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Connect the World
President Donald Trump Blames Coronavirus For Poor Polls; Joe Biden Leads Donald Trump In Three Swing States; Debate Organizers Take Steps To Fight Interruptions; Czech Government Limits Free Movement; Two Weeks Of Protests Against Police Brutality In Nigeria; When Lockdowns Aren't Safe: Domestic Abuse Amid The Pandemic. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired October 21, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
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ANNOUNCER: Live from CNN Abu Dhabi, this is CONNECT THE WORLD with Becky Anderson.
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BECKY ANDERSON, CNN INTERNATIONAL HOST: Well, this hour we're connecting you to the pulse of the American people. Less than two weeks out from the
U.S. general election, an election that will send shock waves around the globe. Like so much of the world the Coronavirus dominating the lives of
American people with predictions that a new surge of cases is just weeks away.
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DR. SCOTT GOTTLIEB, FORMER COMMISSIONER, U.S. FOOD & DRUG ADMINISTRATION: We're about a week away from starting to enter a period where we're going
to see a rapid acceleration in cases, and I think November and December are going to be tough months. We're seeing hospitalizations go up in 42 states
right now and cases are going up in 45 states and there really is no backstop.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well as you can see, on this map not one state, not one is trending in the right direction with another 60,000 cases alone on
Wednesday. COVID, as you would expect, will likely loom large over Thursday's final presidential debate. The U.S. President himself expected
to downplay the virus as usual, likely using what his Adviser Kellyanne Conway called Mr. Trump's alternative facts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: We're rounding the turn on the pandemic. Epic job growth, safe vaccines that quickly end the
pandemic it's ending. Normal life, that's all we want. You know what we want? Normal life.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that's the U.S. President. Joe Biden, his opponent, has been laying low this week preparing for the final debate while Mr. Trump
continues to zigzag across the country to battleground states, something he thinks he shouldn't really have to do.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRUMP: Before the plague came in, I had it made. I wasn't coming to eerie. I mean, I have to be honest. There's no way I was coming. I didn't have to.
I would have called you and said, you know, eerie, if you have a chance, get out and vote but we had this thing won.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Pennsylvania is one of three battleground states and Joe Biden has a firm grip on it according to our Poll of Polls however the race
tightens up in seven other key swing states. So that's the pulse of the race. We're also taking you across the country to really get the pulse of
American voters themselves buckle up.
We're going to the states of Michigan and Oregon. First up Oregon in the Pacific Northwest, we sent CNN's Elle Reeve to a June Buggy rally similar
to other events for Trump supporters like car caravans and boat rallies. Elle took a ride with one group to find out why they are backing Mr. Trump.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I like alpha males and I think President Trump is an alpha male.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whenever I watch the news it seems like they are bagging on Trump. They make it sound like nobody is going to vote for him, so we
feel like we all need to get together just to show people, that, hey, there are people that are going to vote for him.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is the dunes and deplorable freedom ride Trump rally protest. It was unfurling a 30-foot by 50-foot American flag, having
everybody gather around, play the national anthem and just be with able to be with a bunch of friends and family.
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ELLE REEVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Unofficial Trump events like this have been happening all over the country. Boat parades, car caravans and bike
parades. What attendees have in common is disposable income to spend on fun. While at times working class supporters have gotten lots of attention
in 2016 a third of his voters made more than $100,000 a year.
In fact support for Trump is particularly strong among white voters who have high incomes for their area, the locally rich.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The people on the left that really think we're deplorable think we're deplorable. If hanging out with families and
bringing your kids out and having a good time is deplorable, then I guess we'll take it.
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REEVE: I went for a ride in the dunes with Eric Nelson who has been riding motorcycles since he was 14. Eric drove two hours to come to the rally.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hopefully you heard her scream.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
ERIC NELSON, TRUMP SUPPORTER: The reason we're here supporting Trump is because we believe that Trump will help us keep the money that we make and
let us be able to work as hard as we want and not give our money away.
People like Nancy Pelosi can, you know, get her funding through this giving me to people that aren't willing to work for it. I've worked for it all my
life.
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NELSON: I had to work to put myself through college so I can get a job and do what I enjoy which is an activity like this and spend, you know,
$15,000, $20,000 on toys because I choose to.
PAUL VELUSCEK, TRUMP SUPPORTER: He really is for your hard working people. Do I think he's racist? I think he's racist against lazy people.
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REEVE: The rally was mostly men. That's no surprise given national polls. Men are much more likely to support Trump than women and what these men
said they liked about Trump is that he's a guy just like them.
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NELSON: He's not a politician. He's one of us. Yes, he's one of us on steroids because he runs a great big business and makes a lot more money
than we do.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He can be crass, but we didn't hire him as a president. We hired him because he was a business person and that's what America
needed because our country was starting to tank.
REEVE: But then - part of this job being like a moral leader?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't believe so.
REEVE: You don't think so?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No. He says things that upsets people and we just don't care and we think he's helping all those people because they don't fully
understand what's going on.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: Well, that's Elle's reporting. From there to Michigan CNN's Kate Bolduan spoke to black women there who feel the heavy burden of this
election and are encouraging people to get out and vote. We're going to bring you the full story later in this show. Here's a preview of that
interview.
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KATE BOLDUAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: President Trump says often that he's done more for the black community--
MARKITA BLANCHARD, BIDEN SUPPORTER: That's. Go ahead.
BOLDUAN: No, I don't even need to finish.
BLANCHARD: He's full of --. You know what I'm saying. He's not done anything; I've had people say well, he's not my president. I didn't vote. I
said did you vote at all? They say no I didn't vote and I say if you did not vote you didn't vote for him.
BOLDUAN: Why didn't you vote in 2016?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I didn't want Trump and I didn't want Hillary. I didn't really care who won that election?
BOLDUAN: So what's your plan in this election?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't like Biden but I'm voting for Biden, this Coronavirus, everything that's going on. It's just horrible so he's got to
go.
BOLDUAN: Do you think the Democratic Party takes you for granted?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely, absolutely they take us for granted because they know that black women are going to help them get the big wins
they need where it matters, but they also know that they - that they can give us the bare minimum knowing that we aren't going to choose the other
side.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: More of those voices a little later this hour but to connect the pulse of the people to the political landscape let's bring in David Gergen.
He has been an adviser to four U.S. Presidents. He's probably forgotten more about U.S. politics than most of us will ever know.
He's now our Senior Political Analyst for all the right reasons. David, this hour it's all about the pulse of the American people. What is on the
mind of voters two weeks out?
DAVID GERGEN, CNN SENIOR POLITICAL ANALYST: Becky, good question. I don't think we have one answer that fits the whole country. There are different
sections of the country and have very different views. As you well know we are the most divided people since the middle of the 19th century and that
led to a civil war.
I don't think we're on the brink of a civil war, but there's no question that democracy is now threatened in the United States. Many people
understand that, and they are speaking out. You have these pro-Trump people on. We have to understand their perspective if we're going to heal this
country that's very important.
And there are probably a lot of hidden voters out there that are not showing up in the polls yet but will show up on Election Day for
Republicans so that Trump is likely to pick up some from where he is now. At the same time though, Becky, we have this counter-veiling force and that
is the avalanche of people who are going to the polls early.
We've never seen anything like this, and from all reports in places like Pennsylvania and North Carolina and elsewhere, Florida, the predominant
vote and people who are coming out early seems to be leaning much towards the Democrats.
ANDERSON: Which could, of course, create what's known as these blue waves as these votes are count asked on and after Election Day?
GERGEN: Yes.
ANDERSON: At this point with just less than two weeks to go, it is a tight race in seven of the ten what are known as key battleground states with Joe
Biden only leading in CNN Poll of Polls in Pennsylvania, Michigan and Wisconsin. What do you make of this polling? And what can the campaigns do
to move the dial in what is this last sort of 12 days?
GERGEN: Well, there are two separate questions. One is on the polls themselves, it's important that Biden does have and has had a lead of five
or six points in places like Pennsylvania and Wisconsin and Michigan, and those are critical, critical states.
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GERGEN: If Trump loses Pennsylvania, it's very hard to see a pathway for him to win everything, to win - to win the White House, so those are
important states. What's happening in the battleground states is in the upper Midwest in Pennsylvania; Biden is doing pretty well in the South, in
the Sunbelt, as you say, very, very tight.
Trump may well win several of those states like Florida and Georgia and Texas. We'll have to wait and see. And in terms of what the candidates can
do, I think the burden frankly is on Trump. He's - he's the underdog now. He's got an uphill fight.
We've had two presidential debate, a vice presidential debate and head-to- head town hall. Biden team, according to the polls, won all three of those appearances and now we've got this big night tomorrow night, the final
debate of the campaign. That's where Trump has to get and convince people he's going to be a steady - steadier president.
He's been so erratic recently and that he has a message. He's not had a message recently. I think that his big opportunity. Other than that he has
to depend on Biden making some big gaffe or Biden running into trouble or something else because there are not many other things - his - Trump's
messages simply have not resonated so far.
He keeps on missing. Becky, to go into this last week and first attack the most popular scientist and epidemiologist in the country Dr. Fauci,
virtually attacking him as an idiot and a few days later to personally attack Leslie Stahl and "60 minutes," the most popular news program in
America, to do that back-to-back, complete distractions, it shows that, you know, these are really dumb steps. It looks like he can't control himself.
ANDERSON: It's fascinating, isn't it? Even Trump allies have called his comments about Dr. Fauci some of the dumbest comments in politics ever.
Look, Barack Obama, a man you know well, is ready to hit the campaign trail. Just have a listen to this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, 44TH U.S. PRESIDENT: Your generation can be the one that creates a new normal in America, one that's fair, where the system treats
everybody equally and gives everybody opportunity. I know Joe better than almost anybody.
I trust him to be a great president. He's different. He's on the right side of the issues. He'll get the job done, and Joe and Kamala will want you to
keep pushing them to get the job done.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: And this is a video aimed at youngsters. What difference can Barack Obama make in these closing days? And is he a bit late to the party,
as it is was at this point?
GERGEN: I don't think late to the party. Let's be honest. It comes down to, you know, the question are you going to be for Biden or are you going to be
for Trump? I do think Obama is not going to change that fundamental dynamic.
What I do think Obama can do is be a calming influence. He's a reassuring figure now in contrast to the hurly burly politics that we've been
experiencing from Trump. And I also think that Obama can be helpful in generating and pulling out more black voters, you know.
Black voter is real critical for the Democratic Party, and getting young blacks out, appealing to the younger generation, getting women out. Obama
is good at all that. He appeals to those constituencies. People of color are really important to the campaign.
ANDERSON: David Gergen, your insight and analysis is as important as we around the world watch what is going on in this U.S. Election because, of
course, what happens in America doesn't stay in America. Appreciate, it sir. Thank you very much--
GERGEN: Thank you, Becky. Good to see you.
ANDERSON: --indeed for joining us. Thank you. We've been talking about the pulse of the American people but what about those looking on like us from
the outside in after all the result of this election will send shock waves around the world? So let's take a look at where both candidates stand on
America's role on the global stage?
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JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE: The Biden Foreign Policy will place America back at the head of the table, working with our allies and our
partners.
TRUMP: As long as I'm president we will always put America first. For years and years and years we've put other countries first. We now put America
first.
BIDEN: Working cooperatively with other nations to share our values and goals doesn't make America as a seasonal - implying this administration as
suckers. It makes us more secure, enables us to be more successful. No country, even one as powerful as ours, can go it alone in the challenges of
the 21st century.
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TRUMP: Globalism enriches foreign countries at our expense, globalism. I love our country. I'm the President of the United States of America. I'm
not the president of the world.
America first does not mean America alone. When the United States grows, so does the world. American prosperity has created countless jobs all around
the globe.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: So foreign policy and America's position on the rest of the world is not on the list of major topics for Thursday's debate, and that is
causing somewhat of a kerfuffle in the Trump camp. They want to discuss foreign affairs where Donald Trump would likely tout, for example, the
recent normalization deals with Israel while taking the chance to blast China.
A Biden Campaign Spokesman responded to the Trump Campaign's complaints saying the president is just afraid of answering questions about his COVID
response. Well, this debate may be the last chance for the candidates to address the nation directly before Election Day.
So let's talk about it with our Chief Media Correspondent Brian Stelter who is in the house. Why is there such uproar over the choice of these topics?
Do candidates usually get to weigh in on what is chosen as the topic of conversation during these debates?
BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: No, not formally. There are back channel negotiations about all the details, even the heights of the
podium and things like that, but when it comes to the topics, the moderator, in this case Kristen Welker of NBC chooses the topic and the
Debate Commission announces the topics.
This is a system that's been in place for decades. It is designed so that there's no interference from the parties or the candidates and instead an
independent moderator is making these choices. Now national security is on the list, well leadership is on the list.
I think there are plenty of opportunities for Trump to bring up foreign policy if he so chooses but the Trump Campaign is crying foul claiming that
it should have been more prominent in this debate. They say that always at the third and final debate foreign policy is a big topic.
Well, that's true a number of years ago was not true in 2016 and at no point this year was there an indication that foreign policy would be a big
part of the agenda. So the Trump Campaign is kind of pulling out of a thin air.
But you know trying to cause a stir and trying to create some drama ahead of the debate. That's, of course, right out of Trump's playbook.
ANDERSON: Yes, once - right. National security, of course, is what generally shapes foreign policy so, you're right, it is on the agenda. But
anyway the Trump Campaign pushing for more, and calling the commission biased.
STELTER: Right.
ANDERSON: And he's already zoning in on the moderator, as you rightly point out, NBC News White House Correspondent Kristen Welker. For an
international audience, Brian, who is she and what should we expect from tomorrow night keeping in mind that Donald Trump walked out on a "60
minutes" interview yesterday over tough questioning, apparently?
STELTER: This is the biggest moment of Kristen Welker's career as you mentioned, a White House Correspondent, the Co-Host of "Weekend Today" on
NBC. She co-moderated one of the primary debates that was on MSNBC and co- sponsored by "The Washington Post."
She used to work at the NBC station in Philadelphia, and she has a very strong reputation among her fellow journalist and among her rivals in this
industry. She's very well respected and well regarded. However, the president is calling her terrible and calling her unfair trying to work the
ref ahead of Thursday night's debate.
The president will often do this to lower the bar right, in multiple ways, what he's doing is lowering the standards for civility but also lowering
expectations for his own performances and giving excuses ahead of time in case he doesn't do well.
So already, he saying he'll blame the moderator if it doesn't go well. NBC has been batting away these claims and Welker has been busy in debate prep
but even the president's anti-media agenda comes through these debates. It shows he wants to portray himself as a fighter. He wants to portray himself
as the enemy of the elites.
ANDERSON: Yes.
STELTER: And Welker is elite. Come on, there's nobody more elite than the American President.
ANDERSON: Good point. The mute button which can be used is likely to be used. Are you for or against this?
STELTER: For it. It's a halfway measure by the commission after Trump railroaded Biden at the first debate. They say now that every beginning of
every 15-minute period of this debate tomorrow, the first two minutes each candidate will be able to speak uninterrupted and the other candidate will
be muted so that it will limit interrupted.
Look, the reality though is if Trump wants to go and babble what Biden is talking, Biden is still going to hear it on stage even if viewers at home
aren't able to hear it very clearly. So this is a half way measure by the Commission. I'm not sure it is going to make a big difference.
[11:20:00]
STELTER: Fundamentally it's sad that we're talking about the kinds of devices or solutions that would usually apply to kindergartens or may be
first grade if we're being generous, that they have to be applied to a debate. The idea that there needs to be talk about a mute button to try to
control one of the candidates, it's laughable and it is sad. And of course in that way it's very 2020.
ANDERSON: Absolutely. Good point. Thank you, sir. Be sure to tune in to CNN for the final presidential debate our coverage begins at 7:00 pm eastern on
Thursday. That is 12:00 am in London and a very early 3:00 am here in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
Well, up next, politics and the pandemic in England. What was starting to look like a northern rebellion over COVID rules is completely shut down. We
are live there in Manchester. Plus--
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was losing my mind because I could not trust anyone.
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ANDERSON: Well, she says her husband changed from a loving man to a violent one after losing his job earlier this year. Coming up, CNN covers the rise
in domestic abuse during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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ANDERSON: Every day we are bringing you news of new COVID restrictions in Europe because the fact of the matter is the number of confirmed cased in
the Europe and UK, this isn't turning around yet and the continent itself is desperately trying to pull itself back from the precipice.
Perhaps the most extreme example is Ireland. It will become the first EU country to return to a national lockdown just hours from now. Everyone who
lives there, being urged to stay home for the next six weeks. That is until December.
Well, parts of the UK and the Czech Republic also getting hit with tougher rules trying to curb the violence. In Northern England British Prime
Minister Boris Johnson facing the greater Manchester region putting them into tougher COVID restrictions amid plenty of pushback, and now the Czech
government limiting free movement across that country.
We're on those stories with our reporters. Let's start with Manchester and with Salma Abdelaziz who is there. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson now
enforcing these tier three restrictions, these are high-level restrictions on Manchester. Walk us through the events that led us here, Salma.
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN REPORTER: It's been a bitter political debate for ten days, Becky, but we finally have a resolution, but it's not the one that
this city wanted. Essentially ever since Prime Minister Boris Johnson put into place this tier system, three tier regional lockdowns that are limited
and spoke to the Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham have called them flawed, unfair, he has rejected them out right refused to implement them.
They have been engaged in on and off talks with the government over his calls for a larger financial package to help affected businesses, to help
those who wages will be harmed under these restrictions.
[11:25:00]
ABDELAZIZ: He did ultimately after these ten days of course, the government essentially threw its hands up and said we're tired of the back and forth.
They laid down a deadline on Tuesday of midday. If that deadline was not met then they would going to unilaterally impose the restrictions.
Of course, that deadline came and past with no resolution. The Mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham was actually on camera at the moment that
it was relayed to him that the measures would go into place or will go into place rather on Friday just after midnight. Take a look at this
extraordinary moment.
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ANDY BURNHAM, GREATER MANCHESTER MAYOR: It's brutal to be honest isn't it? This is no way to run the country in a national crisis. It isn't. This is
not right. They should not be doing this. Grinding people down, trying to accept the least that they can get away with 22 million pounds to fight the
situation that we are in is frankly disgraceful.
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ABDELAZIZ: Now you hear him mention that figure there of 22 million pounds. The House Secretary Matt Hancock later made clear that it's actually going
to be 60 million pounds offered to the city. But still less than what the Mayor wanted and although his rebellion has failed it does set a precedent
for this country.
The first question here is what is the strategy? Does every town and city get to bicker with politicians over their own financial package, over their
own specific measures for days while the virus spreads through its population?
Is that what a regional strategy means, and that - is that lend itself to needing a nationwide strategy instead?
The second question here is really one of compliance. What the Mayor of Greater Manchester did is really tap into regional tensions, tap into a
sentiment that people have of fatigue against these Coronavirus measures, of anger towards the government towards mishaps and missteps and all
controversies that we've seen play out in these last few months.
So the question really here is what happens next? How much areas have to enter tier three restrictions, has to enter this very high level
restrictions in order for the entire country to be shut down. For now, of course, Manchester is preparing to shut down its pubs and it's bars to ban
households from mixing together but the virus here, Becky, it is still a question of how you get a grip on it?
ANDERSON: Yes, absolutely. Salma Abdelaziz is in Manchester, city that had to give way and go with the new restrictions. And in Central Europe the
Czech Republic also getting hit, too, from tomorrow morning, Prague will ban all but the most essential trips. Shops will shutter. Services will
close.
It's a dramatic move, but clearly a necessary one to get Europe's fastest growing case count back under control. Scott McLean is live for you in
Berlin that is of course in neighboring Germany, and Scott, what are these new rules? When do they come into effect?
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sure. So Becky, first of all, yesterday was the Health Minister that announced that masks would be mandatory even
outdoors in most places, and then this morning there was an emergency session of parliament after which the prime minister conceded that the
current restrictions in place simply were not working.
So starting tomorrow the Czech Republic will go back into something that you might describe as a lockdown, only essential businesses will be allowed
to stay open. Movement will also be severely restricted to only essential trips or to go to work.
The country's health system is also nearing its capacity until the prime minister announced that they would be getting help in the way of doctors
being sent with the U.S. National Guard from Texas and Nebraska in order to help out with the effort.
The government is also building a field hospital, a temporary field hospital to house about 500 patients expected to overflow from the regular
health care system. The health minister told me last week that those beds could be needed as soon as last week.
I wanted to show you a couple of graphics that illustrate the issue here in Europe and specifically in the Czech Republic. You can see the second wave
of the Coronavirus in Europe has long exceeded the first one, but in some countries in particular, the Netherlands, Belgium and the Czech Republic
you should be able to see there in white, it's far exceeded even the European or the European average, I should say.
And what makes the Czech Republic, what sets it apart is the fact that most countries in Europe, their death tolls were much higher during the first
wave, but the Czech Republic has actually seen its debt toll far exceed what they saw earlier on.
The prime minister is taking a lot of heat for his handling of this second wave of the Coronavirus earlier this week. One of his own cabinet ministers
was caught on a hot mic calling him a moron. The prime minister hasn't responded to that.
Obviously, he has bigger fish to fry, but he took a lot of praise for how he handled the first wave, and now he's having to apologize for not taking
action to tamp down the second one sooner, Becky.
ANDERSON: Fascinating. Thank you, Scott. Scott McLean in Berlin for you, and you heard from Salma in Manchester.
[11:30:00]
ANDERSON: Still to come, there are reports of multiple deaths and injuries at a protest in Nigeria; we speak to one of Nigeria's most prominent public
figures live on "Connect the World" that is coming up next on.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Witnesses in Nigeria say multiple demonstrators have been killed or injured in Lagos after being shot by soldiers at a toll gate. Now
protests against police brutality have been taking place for nearly two weeks. You may have seen the #endsars or SARS on social media referring to
a police unit known as the Special Anti-Robbery Squad.
It has been well mostly peaceful until now. These are images of fires burning across Lagos, smoke dominating on the horizon and even though the
video was taken from some distance, well we still don't have clear numbers on how many people may have been killed or hurt?
In fact the Lagos Governor denies reports of fatalities and says one person died from blunt force trauma. Stephanie Busari wraps the very latest for
you.
STEPHANIE BUSARI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Gunshots ring out in a wealthy suburb of Lagos, Africa's largest city the target, young Nigerians who have been
protesting peacefully against police brutality in the country for close to two weeks. Eyewitnesses tell CNN that military trucks barricaded them and
started shooting from both sides hitting multiple demonstrators.
The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has appealed for peace and said only one person has been confirmed dead so far, contrary to what witnesses
have told CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BABAJIDE SANWO-OLU, LAGOS GOVERNOR: --and to appeal to our citizens, especially our youths that I am for you. I am with you. I feel the pain,
and I understand that indeed you're not happy with what the event has been last night. I want to say once again that as your Governor I will do
everything to ensure that every life indeed does matter.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BUSARI: The military has also taken to social media to cry fake news. So far 15 people have died since the protests started earlier this month
according to Amnesty International.
[11:35:00]
BUSARI: Police turned water cannons, tear gas and live ammunition on protesters early on in the marches in the Capital City of Abuja, but on the
streets of Lagos this morning there was shock and anger as the city comes to terms with a night of violence. Stephanie Busari, CNN.
ANDERSON: Well, let's speak to one prominent public figure in Nigeria Aisha Yesufu, who is an Activist and Organizer. You may remember her from the
"Bring Back Our Girls". She is in Abuja today. I just want to get your reaction firstly to what you're seeing on the streets in Lagos? What's
going on to your mind?
AISHA YESUFU, ACTIVIST & ORGANIZER, "BRING BACK OUR GIRLS": Hello. My reaction is absolute horror. I'm still numb. I can't believe that our
military men turned bullets on our citizens and - young adults; I mean our youth who came out and just simply to stay by. They want the right to lean.
And by coming out they have been killed, and it's just horrible what I'm seeing right now.
ANDERSON: Stephanie's report reflecting that this latest incident is just one in a couple weeks worth of trouble. The major protests do seem to be
occurring in Lagos. The President Buhari has finally spoken about this calling on people to have patience for police reforms. What's your response
to the president, and what sort of reforms are needed at this point? How bad are things?
YESUFU: Things are absolutely bad. We have a culture of impunity amongst our - amongst the Nigerian police, and, you know, in a situation they will
waste you, they will kill you and nothing will happen to them. The president will not be able to do anything and indeed we have seen it with
the youths who are constantly being profile, who are being killed and who are being maimed and who are being escorted from.
Coming out to make the minds of the president to say stop this killing, I want to have --. Let's not forgot that in June 3rd, 2019 a report was given
to the president on the - 2018 and the president needs to say in 2020 and 19 that within six months he was ready to implement the recommendations
from the panel and still we have 16 months but the president hasn't done that. So whatever the president says, I used to note - because his words
and his actions always differ.
ANDERSON: Listen. This story has hit the international headlines. The U.S. Democratic Presidential Nominee Joe Biden has called on authorities to end
the violent crackdown on protesters, calling for the U.S. to stand with Nigerians.
We've just got some images in of protests outside the High Commission, for example, in London. What's your message to the International Community and
what sort of support does Nigeria or perhaps I should say do Nigerian people need to ensure that this isn't a story that slips off the
international headlines once again?
YESUFU: Well, what we learned from the international world is that this is not - on the Nigerian people. And we should look at the fight that we have
a shared humanity and also to call on the Nigerian - he sadly seems to listen to the voices from outside rather than the voice of his people.
So for the Nigerian government to stop killing its people and listen to the demise of the youth. The youth aren't asking for too much. They're simply
saying that they should not be killed again. They are simply acting for compensation for victims of police brutality. They want an end to police
brutality.
They are asking for protestants that they arrest them to be released. They're asking for reforms. They are not asking for too much. So please do
watch the fault on government of Nigeria and - Muhammadu Buhari to stop killing the Nigerian people. It's a crime against humanity. Genocide is
happening in Nigeria right now and the world must not look away the way it has done in other genocides that have happened. Let's put an end to this,
ANDERSON: Aisha, we'll keep our eye on this story. Thank you for joining us. Pope Francis is calling for a major change in Vatican Doctrine.
[11:40:00]
ANDERSON: A civil union law for same-sex marriages a move sure to cause an outcry amongst many Catholics. CNN's Delia Gallagher joins us now on the
phone from Rome. What do we know at this point?
DELIA GALLAGHER, CNN VATICAN CORRESPONDENT: Well Becky, hello to you. Yes, so the Pope, getting a little bit of feedback there. The Pope has a film
out today in Rome in which he says as part of this film, according to various colleagues who have seen it. I should say I haven't seen the film
itself yet, but he does declare support for a civil union law.
He says that homosexuals have a right to be a part of the family. He says they are children of God and have a right to a family. Nobody should be
thrown out or made miserable because of it, he said. What we have to create, the Pope says, is a civil union law. That way they are legally
covered, so that is the quote from this film which is out today in Rome.
I believe it will be out internationally on Sunday, and it shows us kind of a stronger stance on the part of Pope Francis when it comes to civil
unions. He has said in the past in various interviews that, you know, he would not necessarily be opposed to civil unions as distinct from marriage,
in other words, that countries need to have their own laws to cover civil unions and that he would not necessarily be opposed to that.
So what is new in what he says in this film is that he's actually sort of positively supporting it in that sense. Certainly, it is a change from the
years under Pope Benedict when he came out under John Paul II even, both of them were saying no to even civil unions.
But Pope Francis we've seen throughout his pontificate in various instances back in interviews in his meetings with gay people and so on an openness
towards at least allowing them legal protections under the state which, again, will say is a different thing from saying marriage in the Catholic
Church, let's say, but at least an opening surely to allow states to create laws to protect them as they do for married men and women.
ANDERSON: Yes. This will be a move applauded by many, particularly the gay community in a world of populism where many gay people feel under attack.
How big a backlash should Pope Francis expect from those within his own church?
GALLAGHER: Well, certainly in so far as this diverges from what John Paul II and Pope Benedict stated in the past, there's going to be that for sure.
Now you know typically with Pope Francis what we have are things that he says in interviews or things that he says to other people.
You know, this is not sort of written down in some kind of church law, let's say, on the part of Pope Francis. So he's sort of - he likes to kind
of chat and give his opinion and that sort of thing without saying, well, this is, you know, my final declaration on the matter.
He says, you know, let's be open to this, and there's also obviously even under John Paul II and Pope Benedict an understanding that they don't
create civil laws, you know. They don't make the laws for countries, so countries have to decide for themselves.
But they tend to give a kind of direction in terms of what they think would be the right thing to do did, and in this case obviously Francis is
diverging from that and saying, you know, it would be a good idea in the sense. He says he - what we have to create is a civil union law.
You know, back when he was archbishop in Buenos Aires he - there was a same-sex marriage amendment there, and he was arguing for civil unions
there as well. So it's not a change if you know the Pope's own history and his own stance on things.
It is a change in terms of the larger teaching of Popes from the past. So that as you rightly say will probably cause something of a backlash, but,
again, it's not something which is going to be written down in some kind of church laws, as it were, because it would have to do with state laws.
ANDERSON: Sure. Yes, of course.
GALLAGHER: I should mention another thing that he says in this film, Becky, is about the Trump Administration's policy of separating families. He says
its cruelty and separating kids from parents goes against natural rights.
[11:45:00]
GALLAGHER: It's something a Christian cannot do which echoes, you know, his comments before about President Trump and building walls, you know,
something that a Christian shouldn't done that kind of an interesting thing to come out right now just before the U.S. elections.
Of course, this was filmed - this started filming back in 2018. It's a Russian Director, so, you know, not to say that the Pope would know when
this was coming out or that sort of thing.
ANDERSON: Right.
GALLAGHER: But certainly that quote will also be taken as - as something that he's saying against the Trump Administration and the policy of
separating families who are trying to come to the United States, so there's a lot in here.
As we always see with Pope Francis, frankly, when he starts talking openly, you know, he says what he thinks. Now, whether that represents, you know,
any kind of major change on the part of the Catholic Church, I don't think so, but certainly for the Pope, I think that will be, you know, welcome
news for people to know that he will support civil unions.
ANDERSON: OK. And with that we'll leave it there. Delia. Thank you for that reminder of that breaking news Pope Francis calling for a major change in
Vatican Doctrine, a civil union law for same-sex couples. We'll be right back. You're watching "Connect the World."
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: Well, further COVID-19 restrictions are popping up across Europe and the UK meant to help keep people safe, but they are also producing what
is the U.N. is calling a shadow pandemic. The rise of domestic abuse with families struggling with job loss little government helps and backlogs in
the court. Victims are left to face their abusers at home. Isa Soares spoke to some survivors in the United Kingdom.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I loved this man more than anything, and I left everything for him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Away from her home in Morocco and beguiled by her new husband.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He made me fall in love with him slowly.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: This 32-year-old woman who prefers to remain anonymous tells me her partner became a different man mid-pandemic.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He said to me you have to bring 4,000 a month.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: With the economy in a deep recession and a frustrated husband unable to work his usual job as a taxi driver she says her life became his
to control.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He hit me too many times, and the last time he give me to slap he damaged my face, I was losing my mind because you cannot trust
anyone, and the person you give him all your life, from here life is finished.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
[11:50:00]
SOARES: She's one of seven other women at this Iranian/Kurdish Women's Refuge who left home during the pandemic with many more waiting for a room
and a guiding hand. The manager here tells me COVID-19 has proven to be the perfect storm.
REFUGE MANAGER, IKWRO: They were intensely living together with the perpetrators. There was no time for them to breathe. No time to see
friends, relatives, go out. Perpetrators have used their conceived control, more authoritarian way.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: According to Women's Aid April Survey 78 percent of women living with abusers felt they could not leave or get away because of the pandemic.
Those that do escape face further anxieties with a backlog and a criminal justice system and limited access to support services or safe havens.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Everything definitely taking longer, more uncertainty.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: This 40-year-old Iranian only recently managed to escape her husband of four years. Not even an attempted suicide that letter in the
hospital cleared her path. She did eventually escape just days ago and now tells me the pandemic has only made it worse.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: He was violent to you. Was he also - did he also sexually abuse you? Did the pandemic reveal the real man?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Harrowing tales of intimate terrorism at an uncertain time of heightened isolation. Isa Soares, CNN, London.
ANDERSON: Well, if you or someone you know is being affected by domestic violence, you can get help. One site is endvawnow.org, for example, and to
learn more about the explosion of domestic violence since the pandemic began, do use CNN's digital site, cnn.com and click on this tint active map
to see how women across the globe are speaking out about this crisis. Well, you're watching CNN. We'll be right back after this.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
ANDERSON: I want to bring this show back to where we began on the pulse of the American people 13 days out from the U.S. election and counting.
Earlier we took you to a Dune Buggy Rally where some Trump voters explained why they are supporting the president again this time around?
Well, let's circle now to a group of black women in Michigan who say Mr. Trump has not in fact been a champion of the black community during his
time in office, something he touts on a regular basis telling our Kate Bolduan how they will use their voice for this election?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
WENDY CALDWELL-LIDDELL, FOUNDER, MOBILIZE DETROIT: OK. So let's say you don't have - you ain't registered so let's get you registered, OK? I think
that the apathy has just grown and has just become so pervasive in our communities because people are just trying to survive that we have to get
back to empowering people. Let's cycle back this way.
[11:55:00]
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: 29-year-old Wendy Caldwell-Liddell is a woman with no shortage of energy.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CALDWELL-LIDDELL: Hey, did they talk to you already?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: She doesn't work for any campaign but since August she says she spends three days a week every week between her full-time job and taking
care of two kids using that energy to try and convince fellow Detroiters their vote matters.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
CALDWELL-LIDDELL: At this point this is our survival now. What happens politically is a part of our survival, and there's no escaping that.
BOLDUAN: 10,704, what does that number mean to you?
CALDWELL-LIDDELL: Is that how many votes Trump won by?
BOLDUAN: That's exactly how many votes?
CALDWELL-LIDDELL: So that number - it hurts. It hurts.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Wayne County which includes Detroit went for Hillary Clinton by a wide margin in 2016, but she got about 76,000 fewer votes there than Obama
did in 2012. Remember, Trump won the entire state by just 10,704 votes.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Are you voting for Joe Biden, or are you more voting against Donald Trump?
CALDWELL-LIDDELL: 80 percent against Donald Trump, 20 percent for Joe Biden, I would say that.
BOLDUAN: What does that mean?
CALDWELL-LIDDELL: It means that I know that as a voter and as a black woman that there's a job that I have to do in order to get a representative who
will come close to protecting my people in office. But I'm not necessarily excited about having another representative there who really does not
inherently understand the needs of our communities.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Markita Blanchard like Wendy has lived in Detroit her whole life but at 63 years old sees her choice this election a bit differently.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BLANCHARD: I'm 100 percent voting for Biden.
BOLDUAN: Does Biden make you excited?
BLANCHARD: Yes, yes, yes, yes he does. His enthusiasm and his past record, it's like a charge.
BOLDUAN: President Trump says often that he's done more for the black community.
BLANCHARD: That's - go ahead.
BOLDUAN: No, I don't even need to finish.
BLANCHARD: He's full of --. You know what I'm saying. He has not done anything. I've had people say well, he's not my president. I didn't vote. I
said did you vote at all, and they say no, I didn't vote. I said if you did not vote you did vote for him.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Amber Davis is one of those Detroiters who voted for Obama in 2012 and then didn't vote at all in 2016.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: Why didn't you vote in 2016?
AMBER DAVIS, DETROIT RESIDENT: I don't want Trump and I didn't want Hillary. I didn't really care who won that election.
BOLDUAN: So what's your plan this election?
DAVIS: I don't like Biden, but I'm voting for Biden this Coronavirus, everything that's going on. It's just horrible so he's got to go.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: One path to flipping Michigan blue again and a critical pursuit of the Biden Campaign is getting those voters who sat out four years ago to
show up this time and a sign the Trump Campaign knows this it has an office right down the road from the Democrats specifically targeting black voters
in Detroit.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOLDUAN: How unusual is this to see - forgot Trump, but a Republican Presidential Campaign open an office in the west side?
MARY SHEFFIELD, DETROIT CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT PRO TEM: I've never seen it; I've never seen it ever, ever before.
BOLDUAN: But what does it tell you?
SHEFFIELD: The importance of not only Michigan but Detroit and the black vote because the parties - both parties need us really.
CALDWELL-LIDDELL: Are you going to help me?
BOLDUAN: Everyone always talks about on TV; always talk about how black women are the backbone of the Democratic Party?
CALDWELL-LIDDELL: We are. We are. Black women are the backbone.
BOLDUAN: But do you think the Democratic Party takes you for granted?
CALDWELL-LIDDELL: Absolutely, absolutely they takes for grant, because they know that black women are going to help them get the big wins they need
where it matters, but they also know that they - that they can give us the bare minimum knowing that we aren't going to choose the other side.
BOLDUAN: What does that say about the country?
CALDWELL-LIDDELL: It says we still got a long way to go when the backbone of the country is the most neglected.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ANDERSON: That's a cracking report. Just 13 days until America's election, and we will be getting all the action for you from there and the rest of
your world. Do stay safe, stay well, look after your family and your friends. Good night.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
END
