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Anderson Cooper 360 Degrees
Protests in Baltimore; A Look at the City Streets as Curfew Approaches. Aired 8-9:00p ET
Aired April 28, 2015 - 20:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[20:00:00] ANDERSON COOPER, CNN ANCHOR: Erin, thanks very much. And good evening, everybody from Baltimore.
We are two hours away from the city line curfew and less than 24 hours are moved to the worst rioting here since 1968. Here to enforce the curfew, maintain order, more than a thousand police officers and deputies from all corners of the state and beyond. They are backed up by 2,000 members of the Maryland National Guard.
You can see some of the members of the National Guard standing right behind me tonight. I'm in front of the city hall. They are been out here mandating barricades all day long. There was a small or contingent of Baltimore city police armed with riot helmets and clubs because a group of protestors had just come down here walking all the way from the CVS. That group of protesters has now left.
Our Brian Todd is with them and we'll check in with him shortly. And as they left, so did the fall inks of police officers as well.
We are seeing a much heavier security presence on the streets. We have seen some clashes on the street today between protestors and authorities. There have been helicopters circling overhead as there have been throughout the day. We have seen a number of arrests. We continue to see and feel a great deal of tension. There is no doubt about that.
We've also seen the good people of Baltimore step up and step in, helping not just with the clean-up but also trying to cool things down and even putting themselves between police and some of the hotter- tempered protestors out today.
Now all of this after a night, that is all 144 cars and trucks set on fire, 15 buildings burned, 20 police officers were hurt and more than 200 people arrested. President Obama weighed in today, so did the Baltimore mayor.
Now how their words might play out on the streets here, we honestly do not know tonight. It is just one part of what remains a very volatile mix. Tonight, some members of the community are gathered at a local A&E mega-church hashing out ways to diffuse feeling and begin healing some very deep winds and we'll take you there as well in the two hours ahead tonight.
And tonight, the scene tonight in the empowerment temple A&E church just northwest of where we are and we're hoped to be joined by the pastor, Timol Bryant (ph) shortly. We talked to him last night. But first I want to go to our Jason Carroll.
Jason, explain where you are in relation to city hall and what you are seeing tonight.
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, right now a lot of people -- peace, my friend. We're here at the center where so much of this happened yesterday. This is the intersection of north and Pennsylvania. Anderson, that is the CVS. You know that CVS pharmacy. That is where the looting and the burning started yesterday.
What we've seen out here today so far, hundreds of demonstrators have come out, demonstrating for the most part, peacefully. What has intrigued me is what some are calling this unity line. I don't know if you can see, but throughout the day, we had a number of people here locking arms behind then. You got Baltimore PD, Prince George's county PD, Montgomery County PD. They are creating a buffer line between themselves. And some of those demonstrators who are out here who, as you described, might be a little hot, might be a little angry, might be a little bit frustrated.
Tell me about what your day has been like so far being the buffer between yourself and the officers behind you?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The day has been nothing but powerful and positive. All of these people, they come together to stand together to be a buffer between law enforcement and the peaceful protesters. We want to be here as an example. You know, our city is going through a lot right now and we just want to make sure that the world sees and that our city sees that we are standing strong as a group, as a unit, as a strong group of people of color, all races, creeds and back grounds to support us.
CARROLL: I was also talking, Anderson, to this gentleman over here who came out here.
You have been standing out here for hours talking about the importance of being out here, providing a line between yourselves and the men and women behind you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well I think it starts with us. It starts with Baltimore. We have to stand us for ourselves. We stand up and we show we can police ourselves. There is hope, there is love, there is respect and all of that in Baltimore. We have to show that. We have to put that out there. We have to show the world that we are here to police ourselves. We are here to show that we don't need everything that was shown on the television and the nation yesterday. We're about positivity here in Baltimore and so it starts with us. This long line of people came out here because what we've seen on the TV yesterday, we didn't like it.
CARROLL: And I want to get to one more person here, Anderson. Standing out here with your 14-year-old daughter?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes. CARROLL: You were saying that this is a lesson for her that she's
going to be taking with her for quite some time?
[20:05:03] UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely. Like you just said, my daughter is 14 and she is a freshman on high school. Now only is she is standing out here, she is living this. So when -- ten years from now when she's writing a paper on it or instructing someone else about it and she can say I stood there and I was there in that line. My mother had me here. So that protest and that she saw Dr. King and all those movies with Rosa Parks and everybody, she is actually doing it. And like I said before, if I don't stand for something, I'll fall for anything. So I'm showing my daughter and my students of cross elementary, their librarian is standing for something today.
CARROLL: And 14 years old, so young, you have been standing out here witnessing so much. I'm wondering, even at your age, what are your questions so far?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm going to stand here because this is my community. I grew up in this community. I use this community daily, like every weekend. So it will be hard for me not to stand out here to represent my community. So I'm going to -- I'm not protecting the police, I'm protecting my community that I grew up in, the people I know, the people that I see, the people I see every day, not just me, myself and I. Not just my family.
CARROLL: Very brave all of you. And I think a lot of people in this community commend you for what you are doing. Thank you so very much.
Anderson, as we are standing out here, a number of people were chanting over and over, "we want peace." "We want peace." That is overwhelmingly how most of the people out here had been feeling. We are going to be out here all day. But the impressions that I got so far from seeing the unity line, seeing some of these other people out here, some of them very angry, no doubt about that, but most of the people out here want nothing but peace -- Anderson.
COOPER: And Jason, I was out there probably about two hours ago and that line, as you said, that was there. It was firmly in place. And it is extraordinarily to see members of community coming out to want to police themselves. There was almost a festive atmosphere, at times. And as you said, people were angry, there is no doubt about it, but there were people playing music there. I also saw members of different church groups, I believe members of the nation of Islam were there as well. That is also part of this community reaction to what the images of what they saw and lived through last night.
CARROLL: You're absolutely right, Anderson. And that is the point of what these people are trying to make out here. They want to do everything they can. After seeing so much destruction last night to prove to the community, to the world that these people who can come out and police themselves. These are people who can come out and show a different side of Baltimore. That is why they are standing here, arm and arm, linked arm and arm wanted to show, to show that show of force, some of them coming out here and dealing with -- again, you know, people who are very angry, but they want to provide that first line of defense.
And if I can just say one more thing. I heard another woman was out here who was saying this is what should happen all along, dialogue within in the community, talking to the young people who are angry. Perhaps if more of that that been done before, we wouldn't have seen what we saw last night.
COOPER: Jason, we'll continue to check in with you.
I want to go to our Miguel Marquez now. Miguel is standing by at north and Pennsylvania avenues.
Miguel, explain the situation where you're at.
MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is sort of ground central for -- or the central point where everything happened last night. The CVS that burned is right behind me. And it has become more festival and rally.
This is Juan (ph). You want to say something. What do you want to come out of all of this, Juan?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Say that again?
MARQUEZ: What do you want to come out of this?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Peace and justice, that's all we want. We want to find them guilty. Not out of all of this?
MARQUEZ: Or you just want them charged and to have a trial.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, charged. And look, I know a thing. Why all of the fires and the rioting, I can't get it.
MARQUEZ: I can tell you. I work with CNN and I'm getting everything. In fact, I want to show them some of the festival that is happening out here as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: But look. And can I tell -- you want me to talk. I want to talk. Why are you all not getting the black people coming together. We just cleaned up everything.
MARQUEZ: That is precisely what I'm doing and I have been doing it. And we're talking to you, as well.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We just want justice. We want justice for Freddie Gray. And also I want to say -- (INAUDIBLE). I want to say black pride.
MARQUEZ: And I do want to give you a sense of how difficult it is in this neighborhood. There was an individual who had a seizure in this area earlier, and they had to go in in force, police had to go in in force to get him out and it caused quite a raucous in the crowd, a very tense situation. They were able to get him out, get him behind police lines and then they took him off in an ambulance a short time ago. But literally, any small incident like that can set out of crowd and raise tension. And that is where things are this evening -- Anderson.
[20:10:03] COOPER: And Miguel, you know, the man who was just talking behind you was saying, you know, you should show the images of peaceful images. We obviously have been showing those images. He's not in front of a television so he is not seeing that.
But what are people saying about their concerns about this evening, about when nightfall comes, when the curfew is in place, how concerned are people seeing about what may happen tonight or did they too confident that tonight is going to be a different night than last night?
MARQUEZ: I think there is a lot of concern of what is going to happen tonight and in the days ahead. I mean, you have different points throughout the week and through this process that people are looking at. Mr. Gray's funeral was one of those last night. Tonight because of everything that happened last night, I think nerves are raw on both the police and the individual side here. And I think that on Friday when people are really looking forward to hearing what the police come back with on Friday and what they hand up to the D.A.
I don't get the sense that we are going to hear a lot of what the police hand up to the D.A. in terms of the investigation report. So those things they are paying keen attention to here, Anderson.
COOPER: All right. Miguel Marquez, we will check in back with you.
I want to tell our viewers on the right-hand side of your screen, you have been looking at live images from another group that has been more mobile that is on the move and we have a correspondent with that group as well.
Again, we've seen a number of groups moving to different locations, chanting, holding up signs, demanding justice, calling for justice. Not many confrontations from those groups by enlarge. Today has been far more peaceful, obviously, than anything we saw last night.
There have been some arrests. There have been some isolated incidents, but again, there is certainly a heavier police presence and a heavier presence of people within the community trying to police themselves.
I want to go to our Chris Cuomo.
Chris, explain where you are. What is going on there?
CHRIS CUOMO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: OK, Anderson, we're at the empowerment temple church here in Baltimore. This is where the Reverend Bryant who has been very unspoken about what is going in Baltimore. This is his congregation. And what is going on in Baltimore this is not just about what is going on in the streets. There are thousands gathered in here right now. They are getting up and they are giving their experiences and their grievances about what's going on and their pain in society. But they are also all come together to resolve to do better and they created a #one Baltimore. And before this meeting the reverend met with something that I haven't
seen in a very long time, they say the '60s was the last time that Baltimore saw riots like this. It is also the last time since they saw a collection of clergy like they have here tonight. Civic leaders and the clergy in hundreds getting together and listening to each other about how to get out on to the streets an diffuse the violence.
They were saying, Anderson, violence is the problem, not the solution. They want to get back to nonviolence. They had a seminar today for the young people who were angry, to learn how to but nonviolent. And they are saying that it is time for them to take their city back.
And if you listen now to this young woman, who just got up, she is a mother here in this community and she is talking about the toll that the police have taken on her and her family. There have been dozens that have gotten up. And yet, they are speaking with one voice and the messages, Anderson, it is time to speak back with oppression but to do it with nonviolence and collective strength. And that is what is going on in here with some 2,000 people who are going to the streets afterwards up until the curfew to make sure that the city doesn't meltdown again like it did last night.
COOPER: So that is an interesting point, Chris. You are saying that after this meeting is over, many of the people who are in this meeting are going to take to the streets to try to -- again, just try to maintain order and spread the message that is being discussed tonight in that church, spread that message out on to the streets?
CUOMO: Exactly. It is not a message of acceptance. It is a message of resistance. But it is about nonviolent resistance and their coming together and the prayers aren't about God. They are about collective conscience and intention and protection for one another. And the Reverend Brian is going to lead groups of men out interfaith. You have seen Muslims here. You have seen secular agnostic people as well as Christians. There are men who are teaming up to car pool to bring bloods and crips who say they want to volunteer together to help keep the community peaceful. There is a lot of good energy and intentionality, the question is what will it come to tonight, Anderson? Only time will tells, but this is a very different start than we have last night.
[20:09:45] COOPER: It certainly is. And Chris, we'll continue to check in with you over the course of these two hours. And we will obviously follow that group as they go out on to the streets.
There is a lot of questions about what is going to happen in the hours ahead.
Just ahead, the tough love lesson that one -- that one person gave on the street -- one rioter got from his very hands-on mom.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:18:22] COOPER: We are less than two hours away from a city-wide curfew. President Obama expressed his disappointment today that any legitimate grievances that people of Baltimore might have were overshadowed last night by the actions of what he called a handful of, in his words, thugs.
Now, earlier today, Baltimore mayor said she regretted using that word, thug, however, the heat of the moment last night she was hardly alone. Listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BRANDON SCOTT, BALTIMORE CITY COUNCIL: I am simply pissed off. This is the city I chose to love. This is the city that I chose to dedicate my life to. Now, we cannot stand -- thugs -- whatever you want to call them, I don't want to say thugs, we can just called them cowards ruining our city. So what I am going to say here today is if you are an adult and out there participating in this, as you are out there ruining the future for these young people. And I'm calling on every able men and women who wants to stand up, to get out there and get in between these folks, when we leave here, I'm going out there. Get out there and stand tall and stand up for your neighborhood.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: Joining me now is Baltimore city councilman Brandon Scott who made those remark last night.
Councilman, thanks very much for being with us. Your call to have people come out on the streets and we saw a lot of that last night. And it seems like today, that call is really resonating. There is even more exponentially more, how confident are you that will make a difference tonight?
SCOTT: We know, it is making a difference all day in the communities we've seen. Women, men and children are in the street to make a difference. You know, my guys were out there yesterday during the chaos. We're out there again today in east Baltimore, west Baltimore. We're always out there. And the more people see, especially men in our community. We know that violence and chaos does not happen. That is why we've been pleading for three years for more men to get involved with these young people, for men to start open our community, to people to get involved with our young people because we know the pain and suffering that we have. And a lot of what they need is capital from a caring adult.
[20:20:12] COOPER: And we were just talking to some people who are standing that line between police --
SCOTT: I was out there today in one of the groups.
MARQUEZ: We were just over at the CVS taking to some people. There was -- and we are looking at the live picture right now of people linked arms standing between the police. There was a 14-year-old girl in the line who has been brought out by her mom and her mom wants her to be part of this because it is history.
SCOTT: Right.
COOPER: Do you believe that tonight will be different than last night? SCOTT: Yes. My hope is that it will be. I believe it will be. Just
folks to know that we cannot go that way, where there are many people out there trying to tell people this is not the way to get answers, this is not the way to get justice, this is not the way to try to repair us and heal our city. All that comes from destruction and destruction is more destruction of neighborhoods and more destruction of hearts and more destruction of families where people who live in those areas and can't go to work and feed their families any more.
So we hope there is going to be very peaceful. We saw peaceful demonstrations throughout the day. There were a few folks causing mischief but we had folks, including myself, standing in between them, be in the police and saying no, we can handle that.
COOPER: How do you handle that? What do you say to somebody?
SCOTT: You say a lot of things. It depends on the person. It is going to be a progress (ph), right? Can you talk to the guys here -- the 300 man march, we talk to young guys all of the time. We don't care how someone does in the city of Baltimore. It is in the question of many men, we are going to march, and we are going and talk. And we've been doing this for three years telling them this. If there are different ways to resolve your conflict, we also tell them, do you have to go at them with love. Too many people go at these young kids and tell them, always think too much. (INAUDIBLE), let's change community (ph), change ahead of style, do this and only asking the basic questions and say, what is your name? I love you and care about you. (INAUDIBLE) and meet them with love and start there.
Yes, we have to hold them accountable. They -- we have to let them know that their actions were not approved by us as adults, but we as adults have to do more. This is also not just a failure of government, not just a failure of systems, yes, that is all true. But there is also the failure of adults. (INAUDIBLE), I was here for generations. This is something Councilman Scott was born into. Actually, I was born into a city of Baltimore that was 150 times more difficult than it is today.
COOPER: What year were you born in?
SCOTT: I was born in 1984. That's where the Europeans (INAUDIBLE).
COOPER: You're making me feel old right now.
SCOTT: Baltimore isn't perfect and we've come a long way and we have a long way to go and we have to start today.
COOPER: You know, I talked to someone who lived through the '68 riots and the whole business districts were destroyed in that and the impact of that --
SCOTT: It is still there. The neighborhood they were in, it is still --
COOPER: Exactly. To you, how big of an impact of what happened last night --? SCOTT: I don't see it. We don't know. We have to see in days and
weeks to come and we'll see that. And hopefully, we can do a better job of rebuilding and repairing than in 1968 because I was born into a city that still had buildings burnt out from 1968, you know, almost, you know, 30 years later.
COOPER: Yes. Councilman Scott, I really appreciate you coming on.
SCOTT: Thank you, Anderson.
COOPER: I wish you luck out there tonight. Thank you, Brandon.
And there is more to talk about here. I want to bring in a panel of folks that we have assembled both here on the streets in Baltimore and also elsewhere around the country. Joining us here in Baltimore is our legal analyst Sunny Hostin, is once a one-time resident of the area here and a long time friend, also, of Baltimore's mayor, we should point out. Also joining us here outside city hall is former Baltimore police officer Neil Franklin, he is also formerly with the state police and also in New York, former NYPD detective Harry Houck and CNN political commentator Van Jones.
Sunny, you know, the mayor has come under a lot of flack. She's a friend of yours. I'm wondering, what do you think of the response you have seen today on the streets?
SUNNY HOSTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: I think the response has been very positive. I've been here since this morning and I've been speaking to a lot of the residents and many people feel that the community has really come together. I've been hearing one Baltimore should have that over and over and over again, "one Baltimore. We are one Baltimore."
And so, I think there are definitely has been a tide, a change that I've seen, at least from the community. I think there are certainly people that feel so very tense about what may happen this evening. And I think you can see and to feel that in the air. But by enlarge I think we're seeing a different climate than we saw yesterday.
COOPER: And Neil, we're looking on the right-hand side of our screen, our viewers are looking at live pictures. I believe that is by the CVS and you see that line of citizens, community members who are standing between the police and the crowds that have assembled and we've seen that all day. What do you make of the police response you're seeing now compared to what it was last night?
NEIL FRANKLIN, FORMER BALTIMORE POLICE OFFICER: Well, it's very different. I mean, and obviously --
COOPER: In terms of numbers but also what?
[20:24:59] FRANKLIN: Well, in numbers and preparedness, I mean, you can just look behind you. Even though the police are here in numbers, they are ready. They are prepared. It is the citizens who want to bring back the city. And can you see that now. And I thank you for showing that. I thank you for showing what Baltimore is truly about. COOPER: Hearing from them -- we were talking to them at the top of
the broadcast. I got to say, hearing from them, it feels you with hope because that is what Baltimore is. Those people, those men standing on that line, that 14-year-old girl standing on that line, that is what Baltimore is.
FRANKLIN: That is what Baltimore is. What we saw last night, was a very, very small portion of Baltimore, and unfortunately, the under belly. These good citizens you see here, that is predominantly what Baltimore is about. It is not going to be those few who take the city down because these citizens aren't going to allow it. The police are ready, but the citizens are going to hold fast, they are going to stand fast, they are going to prevent this from happening. They are going to bring Baltimore fast.
COOPER: And Neil, as you grew up, not too far from this.
FRANKLIN: I grew up just blocks from where this is happening here in Pennsylvania North Avenue. I remember the 1968 riots.
COOPER: You were ten years old.
FRANKLIN: I was ten years old and we grew up on reservoir hill. The main drag through reservoir hill which was the business district, we had the supermarket, we have Brookfield Farms, we had beauty salons, we have barber shops, they burned to the ground. They never came back. And to this day, that community has no businesses.
COOPER: Harry, in terms of the police response, and I should point out, we are now hearing some protesters heading this way, chanting, it will be interesting to see what sort of -- what occurs once they are here, what sort of police response there is. Because the last time they came, a group of riot police did show up very quickly afterward. There are state police around. There are also National Guard around guarding the city hall. Harry, in terms of the police presence you are seeing, how confident are you about tonight?
HARRY HOUCK, FORMER NEW YORK POLICE DETECTIVE: I tell you, I'm pretty confident. Basically, I can't tell you how truly elated I am that the citizens -- the good citizens of Baltimore have came out and taken their city back. I'm really ecstatic about this. And I would like to see this probably in every other city in this country also. But as far as the police are concerned, I think they are ready. We got the National Guard there. I don't think we are going to have too many problems tonight.
COOPER: Well, let's certainly hope that is true.
Van Jones, I wonder about your thoughts on this evening based on what you saw last night, based on what you heard President Obama, you know, calling the rioters thugs today, some community leaders are taking issues with that, I'm wondering your thoughts tonight?
VAN JONES, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well first, I want to say, you are witnessing a rebellion against the rebellion, a rebellion of hope tonight, a rebellion of dignity tonight. You are seeing great parenting tonight. You are seeing a rebellion against the rebellion.
And that is such a positive sign. Sometimes out of a break-down, you can have a break-through. What is happening in Baltimore tonight is breathtaking in its beauty. Last night violence went viral. Today peace is going viral. The hash tag, One Baltimore, is going viral.
This is extraordinary. And I'm so proud that CNN is showing this to the world. This is the real Baltimore. I was just in Baltimore ten days ago. This is the real Baltimore. I do think it is unfortunate, you know, people get angry, people get indignant. The president, as a human being, the mayor, friend of mine, she is a human being. Sometimes you say stuff when you are angry and you wouldn't say when you have a moment to reflect.
I don't think saying thugs is the right thing to say. I think the right thing to do is to say we are going to hold these young people to the highest standard possible. That didn't happen last night. But as adults, we have to hold ourselves even higher standard and that is what is happening tonight on the streets of Baltimore. And thank God, thank God that you are letting the people see it, Anderson.
FRANKLIN: Can I say something very important? You went to a shot to the empowerment temple where the ministers where everyone gathered. But that was not the important part of what you saw there. It was what was said about the platform that they gave our young people.
Yesterday was an uprising of our young people who had not been heard appropriately in the city. And that platform that was given to them needs to happen over and over and over again. Our young people are catching the brunt of this, the unfortunate interaction with our police officers as they enforce these all throughout our city and some of these laws are questionable.
That is extremely important. I hope we continue with that and that our young people become part of the healing process here and continue to have a voice.
COOPER: And that we hear their voices not just in the wake of violent acts, that we hear their voices when the cameras are gone, we hear their choices when there is peace on the streets and people don't just stand forget.
HOSTIN: And I think that is right. The one thing that I have heard -- another thing that I have heard with many of the residents is why are we only talking on CNN, only talking about the rioting, only talking about the looting? Why are we not talking about the issues that may have led to that.
COOPER: Which I will say --
HOSTIN: Which I think is very frustrating I think to many.
COOPER: I will certainly say that we have been talking about really nothing but those issues for the past ten or eleven days.
HOSTIN: I certainly have. COOPER: We all have on CNN.
FRANKLIN: Many of them have been topical, but we have not yet gotten down deep into the roots of the systemic issues in our criminal justice issues that need to be dealt with, on a national level, not just here in Baltimore, not just in Ferguson, not just in New York with stop and frisk, but on a national level, in every city across this country.
(CROSSTALK)
COOPER: There is often calls for -- OK, very quickly, Van, there are often a lot of calls for a national dialogue in the wake of violence, in the wake of death, and those calls dissipate over the days, and that is a shame and that is something I think we need to correct. Final thought, Van, and we have to go.
JONES: And I wanted to point out, that the criminal justice system and policing, but it is deeper than that. Baltimore is one of the six poorest cities in the country. 36 percent of those young people out there are poor and desperately poor. There is a quiet riot going on for decades. I agree, Anderson, we need to do a much better job of talking to young people on the front-end and investing in them on the front end rather than spending billions of dollars on the back end, after things have gotten out of hand.
COOPER: Van, appreciate it. Harry Houck, as well, thank you both for being here. Neill, thank you and Sunny Hostin as well. We're going to continue this conversation all throughout the next two hours. We're going to have to take a break, and we'll come back with more from the streets here in Baltimore. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:35:50]
COOPER: Welcome back. We have just gotten word that the police are going to be giving a press conference in the 9:00 hour, and we'll obviously bring that to you live.
In addition to the violence yesterday and today, we've also seen so many people, as we've been talking about here in Baltimore, standing up for their communities, helping to clean up, helping to try to keep others calm so there isn't a repeat of last night's violence and vandalism. Last night CNN's Joe Johns spoke with a Vietnam war veteran who is stepping in to talk to the young people who are causing trouble, were taunting police, and we were so touched by his words. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Sir, who are you?
ROBERT VALENTINE, VETERAN: I'm just a soldier.
JOHNS: And you sort of took upon yourself to tell those young people to go away?
VALENTINE: Yes.
JOHNS: Are you a little bit concerned about your own safety, there are a lot of bottles and rocks and things--
VALENTINE: Look, here is no. 1. I did 30 years, okay. I came out a master sergeant. I have seen more than all this. I've been through the riots already.
This right here is not relevant. They need to have their butts at home. They need to be in their home units with their family studying and doing something with their life, not out here protesting about something that's not really about nothing. They do not respect this young man's death. Now mommy and daddy lost a child. That could be them. So I'm very pissed.
JOHNS: What is your name?
VALENTINE: Valentine.
JOHNS: And your first name.
VALENTINE: Robert.
JOHNS: Robert Valentine. And you're a Vietnam vet.
VALENTINE: Yes.
JOHNS: And you just decided to come out here and stand up against these guys?
VALENTINE: Yes.
JOHNS: You know, a lot of people would think twice, wouldn't they?
VALENTINE: I love my country, I love my Charmed City, and I'm an American. I'm not black, white, red, yellow, or nothing. I'm American.
JOHNS: Are you concerned about what is happening to the community?
VALENTINE: Yes.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: And Robert Valentine joins me now. Mr. Valentine, so many people were so moved by what you did last night. Were you concerned at all about your own safety?
VALENTINE: No. I'm concerned about the youth. What is going to happen to them? They go out here and they riot, they get locked up, they get arrested. They can't get a decent job, they can't advance in life right away. I want to prevent that. I want to make sure they are safe, they go home and do what they got to do to help themselves, and do something with their life, because they don't have no 401(k) out here in the streets. They (inaudible). They have a meaning and a direction and a purpose, and this is what I want to see. This is why I was there. I felt I had to. My buddies, the policemen, I'm proud of them. (inaudible). They are doing an excellent job.
COOPER: And you decided tonight to go back out on the street?
VALENTINE: Yes. (inaudible) Pennsylvania Avenue. I'm going right back.
COOPER: And what is your message to the young people who might want to provoke violence?
VALENTINE: Stop it. Go home. Get your books out and learn something. Do something with your life. You're not going to make it out here on the streets. Being a thug don't mean nothing. Be a man or be a woman, make something of your life. If you are going to have babies, bring them up (inaudible) your legacy, in a right or positive way. If you can't do that, have mercy.
COOPER: But it has to feel good though to see so many people from the community, today, linking arms and doing what you did last night, out there today and out there on the streets tonight?
VALENTINE: They're doing it up there right now. We did it today. Up until 10:00 today until I came down here.
COOPER: You've been doing it all day today.
VALENTINE: I'm going right back. And I'll be out there at the crack of dawn. I just want to see them not getting hurt. Don't want nobody hurt. That is my main thing. That's why I'm here.
COOPER: Do you believe this is about Freddie Gray or does it go beyond that?
VALENTINE: It goes beyond that. It does.
COOPER: There is a lot of justifiable anger in this community.
VALENTINE: Uh-huh. See, they're taking it all on Freddie. The thing is, I don't believe Freddie would have this. He was a good kid. What was he being chased for? What were they after?
[20:40:00]
I think this is what is making them mad. Personally, I think he would be ashamed. This is a dishonor to him. It makes me mad. They should respect him. If they go ahead and protest, do it peacefully, not destructive.
COOPER: And we are seeing that tonight, much more peaceful protests, and I think it's fair to say, people who are here now are protesters, it's not people who are looking to cause violence and we hope it stays that way. It is an honor to meet you, Mr. Valentine.
(CROSSTALK) COOPER: You take care of yourself tonight. Be careful out there.
We are waiting to hear from local authorities who are planning to talk to the media shortly. As the curfew here approaches, we're obviously going to bring that to you when it happens. Coming up, the slap seen around the world, we'll hear from the mom who read the riot act to her son who was rioting in the streets of Baltimore. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: Protests and marching still going on tonight in Baltimore. Here at city hall, there is a group here who has come and has been protesting, holding up signs and singing, demanding for justice. And an hour and 15 minutes to go until a city-wide curfew takes effect.
Now, officials hoping that keeping people off the streets from 10:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m. will help keep the peace tonight. We said, more than 200 people, including 34 minors, were arrested yesterday's violence, and tonight for the first time, the mother who dragged her son out of the mayhem is speaking out.
[20:45:00]
The video showing her doling out tough love and her tough love has gone viral. Her name is Toya Graham, smacking her 16-year-old son who moments earlier had been throwing rocks at police. Now, as you can see, she also gave him a good -- well, some strong verbal words. Some are calling her parent of the year. Here is what Ms. Graham told CBS News, a short time ago.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOYA GRAHAM, MOTHER: I could see the objects being thrown at the police, and I was in awe, oh, my God, this is really happening right here with me. And lo and behold, I turn around and I look in this crowd, and my son is actually coming across the street with this hoodie on and a mask. At that point, I just lost it. And he gave me eye contact, and at that point, not even thinking about cameras or anything like that -- that is my only son. And at the end of the day, I don't want him to be a Freddie Gray. But to stand up there and vandalize police officers, that is not justice. That is not what -- I'm a single mom and I have six children, and I just choose not to live like that no more. And I don't want that for him.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What were you thinking, when you saw him? Were you shocked -- were you angry?
GRAHAM: I was shocked. I was angry. I was shocked. You never want to see your child out there doing that. There are some days that I'll shield him in the house just so he won't go outside. And I know I can't do that for the rest of my life. He's 16 years old. You know, he's into the streets.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What was his reaction when he saw you, when you kind of pulled him out of the crowd -- and then -- what was that ride home like? GRAHAM: He said to me, he said, mom, he said when I'd seen you, my
instinct was to run. I'm a no tolerant mother, everybody who knows me knows I don't play that. You know what I mean, he knew. He knew. He knew he was in trouble.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COOPER: The family of Freddie Gray, obviously, they want justice. And they also want peace. Gray's mom pleaded for calm on the day her son was buried yesterday, but did not receive that wish. Joining me now, Billy Murphy, the attorney for Gray's family. Thank you for joining me. First of all, for tonight, obviously the family very much wants peace. How confident are you about what will happen tonight?
WILLIAM MURPHY, ATTORNEY: Call me stupid, but I'm very confident that the worst is over.
COOPER: What makes you so confident?
MURPHY: Well, I think it is the spirit of the city. There are so many people who don't want violence compared to the few who do. And I think the spirit has infected everybody.
COOPER: And we're seeing that with the people standing between police and we're seeing that with pastors who have come out into the streets and people like Mr. Valentine, who I was just talking to.
MURPHY: The show of unity by the pastors and the adults' interjection into the situation was just masterful. I admire them so much for doing that.
COOPER: And there is a lot of attention about what may happen on Friday, the preliminary investigation by the police, it is supposed to be, what, handed over to authorities, but it won't be made public, correct?
MURPHY: I think the public needs to know not to expect disclosure of anything on Friday. Because that is only a preliminary report by the police to the state's attorney's office. That is confidential. It is not meant to be disclosed. So I don't want anybody to be disappointed or upset because that is not disclosed. There is a good reason not to disclose it. We don't want and they don't want anybody to be tipped off by any preliminary findings so they can tell a better lie, for example, or conceal the truth or intimidate witnesses. And so it is very important that at this stage, that part of the prosecutor's investigation remain confidential. And that is usually how it is done, and for good reason.
COOPER: Do you worry there is the expectation that an indictment would be handed down on Friday by people on the streets, and that it is an unrealistic expectation and that might be a flash point?
MURPHY: I'm very worried about that. And I think as a responsible member of the community and as somebody who has a real stake in this himself, me, we have a duty to report the truth about what is going on, rather than to fuel the flames of social unrest. And so I want to emphasize that this is not going to be a public disclosure. If it is, all to the good. But if it is not, don't be disappointed, because at this stage the investigation should remain, in many ways, confidential.
COOPER: And you saw people breaking into the stores last night, on the day of Freddie Gray's funeral. For you, personally, what was that like?
MURPHY: I was disappointed. So was the family. And it seemed to be fueled mainly by children. And you know, they are reflecting profound neglect by especially the right. The right has been in power for so long.
[20:50:00]
And they just blame the parents and walk away. Well, how do you neglect children because they've gotten bad parenting or no parenting or incomplete parenting? And they don't have food to eat to go to school, they don't have proper educational exposure, they don't have good health care, and nobody really cares about them. They don't have good role models anymore. So why would you point the finger of blame at them and their immaturity instead of a system that would ignore them, neglect them, not care about them?
And so the right wing has to wake up. Children are children. They are not black children. They are just like your children. They are human children, and they need to be cared for, regardless of your political philosophy or religious beliefs, or whatever, and that is just not being done.
COOPER: Mr. Murphy, I appreciate your time tonight, thank you very much.
MURPHY: Thank you very much.
COOPER: Just ahead, much more from Baltimore, where protesters and thousands of police and National Guard troops are on the streets, the curfew now just a bit more than an hour away. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
COOPER: We are here outside of city hall, and I just want to point out, we have a group of probably about 40 or 50 or so, mainly young people who have come, protesters tonight. And tell me your name.
LEAMON HARRIS, PROTESTER: Leamon Harris.
COOPER: So this is a group of young people who have come from all over.
HARRIS: Right.
COOPER: To come. Why is it important to be out on the streets tonight?
HARRIS: Well, one of the main reasons is because our mayor, Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, has also said that -- has limited a lot of things in terms of resources to a lot of Baltimore city youth. One of the biggest issues tonight is this curfew that (inaudible) a lot of Baltimore youth.
COOPER: You don't like the idea of the curfew.
HARRIS: Well, it's not that I don't necessarily like it. I just think that, as a collective, a lot of resolutions haven't been presented to the black community on what can be done. The six officers haven't been charged yet with a crime.
COOPER: Do you have any faith that there will be charges, that whatever the investigation is that it will be justice?
[20:55:00]
HARRIS: No, I don't. I don't have a lot of faith in the American justice system. I have immersed myself heavily with protest and advocacy toward speaking against injustices that occur in black communities like mass incarceration, like police brutality. But ultimately, we don't see any issues resolved after the day is over, and these cops go home, a lot of them go home with pay, some of them go home with more than pay -- and we--
COOPER: You don't see justice happening?
HARRIS: No. Not at all. And it is reiterated through the community, reiterated though the youth that we need to see some type of justice being done here and it goes from the high ranks all the way to the low.
COOPER: We appreciate you being here tonight and I appreciate you talking. Thank you so much. Thank you.
We're going to take a short break. We'll be right back here from city hall and all throughout the city of Baltimore.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[20:59:40]
COOPER: And welcome back. It is 9:00 p.m. here in Baltimore. We're broadcasting tonight from city hall and all around the city. An hour away from a citywide curfew. Everyone is supposed to be off the streets from 10:00 p.m. tonight to 5:00 am. Police have been going out with bullhorns reminding people to go home. At this moment, protesters are still out there. There are protesters here at city hall behind us. Our reporters are out as well, men from a local mega church, where religious and civic leaders and community members gathered tonight, they are marching, carrying a message of non- violence to the community.
