Return to Transcripts main page

Don Lemon Tonight

Injustice to a Man's Death Led People to Burn Buildings; Police Scramble to Control Protesters; Protests are Spreading in Minnesota in Wake of Death of George Floyd in Police Custody. Aired 10-11p ET

Aired May 28, 2020 - 22:00   ET

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

[22:00:00]

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN HOST: And by America, he meant me, he meant you. The white majority and you can listen to those who put it on the minorities, violent, outrageous, lazy, they hate the majority, they don't comply with the police. They are the tyrants. Look what they're doing in the streets. You're judging symptoms and missing the illness and you know it.

It was Nelson Mandela who said, when a man is denied the right to live the life he believes in, he has no choice but to become an outlaw. And you know this is true. More poverty means more crimes, means more interactions with police, means less having to those dignity, to power to change for hope, for respect of the law and for optimism that drives ambition to live the American dream.

Please don't just see the death of George Floyd. See all of it. Yes, this one is on video, and yes, it's so obvious so that you can say this one I get.

It's not just this one. It's that the officers in it seem to be saying we know it's wrong and we're going to do it anyway. That's why the minority screams, not just this video. It's the prosecutions that don't happen, the cases that aren't on video that you don't see, and the prosecutions that do happen of the wrong people, the punishments that are too harsh for the crimes minorities commit.

It's the laws that make it harder to vote and easier to be out of a job. So, you can listen to those who say put it on the minority, they're the tyrants. But it's still going to be your problem. Do you know why? Only the majority can fix it. The minority doesn't have the power.

My father joined a generation leader from and for the minority calling out this tale of two cities to you, the majority. And here I am, his son, almost 40 years later, and we've yet to answer the call.

A house divided cannot stand. United we stand, divided we fall. E pluribus unum, one out of many. We are all in it together. How many times must we try to teach the same lesson?

The pandemic will pass. The case will fade into the others. But our real problems remain. They'll only go away when we finally realize that minority and majority must come together or America will never be the same.

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

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: If you read some of what people are saying and if watch some of conservative media, you would think people are mourning a Target. When you look at the pictures and what they are focusing on. OK.

So, people should not be rioting. But do you understand what is behind that rioting? People should not be looting. Do you understand what's behind that looting? Do you have as much outrage for that or for a man on the ground with a police officer with his knee on his neck for eight, nine minutes?

What are you more outraged by? What matters more, as you said, a highly insured store. No one wants to lose their business. Don't get me wrong, and don't twist what I'm saying. There's always -- there's nuance. And I know people will say, don't say I'm encouraging rioting. I'm not encouraging rioting. I am trying to explain to you what is going on there and why so many people are so outraged and upset.

So when you really think about it, why are you mourning a Target store or an auto body store or an automobile store and you're not placing that same emphasis, if not more, on the conditions that led to this happening on the injustice that that man felt on the ground?

That wasn't just police brutality. That was torture. That is torture. We saw a man in the span of two weeks or so we have seen two deaths happen right in front of our eyes, Chris.

We saw Ahmaud Arbery. We saw him gunned down on video tape by people who thought that they were the cops when they aren't, that they had the authority of police officer when they don't. No badge, just a gun, OK?

And then we saw a man in Minneapolis dying on camera because an officer put his knee on his neck and had no regard for a life.

So, this is what we're watching playing out. Which one enrages you more? Which one is more important? What are you going to focus on? The conditions that the people are living under, the conditions that got them there? Or things that don't really matter in the long run?

[22:05:08]

You can go buy -- you can reclaim and get back clothing, any material object, food, gum, whatever they sell in those stores. Those people can get it back. Sorry it happened. But you cannot get a life back.

And there have been so many people who have lost their lives, so many families who have grieved or who are grieving and who have lost a loved one can never get it back. Put your focus on the right thing and maybe you won't have to grieve the looting of a Target store.

I have to run because there's stuff happening in Minneapolis. My producers are in my ear. Thank you, Chris, I'll talk to you very soon. This is CNN Tonight. I'm Don Lemon.

Listen, we have our breaking news right now. Outraged protesters out on the streets in Minneapolis. They are there tonight. We want to get to it right away.

Miguel Marquez is live for us. He is in Saint Paul. Sara Sidner is on the scene in Minneapolis. You see I would go through my open right now but I understand there is breaking news.

We want to get to Miguel, but it appears -- can we go to Sara? Because where are we hearing this noise? Is that coming from Sara's shot or Miguel? Sara Sidner, what's going on? Where are you? What's happening?

SARA SIDNER, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. All right. So, what appeared to be happening is that they -- it appeared that protesters are trying to breech the third precinct. They have knocked down the fence that was put up overnight because of the back and forth with protesters and police.

I'm going to have my photographer Stykes (Ph) will give you a scene setter here. Up on the top of that building, that is the third precinct there. There are a couple of officers who are pointing their non-lethal weapons. And you can see some of the smoke rising up there. That is tear gas.

You're also seeing a lot of loud bangs. A lot of that is fireworks. But you are seeing rocks being thrown and that being met with tear gas, that being bet with bean bags, that being met with rubber gloves.

And every now and then you'll see people start running, just simply running as they start seeing projectiles coming from the crowd and then running back as the police return fire.

But there used to be a fence that was surrounding it. And if we can get just a tiny bit closer, that fence has been pushed down and we heard a lot of folks cheering when that fence was pushed down.

So, the tenor and tone of things that had been very calm this afternoon here in Minneapolis compared to yesterday when we were here, when the activists were here trying to make sure there was a, what they call a human shield of leaders standing between the police and the protesters. That has changed.

The situation is changed. There's a car fire to my left right outside of Target. And there is a battle going on, again, between a few police officers on the top of the third precinct and hundreds of protesters out here on the street. Don?

LEMON: All right. Sara, I want you to stand by. And please be safe. Let's get to Miguel Marquez, though. Miguel is in Saint Paul. Protesters there have been throwing rocks and bottles. Police are responding. What are you seeing, Miguel?

MIGUEL MARQUEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, I want to show you what's happening here. This is a fire they've been fighting off. It's a Napa auto parts. There are several businesses that are on fire in this location. Police have their full riot gear, have their masks on.

There's been sort of a running battle with protesters in this area. They started another fire down the block here and all these police officers now in riot gear have moved in to sort of clear the protesters back.

Most have left this area or at least the immediate area, but they are hanging out nearby. And as the sun goes down and as the tensions go up, it is -- it is increasingly worrisome what we are seeing here and just how far this is going to go.

There are round after round of either flash bang grenades, temper balls and mace and pepper spray that is pushing the crowd back but then encouraging them to gather in strength and come back even in greater numbers.

So, we've been watching this fire burn all day. I mean, we haven't seen it burning like this. It's also night, so that certainly helps. But it smoldered for many, many hours and now it's completely engulfed. It started a second fire down the way.

There are several stores and shops that have been broken into on this strip. Even my -- we're about two miles from the state capitol in Minneapolis, or in Saint Paul. It is just, it's pandemonium. It's not very clear where all this is going to go.

The police have brought in additional forces but it's not clear that they're going to have enough. The crowds here have grown throughout the afternoon. Don?

LEMON: All right. Listen, if you stand by, both of you. If you're joining us on CNN, we have the breaking news happening in the twin cities. We've got Saint Paul as well as Minneapolis where -- these are live pictures from our affiliate, and we thank our affiliate WCCO for this.

[22:10:05]

They have been bringing this for -- to us and we're happy that they are so that you can get a look at exactly what's happening. Again, these are live pictures coming from WCCO. This is Minneapolis. As you heard from Sara Sidner who is on the scene there, that they were trying to breach the police department. I think it's the third precinct where Sara is.

And Miguel Marquez has been talking about what has been happening in his area and how police have been moving them back and fires and so on and so forth.

Sara Sidner is standing by again. We'll get back to Miguel Marquez in just moments. But Sara, I want to get to you. You're standing by with our very own Josh Campbell to give us an update on what's happening. What do you know?

SIDNER: Yes. So, we've been watching, Josh and I, as more, a few more police have come to the top of the roof there. And instead of firing tear gas, they're literally lobbing it down. And so, they've created a little bit of space between protesters and themselves.

Josh, have you ever seen something like this? Some of the tactics that are being used here, non-lethal, obviously, but there are quite a few officers standing?

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Yes, it's interesting. I mean, obviously, this is a police facility that is basically targeted right now. You have people that are throwing rocks. You've seen a number of them. There are firecrackers out here, Sara, that people are throwing as well.

Every once in a while, you'll see the police actually throw some type of dispersant, whether that's tear gas. We saw earlier some flash bangs. This is non-lethal but their goal -- their goal is to try to push this crowd back. So far it seems like the police are being very reserved letting this crowd kind of, you know, get that energy out.

Obviously, people here are very unhappy. You're seeing a lot of their unhappiness play out right now with these firecrackers and flash bangs.

SIDNER: Also, to be clear, there are people using lasers to point out where the police are as it gets darker. This is a very different scene than yesterday when the police were outside the precinct. They came in a line to try to push people back. They did manage to push the protesters back.

But let me get you a look at the scene real quick because a new fire has started. This was the auto zone where the first started. We watch that happened. We are now seeing -- excuse me -- we're trying to see this.

We are now seeing the fire billowing out of now another, at least a half a dozen businesses have been on fire. But you are really seeing the scene deteriorate here from what it was like earlier today. It was much more peaceful here. There were a lot of speeches for activists who are trying to get people to channel their energy in a different way.

As the sun has gone down, the more the sun goes down, the rowdier it gets out here and the more police that you see. So, you know, there's a lot of folks here that are really acting out of pain, they're acting out of frustration. But this is one of those things where someone's life can be lost and now, we're really getting a big whiff --

CAMPBELL: Yes.

SIDNER: -- of tear gas right now.

CAMPBELL: Tear gas. Yes. Can we show also just real fast, if you could turn around, Styles (Ph). Just a look at the depth of the crowd here. I mean, there's obviously the building behind us. We're surrounded.

And as this tear gas comes in which is very pungent right now, we're feeling it, the crowd is dispersing. So, the police are trying to get this crowd back. Not everyone is being pushed back. There are still people right near the area throwing rocks and the like.

Sara, it seems that this is working with part of the crowd, obviously not all the crowd.

LEMON: Let me talk to you guys real quick before you go on, Sara and Josh -- if you guys need to get to a safer spot, please let me know and we're going to continue on with this.

So, Sara, it appears that your eyes are tearing up there. If you can talk to us -- if you guys --

(CROSSTALK)

SIDNER: I'm not crying.

LEMON: -- if you -- yes, I get it. If you guys want to move -- and it's understandable.

SIDNER: Yes.

LEMON: This is, in essence, a war zone, a war-like zone, as we look at these pictures. Can you put the pictures up in the camera for me, please?

And so, as we look at these pictures coming from WCCO in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Again, 9.13 Eastern Time, 9.13 Central in Minneapolis, again, from our affiliate WCCO. We have our Josh Campbell and our Sara Sidner on the ground.

According to them as they work to get to a place hopefully where they won't be overcome by the tear gas, there is another fire that has been started in the area. And according to Sara, they were trying to breach at least the perimeter to the police department there in Minneapolis.

I'm not sure how successful they are. But again, Josh and Sara are on the ground. And we have our Miguel Marquez who are in -- who is in Saint Paul not seeing the intensity of the pictures that we're seeing in Minneapolis.

Again, Sara and Josh are working to get to an area where it is -- there they are. I think they're fine. So, Sara, you said they were trying to breach the perimeter of the police department? What happened? Were they able to do it?

SIDNER: So, it -- no. So, what they were able to do is -- what they were doing was trying to push down the fence that was put up. That was not there until overnight. This whole perimeter where you see those sort of, barricades there and then there was a big black fence that had been put up, erected, to try to keep some space between the protesters and the precinct, the third precinct here.

[22:15:05]

That fence was pushed over. And you heard a lot of people sort of, you know, yelling and talking about how they felt about the police. And then as a reaction we saw more and more police show up on the top of this precinct here.

But what is really troublesome is that this area is really kind of a full (Ph) desert. And what you're seeing now is yet another building. And it is hot. It is really, really going now. You can see the big black smoke billowing from that.

All of these places -- and this needs to be made clear. This is a neighborhood. Grandmothers, mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts live here and they go to these stores. They go to the Target. They got the Cub grocery. They got to the Aldi grocery store, the Wendy's that is here. All of that has been destroyed. And so, a lot of this --

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Do we know what is on fire now, Sara?

SIDNER: -- situation that this was a full (Ph) desert before this. No, we don't because it's quite a bit aways from the building that's in front of it. It's mismasking (Ph). But we can go check that out for you, but the truth of the matter is, this was a full desert before this is one of the areas you can come get food and now folks living in this neighborhood are going to be dealing with this problem for a very long time.

Even as people are expressing their anger and their frustration and their pain. This is going to cause a lot of pain down the road for the folks that actually live here and have to go to these stores to try to get themselves food and for work as well. So that's being brought up a lot.

LEMON: And you are absolutely right, Sara. And we want you to stay on top of this. OK? So, stand by. We're going to get back to Sara in just a moment.

But I want to get -- this is happening again in the twin cities, Minneapolis, Saint Paul. We're going get to Saint Paul now. And my colleague Miguel Marquez who is on the scene there. Look at those pictures in Minneapolis. My goodness. Are you sure we want to go to Miguel as we look --

MARQUEZ: Yes, this is -- this is a -- you guys got me? This is a --

LEMON: Yes, go ahead.

MARQUEZ: -- auto part store, a Napa auto parts that's on fire there. It's been burning for several hours now. It's getting -- the flames are getting more intense. The fire department has been putting tons of water on it.

Just after our last live shot they cleared out a large number of the crowd here using flash bang grenades and mace or tear gas to get people to move out. The crowd just keeps coming back. It will move back for a while and then it starts coming back. They've created a bit more space. They're getting them out of this particular intersection here so they have more room to operate and more room to maneuver fire trucks in. They've been bringing fire trucks in as a liner truck on the far side there that's putting water down on this and they're trying to save other buildings that are on fire.

A short time ago, there was a second fire. It looked like a car fire just a couple of blocks from here. I'm looking down University Avenue here. You can see the state capitol all the way on the other side. So, it's an incredibly crystal clear beautiful perfect night except that there is absolute pandemonium in this city tonight.

This did not happen last night. This is new. This is the anger boiling over since the death of Mr. Floyd has now come to this part of Saint Paul. And protesters do not appear to be going away. They shrink back but already as we're standing here you can see the number of people who are starting to come back up to police to challenge them.

There are a lot of rocks being thrown. There are some fireworks, bottle rocks and the like being shot at police. Protesters are becoming more brazen. They're grabbing the tear gas canisters sometimes and throwing them back at police or sweeping them back at police. Police have their full gear on including masks to protect against that but it is going to be a long night here in Saint Paul.

LEMON: Miguel, let me ask you as we had up on our screen just moments ago the Saint Paul mayor has been asking for the -- requesting that the National Guard comes in. You have been covering the story, do you know if there's any progress made with that request?

MARQUEZ: We don't see any National Guard here. We do know that the governor had the order today, issued an order calling the National Guard in. We haven't seen any National Guard on scene here yet, but we did see a large number of police in riot gear come in to help clear at least this intersection in front of us so that firefighters and others could do their work down here and try to keep the protesters back as far as possible.

But they don't seem to be going anyway -- anywhere. They shrink back and then they come back and they've been coming back in bigger and bigger numbers. So, I don't think it's going away any time soon. Don?

LEMON: All right, Miguel Marquez for us on the ground in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Sara Sidner and our Josh Campbell on the ground for us in Minneapolis, Minnesota known as the twin cities. And there you see the twin pictures up your screen right now.

The Saint Paul mayor has requested the National Guard come in for help. And the mayor of Minneapolis has been speaking out as well talking about this horrific tragedy.

[22:19:56]

CNN's cameras are trained on these events that's happening. We have our crews on the ground. We have it all covered for you.

We are going to take a quick break. We will get back to this shortly. Don't go anywhere right on the other side. We'll be right back. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: OK. So, protesters spreading tonight in Minneapolis and other parts of the country. I want to get back now to CNN's Sara Sidner and Josh Campbell, they are live on the scene in Minneapolis, not far from this fire that you're looking at.

This fire started, I think just moments ago as Sara was reporting live. Sara and Josh both join us with the very -- with the very latest on this.

Josh, talk to me about -- because these protests have spread and they have a tendency to spread once they get started. Can you talk to me about that in your experience in law enforcement and the FBI?

CAMPBELL: Yes, Don. This is the challenge right now for the police. We were showing you images earlier outside of precinct three where you had a large crowd that was gathered.

[22:25:02]

The goal of the police at that point was to try to get them from throwing projectiles at that building. Now that the crowd has been pushed out, the crowd clearly, the crowd isn't going to stop. And so, I think we're going to see is this is going to continue -- I'm going to pull this down while I'm talking to you. This is going to continue but in a dispersed way.

We are going to see this throughout the night I would imagine in different communities. You can see fire that's raging behind us is blocks away from the police station.

So, the crowd has moved from that area now to this location. We were looking on the map. This appears to be a financial money exchange store. But if there are people out here, Don, that are going to commit this type of act they're going to be moving out throughout the community.

And that is the challenge for police right now. Is, they had them in one location, they tried to push them back, and now the people are dispersing and setting fires, that's something they are going to contend with.

And then finally I'll tell you, it's worth pointing out that one thing we just heard during the break is there was a member of the community out here who was actually yelling at people who were throwing rocks into windows saying don't do this in my community. So not everybody here behind us is a protester.

LEMON: Of course not.

MARQUEZ: Some of them are trying to keep the peace and stop people from committing this type of sabotage that we're seeing behind us.

LEMON: Of course not. I mean, if you look at the pictures and some of the responses you would think that that's the majority of the community but it is indeed not. Sara, you're trying to point out something. Sorry, go on.

SIDNER: I just want to point out something, that very thing that's happening, people telling the folks that are trying to break into this building right here with all kinds of batons, trying to knock into the building here, telling them to please stop because this is their community.

And yet, what you're seeing is, you know, folks getting real riled up. This is -- there are more people it looks like out here tonight than there were last night. And so, that is a problem for the police, and then a problem for the third precinct.

But for these folks out here, this is really something that's been in their heart for a while and they're just getting to a point where this is going up all over again tonight, Don.

LEMON: Yes. And that was my next question, Sara, as you've been covering this, have you seen an escalation in the number of protesters and the intensity of protests since you have been on the ground? And the answer appears to be yes.

SIDNER: Tonight yes, but it was calmer today. As I mentioned, several activists came out who were part of this community and really calmed down the tone and tenor of what was going on.

Let's move beyond these people who are clearly upset and want to express that so that you can sort of see what is going on behind them as well. These people are trying to figure out exactly what to do when it comes to how to handle this.

The folks that are from here are also very angry. But these fires are going to impact this community. And yes, we are seeing an intensity tonight that rivals or is more than what happened last night and even the night before that, Don.

LEMON: It's interesting because people are comparing this to Baltimore and Ferguson. The interesting thing is that Minnesota is far less black than Baltimore and Minnesota, I think it's 7 percent black.

And from what I'm gathering, the protesters I am watching -- I'm seeing at least from your angle, it is a very diverse crowd out there. These are not just African-Americans who are protesting. This is a community of people who are sick of these things happening.

SIDNER: Yes. Yes, that is a very, very good read. We were both in Baltimore. We were both in Ferguson. I was in Ferguson for three months where there were 100 days of protesting in a row.

The crowd is different in its composition here. There are lots of black folks. There are lots of folk of color. There are some people who are Native American. But you also see quite a few white folks who are out here too and have been taking part in this.

Actually, let me give you a scene, I don't know if you can see this, but there's another fire that has started it appears just over there. You see that dark black smoke on the horizon there. That is in the area near the Cub grocery store and the Target which is completely destroyed inside which has been looted, which people are still going in to get groceries out of the Cub store which obviously no one is in at this point in time as far as it being open.

And so, this has deteriorated in a way that a lot of folks who live in this neighborhood were hoping that it didn't. Understanding the pain that's here, but also understanding the pain this is going to cause in the weeks and months to come when there's nowhere to get their groceries and nowhere to go shopping.

In the meantime, those sound like flash bangs coming from the third precinct which is just two blocks up and you are seeing more people gathering there as well, Don.

LEMON: When you say coming from the Cub store, are you saying c-u-p as in Paul or you're saying c-u-b as in --

SIDNER: No. C-u-b.

LEMON: C-u-b.

SIDNER: C-u-b.

LEMON: No, this is not -- this is not the store --

(CROSSTALK)

SIDNER: Cub store, yes that can be quite confusing.

LEMON: There's a Cub store and a Cup store, right?

[22:30:00]

SIDNER: Yes, yes. There is a Cub store -- CUB -- that has groceries. It is basically a grocery store. Folks are going in, grabbing milk, grabbing everything you can imagine, but that is not the place where George Floyd had been --

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: That was my question.

SIDNER: -- by a police officer, telling him over and over and over that he couldn't breathe, yes.

LEMON: You answered my question. Thank you. That's the reason I was pointing that out. Sara Sidner is on the scene. Sara, be safe. We'll get back to you in just moments. In the meantime, we'll continue with those pictures coming from Minneapolis and also St. Paul.

I want to bring in now my CNN colleague, our senior legal analyst Laura Coates. Laura, this is what's playing out, the anger and the resentment and the frustration. Again, not condoning the actions here, can understand the frustration and the anger, but it is sad that it has evolved into what it has evolved to now.

LAURA COATES, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: It absolutely is. And for me, it's particularly close to home. My parents still live in St. Paul, Minnesota. You know, I was raised in St. Paul. I had a house in Minneapolis. I have a sister who's there. And the idea that I'm actually watching images of places that I've frequented for most of my life from a childhood up until now, to see my city, my hometown burning, it's really surreal for me.

It's also surreal, many times to see when you hear about the any number -- and we could spend the entire length of your show saying the names of so many people who have been the victims of excessive police violence and police brutality. And the idea that it hits home, it never -- you never seem to quite be prepared that it happens.

But then again, we shouldn't be that surprised that the idea, like air and pollution, inequality and bigotry, discrimination and unlawful tactics spread throughout the nation. It's no one geographic boundary.

But seeing it tonight is very poignant for me as is, I think, the reason why so many people turned out, Don, earlier today, you and I included, to watch that press conference from the U.S. attorney of Minnesota, from the Hennepin County district attorney, who will be the main prosecutor if a crime is actually charged in this case, to the FBI and the Bureau of Criminal Apprehension, asking people to be witnesses and come forward and testify in some form or fashion.

You are seeing that everyone was waiting on bated breath. Will there be charges? Will this be -- will the firing of those four officers be a first step in the path towards justice for Mr. George Floyd and his family?

And you see that even in a case unlike garnering a lot of attention from Eric Garner and resonating from people thinking about the "I can't breathe," remember that officer, Officer Pantaleo, he was put on desk duty. He wasn't fired for years later. A grand jury never indict him.

And you're seeing what happens now, right now when the cup runneth over for many people and the exhaustion, just as many weeks about this sort of cases similar and some not as completely similar.

And You're seeing what happens even when you had instantly within hours fired an officer that there is a recollection and a memory of so many people across this country and in places like Minnesota and my hometown from Philando Castile to Jamar Clark to Mr. Blevins and the list goes on of seeing and knowing that if the firing is the only step, people are not satisfied that justice is served, no matter how long the arc of justice is supposed to bend.

And it's just so disheartening to see this at play because you will have people now who are looking at what's happening and their attention is immediately diverted from the fact that there was a man, a human being, who had his neck knelt upon by an officer while he pled while there were -- for his life while onlookers looked at it and begged for his life while other officers stood by apparently and did nothing and were complicit in some form.

And now the attention will entirely shift towards the reactive and reaction of people in the form of this way. And that is one of the most frustrating and disheartening and counterproductive aspects of protests that turn into rioting or looting in another form or fashion --

LEMON: Right.

COATES: -- because it really does take the focus away from what should be on Mr. George Floyd and what was done to him by police officers.

LEMON: And you are right on with that. Laura, we're going to keep you throughout the broadcast, however long we have to be on the air this evening. And we're going to talk about the legal angles on this and what was announced at that press conference today. So, Laura, I want you to stick by and we will discuss that in moments here on CNN.

But with the protests spreading over the death of George Floyd, my next guest says racism in this country is a public health crisis. She's the vice president of the Minneapolis City Council. She is here next, but I want you to look at these live pictures on our air right now, on your screen.

[22:35:03]

LEMON: These are live pictures from Denver, Colorado. Our affiliate KMGH, thank you for that. They are broadcasting these pictures because police have lined up there. It looks like they are trying to stop rioting or protests in that city.

I would imagine that it is -- nightfall is beginning to happen there and they're trying to offset what is happening in Minneapolis and St. Paul, keep that from happening in the city of Denver, Colorado. We will keep an eye on these pictures, this city, as well as others around the country as we take a short break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We are monitoring pictures from all over cities from all over the country. But this one you're looking at is Minneapolis, Minnesota. And you can see that there are protesters on the ground there. Cities around the country are really on edge tonight, people on edge, all outraged by the death of George Floyd, pinned to the ground by a white police officer with his knee on Floyd's neck. What we're seeing there is an expression of the pain people across the country are feeling.

[22:40:03]

LEMON: But my next guest says we cannot solve the root of this problem until we call it what it is. So, let's discuss now with Andrea Jenkins. She is the vice president of the Minneapolis City Council. Thank you very much Councilwoman Jenkins, president of city's council. We appreciate you joining us here on CNN. When you saw the video --

ANDREA JENKINS, VICE PRESIDENT, MINNEAPOLIS CITY COUNCIL: Hello, Don.

LEMON: When you saw the video --

JENKINS: Hi. Just to be clear, I'm the vice president. LEMON: The vice, OK.

JENKINS: Yes. Thank you for inviting me.

LEMON: Thank you. We appreciate having you on. When you saw this video, the sheer inhumanity of that policeman kneeling on George Floyd's neck and him pleading for his life, pleading for his mother, what was your reaction in that moment?

JENKINS: All right. So, I saw the video about 1:00 a.m. on Tuesday morning, and I couldn't -- I couldn't go back to sleep. It was "here we go again" moment. It was clearly another -- yet another -- hashtag moment.

And as you know, Don, you know, I am an African-American transgender woman. So, you know, not only do I see these images on social media of black and brown men and women being killed by state violence, but also have to see trans identified, mostly black women, who have been brutalized and murdered by the state, or if not by the state, it has been deemed sanctioned by the state.

So, you know, the trauma that is in our communities is devastating and it's brought on by this, you know, this really horrible disease that is racism.

LEMON: I'm glad you said that because I want you to talk about this. I've been talking a lot on my show --

JENKINS: Yeah.

LEMON: -- about these two viruses that America is dealing with right now, the coronavirus and racism. I say corona -- COVID-19 racism '20 because this is how it's playing out in 2020. Earlier today, you actually called racism a public health crisis. Explain that for us.

JENKINS: So, it absolutely is a public health crisis. When you think about the COVID-19 and the coronavirus, who are the people that are dying that are most likely to die from this disease? And it's black and brown people. It's elderly people. But even in -- even within that population of elderly people, it's still mostly black and brown people.

And so it's a public health crisis because we are relegated to these jobs that put us in harm's way. We are relegated to substandard housing and overcrowded communities. Our communities are over-policed. We don't have full access to health care. You named these things on your show all the time, Don. And it creates to having higher levels of high blood pressure --

LEMON: Mm-hmm.

JENKINS: -- higher levels of diabetes, higher levels of the misuse of drugs and alcohol in our communities. And all of that is a response to the stress that has -- that is perpetrated by racism.

LEMON: Mm-hmm. JENKINS: So, if that's not a public health crisis, then I don't know what is. So, I'm working with my colleagues to bring together a resolution declaring racism as a public health issue so we can then begin to create policies --

LEMON: And create change.

JENKINS: -- and programs --

LEMON: Yeah.

JENKINS: -- that can help to effectuate change.

LEMON: Andrea Jenkins, vice president of the Minneapolis City Council. We appreciate you joining us. Thank you and stay on top of this. Keep strong. Thanks.

JENKINS: Thank you so much, Don.

LEMON: Thank you. Absolutely. Listen, this is what is playing out now. We want to get back to these live pictures. I want to show you what's happening on the ground. This is what's happening in Minneapolis, Minnesota. There are fires that are burning. There are people who are protesting, tear gas that is streaming through the air.

There's outrage. There is sadness. There is anger. There's a whole caldron of emotion and images and feelings happening as we speak. And we are watching it as many of us are still in quarantine at our homes, watching all of this play out.

[22:45:02]

LEMON: To Denver, Colorado now, and you are seeing those pictures of what looks to be a peaceful protest at this moment, just a peaceful gathering as we speak. And we hope it stays that way. But we did see police in tactical gear earlier moving into the streets, not exactly sure why. But we will figure that out as we move along here live.

So, this is all unfolding. You are here watching it with me. I will take you all the way through it as long as it takes. And so we're going to take a quick break here on CNN, but we will be back momentarily. Don't go anywhere.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We're back now with our breaking news tonight. Protests are spreading over the death of George Floyd at the hands of police officers. The mayor of Minneapolis is declaring a local emergency due to the disturbances.

[22:50:00]

LEMON: As we look at these pictures now, these protests are starting to happen, not similar to the ones in St. Paul and Minneapolis. People are starting to gather in other cities now. This is Denver, Colorado that you're looking at where the number of people who have gathered just within the last couple minutes seems to have grown a lot.

We're keeping an eye on Denver, Phoenix, Columbus, Minneapolis, and St. Paul. Here we go, Phoenix, Arizona. No justice, no peace. You can hear protestors chanting there on the streets of Phoenix, Arizona. "Your anger is a gift," one of the signs reading.

I want to bring in now CNN political commentator Bakari Sellers, the author of a new memoir. It is called "My Vanishing Country," which I'm in the middle of reading right now. It is fascinating. And it couldn't be more timely, Bakari. So, thank you for writing the book. I'm enjoying reading it.

But I know, my friend, that this is a hard day for you. You are angry, you are fed, you are sad that another black man has had his life taken from him. Tell us what you are going through and how that translates to the rest of the country.

BAKARI SELLERS, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: So, I'm channelling my (INAUDIBLE), I guess. You know, I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired. I think that -- first of all, thank you for giving me this platform. I mean, we are able to -- two black men in the front of the world had a discussion about the issue of race in the United States of America. So, thank you for that.

But I think that for many people, we have to define what racism is. I said that before and I will say it again. Stokely Carmichael define racism as this. He said, if you want to lynch me, that's your problem. But if you have the power to lynch me, then that's my problem. And what we are seeing is that they are lynching us in the streets. Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, now George Floyd.

I mean, just think about all of the lynchings that we're seeing with our own eyes. And, you know, I have to say this, Don. I don't get caught up when people call me "nigger." I don't. We get called that on social media every single day. But I am worried about the systems of oppression that people of color live in in this country. I am worried about the systemic racism that we face on a daily basis.

You know, I got emotional this morning because for me, I look at it in a few ways. I mean, I look at it as a black man in America. But now, I have to look at it as a father, a father to three beautiful children and one son. What do I tell them? You now, George complied. He did everything they told him to do and they still killed him dead like a dog with a knee to the neck.

And so, I wrote about this extensively in my book, just talking about the trauma. You know, I asked a question and then I say, you know, when are they going to stop killing us? And so when we see these riots around this country, I just say, like King said, it's the language, it's the voice of the unheard.

I want this country to change. I believe in what Abraham Lincoln called the better angels of our nature. You and I having this conversation are trying to push this to become a more perfect union.

LEMON: I don't really need to add anything, Bakari. I don't even need to ask a question. Very eloquently put. Well said. And I thank you. I appreciate you joining us.

SELLERS: (INAUDIBLE), Don. I mean, I love you and I appreciate you. I think that there are a lot of black men in this country who are feeling as if they are the target, are feeling as if they don't get the benefit of their humanity, and we have to lift them up. We have to lift up all of God's children.

LEMON: Right.

SELLERS: And, you know, it's just the tough time. So, I just want to let you know in front of the world that we love you, we appreciate you, and I feel like it is necessary to reach out to our brother and let them know that today.

LEMON: I love you, too, and Ellen, and your kids.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: Everybody, stop asking me. I'm talking about everyone. Stop asking me. Bakari Sellers is married happily with two -- three beautiful children. So, thank you, Bakari. I appreciate it. I love you, man.

Listen, we are going to continue this important conversation. I'm hosting a CNN special. "I Can't Breathe: Black Men living and Dying in America." It is Sunday night, Sunday, 8:00 Eastern. Make sure you tune in. Please.

We'll go to the scene of those live protests over the death of George Floyd in police custody. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[22:55:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Protests are spreading tonight in Minneapolis and other parts of the country. I want to go back to CNN's Sara Sidner, Josh Campbell. They join us live from Minneapolis. You have been on the scene of these protests, watching them escalate this evening. What are you guys seeing?

SIDNER: Just giving you a look behind me and Josh, you know, a little brushfire here right in front of the Cub, where there's still quite a bit of folks going in to the Cub, pulling things out, breaking down the doors. There's a charter school behind us. That has been destroyed. There's a Dollar Tree that has been completely looted and destroyed.

The Target is also destroyed inside. It's a smoky shell of itself. And then behind that, you'll see more fires sort of burning. It really does look like an apocalypse situation here. It has calmed down some. Josh, you and I were here and watching as this escalated and escalated and escalated. How difficult is this to police at this point? We are really aren't seeing -- this is sort of -- I have been to a lot of protests around the country and the world, and I have never seen fewer police out at a protest that has gone this way.

[23:00:04]

JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Exactly. I mean, I think there are two key things to realize here at this scene.