lot of positive out reach. A lot of positive impact and gaining new fans as we go. And then you're getting the fans that will never watch a NASCAR race again. The same fans that never watched NFL, after the kneeling. The same fans that are crying out that we're ruining their lives. And just throwing a pity party. As to whether accepting change and understanding why we need this change and why it's such a pivotal moment for our country.

I heard the conversation you talked with the mayor there of Houston. And it's like, you know, it's on a global level. That this is an impact. So I'm excited about the change. I wish fans could come back ASAP. Just so we can see the demographic and who shows up, what shows up. Everybody who shows up I want to see and hear what they have to say. But through social media you get both sides of the story, but there's obviously more good than there is bad. So I'm excited about it.

LEMON: Well, good. The mayor and I were talking in a break about this. After we were talking about coronavirus. And actually being optimistic that there may be some change coming. And that the country is ready for it. I just want to put this up, because you know, you were talking about people you're hearing, you know, both sides. People are saying I'll never go to NASCAR.

There was a truck driver who announced that he was going to be quitting. But then there's another driver who is inspired by you and then released pictures of his car with black lives matter paint schemes on it. And I know you have to be hardened by that. You actually made the decision to wrap your car with black lives matter. That logo. Partly because you didn't have a sponsor for the race. Do you think companies have shied away from sponsoring you because of this? Because of your stance? Because you're African American? What's going on?

WALLACE: I have no idea. Don, I have been struggling with sponsorship issues for a really long time. Ever since I've joined NASCAR. And I was always told to go out and win and the sponsors will come. But that never did. So, you know, I'm competitive and I go out there and I feed off that. And that's where I just go out and love competing against my competitors there.

So, with as much positive outreach and as the image in a brand that's changing on a global level making a big impact in the nation. Sponsors are missing the boat right now. But you know, I would near miss if we didn't thank who we have now on the race car. If you look closely we have the United States Air Force on our car. We have worldwide technology. Coca-Cola. A lot of key partners that help us get to the racetrack and we're excited about that.

Chevrolet has been a big partner. Jim McKay reached out to me after the race and was giving me high praise. Leader at Chevrolet there (inaudible). I'm excited about the direction we're heading with this. I think it was a very important decision. And that I'm thankful for from Richard Petty (ph), Andy Murks (ph), everybody at RPM for following through with the black lives matter car. We raised so much awareness. And that's a first. That's the first step of getting people aware of what's going on and the change that needs to happen. So, thankful for every party involved to allow us to run that scheme and also have a great race. That will put some icing on the cake.

[22:45:07]

LEMON: So, let me just say this, the challenge to anyone out there, especially anyone who is in business who has the resources. If you care about change in this country and the stance that Bubba is taking and NASCAR, sponsor him. Sponsor. Step up. Come into the future. Come into the present. Do the right thing. Bubba is changing.

WALLACE: Absolutely.

LEMON: Helping America change. So, do it. Sponsor him. Do the right thing. There's so many sponsors that he can't even fit the logos on his car. That he has to put them all over the tires. I'm feeling that. I feel that could happen to you, Bubba.

WALLACE: Hey, Don. If you also notice when we were in Atlanta, we had a McDonald's car. So, McDonalds have been a huge supporter of mine as well. So, I will be (inaudible) if I did not mentioned them and I wore the black lives matter t-shirt. It kind of started there in Atlanta. With given some recognition to McDonalds there and then snowballing and to (inaudible). So, we're making some good head way from all parties and all avenues. So, we're excited about the change.

LEMON: I have a good feeling you'll be all right. Thank you. Keep standing up.

WALLACE: I appreciate it.

LEMON: All right. We are very proud of you. Thank you, Bubba. All right. We'll be right back.

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[22:50:00]

LEMON: The national uproar over George Floyd's death after being restrained by police has led Oklahoma City police to release video of an arrest more than a year ago in which a black man is heard saying I can't breathe. He later died. Black Lives Matter protesters demanded the video be made public. A warning though, some may find it disturbing to watch. Here is CNN's Martin Savidge.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Oklahoma City, May 20th, 2019, 1:40 in the afternoon. Police confront 42-year-old Derek Scott in a parking lot after receiving this 911 call.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He is pulling a gun on the guy park in a parking lot.

SAVIDGE: At first, Scott puts his hands in the air but then begins to run. Two officers give chase. This body camera footage released by authorities this week. Police catch up with Scott, tackle him and struggle to detain him. One of the officers straddles Scott, appearing to pull his arm behind him and in the struggle, Scott says, I can't breathe. An officer responds, I don't care.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I can't breathe.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't care.

SAVIDGE: Several more times during the arrests, Scott repeats to police, I can't breathe. Not long after an officer notices Scott is no longer struggling or speaking.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He is lying unconscious.

SAVIDGE: One of the officers removes a gun from Scott's pocket as he lies handcuffed face down on the grass. More than eight minutes since the struggle began, officers continue to check on a (inaudible) Scott.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And they roll the subject over into a recovery position. Allowing for better opportunity to breathe and relax. While they maintain control of the suspect.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stay with us, man.

SAVIDGE: At about nine minutes, paramedics arrive. And Scott appears to struggle again with police who eventually get him onto a gurney and into an ambulance. About an hour later, Scott is dead. The medical examiner determines there was no fatal trauma and the cause of death was listed undetermined. The reports says other significant conditions contributing to his death include physical restraint, recent methamphetamine use and asthma.

The Oklahoma County district attorney did conduct an investigations into the take down. And in a statement that was released by the Oklahoma City police department, here is what they say. Quote, according to district attorney David (inaudible), there is nothing inappropriate on the part of the officers, nor was there evidence of any misconduct by the officers. Therefore, he cleared all involved officers of any criminal wrongdoing. Unquote.

Now, if you're wondering why this video was released this week, that's because recently Black lives matters held a protest demanding that the video made public. So on Monday, the Oklahoma City police department did just that, Don?

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: All right. Martin, thank you very much for that. I appreciate it. I want to bring in now Vickey Scott. Vicky Scott is the mother of Derek Scott. Miss Scott, we're so sorry for your loss. My heart just goes out for you. I'm sure as everyone else was watching this. How you are doing with all of this?

VICKEY SCOTT, MOTHER OF DEREK SCOTT: It's very, very hard. Very, very, very hard. I really can't explain it because it's like I'm reliving his death all over again. Because I did not know the truth from the beginning. And I asked him when he passed away, will they please tell me what was going on? And I didn't find out about his death until four days after he passed. And then I waited -- and I went to the police station, and they told

me they didn't even know who he was. And a day after that, there was three detectives on my couch, and I asked them what happened to him? And why did they did not contact me as his mother. And they were telling which is, we're sorry. We don't know how this got out of hand. And not only to add misery to the situation. I had to wait another four days before I could see my son's body.

[22:55:00]

LEMON: Oh, my gosh. It's just awful. I want to talk about this video. Because in this video, your son can clearly be heard saying several times, I can't breathe. And officers reply, I don't care. You have been trying to get answers about your son's death for a year now. I know you want -- you know, I know you can't watch the whole thing. But are you getting more information from what you have seen?

SCOTT: No, I'm not. Because believe it or not, Don, they sent me home with a blank tape. They sent the channel five line and other people with a complete tape. When I got home to play the tape, it was blank. It's been very hard for me. I have seen bits and pieces of it. And the other night, I was lying in bed and I woke up. And it was on the television and I just caught the part at the end of it where he was calling my name, and he was saying, Mama! Mama! And that just killed me. Because I had no idea. I had no idea.

LEMON: Vickey --

SCOTT: My heart is broken. Yes.

LEMON: Mrs. Scott, will you please keep in touch with us and keep us updated on this? Again, we're so sorry for your loss but we want to continue to follow this and we're thinking about you. Thanks so much.

SCOTT: You're so welcome. Thank you.

LEMON: We'll be right back.

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