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Don Lemon Tonight

NFL Commissioner Makes 180 After Years of Condemning Protesters; Thousands of Protesters Calling for Change. Aired 10-11p ET

Aired June 05, 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: She says, in America you can bring your grievance to your government and you can demand change.

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

Of course, Bowser picked that area because that is where the president had peaceful protestors shooed away for his photo-op where I believe he was holding the bible upside down.

DON LEMON, CNN HOST: I think shoo is you're being generous and much too nice a word. It was teargassing and a lot of, in many cases, brutalization by police. And who -- and the people who were out there. And we've seen the video and they've admitted today, adds you know, that it was tear gas. That is awful.

CUOMO: Well, it was always tear gas. We always knew it was tear gas.

LEMON: Yes.

CUOMO: That's all it could be was tear gas.

LEMON: Let me say this to you.

CUOMO: Yes, sir.

LEMON: And I have to run because I've got a big show and I want to talk about -- you're going to -- well, I'll say this -- Colin Kaepernick has a prediction for you tonight, OK? I just wanted to say that.

But here's the thing. I agree with everything you said with D.L. Hughley, except for one thing. When you said that -- about the -- the officers being -- the diversity of the officers didn't matter. I think it does matter. You know the research shows community policing, officers who look like you, officers who come from your community, that does work.

CUOMO: Absolutely.

LEMON: But people can be co-opted by a very powerful system.

CUOMO: Right. LEMON: And by the people around them.

CUOMO: They thought it would fix it is what I'm saying.

LEMON: Right.

CUOMO: Is that this will end the problem.

LEMON: It will help the problem.

CUOMO: Right. It didn't end the problem.

LEMON: Right.

CUOMO: There are a lot of different solutions. A lot of this is culture. There's too much us versus them. There are a lot of pieces to this, we just have to be committed to getting better.

LEMON: Yes, I agree. Have a great weekend.

CUOMO: You too.

LEMON: All right. I'll see you soon.

CUOMO: I love you, Don Lemon.

LEMON: I love you, too. Everybody should be having these conversations, tough ones where we challenge each other. I talked to you today. You're going to hear about it later.

CUOMO: Trash talked, didn't you?

LEMON: I sure did.

CUOMO: I see you.

LEMON: I sure. They ask me. I'll give you the quote. They asked me and I said, that guy is exhausting. Is exhausting.

CUOMO: I'll see you tomorrow.

LEMON: I'll see you later. Have a good night.

CUOMO: Later.

LEMON: This is CNN Tonight. I'm Don Lemon.

Here's our breaking news, OK? Thousands of protesters out on the streets of America tonight making their voices heard, demanding change. Please -- I want you to listen to this entire open tonight because it's very important. I'm going to put the entire thing into perspective for you, what is happening in this country right now.

They're demanding that this country finally confront the racism that is killing people across America. Demanding that the President of the United States hear them. A week that began with the gassing of peaceful protesters outside the White House ends with the president, you know, the tough guy, the so-called tough guy, the president having lost the support of his former military top brass and the NFL.

The NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitting the league was wrong, wrong for not listening to players peacefully protesting racism.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ROGER GOODELL, COMMISSIONER, NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE: We at the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people. We, the National Football League, admit we were wrong for not listening to NFL players earlier and encourage all to speak out and peacefully protest. We, at the National Football League, believe black lives matter.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Roger Goodell, National Football League, team owners. It is almost as if someone -- listen to this, everyone -- almost as if someone was trying to tell you but you didn't want to hear it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COLIN KAEPERNICK, FORMER QUARTERBACK, SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: There's a lot of things that need to change. One -- one specifically is police brutality. There's people being murdered unjustly and not being held accountable. Cops are getting paid leave for killing people. That's not right. That's not right by anyone's standards.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Colin, so many people see the flag as kind of a symbol of the military. How do you view it and what do you say to those people?

KAEPERNICK: You know, I have great respect for men and women that have fought for this country. I have family, I have friends that have gone and fought for this country and they fight for freedom, they fight for the people, they fight for liberty and justice for everyone.

And that's not happening. I mean, people are dying in vain because this country isn't holding their end of the bargain up as far as, you know, giving freedom and justice and liberty to everybody. It's something that's not happening.

[22:04:57]

And I've seen videos. I've seen circumstances where men and women that have been in the military have come back and been treated unjustly by the country they fought for. And have been murdered by the country they fought for. On our land. That's not right.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Colin, do you personally feel oppressed personally?

KAEPERNICK: There have been situations where I feel like I've been ill-treated, yes, but this stand wasn't for me. This stand wasn't because I feel like I'm being put down in any kind of way. This is because I'm seeing things happen to people that don't have a

voice. People that don't have a platform to talk and have their voices heard and effect change. So, I'm in a position where I can do that, and I'm going to do that for people that can't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Visibly out front. Years ago. He tried to tell you. He lost his career. So, what does that mean for the president, who tweeted today that he thinks Drew Brees should never have apologized for speaking out against peaceful protests by NFL players, who still condemning players for kneeling, who came who famously said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA: Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners when somebody disrespects our flag to say, get that son of a bitch off the field right now. Out. He's fired. He's fired.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: He also said this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: When you see these thugs being thrown into the back of a paddy wagon, you just see them thrown in, rough. I said please don't be too nice. Like when you guys put somebody in the car and you're protecting their head, you know? The way you put their hand over -- like, don't hit their head and they've just killed somebody. Don't hit their head. I said you can take the hand away, OK?

(APPLAUSE)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: And they cheered. And they cheered. And they cheered.

The president is on the wrong side of this issue. He's on the wrong side of history at a time when Americans are taking to the streets crying out for justice, when people are turning their backs on him and his positions.

What do we get from this president who is supposed to be our leader? Another unhinged performance in the Rose Garden. In the middle of an event for the president to brag about jobs numbers moments after he demanded governors, his words, dominate the streets, he says this about George Floyd who died pinned to the ground by police. One white officer with his knee on his neck.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TRUMP: Hopefully George is looking down right now and saying this is a great thing that's happening for our country. It's a great day for him. It's a great day for everybody. This is a great day for everybody. This is a great, great day in terms of equality.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: I don't know what George Floyd would say today. Nobody does. None of us do. Because the systemic racism, the virus that infects our country and threatens our body politic took his life.

This president is determined to turn the page on the economy. To gloss over the racism that runs so deep in this country. A message that jut might play to some people in his base. And if you don't believe me, here's the confederate flag greeting the president in Maine today. The confederate flag.

The country is rising up to protest racism in all of its forms and people bearing confederate flags are showing up at presidential events. But you know what they say. A picture is worth a thousand words. And this picture right here says it all. Black lives matter. Painted in giant letters on the very street leading straight to the White House.

[22:10:06]

Mayor Muriel Bowser ordered the work, which probably explains why the president never missing a chance to air his grievances calls her incompetent.

And then there's this from the man who just might be the most popular guy in the world. Seriously. Dwayne Johnson, the rock, sounding a lot more like -- a lot more presidential than the man in the White House. Making a powerful plea for leadership.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DWAYNE JOHNSON, ACTOR: Where are you? Where is our leader? Where are you? Where is our leader at this time? At this time when our country is down on its knees begging, pleading, hurt, angry, frustrated, in pain, begging and pleading with its arms out just wanting to be heard. Begging and pleading and praying for change. Where are you?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Thank you, Dwayne Johnson, the rock. Thank you for using your platform for good and not being afraid. Thank you, brother, very much. Never met you, but I appreciate it. And millions of people around the world appreciate it as well.

You know what a tough guy is? What real strength is? It is the strength of a military leader who takes a stand against injustice, even when it comes from the man in the White House. A commander once served, right?

It is -- it's the strength of players in the league who refuse to be silenced, who refused to be used for America's entertainment but not respected for their beliefs. It is the strength of a man who uses his power to stand up for others for the downtrodden, for the voiceless. Instead of promoting himself. The strength of a mayor who literally writes her message on the

streets outside of the White House and stands up for the peaceful protesters there. There are plenty of leaders out there. Are you one? Are you one right now? Are you visible out front? There are plenty of leaders out there. Sometimes you just need to know where to look for them.

Alex Marquardt in Washington for us. Big crowd heading for Lafayette Park. Alex, good evening to you. Big changes on 16th Street near the White House now. Give us the latest. Or it has a new name, doesn't it?

ALEXANDER MARQUARDT, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Don, it's just been the most remarkable day. These protestors finishing the week where they started it on Monday. Right in front of the White House. As close as they can get to the White House.

They're finishing this week how they started it, by protesting peacefully. You can see people are now, at least back here, sitting on some of the 250 donated yoga mats by a social worker's advocacy group to make their protest more comfortable.

Moments ago, these protesters sang happy birthday to Breonna Taylor who would have turned 27 today. Don, you talked about the huge block letterings down 16th Street which run straight to the White House. I want to show you this new street sign. Black lives matter plaza right at the intersection of 16th and 9th Streets. That was commissioned by the mayor this morning at 11 o'clock in the morning.

This is where that fierce crackdown happened against those protesters on Monday night who were protesting peacefully right before the president gave that speech in the Rose Garden, when he declared himself the law and order president.

These protestors have been out here all week by the hundreds, by the thousands, gathering right here at Lafayette Park by the White House, and behind that fence, Don, which has been reinforced throughout the course of the week is almost no law enforcement that we can see.

It is the least amount of law enforcement that I have seen all week. And that speaks to how peaceful these protests have been. There is no curfew in this city of Washington tonight. But now city officials are saying that they are expecting a huge demonstration tomorrow. The biggest they think that they anticipate since they began in the city of Washington. Don?

LEMON: Alex Marquardt, we'll check back with you. Thank you so much. I appreciate your reporting all week.

[22:14:59]

So, it is big news tonight that NFL commissioner Roger Goodell admitting the league was wrong for not listening to players who took a knee to protest racism. Now the question is, how will the president, who famously called those players, his words, sons of bitches, how will he react?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: A lot of breaking news tonight. One of which is NFL commissioner Roger Goodell now admitting the league was wrong and should have listened to players about systemic racism.

Let's discuss now with CNN's White House correspondent Kaitlan Collins is here and the Atlantic's Jemele Hill. So glad to have both of you on this evening. Thank you so much.

Jemele, I'm going to start with you. Roger Goodell said he is reaching out to players on his way -- his ways to move forward here. It's a huge reversal and it's long overdue. What do you make of his statement?

JEMELE HILL, STAFF WRITER, THE ATLANTIC: Well, I will have to say that I am stunned that the commissioner actually said the words that he was sorry.

[22:20:01]

However, it's still at the back of everybody's mind, no matter how many times he apologies, no matter how much money the NFL gives to various social justice causes, number one question remains, when will Colin Kaepernick be signed? Period.

And, to me, as long as that is lingering there, as long as there's no answer for that because that apology that Roger Goodell had Colin Kaepernick's name should have been mentioned and it wasn't. Because this is the root of a lot of the backlash and why people can't take the NFL seriously when it comes to social justice issues.

The person who spoke about it first, you abandoned him, you blackballed him from the league and now that it feels like the public tide is turning, suddenly you want to be about black lives matter. That is just a lot to take in. And it still looks quite hypocritical as long as Colin Kaepernick doesn't have a job.

LEMON: Jemele, you stole my question to you. I was going to -- my next question to you was, do you think the NFL, Roger Goodell, should they apologize to Colin Kaepernick and the President of the United States as well?

HILL: Well, they have no control over what the president does. I don't think they should hold out for that. By that matter, the president would owe me an apology and you too, right? We know that's not happening, OK?

So, the reality is that the NFL can control their own league. And the other component of this is that we have 32 team owners, a lot of them support Donald Trump, and I just, unfortunately, have a hard time believing that even with Roger Goodell's apology, even with the public tide turning, I just don't see them giving Colin Kaepernick another opportunity. An apology is one thing, Don, but letting him continue his livelihood is where the endgame really is.

LEMON: Yes. HILL: And as long as they deny him an opportunity, this means

nothing.

LEMON: I think most people agree with you, 100 percent. Kaitlan, you know, we know how the president views players that kneel. I played the sound bite for you of him referring to them as sons of bitches. That position hasn't changed at all, has it?

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Nope, and he made that pretty clear today after Drew Brees apologized for what he had said. The president responded saying he didn't think that Drew Brees should have apologize. He reiterated his stance and said in call caps, no kneeling, in this tweet.

So, if we wanted an answer of whether or not the recent events that have happened in the country have changed the president's mind, he's making pretty clear that they haven't.

So, the question is, you know, where does he go from here? Because remember when all of this was going on and the NFL owners were having that conversation about what to do going forward? Because I should note, 75 percent of the players in the NFL are black. Most of the owners are white. A lot of them are supporters of the president as well.

And when they were having the discussions about what to do, the president played a role in that. And so, whenever they came out and said they were going to fine the players who kneeled during the national anthem, Jerry Jones later said that the president was actually telling him, this is good for me, saying that this is a good political issue for him.

So, the question that's going forward as the president, we know, is maintaining that same position is, does this remain a good position for him? You know, does -- what happens here? Because Drew Brees is already responding to the president tonight and saying he disagrees with him. And so that's really the question going forward, is does the president continue to see it as a political winner for him, as he made clear he did so many years ago.

LEMON: What is he saying, Jemele? Drew Brees is responding tonight.

HILL: I think Drew Brees, he very much understands that what he said was wrong. People are looking for action because even after his first apology, that was -- that was the question I had.

It's fine to say these words, but considering your stance has been pretty consistent on this, it's hard to believe that you suddenly had a change overnight and that it wasn't really based off the public backlash that you received, which is very foreign to Drew Brees, considering he's one of the most beloved players in the league.

But now that he's directly addressing the president, that puts a little bit different tone with this because people wonder where he truly stood, whether or not this was just a fake apology or a real one, and now by taking on the president, Drew Brees is showing that he's kind of willing to get in there and get a little dirty with this issue, particularly since it seems as if him and Donald Trump are particularly friendly because they've been photographed together at an event, at a game.

And so, I'm just wondering what the president's response will be to this and whether or not Drew has really -- really understands that he's not fully engaged in a fight.

LEMON: Let me -- I'm just going to read a little bit of it and I have a follow-up for you. It says, and this is what he posted on his Instagram. We can put that up.

He says, through my ongoing conversations with friends, teammates and leaders in the black community, I realize it is not an issue about the American flag. It has never been. We can no longer use the flag to turn people away or distract them from the real issues that face our black communities.

We did this back in 2017 and regretfully, I brought it back with my comments this week. We must stop talking about the flag and shift our attention to real issues of systemic racial injustice, economic oppression, police brutality and judicial and prison reform.

[22:25:09]

We are at a critical juncture in our nation's history. If it is not now, then when? And then he goes on and he talks about we, as a white community need to listen and learn from the pain and suffering our black communities.

We must acknowledge their problems and identify the solutions and then put this into action. The black community cannot do it alone. This will require all of us.

Is this how people learn?

HILL: Sometimes you, as we've seen with other examples, sometimes they have to learn through backlash. I mean, I think we've all been conditioned be it through entertainment, be it through some examples that we've seen publicly, is that people think that people come to the right side of history just willingly.

That's never how it's been. It's always been by force. It's always been by pressure. And Drew Brees is an example of that. And because his reputation means something to him, I think that's why he suddenly is responding to strongly.

Now, again, as I said, Don, I initially questioned what was driving him to apologize. Was it more about wanting to save face or is he really trying to be engaged in a very real fight for inequality or for equality, rather?

And by again turning this against the president and kind of openly challenging him, that puts Drew Brees in a little bit different position, and I don't have any trouble looking at him as being a little more sincere than maybe I initially thought. LEMON: Well, I have to tell you, you know I'm from Louisiana. My mom

on Sundays, even if alone or we're just -- she dresses up full makeup and hair in a Saints Jersey with Drew Brees' name on the back and screams at the television on Sundays, Breesy, come on, Breesy, let's go.

You know what she said to me this week? When people show you who they are, believe them the first time. And she was not having any of it and she has been a Drew Brees fan since he has been with the Saints in Louisiana. And she was not having any of it, even the apology. I don't know how she feels about this particular one, but we'll see. He lost a lot of people with that comment.

Thank you both very much. I appreciate it.

Is the NFL commissioner's statement a sign things -- a sign of things to come in this country? That it is changing right now. Former NFL player and minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons, Warrick Dunn, speaks out. He is next.

[22:30:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LEMON: NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell admitting the league was wrong for not listening to players protesting racism. That comes after more and more players speaking -- are speaking out publicly about racism in this country.

Joining me now to discuss is former NFL player and minority owner of the Atlanta Falcons Warrick Dunn. So good to see your face. Thanks for coming back on the show. I appreciate you standing up and coming on. Thank you so much. So, the Commissioner Roger Goodell apologizing in that video. It's a stunning development. What do you think about what he had to say?

WARRICK DUNN, MINORITY OWNER, ATLANTA FALCONS: Well, I thought he was just taking a stance and trying to say that we were wrong early on. Because we really didn't listen to the players, didn't listen to Kaepernick, and now four years later I just think now they really understand what the kneeling was all about. And it's really about police brutality. And how police treat black people.

So, I think it's an awakening. He understands. Roger's a good guy. I know him personally. A really good friend. So, I just think it just takes time for people to really get there and understand. I think he's there now and the league is behind the players.

LEMON: All right. Well said. Before Goodell made his statements today, several of the NFL's biggest names put out this video, asking for the NFL to condemn racism and support black players. Let's play some of it for you.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's been 10 days since George Floyd was brutally murdered.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How many times do we need to ask you to listen to your players?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What will it take? For one of us to be murdered by police brutality.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What if I was George Floyd?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I was George Floyd.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Whatever I was George Floyd.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I was George Floyd.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: If I was George Floyd.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am George Floyd.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am Breonna Taylor.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am Ahmaud Arbery.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am Eric Garner.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am Tamir Rice.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am Walter Scott.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am Michael Brown.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am Samuel DuBois.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm (Inaudible).

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am Phillip White.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am Jordan Baker.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We will not be silenced.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It shouldn't take this long to admit.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So on behalf of the National Football League --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is what we, the players, would like to hear you state.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We, the National Football League, condemn racism and the systematic oppression of black people.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We, the National Football League, and have been wrong in silencing our players for peacefully protesting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We, the national football league, believe black lives matter. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Black lives matter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Black lives matter.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Black lives.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Very powerful. And, listen, do you think that this video influenced the commissioner's decision to speak out? Do you think it is going to start a change in the NFL? Because there was no NFL insignia, no logo, no nothing, it was all players.

DUNN: Well, I can tell you that the NFL is supporting the players, so you're going to see a change. I just think these guys today, they want to see change and they're just a different generation and they don't want to wait years later, they want to see change now. So I know the league is going to support the players.

And I know here in Atlanta we're doing everything that we can to help our guys and really understand the issues and how we can go and attack. Instead of being reactive, we want to be much more proactive. So I know the league is going to do their part.

LEMON: So here's -- this is what I -- what change in -- what has changed since Colin Kaepernick did what he did?

[22:35:04]

DUNN: Well, I just --

LEMON: No, no, let me finish -- let me finish my thought. I'm sorry. Pardon me for interrupting. What has changed -- I don't want to say overnight because, you know, I don't know how long it has taken Roger Goodell and others to get to this point. When you have -- when you had someone tell you why they were doing it, doing it in the most respectful way, when you in your statement say there would be no NFL without black players. That was the same when Colin Kaepernick was playing. That was the same four years ago.

When you work around in a league that is made up of mostly, 75 percent, I believe, of black players, how can you not understand the culture? How can you be so tone deaf? Why should people now all of a sudden believe that the NFL is going to change? The NFL has all those players on that video back that Roger Goodell as the leader means what he says. How could he be so tone deaf and then all of a sudden he's here now?

DUNN: Well, I just -- I think it's about education as well. So four years ago, Kaepernick, he took a knee. And he got condemned for doing it. But he had -- he was pushing the cause. And I just think over the course of the last few years they really started to understand how black and brown people were being treated.

How police brutality was really hitting the black community hard, and I just think now this is an awakening. We're going to have a shift in the sense that they're actually opening their eyes and accepting the fact that we have to support our players and their causes and their community.

LEMON: But I'm saying what took them so long? I mean, I think that's a perfectly legitimate question to ask for. What took them so, how could you not know?

DUNN: I don't know. Sometimes it's hard to say. I can't -- I can't speak for the league. You know, I just know personally what we do here in Atlanta, we look at all the issues. And Mr. Blank, you know, he's a great owner and I know he really cares about his players, so he takes -- he looks at things first handed and tries to really help and assist his players be the best that they can be in any cause that they have in the community.

LEMON: Hey.

DUNN: (Inaudible) we grew in Atlanta, but it's hard to really say why the league didn't (inaudible).

LEMON: I have to run because I'm over time. But if you can answer quickly, where is -- where is Colin Kaepernick's job?

DUNN: Where is his job?

LEMON: Where is his opportunity in the NFL?

DUNN: It's hard to say. I mean, it's been years since he's played, and usually that's a negative. When you haven't played in a few years. So it's tough to say. But hopefully he gets an opportunity to at least see if he can still make it happen on the field.

LEMON: Thank you, sir. I really appreciate you coming on. You be safe and have a good weekend. Thanks a lot.

DUNN: OK. You too. Thank you.

LEMON: Thank you. Thank you.

We first reported on this story last night, police allegedly shoving a 75-year-old man to the ground and then walking by as he bleeds from his head. It is horrific and it is just one instance of excessive force being used by police on protesters. We have got more. You want to see it. It's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[22:40:00]

LEMON: Here's what CNN is learning, that the entire active team of 57 members has resigned from the Buffalo Police Emergency Response Team in solidarity with two suspended officers. Those officers were suspended in response to this horrific video. Showing police pushing a 75-year-old man to the ground and walking past as he bleeds on the sidewalk. That's just one of the many instances of excessive force by police. Here's CNN's Brian Stelter. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: Caught on camera from coast to coast, alleged excessive force by police officers. Attacks against protesters who are demonstrating against police brutality is in some cases inspiring even more people to take to the streets.

One of the newest examples from Buffalo, New York. A 75-year-old peace activist shoved to the ground. Police walking by while he bleeds from the head. The man now hospitalized and two officers now suspended without pay. But what if a reporter had not been filming?

The police initially claimed in a statement that the man tripped and fell until more videos surfaced. From driving a police car into a crowd to firing tear gas on demonstrators marching on the freeway, it's enough to lead New York Times Columnist Jamelle Bouie to say the police are rioting.

Often the video evidence comes from protestors. This man seen at a Kansas City protest holding up his own phone, speaking his mind when the video shows police approach and fire pepper spray. The video now seen millions of times on Twitter.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Guys, come to our shot. Come to our shot.

STELTER: TV news crews across the country are capturing aggressive police responses. In Atlanta a college student tased in his car. His passenger yanked away. Two of the officers now fired. Some reporters say they have also felt the police muscle firsthand.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I'm getting shot!

STELTER: In Louisville pepper balls fired at a crew on live TV. In Washington Australian reporters say they were punched and pushed. The shocked correspondent saying the police were quite violent. The police union said the TV crew, quote, may have fallen. Press freedom groups are sounding alarms, writing letters to local authorities, counting more than 300 press freedom violations nationwide.

[22:45:01]

And activist groups are speaking out to protect peaceful marchers. The ACLU saying, now more than ever law enforcement should be respecting the first amendment rights of people who are protesting in the streets. Not attempting to silence them with punitive measures, crowd control weapons and blatant brutality.

Now, camera phones are also showing the very stressful positions that police are in. With some officers in dangerous situations, like when they're being hit by thrown objects. Also, camera phone videos are showing us how some officers try to de-escalate tensions. All of those things are true, but at the same time, these videos of police escalation are leading many to question the tactics that are being used nationwide. Don?

(END VIDEOTAPE) LEMON: Brian Stelter, thank you very much. Is excessive force being

used by police proving the protesters' point? More on this next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[22:50:00]

LEMON: And 11th night of protests all across this country including Buffalo, New York. Where, yesterday police shoved a 75 year-old man to the ground. The man's attorney saying that he is alert and oriented and that he hopes any further protests are peaceful.

Joining me now is Erie County executive Mark Poloncarz, a former Maryland State police officer as well joined us and that is Neill Franklin. Gentlemen, thank you. I appreciate both of you joining me this evening here on CNN.

Mark, I'm going to start with you, because dozens of officers have resigned from a response team in solidarity with the suspended officers. What is your reaction to them siding with the officers who did this to this man?

MARK POLONCARZ, ERIE COUNTY EXECUTIVE: First off, Don, it's my pleasure to be with you. I certainly wish it was under different circumstances. The city of Buffalo is known as the city of good neighbors. It certainly wasn't last night. It was with the thousands of protestors that were out there today peacefully protesting. But I was disappointed when I heard that the members of the emergency response team resigned from the response team. But did not resigned as officers.

But they resigned from the response team and to symbolically to stand with the two individuals who were suspended under investigation. It disappointed me because it meant that they were saying that they saw nothing wrong that occurred yesterday. I think we all know that something occurred yesterday that was wrong. All we had to do is see with our own eyes.

And as a result an individual a gentleman is still in the hospital, Mark (inaudible). But thankfully he will recover and suspected to recover. So for me, when I heard that they resigned, all 57 of them. I was disappointed, because our law enforcement is there to serve and protect us.

And while police officers have difficult jobs they have to be the guardians. Not warriors willing to go to battle with the public. And they need to understand that they work for us and we need to respect them when they do a good job and we also need to say that this is wrong if they are not truly representing the people of our community.

LEMON: Neill, let's talk about excessive police force. Is the excessive police response to non-violent protestors proving the entire point of these protestors are trying to make?

NEILL FRANKLIN, RETIRE MARYLAND STATE POLICE MAJOR: I believe it is. I believe we're getting a really good look under the mask of the law enforcement here in the United States. I think many people really did not know that this ugliness existed within American policing. And we're beginning to see if firsthand.

As far as the 57 who resigned from that unit, they really need to consider resigning from the department. I'm really serious about this. I believe it was a chief of Chattanooga that when Mr. Floyd lost his life he said his officers if you do not have a problem with what happened to Mr. Floyd, turn in your badges. I think these 57 need to do the same thing, because they are not committed to the community of Buffalo.

LEMON: Yes. Mark, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown was asked if the officers involved should be fired. Here it is.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAYOR BYRON BROWN (D-BUFFALO-NY): I'm not calling for them to be fired. I want the investigation to be conducted. I don't want to jump ahead of the investigation. It is very important that officers know that they are getting due process.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Should they be fired?

POLONCARZ: Well, as I said last night and earlier today they need to be held responsible for their actions and not just firing. So, there is an investigations that is going on at the Buffalo police department. They do deserve a due process. But there's also an investigation going on in the Erie County district attorney office. And our district attorney John Flynn is not afraid to take out police officers who step over the line and (inaudible).

I think, it's important that the public understands that yes, there needs to be due process. But what we saw yesterday was unconscionable, it was unnecessary. The use of force on a 75 year-old man who was the only one that was approaching a line of 30 officers was unjustified. And I do believe they should have been fired.

LEMON: Thank you gentlemen. I appreciate you appearing here tonight. Thank you so much. Have a great weekend.

FRANKLIN: Thank you, Don.

POLONCARZ: Thanks, Don.

LEMON: Well, today Breonna Taylor would have been 27 years-old. The young black EMT was killed two months ago when police broke down the door to her apartment in attempted drug sting and shot her eight times. Taylor's family in a wrongful death lawsuit against the officers argued that the police should have called off their search of her apartment, because the suspect they were looking for had already been arrested.

The three officers involved in her shooting are still on administrative leave. And as of now, while they have not been charged with any crimes. The FBI is now investigating the circumstances around her death.

[22:55:10]

What happened to Taylor has become part of the larger outcry against police violence. Breonna Taylor is remembered by her loved ones as full of life. And a best friend to so many. And on her birthday, we will not let her or her story be forgotten. We'll be right back.

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