Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Protests in Mexico Impact Residents and Businesses ; Story of Diane Guerrero's Family Being Deported; New Ferguson Tapes Revealed; Controversial Dating Guru Says Sorry

Aired November 17, 2014 - 08:30   ET

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


MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Long wait times still a big problem at VA hospitals and clinics. "USA Today" reports more than 600,000 veterans are still waiting a month or more for their appointments.

And at number five, Russian President Vladimir Putin is making an early exit from the G-20 Summit in Australia. He got blasted for his country's incursion into Ukraine but blamed his early departure on a need to get some sleep.

We always update those five things to know, so be sure to visit newdaycnn.com for the very latest.

Chris.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Mic.

Protests are still raging over the disappearance of dozens of college kids. Seven weeks after those 43 college students vanished, demonstrators are still demanding answers. And the turmoil is now having a significant impact on local residents and businesses. Rosa Flores is live in Mexico with the very latest.

What do you see in any kind of change in the dynamic there?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, Chris, the mayor of a town has been charged with six counts of aggravated homicide, but protestors are not letting up. In fact, there's an interesting dynamic in town. A lot of the people in this area say, hey, we support the effort to find these 43 missing students. What they don't support is the burning of buildings, the burning of cars, the blocking of streets. And a lot of them are saying, enough is enough.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

FLORES (voice-over): The chaos starts as people roll into town. Mass protestors blocking the highway and syphoning gas, enough to scare drivers and people who call Guerrero, Mexico, home. Especially business owner who depend on open roads to get merchandise and make a living, like this woman, who doesn't want to be identified for fear of retaliation, but who says at least four distributors have stopped deliveries to her store.

FLORES (on camera): She says she feels a sense of hopelessness because there's not much that citizens, business owners can do. FLORES (voice-over): Protestors have also a commandeered vehicles by

day and by night and turned them into fiery messages.

FLORES (on camera): There is this commercial vehicle that delivers milk.

FLORES (voice-over): It's all in effort to pressure the government into finding 43 students who went missing just under two months ago. Officials say they're dead. Families don't believe it. While most support their cause, others are fed up.

FLORES (on camera): She has talked to other business owners who say they feel like taking arms and defending their stores and defending their property from protestors.

This is a perfect example of how protests are impacting the economy. Right now it's the middle of the day, but take a look, there's an empty parking lot and a closed grocery store.

FLORES (voice-over): At the nearby airport Acapulco Airport, protestors beat a police officer last week. Their protest blocked air travel several hours at one of the nation's top tourist destinations. All signs of the escalating dysfunction.

FLORES (on camera): In hands of God, she says.

FLORES (voice-over): A test of faith that many in this community find increasingly difficult.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FLORES: Now take a look at this video. The situation does not appear to deescalate. Take a look. Mass protestors commandeering government vehicles and commercial vehicles. Now, our sources on the ground are telling us that their plan is to burn 43 vehicles, one vehicle for each of the 43 missing. Now this group denies that. Michaela, we have seen these protestors burn vehicles before and a lot of people here believe that they plan to do it again.

PEREIRA: I fear that this story is not calming down at all. In fact, I think it's only going to escalate. And, Rosa, you'll be bringing that story to us for some time now. Thank you so much for that. We'll be watching it.

I want to turn to a guest that we have here in the studio. If you're like me and obsessed with "Orange is the New Black," you likely will recognize Maritza. She is actress Diane Guerrero. But what you probably don't know is the heartbreaking story behind her - well, her real life. Both her parents and her older brother were deported from the U.S. to Columbia when she was just 14 years old. She opened up about her experience. She wrote an terrific op-ed that was published in "The Los Angeles Times." Diane is here with me now.

Thank you so much for coming.

DIANE GUERRERO, PARENTS DEPORTED WHEN SHE WAS 14: Thank you. PEREIRA: There are a lot of people debating this issue on The Hill, across the country, in coffee shops everywhere. But this is something that is very, very close to you. Fourteen years old. Do you remember that day like it was yesterday?

GUERRERO: Oh, yes. Yes. I think about it all the time.

PEREIRA: Tell me about that day. What happened? You come home and you find the kitchen empty.

GUERRERO: Yes. It's weird because, you know, as I said in my letter, I would always have this feeling - I was always scared that my parents were going to be gone. That I was going to come home one day.

PEREIRA: You were aware of their uncertain immigration status?

GUERRERO: Absolutely. Absolutely. I mean they would remind me every day. I knew my dad had like this while system. You know, here's where I hide this in case anything happens. And, you know, don't be scared and know that you're going to be OK and that we love you very much and that we wish that this situation was different for us, but this is our reality. So, yes, that day I had this feeling. I remember I had called my parents a million times. I was coming home from school and I was really excited because around that time -- I went to a performance arts high school. So around that time we were planning spring fest, which was like, you know, everyone was getting their parts and their singing roles and I was really excited because it's my first year and I really was excited to tell them about it. And I got home and their cars were there and dinner was started and the lights were on, but I couldn't find them. So, yes, it was really hard. That was really hard. And then the neighbors came in and -

PEREIRA: And that's how you found out that they were gone, the neighbors told you?

GUERRERO: Uh-huh. They were just like, I'm so sorry but your parents were taken away and I -

PEREIRA: What did that feel like? That seems to be every child's worst nightmare, that your family is taken from you.

GUERRERO: Yes. I just -- I broke down, you know. I remember I like -- I hid under the bed because I was afraid that somebody was going to come for me. I don't know who that someone was, but I was just so scared. You know, it's like, what do you -- what do you do? And then I'm so scared for them, like what they're going through, you know. My parents are going to jail, and for what? You know, I didn't consider them criminals and --

PEREIRA: How long did it take you - for you to understand where they were? Because they were gone. The neighbors came over and told you that they - that immigration had come and taken them away.

GUERRERO: Yes.

PEREIRA: When -- how much of a timeline - what was the timeline of when you then found out where they were?

GUERRERO: Well, a few hours later of just waiting there and the neighbors were at home with me, I called my friends and their parents. I was very close to them. They knew my parent's situation as well. And I called them. They came over immediately. And they were just sitting there waiting for calls. And then finally I got a call from my dad and he said that he was being detained and - and so - and then my mother called. They were - they were separated.

PEREIRA: I think no matter what side of this whole debate you're on, I think it's really troubling to know that you talk about this quite openly in your letter, that no government official, no government agency reached out to make sure that you were OK. You basically relied on the kindness of strangers -

GUERRERO: Yes.

PEREIRA: To get you through high school, to go on to college and fast forward.

GUERRERO: Yes.

PEREIRA: Do you see your parents today? You're a few years older now.

GUERRERO: Yes.

PEREIRA: It's been a few years since you graduated.

GUERRERO: It's been a few years since it happened.

PEREIRA: Where -- what's the status of your parents and your sibling, you have a brother?

GUERRERO: Yes, I have a brother, Eddie. They are in Columbia right now. I talk to them not every day but we talk.

PEREIRA: Do you go there?

GUERRERO: I go there once a year.

PEREIRA: How is that?

GUERRERO: It's tough. You know, it's like - it's -- we've been separated for so long, I feel like sometimes we don't know each other and that's difficult because I've grown up without them and there's things about them that are new that I don't recognize and it just -- it hurts. But I love them so much and I just - I just hate that they have gone through this. And I know I've been by myself, but I feel like they've have lived a very lonely existence themselves. I'm sorry.

PEREIRA: There are a lot of people debating this very contentious issue right now. The president is set to potentially sign an executive order.

GUERRERO: Yes.

PEREIRA: Is that what led you to write this open letter?

GUERRERO: Yes.

PEREIRA: What do you want to have happen? What do you want to see? Because there are going to be people, Diane, that will say, look, we have laws in this nation.

GUERRERO: Yes.

PEREIRA: And for people to jump ahead and have a legal way to stay here ahead of all those people who have done things the legal way -

GUERRERO: (INAUDIBLE).

PEREIRA: Or people that sneak across the border in the dead of night, that's not fair. That's completely unfair.

GUERRERO: Right.

PEREIRA: What do you say to those people?

GUERRERO: Well, I think that we all came from somewhere. And I think that everyone has their own personal story. And I don't think that everyone - everyone who's coming here is in search for a better life and I think that people like my family started out trying to do things the legal way but it is so - what people don't realize is that it is so difficult for some people to get documented and to get their papers and to become legal. And my parents tried forever. And there are -- this system didn't offer relief for them. And what I'm asking for is to create or find a solution for families.

PEREIRA: You say in that letter not one more family should be separated by deportation.

GUERRERO: Yes.

PEREIRA: So what if the president isn't successful in doing what you want? What happens?

GUERRERO: I say we keep the conversation going. We keep trying. And I think that - I think a lot of Americans, I think most Americans, want comprehensive immigration reform. I think people don't want to see families separated. I don't think people want to just deport everyone and that's the solution. That's not a solution. What about me? What about us? The kids who stay here without their families? And I'm -

PEREIRA: And there are scores of you out there.

GUERRERO: Yes, there's tons of us. And there are worse case scenarios and there are best case scenarios. I consider myself a best case scenario because I was able to come through. And I faced my - I have challenges every day and I go through stuff every day, but I'm able to be here with you talking about what I want to see happen. But there are so many kids that can't.

PEREIRA: That can't. That don't have that voice. GUERRERO: That don't have that voice.

PEREIRA: And hopefully you can keep speaking for them, Diane.

GUERRERO: I hope so too.

PEREIRA: Diane Guerrero. This is a very personal story that you've shown us. This is your story.

GUERRERO: Yes.

PEREIRA: Again, it doesn't matter what side of the debate you're on, this is your reality of what you and your family have had to live with being divided like that, Columbia to the United States. Thanks so much for sharing it with us.

GUERRERO: Thank you for having me.

PEREIRA: And for being here.

GUERRERO: Thank you.

PEREIRA: Alisyn.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: Yes, Michaela, always nice to hear a personal story. It really brings it home for everyone.

Meanwhile, there is new video that shows Officer Darren Wilson in a different light than some had thought after the Michael Brown shooting. So who's story will you believe after you see this footage?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: Police have released new tapes in the shooting death of Michael Brown. The 18-year-old's family says the footage contradicts police accounts of the deadly incident and raises questions about the injuries reportedly suffered by Officer Darren Wilson. CNN's Stephanie Elam has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): These are the first images of Officer Darren Wilson in the white t-shirt captured just hours after Michael Brown was killed on August 9th. It is unclear in the video if Wilson was suffering from any injuries, but police have said that Wilson sustained bruises and had a swollen face after his allege struggle with Brown.

BENJAMIN CRUMP, BROWN FAMILY ATTORNEY: From the beginning, Dorian Johnson, who was with Michael Brown Jr., said the officer wasn't hurt that he saw.

ELAM: The surveillance video obtained by the "St. Louis Post-Dispatch" shows Wilson leaving the police station after the shooting for the hospital. Later the video shows him returning, according to the paper. "The St. Louis Post-Dispatch" also obtained police audio, publishing a time line of events from that day, beginning with the theft.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Sir, we've taken a stealing in progress from 9101 West Forissant"

ELAM: 19 seconds later, dispatch issues a description of a suspect.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's with another male, he has a red Cardinals hat, white t-shirt, yellow socks, and khaki shorts. He's walking up (inaudible).

ELAM: Minutes later, Officer Wilson offers assistance.

DARREN WILSON, POLICE OFFICER THAT SHOT AND KILLED MICHAEL BROWN: 21 to 25 or 22, you guys need me?

ELAM: The paper says shortly after, Officer Wilson stopped Brown and his friend Dorian Johnson for walking in the middle of the street. Officer Wilson calls for backup.

WILSON: 21, put me on Canfield with two. And send me another car.

ELAM: According to the paper's timeline, Brown's fatal encounter with Wilson took less than two minutes. At 12:07, this call came in with someone apparently screaming in the background.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Frank 25.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Get us several more units over here. There's going to be a problem.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ELAM (on camera): And as the grand jury decision on whether or not to indict Darren Wilson looms closer, people here in Ferguson are a bit on edge. I've spoke to many families here, many who are afraid to even go on camera because they're afraid of any kind of blow back. But they're all awaiting to see if this ruling is going to come down soon, and when it does, whether or not there will be more violence as we saw in August, Chris.

CUOMO: The anticipation is really building there. We need an outcome, and then that community has to deal with it one way or the another. Thank you for the excellent reporting as you have from the beginning. Stephanie, we'll be back in with you.

So, there is a crusade against controversial dating coach, Julien Blanc. His methods have been described as sexist, misogynistic, and often racist. Several countries are trying to ban him. He says he is sorry. We test that and you weigh in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: So earlier in the show, we spoke to a guy who calls himself a dating guru, but several countries across the world call him a dangerous predator. They say his techniques are so awful and misogynistic they don't even want to put him inside the country, literally, like a terrorist. They're keeping him out, so we spoke to him and got his take. Here's what he said.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

CUOMO: You tell them to choke women, you tell them to take women's heads and put them in your crotch, in a man's crotch.

JULIEN BLANC, CONTROVERSIAL DATING COACH: And that's where a lot of the confusion is coming from. Like that's - -

CUOMO: There is no confusion. There is no confusion.

BLANC: That - -

CUOMO: I'm telling you, I think If you want this to be meaningful for you in any way, you better own this stuff that you're doing.

BLANC: No, I 100 percent take responsibility. I apologize 100 percent for it.

CUOMO: You apologize because you got caught, or because you're sorry?

BLANC: No, I'm extremely sorry.

CUOMO: Okay.

BLANC: Like, I feel horrible. I mean, I'm not going to be happy to feel like I'm the most hated man in the world. I'm overwhelmed by the way people are responding.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

CUOMO: We asked you to weigh in, and of course you have in a big way. A lot of it is obvious. You have a lot of anger towards this man. One tweet says the person is a complete ass. I have three boys, if they ever treat any woman with this disrespect the idiot spews I would disown them. Humans make mistakes, the guy said he's sorry, so CNN back off the man and let him what he does best. I don't even know if that's English. But the - - And I don't even think it makes sense, but - -- Also, to be fair, though, here's what he says. That was just the volley back and forth, because I didn't think he was really apologetic. He says he doesn't teach those things, he says they're just bad jokes.

CAMEROTA: But there's video that shows him teaching those things.

CUOMO: Yes, that's true.

CAMEROTA: He was being disingenuous.

CUOMO: Yes.

CAMEROTA: He does teach those things. He teaches men to be aggressive, even physically aggressive. He jokes about things like, hey girls, please save me the effort and roofie your own drink.

PEREIRA: Your own drink, right. CAMEROTA: You can't just say that every single vulgar or effective thing is a joke.

PEREIRA: Right.

CAMEROTA: That doesn't give you a pass.

PEREIRA: Here's the thing, words are important. The great wonder and the great danger of the internet is those words can be spread quickly, right? We've seen how it can be used to good, but this is where we see an example of somebody, and it's fair, you know. And I love the way you treated him with the respect any other human should have. You talked to him like an older brother, trying to counsel him a little bit, because this kid is a knuckle head at 25.

CUOMO: Although 25 is not 15.

PEREIRA: It isn't.

CUOMO: You know, he's a grown man.

PEREIRA: It isn't, but the thing is he needs to show - - We tested some of the ladies in the green room who watched the interview, and they didn't feel that his apology was authentic.

CAMEROTA: But also just his business model is so repulsive, and maybe this will change. I mean, he has made thousands and thousands of dollars by going around, teaching supposed introverts about how to deal with women. It's completely the wrong message. I mean - -

PEREIRA: Completely the wrong message.

CAMEROTA: He bases it on the concept that women like bad boys, and women do like bad boys, but they don't like aggressive, violent boys.

PEREIRA: Predatory.

CAMEROTA: Predatory boys. It's he misconstrued the message - -

CUOMO: And if they do, they have a problem.

PEREIRA: Then they have a problem. Absolutely.

CUOMO: They have a problem. I think that, look, one of the things that came up in this over the weekend was this guy's dangerous on a lot of different levels. Whether he's aware of it or not.

PEREIRA: He needs to be aware of it.

CUOMO: I mean, the countries wanting to keep him out is more of a, you know, that's an intriguing aspect of it.

CAMEROTA: That is an intriguing aspect, because there is freedom of expression. I mean, even - - However repugnant the message, we do have freedom of expression. PEREIRA: It also worries me that when you make something, you know, when you ban something, there's a whole element of people that will want it more.

CUOMO: Right.

PEREIRA: That's concerning.

CUOMO: It's a good conversation to have. It's good to expose someone like him, because I can't tell you how many people felt they needed to explain to me and some of the men I was with why this is offensive. You know, women saying to us you have to understand, this is very offensive. Real men know that, okay?

CAMEROTA: Of course.

PEREIRA: All of the guys in the studio are not (inaudible).

CUOMO: Real men know that. It is easy to be offended by this.

CAMEROTA: Alright, let us know what you think. Keep the comments coming. You can find us all on Twitter.

Meanwhile, old school parking meters are going back up, not to make drivers' lives harder supposedly, but to make the lives of the homeless easier.

PEREIRA: Oh, what a nice idea.

CUOMO: Isn't it nice?

CAMEROTA: It's the Good Stuff.

CUOMO: I hope people read it before they smash it with a baseball bat.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Time for the Good Stuff. You may remember, we told you about a way to help the homeless. It's going on down in Florida where they arrest people who try to feed them in certain places. Well, that's one way to help. Here's a better way I would submit.

(BEGIN VIDEOCLIP)

CUOMO (voice-over): Indianapolis is taking old, outdated parking meters, repainting them, and putting them back on the street. Why? Just to taunt you and make you angry? No, to collect your hard-earned money to collect donations for the homeless.

CHRISTY SHEPARD, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CHIP: And they will be used for things such as hygiene needs, food, and then again access into shelter, and substance abuse, and medical treatment.

CUOMO: Yes.

PEREIRA (voice-over): What a great idea. CUOMO: All good, great idea, Mic, you're totally right. That was

Christy Shepard, she says she hopes the meters will raise anything from $40 to $100,000 toward those very useful goals. It's a great idea, and Indianapolis is not the only one to have it. Similar meters are going up in Pasadena, Denver, Orlando, and San Diego.

PEREIRA: Very cool.

(END VIDEOCLIP)

CAMEROTA: That is great, because you never know when you're on the street which homeless person individually you're supposed to give your money to. So, this takes out the guesswork.

PEREIRA (on camera): It just goes to the agencies to help those people get the help they need. That's perfect.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

PEREIRA: Love it.

CUOMO (on camera): The parking meter that cares.

(LAUGHTER)

PEREIRA: And you, for the record, have never actually broken one of those with a baseball bat?

CUOMO: I have never that.

PEREIRA: Just trying to clarify.

CUOMO: I can do it with my bare hands.

PEREIRA: Walked right into that, didn't I?

CUOMO: A lot of news this morning. Let's get you to the "NEWSROOM" with Carol Costello.

PEREIRA: Really, Carol? Really?

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: How did that evolve into that. I'm just so (inaudible).

CUOMO: She baited me.

COSTELLO: Sure, blame it on her. Have a great day, guys. Thanks so much. NEWSROOM starts now.