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The Lead with Jake Tapper
WGRZ: 57 Members of Buffalo Emergency Response Team Resign; Florida Cases Rise As Universal Orlando Opens. Aired 4:30-5p ET
Aired June 05, 2020 - 16:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST: Chief Ramsey, I want to get your reaction to this video that captured a tearful police officer telling a crowd in Ocean City, New Jersey, an African-American officer, that the problem in his view is lack of awareness of what black Americans have been going through for centuries.
[16:30:01]
Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TYRONE ROLLS, OCEAN CITY, NJ POLICE: I get it, because I'm not recognized when I'm out of uniform. I understand. I get it from both sides, I understand both sides.
But the problem is, it's lack of education. The education system is failing us. We don't teach the real American history or where it comes from. We don't teach about the ancestry of black people, the black leaders, what they went through to get here.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: Officer Tyrone Rolls in New Jersey.
Do you agree that some of the problems we have here that we're seeing protests about have to do with the lack of education about the way that black Americans have been treated in this country for literally hundreds of years?
CHARLES RAMSEY, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, I mean, that's part of it. The history of policing the United States is one that everyone should be exposed to, that young women today weren't around in the '50s and '60s, where I certainly was around and I can remember those times. They can't.
They need to understand the history of policing in the United States, and the fact that when you look at policing through today's lens, police didn't always stand on the right side of justice. And that sort of legacy lingers. People still remember it.
And any trust you build is going to be very, very fragile. And you have to understand and recognize it. You know, one of the things I've often thought -- I mean, we all look at the world through a different lens, our own lens, depending on our background.
But police need to learn to -- policing through the eyes of those being policed. If they can do that, then they understand better where people are coming from. Why is their anger, why is there bitterness, why is their hostility. If we could come together and have those conversations, it would make a world of difference.
TAPPER: Professor Hunt, when you hear people like the national security adviser a few days ago telling me this is just a matter of a few bad apple cops, what's your response?
DARNELL HUNT, DEAN OF SOCIAL SCIENCES, UCLA: That's not acceptable. Again, it's not about individuals. It's about structures. It's about the culture of policing.
We have a fundamental problem there, when you can treat people as the enemy, almost as if you're occupying a foreign territory. That's just not acceptable in a democracy.
The police work for us. They're supposed to serve us. And a few bad apples doesn't explain why you can have the types of, you know, brutality repeated over and over again throughout history and the officers, nine times out of ten or more, get off.
TAPPER: Darnell Hunt and Chief Charles Ramsey, thanks to both of you. Really appreciate your time and expertise today.
As popular attractions begin to reopen, the warning that health experts say is not resonating as coronavirus cases in some states are starting to tick higher.
Stay with us.
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[16:37:23]
TAPPER: In our health lead today, the coronavirus pandemic continues to rage on. The death toll in the United States has risen to more than 108,000, the total number of cases nearing 2 million has states continue reopening.
And as CNN's Erica Hill reports for us now, Florida, which just began phase II of its reopening process, including the opening today of Universal Orlando, Florida is seeing an uptick in cases for the first time in weeks, despite the president earlier today praising Florida's reopening measures.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
PROTESTERS: No justice, no peace!
ERICA HILL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Peaceful protests across the country have health experts worried.
DR. ROBERT REDFIELD, DIRECTOR, CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION: There is a potential, unfortunately, for this to be a seeding event.
HILL: New York streets filled with demonstrators just days before the city's planned reopening.
MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO (D), NEW YORK CITY, NY: I understand still this painful, real moment of history. But I want to keep reminding people, it is dangerous to be close together. If you have been at protests, I strongly urge you to get tested.
HILL: Minnesota's governor encouraging the same, as officials sound the alarm again about the need to wear masks.
REDFIELD: We're very concerned that our public health message isn't resonating.
HILL: The World Health Organization expanding its guidance on Friday, recommending fabric face coverings in areas where the virus is still spreading and medical masks for those over 60 or with underlying conditions.
Sobering numbers about the nation's nursing homes, 26 states say 50 percent or more of their COVID-19 related deaths were long term care facilities, according to a new report. Minnesota and Rhode Island posting the highest numbers, 81 percent, followed by Connecticut and New Hampshire.
Meantime, the number of new cases in the past week is up in 21 states. Testing is also on the rise. Florida saw its biggest one-day jump in weeks, adding more than 1,400 new cases on Thursday.
Much of the state is now in phase II of reopening. Universal Orlando welcoming guests Friday morning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I felt very safe in bringing my family here.
HILL: The NBA looking to bring its players to Orlando using Disney World has home base, aiming to restart the season on July 31st. Twenty-two teams added safety measures and regular testing part of the plan.
ADAM SILVER, NBA COMMISSIONER: The belief is we would not have to shut down if a single player tested positive.
HILL: Major League Baseball, however, still on hold after the player's association rejected the league's call for further pay cuts.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HILL: And in Alabama, an interesting development today. "Sports Illustrated" and AL.com reporting that several members of the football team at the University of Alabama have tested positive.
[16:40:05]
NCAA allowed athletes to return to campus this week, of course. In fact, AL.com reporting that one of those players who tested positive had participated in a group workout but was asymptomatic at the time. In response to CNN's inquiry, the university pointed us to a statement from Thursday which said the health and safety of our student athletes is a top priority. Due to privacy laws, of course, they cannot share information on the specific health of their student athletes, Jake.
TAPPER: All right. Erica Hill, thank you so much.
This pandemic is far from over.
Let's bring in CNN's chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
And, Sanjay, Florida saw its biggest one-day increase in cases in weeks, as that state continues with phase two of reopening. Universal Studios is opening today.
If cases are going back up, I understand testing is increasing so that's also going to be a part of it --
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Uh-huh.
TAPPER: But cases are going up. Is it wise for large crowds to be gathering in amusement parks? Is it wise for Florida to be proceeding with phase two?
GUPTA: The virus -- excuse me, the virus is still out there. I mean, you know, I think people sort of fundamentally know that. I think there are inherent risks with doing activities like this where they're going to be, you know, larger gatherings of people, there are shared public spaces, people are coming from all over perhaps the country and then going back to their communities.
Those are the concerns. Those concerns are the same here. I think people will do the best they can to try to lower the risk, but the risks are there.
There's -- you have to think about this in three phases. Before you go, you have to make sure, if you're vulnerable in any way, if you have symptoms, you don't go. While you're there, you have to do your best to reduce the likelihood of catching the virus, watching public spaces, shared handrails, things like that, wearing a mask, keeping physically distanced.
And then afterward, Jake, people who have concerns may want to sort of quarantine themselves for a while and stay away from vulnerable people. That is sort of the best approach. I mean, even the amusement parks themselves say there is risk here, so you do this at your own risk.
TAPPER: The World Health Organization issued new guidance urging governments to encourage the general public to wear masks.
Take a listen to the president's message to governors this morning.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Open it up, and you do social distancing and you wear masks if you want. And you do things. You can do a lot of things.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: That's President Trump saying you can wear masks if you want. But the World Health Organization is saying people should be wearing masks.
GUPTA: Yeah, I mean, the World Health Organization is very clear on this, as are most public health organizations. And admittedly, you know, there has been some back and forth on masks. I think the thing that changed everything, Jake, is when it was clear there was asymptomatic spread, you can spread the virus without knowing you had it. Everyone has to behave like they have the virus, wearing a mask goes a long way toward protecting others around you, so you're not putting the virus into the environment.
How significant? Wearing a mask -- without a mask, you could be spreading. 18 percent of people will spread the virus. With a mask, that's closer to 3 percent. That's early evidence but significant impact of wearing a mask.
TAPPER: All right. Sanjay Gupta, thank you so much.
And be sure to listen to Sanjay's daily podcast, "Coronavirus: Fact Versus Fiction," wherever you access your podcasts.
Coming up, it's not just big cities where protests are happening.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NONSO MAXEWELL OBIEYISI, PROTEST ORGANIZER: Actually, I'm very emotional about this, because you can see everyone standing together in Montana, in Missoula.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
TAPPER: We're checking out small cities and small towns where concerned Americans are making their voices heard. That's next.
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[16:47:51]
TAPPER: Images of massive protests over George Floyd's murder, images of protests in major cities coast to coast, they have filled your screen for more than a week now.
But those protests are also happening in smaller cities and towns across the country, as CNN's Tom Foreman shows us now.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TOM FOREMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): They are raising a ruckus on the quiet streets of Biloxi, Mississippi, a couple dozen protesters with handmade signs crying out for change.
GWENDOLYN BRADLEY, PROTESTER: I have lived with racism our whole lives coming from a very small town. And it's just -- it's got to stop.
FOREMAN: They are battling for rights in Boise, Idaho. They are taking a stand in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: I can't breathe!
FOREMAN: Indeed, beyond the roar of the big city protests, which have drawn enough people to be towns of their own, the map is steadily filling in with smaller communities making themselves heard coast to coast, come what may.
In Huntsville, Alabama, tear gas flew after police say some people refuse to leave when their protest was done. To be sure, they did not leave their passions.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't want grandchildren brought into this. If that means I never have a grandkid, I'm OK with that.
FOREMAN: The sentiment was the same across the state in Auburn and in Tuscaloosa.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTERS: Black lives matter!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I hope that it sends a message that police need to stop racism.
PASTOR HOLLIS THOMAS, PROTESTER: You cannot leave here today and be quiet about what has happened to black and brown people across this country.
(APPLAUSE)
FOREMAN: In Brockton, Massachusetts, where more than 40 percent of the population is black, the call went up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All lives can't matter until black lives matter. You understand that?
FOREMAN: But it happened in Missoula, Montana, too, which is more than 90 percent white.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Actually, I'm very emotional about this, because you can see everyone's standing together in Montana, in Missoula.
FOREMAN: And on it goes, from Georgia, to Maine, to Nebraska, to Texas, to Michigan. Sure, they know the big cities will get most of the attention, but smaller towns on this issue at this moment are having their say.
[16:50:11]
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Seeing the injustice happen over and over again, I have been watching it since I was a kid. At some point, it just kind of gets hard. And it's time to finally speak up and do something.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FOREMAN: Many of these protests are occurring in highly conservative communities, where polls show many people doubt the whole idea that police abuse minorities. But, clearly, more believe it now -- Jake.
TAPPER: Tom Foreman, thanks.
Coming up next: what the barrage of news about racism and violence and the graphic videos might be doing to your psyche as this unrest continues nationwide.
Stay with us.
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[16:55:23]
TAPPER: These past few weeks, we have seen image after image of heartbreaking and painful moments in the United States, from the video of peaceful protesters having tear gas sprayed at them in front of the White House, to George Floyd's family visiting his memorial site.
To talk about all this and more, I want to bring in psychologist Alfiee Breland-Noble, who founded the AAKOMA Project, which focuses on reducing mental health disparities and improving treatment engagement for African-American and youth of color.
Dr. Alfiee, thanks. Thanks for joining me.
I want to read you an excerpt from an article in "The Atlanta Journal- Constitution."
It says -- quote -- "Most black Americans will not be killed by police or white vigilantes, but they carry the scars of racism that infiltrates everyday life, like pinpricks, much of IT subtle, some of it mundane, all of its significant. It is that cumulative experience stretched over generations" -- unquote.
So, this HAS got to be an even more emotionally exhausting and psychologically traumatizing time, I would think, for people of color to experience in the last couple of weeks.
ALFIEE BRELAND-NOBLE, FOUNDER, AAKOMA PROJECT: Absolutely. Absolutely.
So, what you're speaking to and what you read through the article, it was an amazing quote, and it's very spot on. And we talk about that describe that as vicarious trauma.
And so I was able to write earlier this week in Medium very -- a very similar comment. And, basically, what I spoke to was the intergenerational trauma. So, this is not just about our dear brother whom we lost, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and people like them. It is about the many, many years over which African-Americans have
been subjected to these kinds of ills. And so they absolutely take a toll, whether you have experienced them personally, whether you have watched someone experience them, or whether you hear the stories from your loved ones about -- I'm a child of the civil rights generation.
So I heard these stories from my parents. And so all of that contributes to an exponentially greater experience of trauma for African-Americans and black people and people of color.
TAPPER: Between the video of George Floyd's murder, and images of violence in protests, sometimes by anarchists, sometimes by looters, sometimes by police, there's a lot of pain for every American to see.
How do those watching all of this or participating in the protests peacefully cope?
BRELAND-NOBLE: So, I think it's a wonderful question, because I'm not sure that people always recognize that we have to utilize what we call in my field active coping, right?
So we have to make an effort to take care of ourselves. We have to make an effort to limit or curate the amount of news that we watch. We have to make an effort to take a break and create some space after we have come from protesting.
We have to be mindful of the headspace we're in before we go out to protest. So it really does cause a lot of pain. And what I'm always urging people to do is to just be mindful of the weight of all of this, and to really work on actively coping to protect your mental health and to protect your psyche.
TAPPER: Well, give us some tips. Obviously, turn off the TV, put down your cell phone, put down the smartphone.
BRELAND-NOBLE: Yes.
TAPPER: And do what? Relax.
BRELAND-NOBLE: So -- absolutely.
TAPPER: Have a drink with a friend. Tell us.
BRELAND-NOBLE: All those things.
And the other thing I think we have to do, we have to start from acknowledging that this is a space and a period of time that's painful, right? Because, sometimes, we just keep going and we keep moving.
So, if we can stop, number one, acknowledge that this is an unprecedented time for us as black people, for other people of color, for people of all races and backgrounds, that's number one.
Two is, once you identify find that this is an unprecedented time and that you're feeling upset or uncomfortable, you have to really name the issues that you're dealing with. So, it's important for us to raise awareness about, what does depression look like? What does anxiety look like? What are the after-effects or impacts of trauma? And then how do we begin to deal with those?
So it's acknowledging we're in an unprecedented time. It's naming specifically what we're dealing with. It's naming our feelings, right? For parents, we have to help young people name what they're experiencing. Are they happy, sad, angry, frustrated?
And then, once you do all of those things, I think it turns to exactly what you said. It's this active way of caring for ourselves. So, you have to speak with someone. You have to maybe go speak with a professional.
But it's all about that, taking care of yourself actively.
TAPPER: And there should be no stigma about needing to talk to a professional. It is as normal as seeing a doctor because you banged up your knee.
Dr. Alfiee Breland-Noble, thank you so much for your time. Hope you have a peaceful weekend.
BRELAND-NOBLE: My pleasure. Thank you. You, too.
TAPPER: Be sure to tune into CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" this Sunday morning.
My guests will be General Colin Powell, as well as current HUD Secretary Ben Carson, and head of the Congressional Black Caucus, Congresswoman Karen Bass.
It's at 9:00 a.m. and noon Eastern on Sunday, only on CNN.
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