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Iran election protests, Holocaust Museum Survivors, Hate Crimes

Aired June 18, 2009 - 13:56   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: And we are pushing forward. Mourning, marching, making their voices heard. New video from Iran, and new protests over last Friday's election where the government declared Mahmoud Ahmadinejad the winner. Supporters flood the streets oof Iran to mourn people killed in the post-vote violence and to hear from Mousavi, who reportedly spoke to them today. One unverified Twitter message today quotes him as lamenting his nation's tanking economy, saying it has sparked ignorance, thieving, corruption.

He plans to lead prayers at the university where security forces reportedly came down hard on the protesters earlier in the week. On Saturday, the Guardian Council, which oversees the election, plans to meet with them over the claim the election was rigged.

CNN is one of the few news operations bringing you details straight out of Iran. Authorities there have limited our movements, however. CNN reporter Reza Sayah can only file one report each day. That's not stopping us from taping all our sources all day long, including official tv stations broadcasting from Tehran. Press TV, IRINN, IRIBB, RIIB3.

You can see, this is one of the biggest stories happening in this country. A lot of people saying that more people had turned out for what you are seeing in the streets than in 1979, when the revolution took place.

As you can see right now, nobody covering what is happening in that country. So we are monitoring, however, every station out of Iran, in addition to doing our one report each day and also talking to those inside Iran that are able to call us and give us first-hand accounts from the rallies and anything else that's taking place on the streets.

Also, Arizona, California, Texas, Pennsylvania, these are just a few of the rallies that we have seen across the U.S. this week, as protest over the election, continue to ripple around the world and straight into America.

And the huge Iranian-American population in Southern California, well, it took to the streets yesterday in Los Angeles. People also rallied on college campuses, including Arizona State University, that we were able to get pictures from our affiliate, as you can see there.

Well, it's based in Southern California, but it is beaming out to the world. Right now, you are seeing a live feed from PARS TV, sending a signal across the Persian community, and straight into the heart of Iran.

As you can guess, PARS is staffed around the clock these days and our Kara Finnstrom is there.

Kara, let's talk about how these folks actually know that their signal is getting into Iran? Then, I want to tell you what I found out from an Iranian, about how they are possibly getting PARS when the government is shutting them down. But I want to hear from you first, and maybe we can get some more information.

KARA FINNSTROM, CNN INT'L. CORRESPONENT: Actually, after we spoke with you, I spoke with them a little bit more in-depth. We have a little bit of a language barrier going on. But we spoke a little bit more in-depth. They say they have been jammed three times. They have had (AUDIO GAP) frequency and they are getting phone calls today that suggest to them that people in Iran are now getting their programming.

Kyra?

PHILLIPS: I'm sorry. Somebody was talking to me, Kara.

I heard that you were talking to somebody there in the control room about the fact that the satellites in Iran are getting jammed from the government. And so am I correct to say that they are finding out that Iranians are shifting their satellites, trying to loop in, to somebody else that might be broadcasting PARS, is that correct?

FINNSTROM: What they are telling me is yes, they have shifted their frequency three times because they believe the government jammed their broadcast. (AUDIO GAP)

What they are hearing this morning, because the phones have been ringing and ringing and ringing ever since we arrived. People in Iran who are able to pick up that broadcast.

Kyra, I also want to show you, I spoke with you earlier, we said they hadn't received any new video in, during the last two hours (AUDIO GAP) of all the filters in place. This is some video that just came in a short while (AUDIO GAP).

Can you tell us what you are seeing here?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is a video from five minutes ago. As I told you, there is a very heavy use on the Internet. That's why it doesn't have a good quality. This is footage from today's protest, for like four hours ago. Four hours ago, from Tehran City.

FINNSTROM: We've been watching this, Kyra. We actually saw a child up on what appears to be their parent's shoulders, walking through this crowd. Very peaceful demonstration from what we have been able to see from this video. Again, this is nothing that has been vetted or verified by CNN. This is video that is coming into PARS from people that they have on the ground there. Some of it amateur video. Just behind me here, we are in the control room, I want to give you a quick look. They are staffed, as you mentioned, round the clock right now. Normally, they have lots of different programming that goes out in English and in Farsi. Right now complete focus on the events unfolding in Iran and I want to just open this door (AUDIO GAP) inside of the studio here at some of the live programming they have underway.

And to mention, this was started by someone who left Tehran after the 1979 Revolution. He does say he tries to be very neutral in his reporting, but makes no bones about the fact that he wants to see a regime change and he does use this (AUDIO GAP) to try to promote democracy inside Iran, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Our Kara Finnstrom, thanks so much. Live there from PARS TV in Los Angeles, California, trying to get the their newscast into Iran, as the government continues to jam its satellite as well.

Meanwhile, we have been able to get folks who call in from the streets of Tehran when the phones are working and they are able to get through to our control room. We actually talked to a female who, of course, we are not identifying any of these individuals for their safety. She had called in to us. She was there at the rally, gave her insights. I am told now we have somebody else on the phone. This time, a male, who was there at that rally, wants to stay anonymous.

Sir, if you can hear me OK, why don't you tell me what the pro Mousavi rally was like there today? Was it calm? And your take on how it went.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, it was actually pretty calm and peaceful. It started about 4:00 local time, at the Khomeini Square, which is one of the main squares. Excuse me.

It went all the way past the Valliest Square (ph) which is about a couple of kilometers away. The main intention of the demonstration was in the memory of the students which were killed over the past few days. Everybody was dressed in black, mainly. It was very peaceful and quiet.

As we arrived to the scene of the demonstration, we witnessed a truck, which was apparently driven by one of the Beseige (ph) people. It ran into the traffic of all the people. A few people, from my understanding, a few people were harmed. Nobody was killed or massively injured. Other than that, we didn't really notice anything out of the ordinary. It was quite peaceful.

PHILLIPS: So right now, you haven't seen any type of military or police converging on everybody there during the protest, or hearing of any threats, or anybody pressuring all of you not to be there and rallying?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, no. The police and the local military were present, but we didn't really notice, or I didn't notice any harm on their behalf. PHILLIPS: So let me ask you this, the last woman that I talked to, who was there at the rally as well, believes that Mousavi will become the president of Iran. What is your feeling?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: From my understanding and my interpretation of the whole situation, I think the government will probably take back the votes and try to set up another election in the next couple of days. If the youngsters, and if the local people actually push, and do this over and over again, there is not going to be any demonstrations tomorrow. There is going to be a major Nama Jomaia (ph), which is the weekly prayer. The next event will be on Saturday, which Hakami (ph) and Mousavi will be present. And it will start from another main square by the name of Angulop (ph).

PHILLIPS: And were you born and raised in Iran?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was not raised. I was born in Iran, but raised in Europe and North America.

PHILLIPS: Are you living in Iran now?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am living in Iran, yes.

PHILLIPS: So what is your sense? Do you see a revolution taking place? Do you sense there will be a change tremendous change, or do you think this is just one step to a much longer process?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The public are not necessarily shooting for revolution. The public are shooting for a change in the government, and in the way the country has been operated. From what I've seen and what I understand from the government and what I have experienced in the past few years, coming back and forth to Tehran, I think there is tremendous pressure on the government. I think there is going to be a change. If they go through with the change, it's going to be an awful thing for them.

PHILLIPS: Appreciate you calling in.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No worries.

PHILLIPS: Let's get now to one of our most valued sources and that is UC San Diego Professor Babak Rahimi. He is in Tehran, right now, doing research.

Professor, you know the last time we talked, yesterday, we heard gunfire going on around you. You have told me now, when we talked last hour, that things seem to be a lot more calm. As we talk to these individuals that are calling in to us, on an anonymous basis, ones that were there at the rally, they seem to think that the violence has been quelled as well.

PROF. BABAK RAHIMI, UC SAN DIEGO, FROM TEHRAN: Yes, that's my impression, too. I think the state realizes that by somehow unleashing a kind of violent way of repressing the demonstrations and the rallies, it could backfire. It could be counterproductive. I think at this moment, there are just sitting back and watching the demonstrations taking place.

We have watch, however, tomorrow. Tomorrow the supreme leader would give, probably, one of his most historical speeches about the current situation in Iran. We have to watch and see what he says, what he thinks. Many people are really keeping a close eye on how he perceives this dilemma to continue, whether he would actually call for re-elections or he would simply say that, look, this is a legit election. This is your president, basically. Quiet. Keep silent. Whatever activity you will see from them will be completely illegal and crushed. So, tomorrow is a critical day.

PHILLIPS: So, Babak, what you are saying is things may be calm now. But if the supreme leader comes forward and says Ahmadinejad is the president. I don't see any corruption. There is no need for another election. There is a sense that things could get pretty chaotic?

RAHIMI: That's why things are so unpredictable right now. You could go either way. It could be just very calm in the next few weeks and everything could get solved (ph). There will be some form of negotiations that could kind of have a peaceful outcome. Or, it could go the other way. We are really, right now, at a historical juncture in the post-revolution era in Iran.

PHILLIPS: Historical, indeed. Professor Babak Rahimi, look forward to talking to you either later today, or once again tomorrow. Sure appreciate your communications with us.

RAHIMI: Thank you very much. Appreciate it.

PHILLIPS: Our other top story we have been following, an airline captain dies on the job during a trans-Atlantic flight. We find out about it while the plane is still in the air. A relief pilot actually landed the Continental jet safely at the airport in Newark. And that is where we find CNN's Mary Snow. She actually talked with passengers who were on board.

And, Mary, they didn't even know what was going on, is that correct?

MARY SNOW, CNN CORRESPONDENT: That is correct, Kyra. A lot of the passengers thought that perhaps it was a celebrity, because they saw so many media waiting to talk to them. They were learning firsthand from reporters about what had happened, unaware that the captain, who was identified only as 60-years old by Continental Airlines, had died.

They say they heard an announcement halfway through the flight between Brussels and Newark for a doctor. And one doctor, Doctor Cardiologist Julien Struyzen says that he was the first doctor to enter the cockpit. He said he got into the cockpit and realized that the pilot was clinically dead. There was nothing he could do. Here's a little bit more of what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DR. JULIEN STRUYZEN, CARDIOLOGIST: I was involved because I was the first MD coming on call to -for some duty and the duty was the pilot. The pilot had illness. The illness was he was really dead when I came in with the flight (ph), with (UNINTELLIGIBLE) if something was possible, and it was not.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: When you went inside the cockpit, how were the other pilots?

STRUYZEN: They were very professional.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Very professional?

STRUYZEN: Yes. Very, very professional. The whole crew was very professional.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Is this the first time you have been asked to render aid on a flight?

STRUYZEN: No. But it's the first deceased (ph).

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SNOW: Kyra, passengers said they noticed no commotion at all, that everything was very calm. Some of the passengers in first class told us they did notice a flight attendant at the galley, in the first class, that had been -there was a curtain, that a flight attendant was standing up there. That's the only thing they say that was unusual about this flight.

As for the pilot, Continental Airlines says he apparently died of natural causes but Continental has not yet given us details of exactly what happened. Again, a lot of these passengers saying that that call for a doctor on board the flight came about halfway through, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Mary, I know it is a bit of an uncomfortable question to ask and you may not know the answer. A lot of us are wondering, since the passengers didn't know this was happening, how did they respectfully care for the dead body?

SNOW: That is unclear at this point. Again, Continental hasn't given us the details of what happened. But, as I said, even the passengers in first class, the only thing they noticed was that a flight attendant had stood guard outside the kitchen galley in that first class. But they didn't notice anything else about that.

PHILLIPS: All right, Mary Snow, appreciate your report.

What are pilots trained to do when something like this happens? Former U.S. Air flight captain and current aviation consultant John Cox joins me on the phone.

John, has this, in your career as a pilot, have you ever heard of this happening in the past?

CAPT. JOHN COX, AVIATION CONSULTANT: I have heard of a very rare occasion where a pilot has expired in flight. It is an extremely rare condition. Pilots are very carefully medically checked and monitored every six months, so a condition like this is extremely rare. In my 35 years flying airplanes, it was just a very few occasions that I even heard about it in the industry.

PHILLIPS: So, John, when it happens, what's the protocol? Who declares the pilot or the co-pilot dead? How could you respectfully care for the dead body? It has to be just a bizarre and uncomfortable situation?

COX: First and foremost is to maintain the safety of the aircraft. So the pilots are going to be involved in making sure that the airplane continues on the route it should be, at the altitude it should be, all the necessary parts of flying the aircraft. When there is a medical professional on board, that you would defer some of the medical issues, to the degree that you can, to them.

Also, the crew had the ability to talk to specially trained physicians via the radio and to provide them with guidance to deal with a variety of medical conditions including this one. So you bring the assets available to handle the situation and you let the professionals guide the flight crew as to making the best decisions.

PHILLIPS: All right. We still don't know who tended to the captain and who actually declared him dead, but the possibility exists since the passengers didn't know about this, that somehow they were having communications via the radio on how to treat this pilot. What do you do? Do you keep him in the seat? Do you keep him in the cockpit?

COX: Well, certainly, you would want him out of the seat for two reasons. One, to ensure that there isn't any obstruction with the control of the aircraft. Secondly, to allow the medical people access, the best access to attempt to assist, and revive this -- the affected flight crew member.

In that way, and in this case, there was a second pilot available. So you want to get both pilots in the seats and allow the medical professionals to take their best opportunity to see if they could revive this captain.

PHILLIPS: John Cox, definitely a bizarre story and a truly sad story. That plane got down safely. That's the good news.

John, thanks so much.

COX: My pleasure.

PHILLIPS: So what about you, any in-flight close calls, would you want to know if something was wrong with your pilot? You can send me a tweet. We will have your responses later this hour.

How do you prevent another financial meltdown? Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner heads to the Hill to talk of the president's overhaul of financial regulations.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, on the Hill, defending the bosses plan. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner was on the Hill today selling President Obama's plan to overhaul the nation's financial rules and regulations. It is part of the administration's attempt to prevent another financial meltdown like those massive bank bailouts.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIMOTHY GEITHNER, TREASURY SECRETARY: We came into this crisis without adequate set of tools to confront and deal with the potential failures of large, complex financial institutions. That left the government with extremely limited choices when faced with the failure of the largest insurance company in the world, and some of the world's largest investment banks.

We will require all firms to keep more capital and more liquidity on hand as a greater cushion against future losses and risks. The biggest, most-interconnected firms will be required to keep larger cushions, larger shock absorbers against future shocks.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Well, Geithner has met some resistance to the plans to make the Federal Reserve a so-called super regulator. Some lawmakers think that an new outside council of regulators, not the Fed, should keep the eye on the nation's biggest banks.

Last fall, the government, and we, the people, began spending hundreds of billions of dollars to bail out big banks. The question we all asked was, will we ever be paid back? We can tell you, yes. Susan Lisovicz at the New York Stock Exchange with a look at the payments the government received this week.

Susan, how many companies have actually returned the money?

SUSAN LISOVICZ, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT: Ten banks, 10 big banks we are what we're talking about this week. And it is ironic, Kyra, on the day that President Obama proposed the most sweeping financial reform since the Great Depression, we have 10 banks that will be repaying $68 billion in government loans to get out from underneath the government's thumb. They range from JP Morgan Chase, $25 billion there, Goldman Sachs and MorganStanley, $10 billion each, to Northern Trust, which was just over $1.5 billion. Of course, they had to meet all sorts of conditions in order to return the money, including that they could raise money from the private sector, mostly by selling stock, and they could issue debt without the help of Uncle Sam guarantees, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right. Of all the banks that got the bailout money Bank of America and Citigroup received the most, right?

LISOVICZ: Yes.

PHILLIPS: So, are they repaying us? LISOVICZ: Not yet. They are just not in condition, according to the government, to be able to do so, Kyra. They received $45 billion each. Citigroup -I should say, B of A, has been rapidly trying to raise the additional capital it was required after the stress test. So, it is almost there at $34 billion. Citigroup, Dick Parsons, the chairman of that company, told me last month that the bank plans to repay it with, you know, interest, by the way. The government made money, I should mention that, made money. Well, over $1 billion in interest payments, but Citigroup is not giving a timetable just yet, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Susan, thanks.

Well, in this challenging economy, one breakfast club is serving up some good advice to help the jobless get back on their feet. Christine Romans brings us today's "Money & Main Street" segment.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm ready! I'm ready! Let's get it on!

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN FINANCIAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): This isn't fight night, but there is no pulling punches either.

CHRIS FIDIS, CO-FOUNDER, LIBC: You are unique and you are a warrior. Get up and move forward. Go after that job.

ROMANS: Landing a job is the ultimate goal here at the Long Island Breakfast Club. But the way they go about it is, well, different.

FIDIS: Go to a regular job fair. Most of those things are very stuffy. They're very one-sided, or very narrow minded. They want you to feel like, OK, this is what you did wrong. It makes you feel like, I have to climb a mountain. Here, you don't have to climb a mountain. Just invent yourself.

ROMANS: For example, Jim Altamore, construction manager turned professional singer.

JIM ALTAMORE, TURNED HOBBY INTO MONEY MAKER: Take a look at your hobbies, your passions, because they can become an income stream for you.

(SINGING) I have got the world on a string.

ROMANS: The Long Island Breakfast Club was started by a small group of friends, who mid-career suddenly found themselves out of work and seemingly unemployable.

VALENTINA JANEK, FOUNDER/PRESIDENT, LIBC: We were so experienced we felt we were a product of age discrimination, and that we couldn't get beyond the brick wall. There were some days where we need a lot of support from each other.

ROMANS: That was three years ago. The unique approach of networking, counseling, support and, well, laughter, has helped grow the club to 190 members today. They say 87 of them have found jobs.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is a nice resume.

ROMANS: MaryEllen Shpak is among those still looking.

MARY ELLEN SHPAK, JOB SEEKER: The stock market took such a hit that the amount of income that we thought we were going to get was a lot less.

ROMANS (On camera): How much less?

SHPAK: Like we were afraid to touch it.

ROMANS: Oh, wow.

(Voice over): Huge losses forced MaryEllen out of early retirement at 53 to start working again, or so she thought.

SHPAK: There are no jobs.

ROMANS: So, she connected with the Breakfast Club. Although she is still looking for work, the club and its members have at least helped her stay positive.

SHPAK: You just get involved with people who are in your situation and people who were in your situation and have become successful.

JANEK: How many people in the room are employed? That is great. OK.

ROMANS: Mary Ellen hopes she, too, will soon be putting her hand up. For now, with the help of the Long Island Breakfast Club, she is at least keeping her spirits up. Christine Romans, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: At 8 Eastern you can join Anderson Cooper and Ali Velshi for a money summit. Money & Main Street, chat live with our experts for advice on how to beat the downturn. RSVP now at Facebook.com/cnn.

What was he thinking? A storm chaser gets so close to a massive tornado he is almost in the vortex. Turn around. Hello?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

A.J. FABLE, TORNADOE WITNESS: It is now a half mile wide. It is huge. We have debris coming up! We got structural damage. We got damage off this building, it's tearing this building apart. Debris in the air!

(END VIDEO CLIP) PHILLIPS: OK, so turn around. Safety is the other way, pal. Storm chaser in Nebraska obviously overcome with excitement as he came within spitting distance of a monster tornado. He is OK after his close encounter. That funnel cloud, near the town of Aurora, damaged a pet products plant and some houses in the area. But there is no word of any injuries right now.

Chad Myers joining us from the CNN Weather Center.

I don't know, Chad. I just don't get it. I know there is a thrill, I know there is an adrenaline rush.

CHAD MYERS, CNN METEOROLOGIST: I think it is an adrenaline rush.

PHILLIPS: Goodness, I mean, go skydiving.

(LAUGHTER)

MYERS: Oh, like that is safer?

PHILLIPS: Yeah! Compared to going into the eye of the storm. Hello?

MYERS: I guess so.

PHILLIPS: You know what I mean?

MYERS: This man was way too close. He said about 400 yards from a very large tornado. At any point, something could have flown out from debris-wise out of the top of that tornado and literally hit the car he was driving in.

So, yeah, you know what, NOAA weather radio and pickup truck doesn't make you a chaser. You need to be safer than that, I'm afraid. But he got on CNN. So, there you go. I guess there's something there.

(WEATHER FORECAST)

PHILLIPS: I gave him the last hug that morning. Remembering her friend, Officer Stephen Johns, fresh sorrow for a lady who has already seen plenty; her first day back at the Holocaust Memorial Museum.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: I want to update now to a story that we have been following. The Continental Airlines pilot who died during an international flight. KHOU reporting that the pilot was 60- year-old Craig Lennell of the Houston area, apparently he died of natural causes. The jet was flying from Brusells Beluim to Newark, New Jersey. A doctor, who was a passenger on the plane, told our reporter he was called to assist the pilot, but he was already clinically dead. The plan landed safely in Newark with 247 passengers on board.

The two security officers who shot the shooter in last week's attack at the Holocaust Memorial Museum, now, they are talking about it. Both men sat down with CNN's Ed Henry. Ed, of course, covered that story for us as it was happening. He joins us once again live from Washington. I bet that was pretty emotional, Ed.

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Really emotional, Kyra. I literally just walked out of the interview. This is the first time they are doing a national television interview. The two officers, Harry Weeks, a Veteran a former DC police officer, and Jason McCuiston, a former Marine, who had just really joined the Holocaust special -- museum's police force literally just a few weeks ago. And what's fascinating is neither man was supposed to work that day.

They sort of got called in because all the VIPs were going to be coming in that night for that play we were talking about, the former Defense Secretary William Cohen and his wife Janet Cohen. This play was going to be put on that night at the museum. So, they both came in. They are still struggling one week later with all this grief. In fact, both officers -- you can see the suspect there. Both officers just came from a grief counseling session just moments before they came over here to CNN. They say they are still struggling with it.

Take a listen to how they described what happened when they saw their colleague, Officer Stephen Johns get shot. First, you're going to hear from Harry Weeks, the Veterin we will hear from Harry Weeks, the Veteran and then you're going to hear from Jason McCuiston.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

HARRY WEEKS, HOLOCAUST MUSEUM SECURITY OFFICER: I would say it was surreal. Both of us couldn't believe this was happening. I know myself I just -- I heard pop, pop. It was surreal.

HENRY: It had been many years since you had fired your weapon in the line of duty. You went through an incident when you were 21, 22. Did that instantly come back in your mind?

WEEKS: No, it did not. This was terrible. This was worse.

HENRY: Why?

WEEKS: We lost Officer Johns.

HENRY: How long did you know him?

WEEKS: I had been there for eight weeks. As I said before, when you start a new job or go to a new school where you feel a little uneasy, there is new peecople there. You are sitting there alone. Officer Johns is one of the first persons that came up and greeted me and said hello to me.

HENRY: Everyone called him a giant.

JASON MCCUISTON, HOLOCAUST MUSEUM SECURTITY OFFICER: Gentle giant is the best way to describe him. If you have seen The Green Mile, John Coffey -- 6'6, around 300 pounds, just a big teddy bear. Just an awesome guy -- grinning from ear to ear. He was like you would never know that man probably every had a bad day in his life. It was just he -- you could say whatever you wanted to him and he would just smile and let you knew if he wanted to, he could put you in your place if he needed to.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HENRY: Both been are very courageous, obviously they saved potentially many more lives by shooting the suspect, James von Brunn in this case. There were more than 2000 people in that Holocaust museum when all this went down, Kyra. There's going to be a funeral tomorrow for Officer Stephen Johns here in the Washington, DC area. So many people are planing to turn out that they've had to move it to to a bigger church. And also, the Holocaust Museum is goign to be closed for the morning in the early part of the afternoon so their employees can go over there. It's something that is still sending ripples through the community here, obviously, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: You know after it came out that he didn't have a bulletproof vest on. There had been this negotiating going on witht the company about whether they should get vests or not, if the company would pay for them. Were you able to ask these guys about that and how they felt about wearing a bulletproof vest?

HENRY: I did, and you could tell that both of them were still struggling with that issue because I think you're right, it is a very difficult issue. The union has been involved and wanted Officer Johns and others to have those bulletproof vest. Neither officer wanted to tell me what they think because they understand it's sensitive -- just a week later. They didn't want to wade into that controversy.

They also couldn't talk about some of the details of the investigation, for example, because there is a window here of just a few months to try and indict James von Brunn, the suspect here. He is still in the hospital. So that investigation, while ongoing, is on hold in some ways because they are still waiting to see what happens to James von Brunn. But, I can tell you the emotional impact -- we are going to have a full package on the Situation Room today.

Jason McCuiston broke down later in the interview when he was talking. We were talking about Stephen Johns' son. He has a son of about 12 or 13 years old that he left behind, and Officer McCuiston has a son who is only 11 years old. And he really broke down over that, thinking about the son that is left behind. He told me after the shooting at the Holocaust Museum, rather than going home to his own house, Jason McCuiston went to his mom's house. He said, talking to her on the phone was not enough. He wanted his mom to hug him, and know that for real he was still alive. It is obviously still very, very painful for both men.

PHILLIPS: And, it will be for a while. They'll never forget it, that's for sure. Thanks, Ed.

HENRY: Thanks, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: You can watch the entire interview with the two museum guards on The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer it's coming up at 4:00 p.m. Eastern only on CNN. Like the museum shooter, Nesse Godin is in her 80s -- pretty much the only think they have in common. Nesse has dedicated her life to combatting the kind of hate that she saw in Lithuania 60-some years ago. And in Washington just last week, her story from CNN's Barbara Starr.

BARBARA STARR, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We joined Nesse Godin on her first day back at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum since the gunman killed Security Officer Stephen Tyrone Johns. Nesse, now, 81, survived Nazi concentration camps. She volunteers at the museum to talk not just about the Holocaust, but also about her message of love and tolerance and 64 years later, she found herself again hiding when hate one more time entered her life.

NESSE GODIN, VOLUNTEER, HOLOCAUST MUSEUM: All of the sudden, we here boom, boom, boom, boom, boom. I didn't know if it was a bomb, a gun.

STARR: A museum colleague told Nesse to quickly hide under the desk.

GODIN: So, I crawled under it. For me to crawl under the desk -- it is not so easy. I'm an old lady.

STARR: But, no gunman is stopping Nesse Godin.

GODIN: If I wouldn't be coming back, I would give these evil people a victory.

STARR: Nesse and her colleagues are back, including fellow survivor, Regina Spiegel, who shows us the mark of Auschwitz. These survivors are determined to go on.

GODIN: I hope every one that leaves this building, won't look at the color or a race or a religion, they will see a human being. Promise me, when I am gone, when I am in heaven, you will continue my work.

STARR: Barbara Starr, CNN, the US Holocaust Memorial Museum.

PHILLIPS: You've got to love Nesse. The voting is over, but the fallout over Iran's presidential election is only going. In Tehran, thousands of people pore into the streets, partly to mourn people killed in post-vote violence partly to hear from opposition candidate, Mir Hossein Mousavi who claims the re-election of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad last week was rigged. We weren't allowed to cover his remarks, but messages on Twitter say that Mousavi lashed out at the nation's struggling economy and growing corruption.

We are also watching four official TV signals out of Iran. We are actually tapping our sources in Tehran and monitoring the social networking sites where Iranians are trying to evade an online crackdown. The four networks you're seeing right here, PRESS TV, IRIN, also IRIB1 and IRIb3. As you can see, look at the difference between our coverage here in the United States and the coverage there inside Iran. Stations downlinked from Iran that are official Iranian stations, not covering obviously what is happening on the streets like we are.

As we get new details, we are following a live signal beaming into Iran as well. We are talking about southern California based Pars TV. It is sending a 24-hour feed across the Persian community and straight into the heart of iran. We are pushing forward from all angles. Once we get new details, you will too.

An unexpected part two to yesterday's segment on jail sentences. An immigrant beaten and killed, a Hispanic kid dragged from a noose. A pair of cases in Pennsylvania and Ohio with outcomes that you need to know about.

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PHILLIPS: Golf's US Open is playing to the fans this week, it's being held at a New York state park on a course known for humbling the world's best players. But, as our Larry Smith reports, even the game's big names have to face life's sometimes tough realities.

LARRY SMITH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: If there are any doubts about how tough the Black Course at the state park is, you need to look no further than the warning given at the first tee. But, if the course isn't hard enough, several contenders will be battling burdens beyond the massive Bethpage rough. Tiger Woods is the defending champion, and last won a major a year ago, surviving a 19-hole playoff on a badly damaged left knee that required reconnaissanc reconstructive surgery a week later.

If he thought wining the open on one leg was hard, try repeating as champion -- something no one has done in 20 years. He will be looking now to recapture the magic of his 2002 open victory and Bethpage.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TIGER WOODS, 2088 US OPEN CHAMPION: The overall atmosphere is what I truly remember here. It was extraordinary. We hadn't seen anything like it and probably never will.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

SMITH: Phil Mickelson has long been a New York favorite and lefty's the sentimental favorite this week. Fresh off his 39th birthday on Tuesday, Mickelson will be playing just two weeks before his wife, Amy, begins treatment for breast cancer. The Californian has three major championships, but has long claimed that the title he wants most is the US Open crown. He doesn't need extra motivation to win it this week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHIL MICKELSON, 3 TIMES US OPEN RUNNER-UP: I am putting everything I have into this week, because I don't anticipate being able to play for a little while. And, the fact that my normal support system, Amy and the kids and so forth, aren't going to make the trip this week, I'm kind of hoping to have that -- or feel the support to kind of help me through the week.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Larry is joing us live now. Larry, if you don't mind, just for a minute, I mean for golf fans and those that really admire Phil Mickelson and his wife, Amy, their marriage and their kids. When he has won tournaments, you always see him out there. You never forget his little girl running across the Master's that one year. She is someone who is loved on this tour just as much as Phil Mickelson. There was talk he wasn't going to play. She wants him out there, doesn't she?

SMITH: She does. That is one thing that Phil talked about on Wednesday, was that both he and Amy wanted some normalcy to return to their lives and Phil golfing seems normal. She will begin treatment -- surgery for breast cancer in two weeks on July 1st. He will be there by her side. He'll take time off from the golf course. But, I can guarantee you that all of us who have met Amy, the players, fans, us in the media, we all certainly have our thoughts and prayers with them. But, he wants to be here. She says she wants him to bring home a silver trophy to have in her hospital room during her time in the hospital. That silver trophy would be the US Open trophy.

PHILLIPS: Amen. I think we all want that for him. I have been lucky to interview them too, and they're quite a special couple. I see that it is pouring rain behind you, so I'm assuming thats affecting play.

SMITH: It is not affecting our work. We're still doing our work. But, everyone else -- they got three hours of golf in before they suspended play. It has been called for the day. The rain has not let up since early this morning. So, again, about three hours of play. They will begin at 7:00 in the morning again trying to complete round one. The problem is there is rain in the forecast throughout the entire weekend. Tomorrow, not quite as wet, so they're going to try to get in as much golf as possible. But, there will be a lot of waiting and very, very wet conditions the entire weekend I hear at Bethpage.

PHILLIPS: We will track it with you. Thanks, Larry.

So you know of any teens who are raising a million bucks for charity? Well, that's what 17-year-old Ben Sader is doing. When he was ten years old, he got treatment at Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for children and decided to host a kid's golf tournament as a hospital fundraiser, as a gesture of his appreciation. Well, Ben and Friends have raised more than $600,000. He says he is confident they will hit the target $1 million. You can check out his website at kidsswing.org. Support him.

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PHILLIPS: I told you yesterday about how I felt about serving time for a crime or lack thereof. Those sentences handed down that make you say what the --? Well, I found another outrage story of crime and punishment today. A hateful attack in Ohio -- ethnic slurs flying, a noose put around a kid's neck used to drag him. Pretty serious crime. Not so serious time. Story now from Patrick Bell of our affiliate WBNS

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PATRICK BELL, REPORTER WBNS: Marcie Cantu is outraged.

MARCIE CANTU, VICTIM'S MOTHER: Floored, unbelievable. That is not sending a message to the community.

BELL: Because her 17-year-old son, Robert, was targeted she says, simply because he is Hispanic.

CANTU: I mean, they put a noose around his neck and dragged him. They told him, we are going to kill you. Can you imagine what that child went through?

BELL: His attacker, 18-year-old Dale Klein pleaded no contest today to ethnic intimidation, which is a fifth degree felony. As part of the agreement a charge of aggravated menacing was dismissed. He was sentenced to ten days in jail in order to pay court costs.

CANTU: There is no justice here, and that's pretty obvious. He should have been sentenced to jail time like six months, something appropriate.

BELL: After all, it was a savag savage beating she says, and points to these pictures of her son's shoulders taken moments after the May 2008 attack. Robert Cantu says the sentence -- he know has to be worry about being victimized again.

ROBERT CANTU, VICTIM: It would have been better if it would have been six months or -- two or three months -- couple--. Ten days, I think -- he's probably going to be mad.

CANTU: If that would have been any other city in the United States, they would have been arrested that day and they definitely would have had jail time, not ten days.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: Listen to this. The defendants in a Pennsylvania case will do more time than that for beating up a Mexican immigrant. At least six months behind bars. Did I mention that their victim died from that beatdown? Absolutely outrageous.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: And, we are going to check in with Barbara Starr at the Pentagon. We are getting word now that possibly our officials there tracking a missile coming out of North Korea. Barbara Starr, what can you tell us?

STARR: Well, Kyra, let me just explain for a minute. What we are really talking about is a North Korean ship that may -- may be carrying missile parts or weapons technology. Pentagon officials now confirming that the US Navy is tracking a North Korean ship called the Kongnom (ph) -- believed to be tracking it out in the Pacific region. They are not saying that specifically, however, but they are confirming the US Navy following an tracking the Kongnom, a North Korean ship believing to carrying illicit weapons on technology possibly missile technology.

And, of course, this is now in violation of the just-passed UN resolution in which the US and the allies have ll agreed that they will try to stop North Korean vessels from doing this. The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Mike Mullen, concluding a press conference just a few minutes ago with Defense Secretary Gates, clarified that the US Navy will not, he says, undertake forceable boreding of the North Korean ship. They will ask the ship to stop under the UN proceedures.

If the North Korean ship does not, they will direct it into a port and ask the nation of that port, whatever nation it may be, to inspect the ship. And, of course, North Korea is on the record saying any boarding of its ships, it will consider an act of war. So, ratcheting up the tensions and officials also confirming. At the same time, they are watching North Korea very closely because they do believe that that regime is continuing to undertake preparations for possible upcoming ballistic missile tests. Possibly even a long-range missile that if it worked could be capable of reaching the United States. Kyra?

PHILLIPS: Barbara, I apologize. Obviously, I heard in my ear, North Korea missile, not vessel. It sounded very similar. So, I apologize. And, of course, that would have been one hell of a story if we were tracking a missile, but we will keep our eyes on the vessel as well. Barbara Starr, thank you so much. That does it for us. We're going to go ahead and take it now to Rick Sanchez.

RICK SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The Iranian election protest covered here on CNN extensively. Lately, on Iranian television not so much. Why is President Obama mishandling the Iran developments? What the new poll numbers say. The first congressional impeachment vote since President Clinton.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He touched me inappropriately, groping the outside my clothes, then inside my clothes, both top and bottom.

SANCHEZ: Is this federal judge a lech, a groper and a drunken bigot?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He routinely used the "N" word.