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Don Lemon Tonight

Protesters Defy Curfews; Bad Actors Mixed In With The Crowd; Joe Biden Says He Can Unite The Country; Protesters Are In Stand-Off With Police In Defiance Of Curfew; Outrage After Peaceful Protesters Were Cleared With Smoke Canisters And Pepper Balls, So The President Trump Could Have A Photo-Op At St. John's Church; Family Of George Floyd Speaks Out. Aired 11p-12a ET

Aired June 02, 2020 - 23:00   ET

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

[23:00:00]

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: But as you have seen crowds are still out in the streets. There have been arrest. There have been conflicts with police officers, and it is all playing out live now. And we are following every single bit of it.

Straight now to New York City, Brooklyn tonight as a matter of fact. To be specific. And Jason Carroll who is standing on the Brooklyn side of the Manhattan Bridge. Jason, there are protestors on the bridge making their way towards you. What are you seeing? What do you know?

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Slowly and that the last word that we've got, Don, that those protestors demonstrators still on the bridge still slowly making their way to the Brooklyn side. To get off the bridge. The question is what's going to happen when those demonstrators meet up with officers who were waiting for them.

As you can see there are a number of officers who are out here. We also saw a bus where they normally take, you know, those who they've arrested. They've been inside that bus. We've seen that big -- we've seen that bus. We've seen the officers out here with those zip ties.

So. they're ready. They're ready to make arrests. The question is how are they going to handle the situation when you have scores of people there on the bridge and you've got officers here who are waiting.

Now here's what happened earlier today. There were thousands of people who were out here in Brooklyn peacefully demonstrating and marching throughout the streets. And then at one point, a splinter group sort of broke off and then headed out here on the Manhattan Bridge.

Apparently, they tried to make their way into Manhattan. There is a line of police officers blocked there blocked their entry in Manhattan. And so then, now they are turning around and slowly making their way back to the Brooklyn side and we're here waiting to see what's going to happen. Don?

LEMON: Is that -- is it me or is there some of the folks -- no, that's one or two people behind Jason there.

CARROLL: Yes.

LEMON: Yes, as you said slowly, Jason. All right, Jason, we will get back with you as soon as that -- as soon as we hear from you that the protestors have made their way to that side.

We're going to continue on now. Another part of New York City where Shimon Prokupecz is, we are in Manhattan. He was in Chelsea when last we saw him. Shimon, where are you now? What are you seeing? I see some busted out glass at a pizza shop, it looks like.

SHIMON PROKUPECZ, CNN CRIME AND JUSTICE REPORTER: Yes. Yes. So, Don, remember when I was on with you before where all the -- with all that activity with the police. This was the location that the bad actors. Right? The looters where they came. They busted through the store the glass.

There was actually a security guard inside. And they when they saw him, they ran out. About 10 -- 10 of the looters ran out. But if you look over here, I saw them running out with bottles of wine. This is the Eataly, this is the pizza shop at Eataly. And they -- you -- I saw them. They were just running out with bottles of wine; they broke through this glass.

I don't know how. I'm wondering if they used this chair to do it. I'm not clear. You know, they've been using metal objects or rocks in some cases to break through the glass. And I just want to point out. This is the group that then joined in to with that the other group of protestors who were peacefully protesting and then they mixed in. And then you saw what you saw with the police confrontation.

But, yes. I mean, not as much looting tonight I have to say, Don, from everything I can tell and from what I'm hearing from police officials. Certainly, it seems that the NYPD while it's not a 100 percent and it never will be in these situations. They seem to have a better handle on a lot of it.

The looters are out. I've seen them. I saw this. I've seen in other locations and there were other locations that were looted. But it seems that the police certainly are taking a different approach tonight. And the tactics are different and better. And so hopefully that will help here tonight, Don.

LEMON: So, how did, where you were, how did that end? Did it just sort of dissipate and everyone sort of went into their, went their perspective ways?

PROKUPECZ: Yes. Yes. So. the police come in, they run in. Everyone runs. And a few people stay behind and they agitate the police and they arrest them. There were at least two or three -- two or three arrests there. They were holding the four individuals on the -- with their hands on the car. I don't know what happened. We left. Because we heard that there was some other activity at another location.

But the time we got there it was over. So we came back here because we wanted to show you what really started all this. That group is still out there. The group that did this. They are still running around. So, we'll see. So, yes, so police --

LEMON: Yes.

PROKUPECZ: -- arrested the people at that location that we were just at. It looks like they also used pepper spray because we can kind of sense it in our eyes. And you can kind of smell it. But then one of the males that they arrested he was asking for milk for his eyes which supposedly helps relieve some of the pain --

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Which is an indication, yes.

PROKUPECZ: He was in pain. He was feeling pain.

LEMON: Yes. And Shimon, listen, you were right on --

(CROSSTALK)

PROKUPECZ: So, these are police --

LEMON: -- last night. As I left I, you know, was more observant of what was happening -- what was happening on the streets of New York and all of the -- and I went past Macy's. And you know, Macy's, a giant department store in Harold Square all boarded up.

[23:05:03]

And you know, there were looters in there last night and you took us through all of that. Some of those businesses, some of them boarded up just in case during COVID. But most of the businesses now having to board up because of the looting.

So, Shimon, I want -- yes, I want you to standby. Shimon, if you're getting more information come back to us. We'll get you back on the air.

PROKUPECZ: Yes.

LEMON: I want to get back to CNN's Jason Carroll who is standing by for us in Brooklyn on the other side of the Manhattan Bridge. Jason, it seems they made it to you. What's up?

CARROLL: They have. They have, Don. They've made it to us. You can see some of the demonstrators now just starting to exit the bridge. Police are letting them walk through. Letting them walk to the other side to the Manhattan side so far. We haven't seen them did making any arrests or taking folks into custody. Allowing those who were on the bridge to make their way off the bridge.

So far, this falls in line with a lot of the tactics that we've seen. Not just tonight but last night as well. With the police really taking a step back. Allowing some of these demonstrators to have their voice in this situation.

As I said earlier, these were part of a group of demonstrators more than a thousand of them, Don, who were marching throughout the city -- throughout Brooklyn a little earlier this evening. They splintered off from the main group. They made their way onto the bridge. And had tried to make their way to Manhattan and were stopped by police.

So, they had to turn around. And for a while there was a question about what would happen to them. Because you have them blocked on both sides by police. Police showed up here ready to interact with them.

But as you can see right now, they are allowing this large group to protesters to make their way back to the Brooklyn side as they march on this side with their hands up in the air. And police are standing by again.

The tactic is to take a backseat approach at least at this point and allow them to continue marching. Don?

LEMON: And Jason, listen, forgive me if it's, sometimes it's kind of hard to hear with this little ear piece. But is this the same group that you were with earlier when, I think you said it was dispersed because someone threw a projectile at police officers or is this a different group?

CARROLL: Well, let's -- just to be clear. They were part of the large group of peaceful demonstrators from earlier this evening. That group basically dissipated, you know, more than an hour ago which only left less than 100 people who were left behind. And of that group I would say there were still about 50 folks who were still in the area where we were.

Now, of that group there were some in there that police say threw projectiles at them, and then another police officer saying that someone had tried to break into the Modell's store out here in Brooklyn. And that's when they moved in on one or two individuals. From my vantage point I saw two.

LEMON: Got it.

CARROLL: So, you know, it's hard to gauge exactly, you know, were they part of the larger group, did they infiltrate the group later. All I can tell you is the larger group demonstrated peacefully and basically left. And then we were left with some others who were out here.

LEMON: Well, it's interesting too, Jason, because you told us that police officers are waiting for this group that you're watching now on both sides of that bridge. But as they are coming off it's peaceful. They are saying peaceful protests.

And as far as I can tell you are there, this is not appeared to be anyone who is trying to cause trouble or any bad actors except for the fact that they are breaking, you know, a curfew rule. But besides that, it looks pretty peaceful.

CARROLL: That's correct. And basically, Don, that's what the majority of the demonstrators that we've come in contact with have been telling us, not just tonight but last night as well. That they want to come out here, they want to have their message heard. In fact, some of the speakers who came out and said we don't want, you

know, we don't want to hear about looting, we don't want to hear about people coming out here trying to vandalize. The only people we want to hear about here are people like George Floyd.

And so, again, a lot of folks were concerned that their message about police brutality was getting lost because of seeing all the images of the looting and of vandalism. And so, that's why I think it's important for a lot of those who were out here to be seen in this way, doing this, demonstrating peacefully, marching along peacefully.

And also, I have to say, you know, a lot of these demonstrators, you know, even though they have conflict with the police. You know, I heard one or two of them say, hey, you know, we're glad you're doing it and letting us do it this way. And what they mean by that the police tactics that we have seen out here, not just tonight but last night.

Again, allowing people to break curfew and continuing to march. Last night until one a.m., Don. Tonight, obviously much longer past the eight o'clock curfew. But police again taking a backseat allowing these demonstrators to march.

[23:10:06]

LEMON: It shows you, Jason, that this is something that is not just really touched people of color. Black people. The diversity in this crowd and the group of protestors that we have seen not only here tonight but in Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and all across the country. There is something to be said about that.

CARROLL: You're absolutely right, Don. I mean, this is not -- when you look at the crowds of folks who are out here demonstrating it's not black, it's not white, it's not Asian, it's not Latino, it's not gay or straight. It's a number of people. It's people of all walks of life who are out here.

And you know what else is interesting, is, as we were walking through here, and walking with some of these demonstrators, you would see bus drivers pull up. You would see cab drivers pull up, you would see people lean outside of their windows and clap in support or honk their horns in support.

Those people who were doing it. Those were white faces. Those were black faces. They were faces of people of Middle Eastern descent. So, this is a multi-cultural march. Even though you hear a lot of folks chanting black lives matters. It's people of all walks all the denomination who were out here at least at this protest. The one that we saw tonight and again, the one that we saw last night.

LEMON: And they weren't disturbed -- they are discouraged by what they heard by the president yesterday or even the dispute between the mayor and governor of New York City. And -- and, Jason, they wanted to make sure that people --

(OFF-MIC) LEMON: -- distinguish themselves --

(CROSSTALK)

CARROLL: What was that? One more time.

LEMON: I said they weren't discouraged by the words and the actions coming from the White House and the president yesterday? Or from the disagreement between the mayor and the governor of New York. And also, they want to make sure they distinguish themselves from looters and rioters. They are peaceful protesters. They're doing this for the right reasons.

CARROLL: You know we did hear that, Don. We did hear from a number of people who are in the crowd who were talking about Donald Trump talking about what happened in Washington, D.C. But again, they want to keep the focus on this march. There's so many things, you know, out there. There are so many different marches out there.

But a number of the folks and speakers that were here were saying we want to keep it focused on what we can do, what we can say. And I think that's what -- I think that's what a lot of folks here at least were telling us.

But, look, what happened in Washington, those rant -- that is something that could be seen and heard from so many people all across the country. You know, a lot of the demonstrators said they want to make sure that what happened in D.C. didn't happen here which is why, I think it goes back to what I was saying a little earlier about the police officers, and about the interaction that they have with them.

A much different experience in terms of what happened in Washington, D.C. yesterday as compared to what we saw out here last night and what we're seeing out here again tonight.

Thank you, sir.

LEMON: All right. Jason Carroll -- all right, Jason being directed. Jason, we're going to get back to you. We thank you for you reporting. We're going to continue on with Jason and other reporters who were in New York City and really all over the country.

We're going to Kyung Lah who is in Los Angeles in a bit. We got Shimon Prokupecz who is in Manhattan. Jason in Brooklyn. We'll also going to get to a number of different places. Some of our reporters and correspondent and who is in Washington, D.C. tonight as well, and get some analysis from all of this.

But we're going to take a quick break and we're going to soldier on the other side. We'll see you right after this break.

[23:15:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: We have been following the protest and the protesters out on the streets all across the country tonight as cities from coast to coast are under curfew.

Now I want to get to CNN White House Correspondent, John Harwood, and national political reporter for the New York Times Astead Herndon. Gentlemen, good evening. Thank you for waiting and for being patient during the breaking news.

John, President Trump has called in the military against civilians on U.S. soil. Is suppressing peaceful protests, using religion as a prop, so why is he claiming victory today?

JOHN HARWOOD, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, he is claiming victory because he is psychologically compelled in all cases to claim victory. His ego requires it of him. But he did through the application of force against those protesters in front of the White House get the video that he wanted. The White House has put it out. It shows him out of the bunker. Out of the White House walking across the street holding a bible, looking tough in front of the church.

We all hope that police get a better handle on looting and lawlessness that we've seen in New York and Washington and other cities. But on the underlying issue of racial injustice that has sparked this, there is no reason to think that either President Trump or his party actually even want to solve that problem.

Racial conflict has been shot through Donald Trump's career as a real estate guy and as a politician. And let me give you three numbers about the Republican Party.

The Pew Research Center did a major poll of racial latitudes last year within the two parties. Among white Republicans, 59 percent said that slavery had little or nothing to do with the current situation of blacks in the United States.

Seventy-seven percent said that the biggest problem with racism is people claiming it where it doesn't exist. And 84 percent said the nation has done enough or gone too far to provide equal rights to blacks. That is not a party with an appetite for action on this issue.

LEMON: That's how we got here. I mean, that's why you're seeing the pictures we're seeing on our screens right now because of -- because of that attitude. I think that's just -- that is indicative of the problem.

[23:19:55]

Listen, this is what the president has tweeted. He said, D.C. had no problems last night. Many arrests, great job by all overwhelming force, domination. Likewise, Minneapolis was great. Thank you, President Trump.

Now here's the thing. The protestors who are out there are not, you know, many of them were in D.C. yesterday. They're not watching TV. They're paying attention to their cohorts, right? And sharing information.

I think the credit for at least the peaceful part of the protests and the president wants to take credit for the peaceful part of protests and he also has to take credit for the looting as well. Right?

But I think the credit for this should go to the family. Should go to Terrence Floyd who implored upon the protestors yesterday to -- in his brother's name to keep it peaceful. The 14 members who were marching the family who were marching in Houston. Same thing.

I think the protestors listened to those people the family more than they would listen to the President of the United States especially with that stunt he pulled yesterday.

HARWOOD: Right. We've seen that on our screens all day long, as Alex Marquardt was reporting when some of the demonstrators in Washington started shaking that fence. That barrier that had been constructed across Lafayette Park. Others shattered them down.

We saw the video a few moments ago. It was either from Shimon or from Jason, I'm not sure which -- that showed when people started getting more aggressive and I think throwing something at officers. You had someone turn around face the marchers and calm them down.

This is an effort by people who are protesting to maintain the integrity of the what they're doing. Yes, there are elements that are looting and then are exploiting the chaos and trying to make it something it's not. But the people who are responsible for these protests are trying to preserve the peacefulness of them.

LEMON: All right. John, standby. Astead, Standby. I promise I'll get back to you. I just need to get to Kyung Lah in Los Angeles for the breaking news we have. Kyung, take us there.

KYUNG LAH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: What you're looking at is the remnants -- you could -- it's very difficult to tell exactly how many people are still here. But it's, you know, a sight, a much smaller group than what the day started out with.

We're talking about thousands of people. It is now two hours after curfew. And we have a fraction of them left. You can hear the sirens as the police are clearly about to start making arrests because they are in violation of curfew.

Now this group had been protesting for some time outside L.A. Mayor Garcetti's office -- home, personal home here in Hancock Park. And the mayor even in his press conference acknowledged that he understood that they were out there and that he was certainly listening to them. That he was hearing them.

But, you know, the police are going to enforce this curfew action. So, you can look at the hands up. There are peace signs. This group knows what they are doing. We were following them around. Some of the leaders were saying we don't want you to be in an unsafe situation. We need to be organized. We need to make our point. And you know, they want to make this point. That they are here as part of civil disobedience.

I need to point out that this has been a very peaceful group. I haven't seen any destruction. I haven't seen any graffiti. And even though they are -- even though they are -- OK, so the police are asking us to back up behind the police line now. So, walk with me, Don. Walk with me, Don.

Sorry?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're blinding us.

LAH: Can you turn your light off?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You're blinding us.

LAH: OK. Sorry, we're dealing with some of the other news agencies here. I think we're actually -- hold on one second.

LEMON: It's OK. Kyung Lah out there in Los Angeles getting instructions from the police department. She's trying to clarify. But these protestors are on the streets and they are in defiance of the curfew.

LAH: OK. It wasn't us using the light.

LEMON: And what they're trying to figure out is whether what they're going to do with these protestors who were out. She said they are in Hancock Park and they had been demonstrating in front of the mayor's home, Mayor Garcetti's home. But Kyung --

(CROSSTALK)

LAH: OK, Don, I don't know if you can hear me.

LEMON: Yes, I can hear you, Kyung. I told the audience you're getting instructions from police officers. What's happening?

LAH: So, what we're hearing now from the police is basically they are just trying to move us to a safe area as they are going to begin moving in. What -- you know, there's a little bit of a misunderstanding about where they wanted us -- where they wanted us to stand. But it's us and another news agency. And they've moved us behind the police line.

LEMON: Yes.

LAH: Now, I've seen this scenario play out over and over again since Friday in, you know, in different levels of compliance or aggression from the crowds.

[23:25:01]

This is a very -- you know, even though they are resisting and not in compliance with the curfew, you can see they are sitting. They have their hands up. And they are here to make a point.

The police are also in a position where they don't want to be too aggressive especially if you look at the news events in the last 48 hours. About what local police agencies have encountered. Whether it be the press or some of these protestors. There was an interesting moment earlier outside the mayor's office.

One of the commanders of the police the LAPD, he actually negotiated with one of the protestors. One of the leaders of the protest movement here. And he said that he would walk with them.

So, they walked for one block. And then that commander got on his knee. It was quite a picture. It was a moment. And some of the people who were in the crowd they were really moved. They saw it as an olive branch.

But then there was a section of the protestors who -- and you know, the more left -- you know, the more the group that wants to fully defund police departments across the country. They found it completely unacceptable.

They thought that it was a picture op for the media. And they actually resented that moment. I don't know if any of them are part of this group. I was actually talking to some of the people in this group, there's teachers, public school teachers. There are a couple of nurses who were still wearing their scrubs and their PPE.

So, this is a variety of people. When you start to think about who is this. Who are these people who would go ahead and stand on their knees, looking at the police officers? Sure. They are holding long guns with rubber bullets. Who are these people? You know, a public school teacher. Nurses.

You know, I didn't talk to everybody here, but, you know, a lot of people here that I have spoken to are very passionate. And they want to change the system. And they want to help in some way. And civil disobedience. Defying a curfew here in Los Angeles is the way that the people I spoke with here tonight say that they feel is fit to do it.

LEMON: All right.

LAH: And one other thing, Don. If you hear I'm kind of out of breath it's because I've been walking since 11 p.m. Pacific Time.

(CROSSTALK)

LEMON: Yes. We've got to -- we've got to move on. But go on, quickly. Give me your --

LAH: OK.

LEMON: -- what you have to say.

LAH: Just real quickly. They've been walking for hours. Hours. So, I just want to point that out.

LEMON: OK.

LAH: It's been a very long day for them. And they are still out here.

LEMON: I just want to get reaction from the folks we have standing by watching. Kyung, we're going to keep an eye on the shot. keep an eye. And if you get something let us know. Flag our producers. We'll get you right back on the air. Kyung Lah reporting from Los Angeles.

It's going to be interesting to see how police in Los Angeles handle these protests during defiance of the curfew. But so far, they have not at least here where we're looking have not arrested anyone.

I want to get back now to John Harwood and Astead Herndon. Before we left you, Astead, as we watched these pictures, you know, I was talking to John about the reaction in Washington and how the president is dealing with this.

While the president is focusing on domination and overwhelming force, this is what the former vice president did today. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE BIDEN (D), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: I can't breathe. I can't breathe. George Floyd's last words but they didn't die with him. They are still being heard all across this nation. They speak to a nation where too often just the color of your skin puts your life at risk.

I won't traffic in fear and division. I won't fan the flames of hate. I'll seek to heal the racial wounds that have long plagued our country. Not used them for political gain. I'll do my job and I will take responsibility. I won't blame others.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Astead, the difference between these two men, these two candidates. The difference has never been more clear.

ASTEAD HERNDON, CNN POLITICAL ANALYST: Yes, and that's what Vice President Biden is trying to do. I mean, I think that speech tried to do a couple things. It shows that leadership quality that he wants to project to voters. That he won't shirk from a crisis, that he will rise to it and will do so in a way that's empathetic.

I think that's the second point to hit that's important. Is that Joe Biden sees himself as a unifier, as a healer in chief as some of his supporters would say. And he digs into that kind of emotional point to read people. He wants to seem as someone who is listening to activists and protestors.

[23:30:02]

But I think it's also important what he did not say there. I mean, while he embraced some systemic reforms, this is Joe Biden moving away from the kind of just removing "Trump is enough" message. He said that systemic racism has to be rooted out. He's not putting himself in his own track record into that.

This is someone who, of course, has had a role in shaping the criminal justice system in this country, who himself came up in Wilmington at the time of the '68 riots in the city. We haven't seen him necessarily talk about bad aspects of his record in life, but he is leaning in to the message to make the contrast with the president.

LEMON: All right. Astead, thank you. John Harwood, thank you very much. Again, we're going to continue to keep our eye on what's happening in Los Angeles and New York City, as well. Protesters in both cities are in defiance of curfew. Washington, D.C., I believe, as well. We've got our eyes on all of it.

But I want to talk about faith now and faith leaders. In our nation's capital, outrage after peaceful protesters were cleared with smoke canisters and pepper balls, so the president could have a photo-op at St. John's Church.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE GILBERT, JR., DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL JUSTICE DEPARTMENT, PROGRESSIVE NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION: Mr. President, I know you stood right here, and held a bible in your hand.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE (voice-over): Yes, upside down.

GILBERT: But it is clear, you don't have the bible in your heart.

GINI GERBASI, RECTOR, SAINT JOHN'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF GEORGETOWN: For him to turn that book into a prop, for him to turn that holy ground into a battleground, for him to turn that holy ground into a photo-op is a sacrilege.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Joining me now is Reverent Lionel Edmonds, pastor of the Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church and vice president of the Missionary Baptist Ministers Conference. Reverend, we're so happy to have you. Thank you for joining us here. You organized a meeting of black clergy at St. John's today. You said the kind of Christianity the president embraces is not authentic. Why?

LIONEL EDMONDS, PASTOR, MT. LEBANON BAPTIST CHURCH: Well, good evening, brother Don. It's not authentic because the president attempted to loot the meaning and the message of the Christian church. All looting does not happen at night.

And the president strolled across Pennsylvania Avenue and tried to pilfer the gospel, making it become something that is not. It is not backing his agenda. It is against his agenda. We ought to clothe the naked, feed the poor, matters like these.

LEMON: Mm-hmm. A couple of reasons that we are hearing that the president wanted to do, wanted that photo-op, he was concerned about the image that was spreading that he was in a bunker on Friday night when protesters were out in front of the White House and people were making fun of him, calling him "bunker Donald" or "bunker trump" or what have you.

But the reason I want to speak to you about this is because sources are telling CNN that the president is worried about his support with religious conservatives. What do you say to his using faith as a campaign weapon? EDMONDS: Well, I'm a conservative myself. I'm trying to conserve black

bodies. I'm trying to conserve young people's lives. The type of conservatism that President Trump embraces screens from those who enslaved our people, who held slaves and still went to church on Sunday. And as we say in our tradition, everybody who is talking about heaven is not going there.

(LAUGHTER)

LEMON: Reverend, I think it is a good place to leave it. We appreciate your insight and we appreciate your patience with the breaking news and hanging with us. Thank you for appearing on CNN. We hope to have you back to discuss matters when they're in a better place in this country. Thank you, sir. Be safe.

And with protesters out in the streets in cities across the country under curfew tonight, well, one of the owners of the store George Floyd was in before police took him into custody is speaking out, and that's next. We will tell you about that.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[23:35:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: Well, as you have been watching all day and all evening here on CNN, protests continue across this country. That as the mother of George Floyd's daughter speaking out about the loss her family is feeling right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROXIE WASHINGTON, MOTHER OF GEORGE FLOYD'S DAUGHTER: I want everybody to know that this is what those officers took from -- then the other day, they get to go home and be with their family. She does not have a father. I'm here for my baby. And I'm here for George because I want justice for him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Heartbreaking moment there. Let's discuss now with Mahmoud Abumayyaleh, the co-owner of the Cup Foods store where protesters say George Floyd allegedly tried to use a counterfeit bill.

[23:40:03]

LEMON: Let's go by Mike. We will call him Mike. And then Jamar Nelson, who does media relations for Cup Foods. So, Mike, let's start with you. You met George Floyd's attorney, Benjamin Crump, today. Tell us how that meeting went.

MAHMOUD ABUMAYYALEH, CO-OWNER, CUP FOODS: It went well. It was good to have a private briefing with him. We look forward to meeting with his family that is coming from Houston tomorrow. LEMON: So, we know -- Mike, we know what happened with George Floyd, had nothing to do with your family whatsoever. All anyone did was call 911 because of the counterfeit $20 bill. But given everything that has happened since then, do you ever wonder what if that call never was made?

ABUMAYYALEH: I know if I was here or another one of our owners were here that the call would have never taken place, and most likely George Floyd would be alive right now.

LEMON: Yeah.

ABUMAYYALEH: Being here, we have never called the police on a fake -- a counterfeit bill. And unfortunately, the staff that was working took it upon himself to call the authorities. And because he called the authorities, that shouldn't have equated to a death sentence for George Floyd.

LEMON: That's on the police officers. But, you know, I understand you said you're never going to call police again, which is interesting. Jamar, Cup Foods is now --

ABUMAYYALEH: If I can correct --

LEMON: I'm sorry? Say it again, Mike.

ABUMAYYALEH: On behalf of Cup Foods staff, we're not going to call the police unless it's a violent -- an act of violence going on. We feel like we can police our own matters. And unless there's a violent crime taking place, we think it's for the best interest of our staff and patrons that the police should not be called.

LEMON: All right. I should point out you are also -- we heard that boxer Floyd Mayweather is going to donate to the funeral. But you, guys, did as well.

ABUMAYYALEH: We did. We contacted Crump directly and confirmed that the person we're giving the funeral proceeding donation to was in fact a direct relative of George Floyd.

LEMON: OK. Jamar, listen, Cup Foods is now a massive memorial for George Floyd. What's that like for you emotionally to see the outpouring of emotion happening right in front of you every day?

JAMAR NELSON, MEDIA RELATIONS, CUP FOODS: It's a great thing. The daily memorials attribute to who you are as a person. And it's also to hopefully the awakening in America -- contact with officers that often lead to death or some type of maiming or violence with officers -- that we have to address that. It can't be swept under the rug any longer. And we do ourselves a big dis-injustice if we don't talk about it.

Look, if we continue to ignore this problem, this will have plenty many George Floyds. There's someone tonight being antagonized perhaps brutalized by an officer that probably tomorrow morning we won't know about because it is not on videotape. We cannot allow that here in America. We have to value the lives of black and brown men.

Don, I have respect for my man, Ice Cube. I want to address a tweet that he did earlier. Yes, we have proof that the counterfeit -- that he came in with counterfeit bill, it was taken by the police --

ABUMAYYALEH: On video.

NELSON: -- on his own video. So, if my man, Cube, I don't want anyone thinking that this was something that we made up. Listen, we take calling the police extremely serious. That is why we don't (INAUDIBLE). I'm a minority. He's a minority. That's why we believe in policing ourselves. So, if Mahmoud or one of the other owners had been in the store, I strongly, we strongly believe that George Floyd would have been alive. So, let's just make sure that that's known, Don.

ABUMAYYALEH: Yeah.

LEMON: Listen. I understand what you're saying. No one is saying that either of you is responsible for the death of George Floyd. I understand your regret in not being there and saying that you'll never call police again because -- listen, if someone comes and takes $20, $20 is $20, it is not worth losing a life. I understand the position that you men are in. Thank you for joining us here on CNN. I appreciate both of you. Thanks so much.

NELSON: Thank you.

LEMON: So you see what's happening in Los Angeles. They are under curfew. As we understand, there might be some arrests there. We'll take you there right after the break. We will get back to Kyung Lah in Los Angeles.

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[23:45:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A shocking video of George Floyd's death is what caused all of this that we're seeing here. You see it in Los Angeles. Police are starting to detain some of the protesters and move them off the street. They are in defiance of a curfew.

But so far, it looks peaceful. We have only seen a few people being detained by police officers. The majority of the protesters are still there, still kneeling or sitting, and saying "hands up, don't shoot" or peaceful protest or either saying George Floyd's name.

Many black men are seeing themselves in George Floyd as this has all transpired like actor and activist Terry Crews, who shared this powerful message.

[23:50:00]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TERRY CREWS, ACTOR AND ACTIVIST: George Floyd looks like me. George Floyd could be me. I could easily, easily, be that man on the ground with the police officer's knee on my neck. That could easily be me.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Terry joins me now. Terry, thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I want to talk about that emotional video, but while I have you here -- and this is playing out in Los Angeles. You're very familiar with Los Angeles. As a matter of fact, I met you and your wife there. So what do you think --

CREWS: Right.

LEMON: -- when you see these protesters here? They're peaceful. They're in defiance of curfew, but some of them are being arrested. What do you think?

CREWS: You know, one thing I am -- first of all, I'm exhausted, I'm tired, I'm disappointed, and I'm angry. And the reason I'm angry is because of the fact that the three men who aided and abetted in the murder of George Floyd are not in jail. Yet protesters are in jail.

My thing is if you want a society, if you really want a true society with law and order, the law and order has to obey the law and order. And I'm just saying, you're not going to -- you can't have it one way where everyone has to follow the rules but you don't. And it's happened time and time again.

This is something we've all seen. I mean, listen, I also could be Ahmaud Arbery jogging through someone else's neighborhood and vigilantes decide they're going to kill me that day.

LEMON: You say that it could have been you and that you've had police officers pull guns on you. What do you want people to understand about the black experience, especially as a man, as far as being treated by police in this country?

CREWS: I felt like this. I felt this fear since I was nine years old because you're treated like a grown man. I watch -- a lot of my friends growing up in Flint, Michigan who were 13, 14, 15 -- getting sentences as if they were grown adults, going to adult prisons. It's insane, man, and it really, really -- I don't know what to say. I'm exhausted.

I'm exhausted because what else can you do? How much more can you do to show that this is a problem? And the fact that all these police officers and all of America needs to rethink what's happening right now. This is an opportunity, but it's also just a light.

The fact that this man, it took 11 minutes for this man to pass away before our eyes, George Floyd. We cannot let his death just be meaningless. It has to matter.

LEMON: Terry, listen, I want to thank you for waiting. We've had breaking news. And I just want to be real with our audience, Terry waited around for a long time because he's so passionate about this.

And Terry, you have a promise from me and my producers telling me now, we want you to come back and have a longer conversation with us because we have to get to more breaking news, what's happening in Los Angeles. I appreciate your passion.

CREWS: Got you.

LEMON: I thank you for standing up and using your platform for good and this call to arms. Thank you. We'll have you back on the show, and we will discuss. Terry Crews. Everyone, go to his Instagram page and look at the powerful message that he put there. Thank you, Terry Crews.

We're going to continue to watch these pictures that are coming out of Los Angeles. Protesters are being arrested because they're in defiance of a curfew in Los Angeles. We'll take you there. We're going to go to a break, right? Is that correct? Or are we continuing on here? We're going to break. We'll be right back.

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[23:55:00]

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LEMON: Acts of kindness. Dozens of protesters spent the night in the home of Washington, D.C. resident Rahul Dubey last night after he took them -- after they took them to -- he took them in to shield them from being arrested after curfew.

Dubey says about 70 protesters made it into his home as police filled the streets outside. So many tense hours. The protesters safely left his house this morning, applauding the man who took them in. And he joins me now. Thank you, sir. I appreciate it.

And listen, the breaking news, our time is short, I hope you understand, but we wanted to have you on because you did something really good in the middle of all of this and we needed that.

So, describe what happened. You see these protesters. They were yelling. It was getting heated. You waved them in. What happened?

RAHUL DUBEY, SHELTERED PROTESTERS: Yeah, I was outside of my stoop. There was peaceful demonstration going on. I am very proud of all of my community coming together, a diverse group, right in front. The police had blocked them in. It was very heavy. It was very tense. The atmosphere was very tense. And just -- it felt explosive.

But the protesters were there. They were locked in. And before I know it, I heard a bang around 9:20. Pepper spray was going off. People were waving wands and I heard shields cracking --

LEMON: Why did you open your house to complete strangers?

DUBEY: You know, they're not strangers, they're my community members. They're my brothers and sisters. They were getting brutalized out there on the street in front of me and my neighbors and everyone else. And they had nowhere to go. They were pinned in. And it wasn't -- it's not something I thought of. I appreciate the question very much.