Return to Transcripts main page

CNN Newsroom

New U.K. Student Protests; WikiLeaks Supporters Launched Cyber War; Boat Transformed into Elvis' Pink Cadillac; Lindsay Lohan to Dance with Stars?; JLo Takes Center Stage as New Idol Judge; Report: Whiff of Smoke Hurts You

Aired December 09, 2010 - 10:00   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: All right. A little sports there for you, but we want to get you back live to London, England where those protests are taking place. We're talking about tuition hikes and hundreds of thousands of students that are frustrated. The vote is about to go down in an hour and they will find out if, indeed, they have to pay triple the amount to go to university.

Our Dan Rivers is there, right there in the middle of the protest. We're going to talk to him in just a second. But just to give you a little bit of background. This is the third protest we have covered live here on CNN, and so far, it's remained pretty calm.

Officers have, after, I guess three times a charm, they've gotten much better at dealing with these protesters. The very first protest, we saw them actually break windows and storm the Houses of Parliament there in London when the talks about these tuition hikes were happening. Then the second protest was pretty calm. You saw students surrounding a police van, shaking that, causing some may hem there.

Today you are seeing a lot more officers, a lot better crowd control, you're seeing barricades set up, and you're seeing these students march pretty much calmly through the streets with officers also kind of weaved in and out of the protesters, and then you'll see a lot of them in riot gear lined up around the Houses of Parliament hoping to prevent them from storming the Houses like they did last time.

We saw a little bit - it started to get a little bit hairy there with some of the students breaking through the barricade, but the riot police were able to make some arrests and push them back. I understand now we have connected with our Dan Rivers. He changed locations because he wasn't in a real safe spot last time.

Dan, bring us up to speed on what's going on.

DAN RIVERS, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: They have been holding them back probably (INAUDIBLE) and you can see, some people have sort of climbed up to get a better view. There have been some small skirmishes but largely this is still largely peaceful. I mean, the police have had things thrown at them, and they responded with batons and hitting people, some squirmishes up the front but nothing too violent.

Generally, I think people are here to make a political point to the politicians inside who are debating now about whether to raise fees, and we understand the vote will take place in about an hour and a half.

PHILLIPS: All right. Our Dan Rivers is actually doing this live shot for CNN-I. We were simulcasting there for a moment just so we could be able to connect with him live and see what the latest was with these protests. We're going to keep an eye on this for you. Once again, it appears that we don't have an official count but if we were to compared to the last protests, we're talking about hundreds of thousands of university students and supporters showing up to protest this vote that should happen in about an hour, an hour and a half in the Houses of Parliament there in London.

The vote, we're talking about tripling tuition costs for university students in a part of the world where university was very well known for being free and then those fees started slowly being hiked up, and now we're talking about going from $5,000 to $15,000, and as you can see, students are extremely frustrated with what's happening right now within their government. We're following the vote. We're following the protest. Our Dan Rivers is all over it for us.

All right. Let's talk about the other story that's been happening and that's this cyberspace war between Wikileaks supporters and those that say they are the whistle blower site enemies. Computer hackers might have attacked and shut down Sarah Palin's Political Action web site, pay back they say for Palin saying that Julian Assange has put blood on his hands for putting files on his site.

Now, Mastercard, Visa, Paypal have all felt the hackers' wrath, too. They tried to knock down those three web sites because they stopped processing money for Wikileaks. Now, when you're talking about the internet, hackers and credit cards all in the same sentence, it's pretty unnerving, especially during the holiday season because we are concerned, of course, of about how this can impact us and impact what our leaders do here in this country.

Hemu Nigam is the former chief security officer at Myspace, and Hemu you say that this attack was not about Visa or MasterCard or people's credit cards at all. You actually were making the point that this is about hackers showing what they can do, and this is probably not the last stop, right?

HEMU NIGAM, FMR. CSO, MYSPACE.COM: Yes, Kyra. Thanks for having me. You couldn't actually create a better Hollywood script since I'm coming to you from Los Angeles right now. You have in essence, Julian Assange who has become a cyber messiah, and hundreds of followers who are waking up their soldiers and attacking companies like Visa and Mastercard as well as now Sarah Palin's web site.

PHILLIPS: All right. So here's my question. Why go after Visa, Mastercard and Sarah Palin? Because there's two points here. I mean, Visa and Mastercard have pretty intense security measures, right? So are these hackers trying to say, "look what we can do, this is only the beginning or is it the issue that they have impacted financial support that was being worked through Assange's business?

NIGAM: Well, it's a combination of both. What you're seeing is Visa and Mastercard, you would expect to have pretty strong defenses, and the fact that these folks have been able to take them down is really a wakeup call. In essence, it's a red alert situation for any company who decides or any individual or web site or government agency who says, we're going to turn our back on the crusade that you're doing.

We don't agree with you, and if you say that, you have to worry whether or not your website will be attacked. I think the second worry is, if you are maintaining information for consumers around the world, financial information, and it took one single anonymous group to take you down, the question that we should be asking is, can your private personal financial information be also stolen if they chose to do so as the next wave? I'd be on red alert whether I'm a government or a corporate entity.

PHILLIPS: So basically what you are saying is that these hackers are sitting around deciding their next target? What's the next step? Where can they go? It could be our personal information. It could be government web sites? Is that what you're telling me?

NIGAM: Oh, absolutely. I think what we have to do as consumers at home. Because none of this is possible if you're at home keeping up your securities on your computer.

I know, when you, Kyra, I'm sure you have gotten the security update that says remind me later or update now. What do you do? You hit remind me later. It's another way of saying, I left the door open for you, hacker, come on in and do what you want. So what we have to do as consumers unless we want to participant inadvertently in somebody else's cyber war we have to update our computer systems and we have to use anti-virus and phishing software and update it when it says update now. Do not hit remind me later. It's the worst thing you can do or you're going to be falling victim to one of these attacks.

PHILLIPS: Good advice. Himu Nigam, thank you so much.

NIGAM: Thanks for having me.

PHILLIPS: Well, the White House has a stern warning for congressional Democrats, get on board with the president's tax deal or we could be looking at a double-dip recession. Now, keep in mind, if this bill doesn't pass, taxpayers will be paying more come January but it would add billions of dollars to the deficit.

Congressional correspondent Brianna Keilar is on the hill. So Brianna, a lot of anger on the hill coming from Democrats. Do you think they're going to come around?

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN CONGRESSIONAL CORRESPONDENT: It seems at least in the Senate, Kyra, that that's starting to happen. We heard from the number two Democrat, Dick Durbin, who is indicating that some democratic senators are starting to warm to this compromise that President Obama struck with Republicans. That's important because the Senate is expected to move first on this.

At the same time, he said, you know, there are some things that I loathe about this, and there are a lot of Democrats who feel that way. In particular, we're talking about the estate tax, which is an exemption on inheritances up to $5 million, that a lot of Democrats feels just sort of like a give-away to the rich.

Now that said, that's just one part of the puzzle right? Because you have House Democrats as well and this is among the much tougher sell for them. Vice president Joe Biden was up here on the Hill yesterday and while the discussion that he had while he was selling the plan to House Democrats was described as respectful and not hostile. He got a lot of questions. Democrats want changes, and he basically told them flat-out, Kyra, hey, we can't change this. If we do, this agreement is going to unravel. At this point, Kyra, Democrats have not signed on the dotted line but there certainly is a little more warming towards this compromise.

PHILLIPS: All right. Let's switch gears, if you don't mind, to "don't ask, don't tell" or a make or break Senate vote on a possible appeal that's been postponed. What's the holdup right now?

KEILAR: Well, at this point, there's negotiations going on between Democrats and Republicans because they need to get some Republicans if they're going to be able to pass this repeal of "don't ask, don't tell," which is attached to a defense authorization bill.

Now, Harry Reid was just on the floor, and he said that there could be a vote later today. Here's the issue, though, Kyra. It's possible and likely, if there is this vote on "don't ask, don't tell" today, that it could fail. Why is that? Because Republicans have stood flat-footed and said, no, we need to deal with the tax cuts issue before we move onto any of these other priorities.

But at this point, Democrats are trying to win over Susan Collins, Maine Republican, ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services committee. She wouldn't be enough, though. They need to win over another couple Republicans and it's unclear, Kyra, if they're going to be able do that.

KEILAR: Got it. Brianna, thanks.

Well, it's been a rough week for states around the great lakes. The lake-effect snow machine has been working overtime. In Cleveland this morning, many streets are still snow covered after the latest storm. And travel advisory also in effect in the town of Randolph, New York. Randolph has been hit with about four feet of snow since Sunday. Good news for some businesses though, one tow truck driver says that he's pulled out about 25 stranded cars a day since that snow began.

I guess some people are trying to make the best of the situation, Rob.

ROB MARCIANO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Make a little bit of money.

PHILLIPS: In a tough economy, got to make some cash.

MARCIANO: You know, upstate New York, not the only places like you mentioned, Ohio and Pennsylvania, Kyra, are really piling up the snow. Also upwards of three feet in some of these spots. So Burton, Ohio, 39 inches. That will get the blood pumping when you get out there to shovel that stuff in a heart beat.

Good news today, these lake effect snow showers are beginning to wind down. It is pretty much just as cold but the winds have died down and we're looking at least for this event to come to an end later on this afternoon. Also coming in, we had temperatures that were threatening to get below freezing again this morning across Florida. Saving grace, some moisture came in last night, cloud cover right across the southern half of the state, kept temperatures well above the freezing mark, at least, from Orlando down to Miami.

So breathing a sigh of relief there but more cold air coming in Monday and Tuesday of next week because this system which is coming in from the Pacific northwest will combine with cold air driving down from Canada, and as that happens, we're looking at a decent storm that's going to development here over the next couple of days.

Meanwhile, temperatures will be pretty nice out there in California, at least the southern part. Here's how the storms are going to roll as we go through tomorrow, Saturday and Sunday. The storm will roll up the Ohio River Valley and it will be west enough to where it probably will keep the i-95 corridor in the accord rain category but north and west of there including parts of Indiana and through Ohio, Michigan, and parts of Pennsylvania could see quite a bit of snow over the weekend and then cold air driving back down to parts of the deep south as we get toward Monday and Tuesday.

So we'll be talking about another threatening freeze deal happening beginning of next week and I think this cold air mass, Kyra, is even colder than the ones we are experiencing right now.

PHILLIPS: Got it. Thanks, Rob.

Lindsay Lohan may be doing some sly moves to get on "Dancing With the Stars." It's a rumor that just won't die.

A.J. Hammer has all the scoop for us in our "Showbiz Update."

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: All right, hound dog in your blue suede shoes, voters channelling Elvis Presley and his trademark style, dressing not themselves, but their boats.

DEBORAH KNIGHT, DECORATING BOAT FOR PARADE: Out of my way, everybody. Elvis is in the building.

PHILLIPS: Deborah Knight is swiveling her hips and decking out her boat for the Winner Best Boat Parade in Florida. She's transformed it into the King's signature pink Cadillac on water and she's blinked out the ride. It's going to be front and center for the 12-mile long parade this Saturday.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: All right, Lindsay Lohan making some moves towards "Dancing with the Stars." The troubled star is reportedly in secret talks to be a contestant. "SHOWBIZ TONIGHT" host A.J. Hammer joins me from New York with the lowdown. A little PR dance here to clean up the image, A.J.

A.J. HAMMER, HOST, SHOWBIZ TONIGHT: Hey, Kyra. A lot of people think it could be a great PR move for Lindsay to kind of cha-cha her way back into the public eye. Now it's Radar Online that is reporting that Lindsay is in fact in secret talks right now to compete on "Dancing with the Stars" next season.

We reached out to both Lohan and the show to confirm the story, but neither side has gotten back to us. I think doing the show makes a lot of sense. Not just for PR for Linds. It would put her in a structured environment after getting out of a court ordered drug rehab at Betty Ford clinic.

She would be banking some cash. She said she needs money. The show would certainly get a ton of buzz by casting her, but this isn't the first time that the story has surfaced. There were reports floating around in August that linked Lohan to the series and she obviously wasn't able to participate at that time.

Another report on line says there's nothing to the story and the show doesn't even want Lohan involved so obviously we're going to have to wait and see what happens. But, Kiran, I think if the show can get her, they will take her.

PHILLIPS: Yes. I imagine all of the people that will be watching, A.J. All right, well, just like "Dancing with the Stars," "American Idol" trying to also get some buzz about the upcoming season. Are you getting any details about the changes that they are unveiling for the new show?

HAMMER: Yes, we've been hearing bits over the last couple of weeks and of course, one new twist is the new judge's panel and now, we are just getting our first look at how Jennifer Lopez is handling her role as a judge on the show in these new promos for "American Idol". Let's take a look at that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JENNIFER LOPEZ: We know this. We have been in your position. We understand how you feel. Have fun and believe in your destiny. Just do your thing, OK?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This January, it's a whole new season.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HAMMER: I'm hearing sympathy. Based on that clip, looks to me like she's going to be an encouraging judge like Paula Abdul was. And aside from the new judges, "American Idol" is reportedly going to let us behind the scenes a little bit more this season.

I kind of remember them doing that back in the first season. The Hollywood reporter is saying that the last 12 contestants could actually live in front of the camera in the same house together, which will bring some drama, make a kind of an American idol meets real world setup.

The contestants were also expected to have their own Twitter account so they can interact with their fans. A lot of people are saying hopefully this will be the shot in the arm, Kyra, that they feel the show so desperately needs this season. So we're getting ready for the big unveil. A lot of people excited about the new season.

PHILLIPS: OK, is that a show you watch?

HAMMER: You know, I have a professional responsibility, if for no other reason. We have been with it from the start. I am eager to see the changes though because it is time to freshen it up and obviously that's what they're doing.

PHILLIPS: Yes, I always love seeing, you know, people out of just random places making it big. It's kind of cool. Thanks, A.J.

HAMMER: It is.

PHILLIPS: All right, if you want information about everything breaking in the entertainment world, that's why we've got A.J. and so do you every evening on "SHOWBIZ" 5:00 p.m. and 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time on HLN.

Just one puff from a smoke or even just a whiff, that's enough to hurt you, and the damage can start right away. A new surgeon general's report is out on cigarettes. We're dissecting the 700-page report.

Also, we are still following the protests taking place in London right now. These students are outraged that their tuition could triple. A vote expected in the Houses of Parliament in just about 45 minutes.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, let's head cross country, shall we? Miami, Florida, see that little guy highlighted walking up the bus steps. He took a ride all right. Two years old, boarded the bus last week alone after apparently he wandered away from his babysitter. So this surveillance camera showing him just taking a seat and enjoying his joy ride. A passenger noticed and alerted the bus driver. Thank goodness, he was safely reunited with his family.

All right, let's head to central falls Rhode Island, shall we? Where a pet alligator caused an apartment fire. Fire fighters quickly put it out, saved the 10-foot python, three snakes, and a large iguana and a three-foot alligator. The tenant says his pet alligator knocked over a heat lamp.

All right, Providence, this big six-foot guy caused quite a commotion rooming around neighbor's yard. Listen to the 911 calls.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE (via telephone): I'm house sitting for my brother. He lives at 153 Regina Drive.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You seen a big chicken run across the yard.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: My god. I'm afraid to take their dog out.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just came across an ostrich. I think it's an ostrich, a very large, large bird.

PHILLIPS: No, it was not a chicken or a ostrich but an emu. Apparently, it escaped from a small family farm over the weekend. The emu was safely returned, by the way.

There's no such thing as a safe level of tobacco smoke according to the surgeon general. One puff, one whiff can actually hurt you, and the damage can happen within seconds. Senior medical correspondent, Elizabeth Cohen here to talk more about this report. Looked at about tobacco's assault on the body and how much smoke we are talking about that causes immediate damage. I don't think people realize it can be that quick.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: I think you're right. I think people think it takes a lifetime or certainly many years of smoking or inhaling second-hand smoke to do damage, but the analysis of the surgeon general here. What it showed is that if you, let's say walk into a smoky bar, not you because hopefully you wouldn't do it in that condition.

PHILLIPS: Even if I were not pregnant, I wouldn't do it.

COHEN: Right, the minute you walk into a smoky bar, that smoke assaults your body and damages the lining of the blood vessels. So this has been known for a while. That in itself isn't new.

But what's new is that the surgeon general is trying to take that information and trying to get it to the public so they can hear it. So they developed a new public service announcement. Let's take a listen to it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Every puff damages cells throughout your body and the latest research shows cigarette smoke contains over 7,000 chemicals that spread through your blood vessels causing inflammation and clotting, restricting oxygen blood flow and doubling your risk of heart attack and death.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Would you. That's depressing. That's enough to make me not want to smoke.

COHEN: Exactly. That's what they're hoping, by making it that graphic and that obvious that people will realize that because, you know, one-third of cancer deaths in this country can be linked to smoking. That's a lot.

PHILLIPS: Can it cause damage immediately, and can you recover from that?

COHEN: You can recover from that. I mean, if all you have done is walked into one smoky bar, spent an hour and left, that's not irreversible damage, but of course, you know, after years and years of second-hand smoke or smoking, that can be irreversible. So, yes, of course, it's good to quit and hopefully you will reverse the damage, but there is a chance that you can't.

PHILLIPS: Wow, think of all the people you are impacting too when you're smoking around them. Elizabeth, thanks.

COHEN: Thanks.

PHILLIPS: A football player gets a second chance to follow his dream, but the pros come calling, and Keith Fitzhugh says thanks but no thanks. We're going to ask him why he decided to keep on trucking as a train conductor instead.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: All right. Live, once again, to London, where we are continuing to monitor these protests. These are university students that are furious about a vote that's about to come down possibly within the next 45 minutes or so at the Houses of Parliament there concerning their tuition, tripling their tuition costs. This is a third protest that we've covered live within the past about four to five weeks.

So far, it's remained calm. We have seen some students rushing the barricade, but it's nothing like the first round of protests we watched when students actually broke windows, charged inside the houses of Parliament and even started fires, bonfires, just outside those broken windows.

All right. Now we have got live pictures. It looks like police officers are -- looks like a scuffle. No. Looks like something has happened to an officer. Dan Rivers. I know you're right there. What's gone on there?

RIVERS: Yes. Looks like this officer just come off his horse and was clearly - clearly has been injured. There have been some quite nasty clashes here. There are some protesters -- if you spin around, Paul, there are now protesters being arrested. I think they were involved with this officer coming off his horse.

I don't know what happened to the horse, but there have been some nasty clashes here just within the last five minutes. Lots of missiles being thrown, and you se these guys being cuffed. Let's just come back over here.

PHILLIPS: Can we find out if that officer is okay, Dan?

RIVERS: Yes. I mean, he came down with quite a big smack because we were standing right by him. It looks like he hurt his leg, but he is conscious. So, I think, it looks like he hurt his leg. We'll leave them to deal with that.

Let me just set you up here to kind of -- the police line where there's a line of mounted police who are trying to hold back these protesters inside Parliament Square. Out there, you can see Big Ben. That's the Houses of Parliament where the vote is taking place in about an hour from now.

It had calmed down here for about the last how or so, and suddenly the protesters switched direction. They had all been pushed up to the other end of the square. It's very fluid. Then suddenly, they all switched direction and came down this way, and then the police were slightly caught off guard and clearly sent in the police.

Just come over here. Look at this. The policeman hit by things, and again, the protesters letting smoke bombs off and lots of missiles coming down at us. There's a smoke bomb just going off right of in the middle here. For the horses here, this is obviously what they're trained to do this, but, nevertheless, some of the horses clearly got pretty skittish during this, and one police horseman at least came off his horse. You can see there's a lot of paint has been thrown. You can see here various protesters climbing up on railings.

This is all about the rise in tuition fees that is being voted on in Parliament in the next hour or so. It's going to result in a tripling of student tuition fees, something that in the U.S., perhaps, people are more used to. But here, there is just no culture of leaving university with $50,000, $60,000, $70,000 worth of debt. And clearly, this is part of major austerity measures to rein in this huge deficit we have here. But this is the result of it here, bitter anger and violence on the streets with the police struggling at times, really, to contain the crowd.

PHILLIPS: Yes. And Dan, we have two boxes up so we can kind of give our viewers an idea of how many students have showed up. It looks like you're in a safer area now. Tell me where you are compared to where all of the protesters are. Did the police let you come back behind where they are because you were actually getting caught up in the mayhem as well until you were able to move.

RIVERS: Yes. Before we were on the other side of the square, stuck, really, between the protesters and the police. Not ideal, but it happened very quickly, and we ended up sort of squeezed in there.

Suddenly all of the protesters left, and that's because they all ran this way. We managed to cut round a back street and come on the other side of the police line, which is a safer place to be. Although when the horses are moving around, it's clearly quite dicey out here. I'm just going to move back out of the way of the horses.

PHILLIPS: No problem. And Dan, how close are you to the Houses of Parliament because this vote should go down within the next hour, right?

RIVERS: Yes. The house of Parliament is just over there. I don't know if Paul can swing round. See the clock tower, Big Ben, the famous clock tower. The (INAUDIBLE) tower, I think it's called. That's the houses of Parliament. That's where the vote is happening, just below the clock tower there. They will be able to hear all of this clearly inside the chamber during this debate that's been going on for a few hours.

I don't know whether it's going to sway any members of Parliament to vote the other way. But clearly there will be no doubt about the passions and the anger out here on the streets of London.

PHILLIPS: And Dan, just to give our viewers a sense - keep an eye on what's around you, obviously, please, but just to give our viewers a sense, because we do have a lot of students here in the United States that go over there to go to school, a lot of exchange programs, et cetera. As you know, England is very well known for some incredible universities.

Name some of the colleges, universities that we're talking about. Because you talked to a lot of students. You talked to a student from Hallum University. Who else have you been hearing from? What schools are going to be impacted?

RIVERS: Yes, I mean this will -

(CRASHING SOUND IN BACKGROUND)

RIVERS: We are just being told that the police will be moving in at speed in a minute. So, we are bracing ourselves for that.

But this will impact students who are not currently at university but from 2012. So, a couple of years' time. You can see here, these are there -- I think these are the tactical support, basically, riot police, who are going in now to restore some order up the front there -

PHILLIPS: What are they shooting?

RIVERS: You hear the fireworks.

PHILLIPS: Those are fireworks?

RIVERS: I think it's fireworks. It's fireworks. They're not shooting. No one is armed here.

But this will impact students -- not those who are currently at university but those who will go to university. I was talking to one student yesterday who said, look, this isn't going to affect me, but for my 13-year-old and 11-year-old brothers, it will have a massive impact. And she was from a lower-income family and was saying her brothers probably won't go to university because they're so worried about mounting up these massive debts.

Now, the government says, if you go to university, you're going to get a better job and you'll only have to pay this back when you're earning about over $35,000 and therefore, this is a fair way of doing this, and there are safeguards to help lower-income students get into the system. But the fundamental problem is that the number of students has increased in Britain massively over recent years, mostly under the last government when there was a target of 50 percent of students they wanted to go to university. When you've got that number of kids going to university, about half a million a year, clearly someone has to pay for it. The question is how.

And the government solution is clearly not very popular here, and that solution is obviously that the students themselves pay these big, huge tuition fees and pay them off once they earning enough money over future years. There have been some studies done, interesting studies done showing that it may take middle-income students 26 years to pay off their debts. That's why people are so angry because they feel it's a lifetime of debt they get into if they go to university.

PHILLIPS: And what universities are we talking about, Dan?

RIVERS: We're talking about all of the major famous ones. Every university in the land will put up fees, Oxford, Cambridge, some of the big names that you may know internationally. Imperial here in London. Some science courses, the fees will get more government funding than the arts courses because they are trying to encourage people to go into science and math. But I think there's a general feeling that fees will go up. The question is by how much? This law, if it comes in, will set a cap.

Watch out. Here come the horses again.

PHILLIPS: And what exactly are they doing, Dan? Why are they rushing toward the crowd like that?

RIVERS: I don't know. I think they're trying to push the crowd back through Parliament Square and restore some order, but you can see that was a fairly violent charge in by the horses there. And we have to be careful here (INAUDIBLE)

PHILLIPS: That's okay. That's all right. We are able to see live pics, Dan, along with you from the aerials. And that's exactly what it looks like they have done. They have been able with that rush to push the student protesters back even more. And it doesn't look like it's gotten too chaotic. They are getting some push-back from some of the protesters.

But what's it like right there on the ground where you are?

RIVERS: It feels pretty chaotic where I am, it must be said. But the police basically are trying to contain this protest and push it back on the agreed route -- and the agreed route is going up Whitehall, which is that way. And the protesters clearly want to camp outside Parliament, and the police are trying to push them back.

So, we are trying to bring you the pictures here without getting in the way of the operation, obviously, but they are beginning now to push them back up this street, and the horses have disappeared around the corner, so I can't see where they have gone -

PHILLIPS: All right. And tell us about the -

RIVERS: There's a whole bunch more down here.

PHILLIPS: As we know there in London, Dan, the officers are not armed. But they have billy clubs. Do they have mace? What else do they use as -- with regard to weapons for protection?

RIVERS: Well, they have at their disposal tear gas, which we haven't see fired. But you can see here the police have been driven back, and in a hail (ph) of missiles and fireworks, which is obviously upsetting the horses, which is probably what they're designed to do.

But the police aren't armed here. They have batons, and they have tructions (ph), they call them here. They have CS gas. I think some police have Tasers, but I haven't seen anyone using one here. The police here are very experienced in this kind of thing. They've had a lot of experience through the years from the poll tax riots in the '80s to race riots as well in the '80s, and they've also had experience with the students recently as well. They are very well trained. They are used to this, but it is the sheer number of students and the anger of them that's making it difficult to move them out.

PHILLIPS: And Dan, what are those sticks that the students are throwing? I see a bunch of them behind you on the ground. What are those sticks? Can you see them to your left side?

RIVERS: These sticks down are the signs, the placards that they have been holding up, that have been ripped off the sticks and thrown at people.

LONDON POLICE OFFICER: Stand back!

RIVERS: Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, watch out. Watch out, watch out, Paul! Paul!

Sorry, we got some horses coming on us. We have to move out of the way. Hang on a sec.

PHILLIPS: No problem.

RIVERS: There's a lot of construction barriers that have been ripped up and are being thrown over at the police as well.

You can see down this way. Let me take you down here. This is the other side of this. Basically, onlookers actually. I don't think these are protesters. There's a few flags in there, but most are people looking at the spectacle of all of this behind us, which is rapidly developing into a riot, basically. It had been peaceful for a while, but that is an example of the kind of thing that was thrown at police.

(CROSSTALK)

PHILLIPS: They're bringing out parts of the barricade? Are these parts of the barricade that officers are bringing out, these screens to the right?

RIVERS: No. I think these are actually part of a construction site. I think they were doing some building work.

PHILLIPS: Got it.

RIVERS: I think these have been ripped up by the protesters and pulled out. Let me take you back in here. I don't know if we can get in through the middle.

PHILLIPS: OK. And I'll -

RIVERS: I want to make sure we bring you the best pictures without getting trampled under a horse.

PHILLIPS: Absolutely!

RIVERS: Looks like the horses are moving out of the way there now, and you can see through the middle. I don't know, Paul, if you can show through here, this is where the police line is at the moment. This is all kind of the debris of the placards and horse manure and missiles that have been thrown. There's a lot of paint on the floor here. People have been throwing paint around, smoke bombs.

PHILLIPS: And Dan, just to bring our viewers up to date, these protests going on right now just outside of houses of Parliament in London where a vote is about to go down within the next 45 minutes that will tell all these university students that are protesting the houses of Parliament right now if, indeed, their tuition will go up.

And, Dan, you were saying that more than likely in some way, shape or form, tuition fees will go up. Correct? We don't know if it will triple, but it definitely will go up.

RIVERS: Well, the proposal that's before Parliament is likely to be approved, and it sets a maximum cap of nine thousand pounds, which is about $15,000 a year in tuition fees. Now, the government is saying if universities want to charge that much, they'll have to make a pretty strong case for it. Most universities won't charge that much. It will be more like 6,000; 7,000.

Most students here though, feel this is a thin end of the wedge. That if this is agreed, in future years, that the cap will get moved up through successive governments until we are talking about, you know, possibly tens of thousands of dollars for a top university education. And that's something people here feel should be free. PHILLIPS: Got it. And just to give a little background. You know, you went to school in London, right, Dan? What was your experience like?

RIVERS: Well, I went to school at a university in the north of England, to Darum (ph), when there were no tuition fees. So, I think I was the last year. I graduated in '95. That was the last year, I think, before tuition fees were introduced.

So in the last decade, basically, it's a relatively new concept. But the anger is how quickly these fees will have gone up if this is passed through. And the fact that there is the context that you have to understand here. People are used to going to university for free. And many of these people we have spoken to feel it is their right to go to university without having to pay for the cost of the university. You know, that is something that clearly has to change in some ways because the numbers of students has increased so dramatically over the last decade.

So, you know, it is no longer economically sustainable to have this many students going without someone paying for it. Now, whether that's done through general taxation or whether it's done through this lot having to pay higher fees or graduate tax or whatever the other suggestions are, that depends on your politics. But certainly, this lot are vehemently against higher tuition fees, and that's something that the politicians in that building over there are about to vote on.

PHILLIPS: Got it. And Dan Rivers, we will keep checking in with you. Fantastic work for us throughout the morning. Really appreciate your reporting. Please stay safe.

And just for all of you that are just tuning in, we will continue to follow this breaking news out of London. The protests getting pretty hairy there out in front of the houses of Parliament in London where they are about to make a vote within the next 45 minutes about tuition hikes. Got a little crazy there with the students breaking through the barriers. We saw one officer get knocked off his horse. They're trying to keep those students at bay and away from that area while that vote is made.

We will keep following it with our Dan Rivers. Stay tuned to CNN for all of the breaking news. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, Keith Fitzhugh had a dream to play pro football. He followed that dream through high school and college and he was an incredible player. He even made it to two training camps with the New York Jets before being cut.

Then this week, because of injuries, the Jets called him back. But he told them he'd rather keep his current job as a train conductor. May seem crazy to you, but to Keith, it's all about his family. His agent even tells us, this kid has more heart than anybody I know.

Keith is with me here in studio this morning. Great to see you.

KEITH FITZHUGH, TURNS DOWN SHOT WITH NEW YORK JETS: You, too.

PHILLIPS: I tell you what. This is a pretty amazing story about the love of a family. But I just got to ask you, you know, straight up, you had a chance here, at least for a couple of weeks, right? The end of season, to make thousands of dollars versus hundreds of dollars. Why did you turn that down because it seems like that would be good for you and your family?

FITZHUGH: Well, it was very exciting to know that the Jets even wanted to bring me back and make me a part of their team again. It was just a tough decision. I was at home - as a matter of fact, I was off and I got the call. My agent called and said, "Keith, get ready, the Jets are going to fly you out." And I'm like, "Huh? What's really going on?"

And I talked to the Jets and I just told them I needed a little time because I was under new employment. I didn't have enough time really to get in contact with my job to see if I could take a leave of absence. Now that this is all going on now, I could have, you know. But I had to do what was best for me at the time. I just wanted to be professional with my job, and if I couldn't get in contact with my - of course, I wasn't just going to leave, so I had to just make a decision and do what's best for me and my family at the time.

PHILLIPS: All right. And you did do that. You knew you wouldn't be able to give two weeks' notice. The Jets wanted you on a plane, like, the next day.

FITZHUGH: Within hours.

PHILLIPS: Within hours! They wanted you on a plane within hours.

Okay. Because I had a chance to talk to your bosses over at the railroad. And they just think you are amazing, by the way. They had the most incredible things to say about you. And they said that they would grant you a leave of absence. So, is it to too late? Could you still do it?

FITZHUGH: Well, I know the Jets signed somebody already.

PHILLIPS: They did?

FITZHUGH: But I know I'm ready. I'm in football shape, and I'm ready to play. At the time, I didn't know I could take a leave of absence at the time. Now I do know, and if the situation comes up again, I would probably take it and go and fulfill my childhood dream and continue playing football.

PHILLIPS: OK. Then right now, we are saying to the New York Jets, please call Keith and give him another chance. Because this story is amazing.

All right, so now that we know it could happen, that makes us all feel excited because we want you to be able to fulfill your dream. But let's get back to the initial decision that you made. This is pretty incredible.

One thing that really caught my attention, Keith, when I was reading about stuff that you said, the most shocking response when people were commenting on you not taking the Jets' gig, you said was they said, "Seeing a black male caring for his loving parent enough to make a decision like this." Wow.

FITZHUGH: Well, it's very important. Because I had a sister who was 14. She passed away. Originally the doctors said it was from West Nile virus. Some doctors say it was multiple sclerosis -

PHILLIPS: We're going to take a look at her. Tell me her name?

FITZHUGH: Brittany.

PHILLIPS: Brittany. So, it might have been MS. It might have been West Nile.

FITZHUGH: They really couldn't determine what it was. And she went through so much for three years, from losing her sight and hair and wasn't able to walk. And once I left to go to college, I never got to see her again. And I honor my mom and dad because they were very strong. When she passed away, my mom came down to Mississippi State where I played college football. And I was in my spring game, and she told Sylvester Crum (ph) to let me play.

And my mom came down straight-faced and after the game, she told me good job, you had a great game. I had an interception that game. I was all excited. And my mom sat me down and said, Keith, we lost Brittany with a straight face, just as you're looking at me right now. I broke down because I never got to tell her bye.

And I cherish every moment that I have with my mom and dad. And my dad is disabled. And when I was released and not playing ball, I was living off what I made when I was in NFL, and my mom was the only person bringing in a steady paycheck. I wanted to be fair to my family and be there for them like they were there for me when I was released because it was a really tough time.

And a lot of people don't understand what players go through. If they're not the guys making millions of dollars and these guys out here playing right now, trying to make a mark for themselves, like Danny Woodhead. I look up to him and I played with him with the Jets. And he was on the practice field with me. And look at him now. Playing for the New England Patriots. He's a stand-up guy right now. He would say, "Fitz, we're bottom feeders." And we always did everything we could to be the best.

PHILLIPS: That's interesting. So, you took a look at your dream. But you also knew you could get injured. You knew it's possible you couldn't make the roster.

FITZHUGH: Right.

PHILLIPS: You knew it was a risk.

FITZHUGH: Right.

PHILLIPS: So, seeing what your family went through, even what you went through when you lost your sister, your dad being disabled, your mom struggling with that one paycheck.

FITZHUGH: Right.

PHILLIPS: That's incredible. You made that split decision to give up what so many boys would say, "I don't care, it's my dream." Instead, you put family first. Where does that come from? Does that come from mom and dad?

FITZHUGH: That comes from upbringing, mom and dad. You know, they have been married 34 years, and that's all we've seen as kids, me and my brother and sister. You know, and it's a great thing to have in your household. And once I'd seen -- once I got released, they were there for me so much because it was such a tough time.

I used to get down on myself, work out, work out. Wouldn't want to go outside of the house no more and really didn't want to speak to anybody. But my mom and dad were there to talk to me and tell me, Keith, there's stuff, there's life outside of football. And you still have to live life. You know, they were there for me. At this time and age right now when the economy is bad, and it's very hard to get a good job like this working for a railroad, especially Norfolk Southern. It's hard to get a job out there.

PHILLIPS: You always loved trains?

FITZHUGH: And I always loved trains. It's fun.

PHILLIPS: As a kid.

FITZHUGH: As a kid.

PHILLIPS: And you love seeing the world and just being on top of that engine, don't you?

FITZHUGH: Of course. And that's one of the most exciting things. You know, I compare that to football. Because you still have families and kids that stand outside and wave to you as you ride by their houses. You know, it still gives me that great feeling.

PHILLIPS: You know what's important, Keith. You really do. You are an amazing young man.

FITZHUGH: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: We still want those Jets to call again. And any football team, please call. We want you to be able to do both. We would love to see you making hundreds of thousands of dollars to give your family everything they need.

FITZHUGH: Thank you so much. PHILLIPS: Thank you, Keith. You are a true inspiration.

FITZHUGH: Thank you.

PHILLIPS: Great talking to you.

FITZHUGH: You too.

PHILLIPS: Before we go to break, one more time, to London, England, where those protests are still taking place about tuition hikes. Students are furious that they may have to pay triple what they used to pay - for what used to be a free education. They have been breaking through the barricades, been trying to storm the houses of Parliament there.

That vote going down in about 30 minutes. We will find out, indeed, how much those hikes will be raised and if the protests will be calmed or if they will continue to build up. Hundred of thousands of students furious about the fact that they will are to pay more for university throughout England.

We're following these live pictures for you. All of the breaking news right here on CNN.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Go to Dan, right?

All right? Straight to London, England. Once again, Dan Rivers following this breaking news for us. These students getting more and more angry about a vote about to go down in 30 minutes, raising their tuition. Dan, it doesn't look like its getting any more calm.

RIVERS: Yes you can see -- whoa! These clashes are going on here, and a lot of missiles being thrown, a lot of these metal construction barriers are being thrown at the police. The police are being under a hail of bullets. This is what was just thrown, a battery that came zooming right past our heads just then. They have been having, you know, kind of pool balls and (INAUDIBLE) balls being thrown at them as well. So, some really angry scenes here.

Police are gradually getting out and arresting who they perceive to be the troublemakers, but the crowd is contained inside Parliament Square as this vote on raising tuition fees is now only half an hour away inside that building over there. The politicians will be voting on this. You see an injured policeman hobbling out there. So, the angry scenes continue in the center of London. Back to you.

PHILLIPS: Dan Rivers, stay there for us. We will continue this breaking news live from London as though protests continue to increase. More students showing up as Parliament gets ready to vote on raising tuition hikes.

We will be following this for you live right here on CNN. Stay with us. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back at the top of the hour. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)