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Two Afghan Suicide Bombing Attacks; Parents of Florida A&M Student Speak Out; Amazing Weather Events in 2011; Future of Occupy; One Girl's Dream To Cure Cancer
Aired December 06, 2011 - 12:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN ANCHOR: Top of the hour. I'm Suzanne Malveaux.
Want go get you up to speed.
A holy day for Shiite Muslims turns deadly now in Afghanistan. Suicide bombers blew up themselves in two Afghan cities today, killing at least 58 people, wounding 150 others. Authorities say the attacks, apparently coordinated, were designed to turn Shiites against the Sunni majority in Afghanistan. NATO is condemning the violence on this holy day, saying it is horrifying.
U.S. officials are now confirming that a drone that crashed in Iran last week was on a reconnaissance mission involving both the CIA and the U.S. military. Now, Iran says it shot down that drone, but American officials say the crew lost control of the aircraft as it drifted into Iranian airspace. The Sentinel drone, it has some of the most advanced stealth and surveillance technology in the U.S. arsenal, now in Iranian hands.
The future of Europe's economy is in jeopardy, and today a stern warning that something has got to happen and it's got to happen fast. The credit rating agency Standard & Poor's, it says it may downgrade 15 European countries unless there's strong action to fix the debt crisis.
Well, earlier, I spoke to CNN's Ali Velshi and Christine Romans about why this matters to us.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ALI VELSHI, CNN CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: People often say, how does it affect my credit card, how does it affect my mortgage? More importantly than your credit card and mortgage, if Europe were to fail, we could go back to stone ages. I mean, this is the biggest client in the world for us. They are the same size as America. The eurozone's economy is the same size as the U.S. economy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Right now on Wall Street, traders watching very closely how European leaders are taking on this challenge. The Dow, currently up. We are seeing 41 points.
Well, protesting against the government has now spread to Russia. That is where people -- you can see they're rallying against alleged voting fraud in a major election. That happened on Sunday.
Check out that video. Vladimir Putin's party suffered a big hit to the majority in that vote. Protesters both for and against Putin are now storming the streets. The Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov tells CNN that he was arrested at that rally.
Newt Gingrich keeps rising to the top of the presidential pack. Well, the Iowa caucuses are just four weeks away. And there is a new poll out. It has him at 33 percent likely voters in the Iowa Republican caucuses voting for him. That is according to an ABC/"Washington Post" poll.
Meanwhile, how are the other guys doing? Well, you've got Mitt Romney, Ron Paul. They're tied at 18 percent. Rick Perry, 11 percent.
There's a sentencing hearing. It's under way in Chicago right now for Rod Blagojevich. It is expected it's going to last two days. Now, prosecutors, this is what they want. They want the judge to give the impeached Illinois governor at least 15 years in prison.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NATASHA KORECKI, "CHICAGO SUN-TIMES": I think the people of Illinois really do want to hear an apology from him. And lots of experts are saying that's what he needs to do. He needs to step up to the plate today. And actually, one of his chief lawyers, told the "Sun-Times" today that he will step up to the plate.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: So, why do they want this? A jury convicted Blagojevich on corruption charges, including trying to sell the Senate seat that was held by President Obama.
Former president Jimmy Carter, he wants to lead a delegation to Egypt as they hold their critical elections. Conservative Islamist parties ended up coming out on top of the first round of the voting that happened last week. So, that has got Israeli officials concerned that the peace deal with Egypt could collapse. Carter, as you'll recall, helped broker that peace deal between the two countries back in 1979.
So now back to today's suicide attacks in Afghanistan.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Jesus!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Explosions in the capital, Kabul, the northern city of Mazar-e-Sharif, killing at least 58 people.
Our own Nick Paton Walsh, he is joining us from Kabul.
Nick, what do we believe is happening there? Is this a desperate move by the Taliban? Has anyone taken responsibility for what we have seen just in the last 24 hours?
NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, interestingly enough, Suzanne, at this point what we've heard from the Taliban is they've condemned these two attacks. And I should add, we've just heard the death toll from the Kabul attack has risen to 56, with 193 people injured, making it quite easily the deadliest attack to hit this city for a certain number of years.
So, significantly, as you've just heard there and seen the detonation of that particular blast, and the tightly packed crowd gathered in the very center of Kabul near some of the ministries, right in the very center, not far from the presidential palace, causing significant panic amongst people here. Firstly, of course, because the insurgency, if whatever part of the insurgency was to blame for this, have penetrated yet again the secure center of the city. But also because, as you say, this is potentially some kind of new sectarian conflict breaking out in a country which, for the last decade of war, has not seen that kind of Sunni/Shia violence which for a lot of time dominated the violence in Iraq.
We've heard from the spokesman for the Afghan Interior Ministry, though. Despite the fact they accept the suicide bomber's body, given them little evidence to trace his origins, they still believe the Taliban or people affiliated with it were to blame for this, despite the Taliban's denial -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: Yes. And Nick, you bring up a very good point, because you say the Sunnis, they make up 80 percent of the Afghan population; the Shiites, 20 percent.
Do the authorities think that this is going to work, that it's going to whip up this kind of sectarian violence in that country?
WALSH: I think it's almost too terrible to contemplate, but also, to be honest, not really historically something that has precedent here. I mean, most Afghans view themselves a lot of the time as (INAUDIBLE) if they are in the South, or Hazara. And while the Hazara being a tribal minority here, ethnic minority, often find themselves Shia as well, the Sunni/Shia divide here hasn't really taken much of a role in its 30 years of war here. So, people are definitely concerned this could turn into something deeply unpleasant, but also potentially having a realty check that this may not overnight change the nature of the insurgency here -- Suzanne.
MALVEAUX: All right.
Nick Paton Walsh.
Thank you very much, Nick.
He's a billionaire, entrepreneur, reality TV star. Well, now, Donald Trump having a direct impact on the presidential race, even though he's not even a candidate.
Carol Costello, she is joining us from New York with a "Talk Back" question. Carol, you know, I mean, from day one, he was getting a lot of attention, and he's still part of the mix.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He certainly is part of the mix, Suzanne.
Mr. Trump, "The Donald," reality show star, rich real estate guy, Republican king maker, or so it seems? Newt Gingrich, seemingly in an effort to cement his lead, had a powwow with Trump just like Bachmann and Perry and Romney and Cain before him.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
NEWT GINGRICH (R), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: Donald Trump is a great showman. He's also a great businessman. If we're trying to figure out how to create jobs, I think one of the differences between my party and the other party is we actually go to people who know how to create jobs to figure out how to create jobs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Oh, but Mr. Trump creates buzz, too. Back when he was testing the presidential waters himself, Trump turned birther, intimated President Obama was not American-born and wasn't so smart either.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT & CHAIRMAN, THE TRUMP ORGANIZATION: The word is, according to what I've read, that he was a terrible student when he went to Occidental. He then gets to Columbia. He then gets to Harvard.
I heard at Columbia, he wasn't a very good student. He then gets to Harvard. How do you get into Harvard if you're not a good student?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COSTELLO: Well, thanks to Mr. Trump, Mr. Obama did become the first president in American history to show the nation his birth certificate.
Later this month, Trump is set to moderate a Newsmax/ION TV-sponsored Republican debate, and that has some Republicans irate.
Ari Fleischer, a former Bush administration official, says it's a joke.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ARI FLEISCHER, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Presidential politics should be about things that are serious. They should not gravitate to the most entertainment level. And that's what it will be if you put a third- party showman like Donald Trump as a moderator.
(END VIDEO CLIP) COSTELLO: So, the "Talk Back" question for you today: Why do some Republicans feel the need to kiss Donald trump's ring?
Facebook.com/CarolCNN. I'll read your comments later this hour.
MALVEAUX: All right. Thank you, Carol.
And we're just getting some information. My colleague Wolf Blitzer, he's going to be interviewing Newt Gingrich. That's happening tomorrow in THE SITUATION ROOM.
Again, a one-on-one with Newt Gingrich and Wolf Blitzer. Don't want to miss that one.
Here's a rundown of some of the stories we are covering this hour.
First, an update on the Florida A&M University drum major who died after an alleged hazing. His parents are now speaking out to CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Whatever it takes to clean up, whether it's from the top to the bottom, clean house.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Then, the Occupy movement is expanding now into new territory. It's called occupying foreclosed homes.
Plus, the surprising but happy ending after a car plows into a restaurant in San Diego.
And a face to remember. This high school student just designed a revolutionary treatment for cancer. Pretty cool. We're going to introduce you to her.
Also, images of nature's raw power caught on camera. I'm going to show you the best pictures of the year.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Now the latest on the suspected hazing death at Florida A&M.
Students took part in a mandatory forum last night in Tallahassee following the death of drum major Robert Champion. The university has now dismissed four students, but officials have not explained how they might be connected to Champion's death.
Now, student leaders are calling on all students, sign an agreement stating that you're not going to take part in hazing.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARVIN GREEN, DIRECTOR, STUDENT ACTIVITIES, FLORIDA A&M UNIVERSITY: I want you to listen and feel, these are live bodies. These are live bodies. These are real people. These are your sisters and your brothers. These are your fellow FAMU family.
We represent not only the faculty, staff and students of today, but we also represent those of yesterday and tomorrow. We must always keep in mind our mantra of excellence with caring, a place that cares for each and every part of our family. Hazing in any form is not exemplary behavior of people who care about this family, a FAMU family.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Robert Champion's parents, they're still in shock. The sudden and senseless loss of their own son. Jason Carroll sat down and talked to them.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Robert Champion was living his dream, a dream that started when he was 5 years old, being a drum major. His parents say the last time they spoke to him was just before Thanksgiving.
PAM CHAMPION, ROBERT CHAMPION'S MOTHER: We had talked to him and he was saying how he couldn't wait to come home.
CARROLL: Robert Champion was a member of Florida A&M University's prestigious marching band, the Marching 100. On November 19th, after Champion had performed at a football game in Orlando, his parents got another call, this time from his sister.
ROBERT CHAMPION SR., ROBERT CHAMPION'S FATHER: She called us and saying someone had called her and saying that Robert had problems breathing. And I think one of the band members said he wasn't breathing.
PAM CHAMPION: When you get that kind of news, you think, not my Robert, you know what I mean? Maybe they made a mistake. So I guess I kind of still had that in my mind, that it wasn't my son, you know? You know, this is a bad joke, you know?
ROBERT CHAMPION SR.: A bad dream.
CARROLL: But this was all too real. Listen to the 911 call made by a band member.
911 OPERATOR: Are you with the person right now?
UNIDENTIFIED CALLER: Well, I'm outside the bus so I can hear you.
911 OPERATOR: OK. So he's inside the bus?
UNIDENTIFIED CALLER: Yes, he's inside the bus.
911 OPERATOR: OK. How old is he?
UNIDENTIFIED CALLER: He is 25. 911 OPERATOR: OK. Is he awake?
UNIDENTIFIED CALLER: He's not even -- he wasn't responding. We thought he was breathing he was making noises, but I don't even know if he's breathing now.
911 OPERATOR: Is he awake? Do you know?
UNIDENTIFIED CALLER: His eyes are open. His eyes are open. He's not responding.
911 OPERATOR: OK, but is he breathing?
UNIDENTIFIED CALLER: I have no idea. I cannot tell you that.
CARROLL: The 911 call too painful for his parents to hear. It wasn't until Robert's body was brought home to suburban Atlanta that the shock of his death really began to register.
PAM CHAMPION: He kind of looked like he was still at school and he just had come home. But to have him come home that way, that's the hardest thing for anybody.
CARROLL: But why did he die? Investigators suspect hazing. Band members we spoke to say it may have been the result of a rite of passage called crossing bus C. That's the bus Robert was on after the November 19th game. One band member, who did not want to be identified, told me what happened.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have to walk from the front to the back of the bus backwards and while the bus is full with other band members. And you get beat until you get to the back.
CARROLL (on camera): And the point of it is what?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: For respect.
CARROLL (voice-over): And the beating can involve something he referred to as thunder and lightning.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Thunder is when you get like a straight hit to the chest.
CARROLL (on camera): Straight hit to the chest.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And lightning is when you get kind of like a slap to the shoulders.
CARROLL (voice-over): He says he himself has never been hazed, but that the beatings usually happened for one of two reasons, a mistake during a performance or as a way for the band member to gain respect.
In some ways, the Marching 100 is bigger than the games where they play. Their high stepping choreography has earned them a worldwide reputation performing spots at Super Bowls and the president's inauguration. (on camera): But allegations of hazing have followed the band for years. Back in 2001, a student was paddled so badly, he had to be hospitalized for kidney failure.
And just weeks before Champion's death, the band's director, Julian White, had to suspend 26 of the band members for hazing.
(voice-over): White says he tried for years to end the practice, but says no one listened. The university fired White following Champion's death and suspended band performances indefinitely. The school's president, James Amond, spoke at Champion's funeral and vowed his death would not be in vain.
Amond has declined repeated requests to be interviewed. Champion's parents say the school must be held accountable.
PAM CHAMPION: Whatever it takes to clean up, whether it's from top to the bottom, clean house.
CARROLL: They say justice will come. Healing for them will take much longer.
PAM CHAMPION: The thing is, is that I'm just going to miss his smile, his big hugs. There's nothing in the world that can prepare you for that. Nothing.
Gosh, I'm crying. Nothing can prepare you for that. Nothing.
CARROLL: Jason Carroll, CNN, Tallahassee, Florida.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
MALVEAUX: Let's take a look at some stories and video that caught our attention today.
Three people were injured when a car slammed into a San Diego area restaurant. Now, before we show you the pictures, I want you to know police say they are all OK, all three of them. But this is what it looks like here.
It is remarkable the injuries weren't more serious. At least two of these people were hit head on Friday. The driver, pretty shaken up. She said she accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake.
To suburban Denver. This is where a Buddhist temple was destroyed in a massive fire. Unbelievable pictures. At one point, the firefighters ripped down walls. They were trying to get these gold, bronze, these ivory Buddha statues that were in danger of burning. One monk suffered minor burns and smoke inhalation.
And in southern Ohio, two teens had to climb on the roof of their jeep when they got trapped in this raging flood. They called 911, and rescuers tracked them down yesterday using the phone's GPS.
So, the most amazing weather events now frozen in time like this huge dust storm in Phoenix. We've got a lot of these pictures. More of the most powerful images from 2011, that's up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: All right. 2011, amazing, right? Amazing weather news.
Hurricane Irene, you had the devastating tornado in Joplin, Missouri. You had all of these powerful stories, as well as powerful images.
Chad, you've got the most impressive pictures. We're taking a look. I mean, it was really kind of an unusual and dramatic, sometimes tragic, situation that happened this year. But the weather was just extraordinary.
CHAD MYERS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: In fact, it was so extraordinary, we're going to do a one-hour special on it at the end of the year, wrapping up how many billions of dollars, literally, it cost the U.S., whether it was crop damage in Texas, whether it was Joplin, whether it was --
Take a look at this. I just find this picture so extraordinary.
This is the haboob. This is the dust storm that moved through the desert Southwest.
People crashed on the interstate. They couldn't see, driving through that, breathing this into your home -- breathing this into your lungs. A great picture here from Daniel Bryant (ph).
Now into Thailand, probably an under-covered story on CNN domestic, covered widely on CNN International. The Thailand flooding has created huge problems for the people, where the cities are just inundated still with water right now.
They can't even produce goods. They can't go to the stores. There's nothing for these people. The Thailand flooding was terrible this year.
Joplin tornado. I'm going to show you an image. It's a before and after. You'll see the top and the bottom picture.
It's the same street, a street on top, Joplin, Missouri, homes, lovely garden community, big trees, shade trees. The picture down below taken from about 20 feet in front of where the picture on top was taken. Just tremendous damage, nothing left. That's what an F-5 tornado will do.
Now, we're also talking -- we'll talk about Tuscaloosa, we'll talk about all those other tornadoes. But then, Irene.
We knew Irene wasn't going to be a big wind maker, but Irene made a flood, and Irene made a flood for Vermont, New Hampshire, for Pennsylvania.
Vermont was a big story, North Carolina. This is coastal North Carolina. There was a home here. There was a cottage built in 1903. It survived every other storm so far. And there are the owners sitting on the steps of what was their cottage on the sound there in North Carolina. Damage there even took out the land mass. Some of the island doesn't exist anymore.
MALVEAUX: Chad, why did that happen? Why was it such a crazy year? Do you know?
MYERS: There's no way to know. It's not a random event.
The Earth is getting a little bit more violent. And with the warmth of the global warming event, just, you're going to get more humidity in the air and you get more of a bomb effect. You can get more humidity in the air, that going to make more potential energy, and that potential energy is coming in the way of severe weather.
MALVEAUX: All right. Thank you, Chad.
And I want our viewers to know, really, these pictures are extraordinary. 2011 is winding down. We're going to bring you more of this year's most striking images, and they are truly striking, sometimes devastating.
Thank you.
Well, the Occupy Wall Street movement is taking a provocative new stance -- provocative and illegal. They are squatting in foreclosed homes now across the country. The Occupy our Homes movement, that is up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: Want to take you to some live pictures we're keeping our eye on now.
Air Force One -- President Obama arriving in Kansas City, Kansas. He's heading to a suburb in the region there to talk within the next hour or so -- to talk about the gap between the rich and the poor, and also some ways to deal with the economy, making sure that tax cuts are extended for the middle class and trying to make sure that Congress works with the administration in meeting a deadline less than two weeks away to make sure that some of these most troubling economic problems actually have some sort of resolution, or at least a plan for Congress to deal with the economic crisis.
We're going to bring you the speech. It's live at 2:00 p.m. Eastern. That, also in the CNN NEWSROOM.
Here's a rundown of some of the stories ahead.
Up next, new mission for members of the Occupy movement. We're talking about occupying foreclosed homes.
Then, we're going to take a look at the big picture behind Occupy's new strategy.
And later, while most teens still dreaming about the prom, maybe, this young woman just designed what is being called the Swiss Army Knife of cancer treatments. That's pretty bad. We're going to meet her in California.
The Occupy Wall street movement now taking a bold new direction after being thrown out of the city parks. You remember those pictures. You saw how this unfolded.
Well, now they are occupying foreclosed homes. That's right. The protesters, they are now squatting in homes foreclosed on by the banks.
And the protests, they are happening in 25 cities across the country today. So we're talking about Los Angeles to Chicago to New York City.
Now, the protesters, they call today's action "Occupy Our Homes." And they say they want to stop or reverse this record -- right -- we're talking 3.8 million home foreclosures -- in our country.
Joining us from Washington is the co-founder of the group Take Back the Land, Max Rameau, and Catherine Lennon (ph). She is joining us via Skype from her foreclosed home in New York. Now, she was evicted after the bank foreclosed on it, but she joins the protesters in taking back her foreclosed home.
So thank you both of you for joining us here to help us kind of understands what's taking place. Max, I want to start off with you. What is the goal here of squatting in these homes?
MAX RAMEAU, CO-FOUNDER, TAKE BACK THE LAND: Well, first of all, let me clarify that there's a distinction between "Occupy Wall Street," which we're not representatives of, we don't speak for and Take Back the Land.
And even occupy our homes, where "Occupy Wall Street" and a lot of occupy is a part of it. The real objective here is to make sure that human beings have housing. We've seen over the past few years that the government has made sure that banks were able to get large numbers of houses on their books and facilitated that process.
We think that housing however belongs to human beings. On the take back the land side, we're trying to do what these actions is to elevate housing to the level of the human right and to secure community control over land.
MALVEAUX: OK, so Max, just be clear here, you do support, right, the "Occupy Wall Street" folks taking back the homes and occupying the homes?
RAMEAU: We're big supporters and have been to several of the local occupy actions, including "Occupy Wall Street."
MALVEAUX: All right, I want to go to Catherine here because Catherine your story is unique. First of all, what -- you are in your home, right, in a foreclosed home?
CATHERINE LENNON, LIVES IN HER FORECLOSED HOME: Yes, I am. MALVEAUX: How did this happen?
LENNON: Well, actually I reclaimed my home back in May, Mother's Day, May of this year. And how it happened is because the banks got bailed out and I got put out of my home.
And I had so much help and so much you know, through "Take Back The Land" is one of the main sources of my being with the knowledge that I was not --
MALVEAUX: Catherine, you've moved back into your home now. Are you worried about being arrested because it is illegal that you are now back in your home?
LENNON: Well, I'm not -- no, I'm actually right now it's not a fact of illegal. I think it's criminal for what the banks have done and I'm not scared.
I have a team of lawyers that's very well helping me so I feel like it's -- I'm here and I'm back in my home. This has gone all the way to the Supreme Court. I'm not illegally in my home. A Supreme Court judge has mandated me to be in my home right now as I'm speaking to you right now.
MALVEAUX: Catherine, are you -- how are you living? Do you have utilities? Are you living as you had done before, before you were kicked out of your home?
LENNON: Well, yes, I'm living -- no, I'm not living like I was before I got put out of my home. I've gotten all of my furniture. This is stuff that I don't have anything, much of anything.
They took my stuff and just throw it like they wanted to. By the grace of God, I do have -- I have favor because of the gas and electric or whatever may be, that was all -- that was another story as far as gas and electric goes also.
MALVEAUX: We'll get back to Catherine. I want to bring Max back in here really quickly. Folks are wondering what this is going to accomplish. Obviously it brings attention to the cause here, but there are some people who believe it is illegal.
It's not right if the banks own the property or if people don't take care of these homes that they are squatting in, it's going to make it harder for working families who want to buy and live in a home to be able to do that.
RAMEAU: Well, it's true that it is not legal. That's not even something up to debate. What we are doing is illegal, but that's exactly the point. What we're doing is illegal, but what the banks are doing and government is doing is immoral.
And we think it is immoral -- morally indefensible to have vacant homes on one side of the street and people with nowhere to live on the other. It seems like instead of going through all of this effort for both political parties to protect banks. Both political parties should be focusing on protecting human beings.
That's what we're trying to do. I think it will accomplish things on two levels, for people like Catherine and Bobby in Minneapolis, Minnesota and Martha Biggs in Chicago, Illinois, and people all over the United States who are benefiting from it.
They are getting a place to live where normally the market is not taking care of them. The government is not taking care. They are getting a place to live.
In a bigger picture, I think what we're doing, we're challenging the idea that spaces can remain, living spaces can remain empty while human beings live on the street.
MALVEAUX: All right, Max Rameau and Catherine Lennon, thank you so much for sharing your story as well as sharing your home there. We are asking the question what is the future of the occupy movement?
And really what real change, if any, will it get out of the protests here? We'll talk to a former White House staffer who is trying to move this to the next level.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
MALVEAUX: "Occupy Wall Street" movement is now expanding its reach today. Marching to Washington to occupy Congress and also squatting on for closed homes across the country.
What does it all mean for the future of the movement that is trying to draw attention to economic inequality? Joining us from Los Angeles is Van Jones. He was President Obama's green jobs adviser back in 2009.
He's currently the president of "Rebuild the Dream." It's a group that is working to restore some good jobs, economic opportunities across the country. So Van, you and I have talked many times before about the "Occupy Wall Street" movement.
And I get it here, this is a new tactic we're going to go from pictures of police arresting, moving the protesters out of the public parks to these pictures of police moving people out of these empty houses.
So we got the visual here. What does it accomplish, however, for the movement, besides seeing obviously potential confrontation?
VAN JONES, PRESIDENT, REBUILD THE DREAM: Well, first of all, I don't speak for "Occupy Wall Street." But I'm happy to speak up for "Occupy Wall Street."
I think it's more serious than that. The movement is going from fighting to defend the right of a few thousand protesters who sleep outdoors to fighting for the bigger right for millions of people to sleep indoors.
People have said, they are going too far and bending the rules or breaking rules. I think the banks have gone too far in breaking rules.
MALVEAUX: But Van, how do we make sure this is not more than a show? How do you translate this into something substantial that will change?
JONES: Think about this from the point of view of history. When the young people sat in during the 1960s, they were breaking rules, but called attention to a bigger injustice. That's what these young people are doing. These protesters are doing.
They are calling attention -- I am much more concerned -- much less concerned about a few protesters helping people back into empty homes. I'm concerned about the fact that the banks have been throwing millions of people out of homes and I think society has not paid attention.
There is so much pain out there. One of things I don't think has come through yet is the heartbreaking stories of these folks. It's all over YouTube, this veteran went through everything trying to modify his home. He went through the program. Hundreds of pages of paper stayed on hold for hours and the sheriff still knocked on his door.
There is no relief. And I think that ordinary people are looking around saying the banks got bailed out, we were good to them but the same banks are being so mean to other people. It's a wake-up call for the media and politicians to figure out, how can we actually make a difference to deal with what is a crisis level of foreclosure and still no discussion.
MALVEAUX: So Van, I'm understanding and hear your point. But again, how do you take this, right? I mean, people are in the homes and kicked out of the homes. How do you take it to the next level? You raise attention. How do you get some action here?
JONES: Well, first of all, I think that the Congress and White House put forward a home loan modification program that did not work. It was a disaster. Congress needs to take another look at this.
We are three years into this crisis. Certainly, the protesters shouldn't be asked to figure out how to do a loan modification program, but the media should now start telling the stories of people who are losing their homes.
These are heartbreaking stories. Unopposed demolition of middle class families and livelihoods by banks that were bailed out by American taxpayers is breaking people's hearts across the country.
I think the media should tell the individual stories of folks and veterans and others who are suffering. I think that Congress needs to look at the home loan modification program. As we come up with something that works, you got people who want to stay in their house.
We don't want to have these blighted neighborhood. You've got people who are willing to say something, but nobody will work with them. So now just like in the '60s when the young people did sit-ins to get attention, you got people who are sitting in now.
This is not fun and games. This is real life. These are real people who are really hurting, who have been left out, who are being thrown out and finally somebody is doing something about it. I think it's up to us to step forward with comprehensive solutions.
MALVEAUX: All right, Van Jones, thank you very much. Appreciate your perspective as always. Thank you, Van.
It is being called the Swiss army knife of cancer treatment. So amazing, right? Here's the catch, didn't even come from a world renowned doctor or scientist. It came from a high school student. Yes, that story up next.
First, some free money advice from the CNN Help Desk.
POPPY HARLOW, CNNMONEY.COM CORRESPONDENT: Time now for the "Help Desk" where we get answers to your financial questions. Joining me this hour, Jeff Otter, is the executive editor of CBSmoneywatch.com.
Donna Rosato is the senior editor at "Money" magazine. Thank you both for being here. Donna, your question comes from Monique. Monique is a 58-year-old widow and was married for 10 years. She wants to know if she remarries if she going to lose the right to her late husband's Social Security benefits.
DONNA ROSATO, SENIOR EDITOR, MONEY MAGAZINE: This is an interesting one. She will not lose her rights if she remarries, but she can't remarry until she's after age 60. So if she's got someone in mind, they might want to have a long engagement.
It's true that if you're divorced you have to be married at least 10 years to collect, but that's not true of a widow. The one other thing to keep in mind, whoever she marries check out how much Social Security that person may get and you know, weigh that against what she might have gotten from her previous husband and see which one might be higher.
HARLOW: Sure, good advice. Jack, your question comes from Min in California. Are there any tax advantages to investing my 401(k)'s contribution in my own company's stock?
JACK OTTER, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, CBSMONEYWATCH.COM: There's no tax advantage. There is a huge financial investing disadvantage that we'll talk about. But anything within a 401(k) is all taxed the same as ordinary income when you take it out.
The problem in investing in company stock is, look, your financial present and future is hitch to your company. I know everyone thinks their company is great and there will be no problems. But who knows, there could be a stumble down the road and you could lose your job.
And if your retirement savings are invested, you could lose your job and retirement savings, no more than 5 percent in company stock. The answer to that question very carefully, I would say no, diversify, your fortunes are already -- HARLOW: All right, thank you guys so much. If you have a question you want answered, send us an e-mail any time to CNN "Help Desk" at cnn.com.
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MALVEAUX: A 17-year-old just won $100,000 and some serious bragging rights for her research on cancer stem cells. Angela Zhang designed what is being called a Swiss army knife of cancer treatments. And joining us now, Dan Simon, out of Cupertino, California, with a very special guest. Tell us how this all came about.
DAN SIMON, CNN SILICON VALLEY CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're here at Monta Vista High School in Cupertino with one of the most extraordinary teenagers on the planet. And this is Angela Zhang. And we're also joined by her principal here at the school, April Scott.
Angela, I first want to start with you. Congratulations for winning this competition from Siemens.
ANGELA ZHANG, WON $100,000 FOR CANCER RESEARCH: Thank you.
SIMON: A pleasure to see you. Explain how this new treatment works. You were able to device a new way of targeting cancer.
ZHANG: Yes. So it's kind of like the Swiss army knife of cancer treatment in which -- that you could possibly detect incuments (ph), detect cancer cells, eradicate the cancer cells, and then monitor the treatment response. So one of the main goals is really to just personalize cancer medicine.
SIMON: You're only 17 years old.
ZHANG: Yes.
SIMON: Where did this inspiration for this come from?
ZHANG: Definitely from reading a lot of articles, as well as attending journal club meetings and going to seminars. But, I mean, just the research that's going on right now is so inspiring. I like to say it's beyond science fiction.
SIMON: How much time did you spend on this and when might we see this actually work on real patients?
ZHANG: Yes, so I spent afternoons of schools during the weekdays and then also on weekends. In terms of when this will be applicable in humans, well, clinical trials will take 10 to 15 years. So let's just say 20 years just to be safe.
SIMON: So this is a ways down the road. But can you talk to me about, you know, what it was like, what it's been like living here in Silicon Valley and how that's played a role in what you do.
ZHANG: Definitely living in Silicon Valley has had a tremendous effect on my science interest and development, I think mainly because of the people here and how interested they are in science. Like as a fifth grader, if I went to school and I said, why is the sky blue, I could always find someone to talk to about it and someone who would be as interested as I was and go home and look up the answers with me on Google or something.
SIMON: Well, April Scott is her principal. It obviously goes without saying that she's just absolutely extraordinary. Talk about how special she is.
APRIL SCOTT, PRINCIPAL, MONTA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL: She is a phenomenal student. I think we're most inspired by just this personal drive of hers. It was not for external recognition. It wasn't to flaunt it. It was something that came so internal and was so passionate about it because of the internal drive. We are also in awe of just how she is able to articulate such a complex issue in every day terms so that people like me can understand what she's doing.
SIMON: Well, thank you to both. Angela, congratulations. And she got $100,000 scholarship from Siemens for college. And, you know what, she told me she's applied to some of the top schools in the country -- Harvard, MIT, Stanford. And, Suzanne, something tells me that I'm not even sure she needs to send an application. I think they'll all desperately want to have her on campus next fall.
Back to you.
MALVEAUX: All right. Congratulations to Angela. Please pass our well wishes on to her.
Well, to the Twitter verse now and a question, which hash tag was tops in 2011? Was it #Egypt, #Tigerblood or #threewordstoliveby? Stay tuned to find out.
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MALVEAUX: All right, how savvy are you with social media? Before the break we asked you if you knew what Twitter's top hash tag was for the year, #Egypt, #Tigerblood or #threewordstoliveby. The answer, mainly because of protests in Tahrir Square this past spring, hash tag Egypt.
We're actually getting a lot of responses to today's "Talk Back" question. It seems everybody's got an opinion on The Donald, right, Carol?
COSTELLO: They certainly do. Today's question, Suzanne, why do some Republican candidates kiss Donald Trump's ring?
This from Lisa. "This is the epitome of what's wrong with our country. And none of them should be accepting the invitation to participate in a debate he is moderating. It's not a game show."
This from Morgan. "I wonder how many jobs Mr. Trump has created, how many companies he has started, and how many buildings he has built. Look what the man has accomplished. I'd kiss his ring too."
This from Francis. "They believe kissing his ring can get them elected. It's sad and amusing to see some of the GOP candidates stooping this low because Donald Trump doesn't lend any legitimacy to them."
And this from Michelle. "Trump has the blitz and bling that these Republican candidates don't have. That attracts attention - the good, the bad and the ugly. Mostly the bad and the ugly."
Keep the conversation going, facebook.com/carolcnn. And, as always, I appreciate your comments.
MALVEAUX: All right, thank you, Carol.
A ban on killing horses for their meat is about to be lifted. We're going to tell you what led to the change.
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MALVEAUX: Five years ago the government said it was inhumane to slaughter horses for their meat. Well, that ban is about to be lifted. Brian Todd has the story.
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BRIAN TODD, ABC CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Listen to how Christine Hajek describes one of her prized beasts, an 18-hand tall Clydesdale named Chance.
CHRISTINE HAJEK, HORSE RESCUER: This would be a kill buyer's dream.
TODD (on camera): A kill buyer's dream.
HAJEK: Yes.
TODD: Why do you say that?
HAJEK: The kill buyers are the men who are contracted to buy horses for the slaughter plants and they would like a horse like this because he is so massive and he just has so much flesh on him.
TODD (voice-over): Hajek runs the Gentle Giants Draft Horse Rescue Facility in Maryland. Has made it her business to rescue horses at auction just before they're sent to slaughter.
TODD (on camera): And she was targeted for slaughter as well?
HAJEK: Yes, we outbid the meat man by 1 cent more per pound.
TODD (voice-over): Hajek's bidding skills will likely stay pretty sharp. Congress has just lifted a de facto five-year-old ban on slaughtering horses in the U.S., passing a spending bill allowing inspection of horses destined to be killed for meat. In 2006, more than 100,000 horses were slaughtered. Most of the meat sent overseas. Slaughterhouses will soon be legally butchering horses again. The Humane Society vows to fight the process, saying Americans don't eat horses, don't want them inhumanely killed, shrink-wrapped and sent to Japan or Belgium for a high-prized appetizer." TODD (on camera): This is Winky (ph), a draft horse found wondering around in the wilds of southern Ohio. The owners here believe that she was rejected by a broker because she had an illness that caused her to lose her left eye. That situation is why some who favor slaughterhouses say they should be brought back into business.
TODD (voice-over): Those activists say the ban on slaughter in the U.S. forced many owners who couldn't afford to keep their horses to set them free in the wild.
SUE WALLIS, UNITED HORSEMENS FRONT: These horses are being turned out on roads where they're being hit by cars or being turned out in the desert where they don't know how to survive and they wind up starving to death, or worse yet, being pulled down by predators while they're still alive.
TODD: Pro-slaughter activists also say the ban forced owners to send their horses to places like Mexico to be slaughtered, where they say horses are killed brutally and slowly. Not as humane, they say, as the so-called captive bolt method in the U.S., which first renders the horse unconscious. I asked Hajek about that argument.
HAJEK: I don't feel that a horse should have to be punished with the human irresponsibility of over breeding, poor ownership or bad circumstances by paying with their life for our mistakes.
TODD: The activists who favor slaughter say that with the lifting of the ban, a slaughterhouse could be up and running in the U.S. as soon as a few weeks from now. They estimate that up to 200,000 horses a year could be slaughtered for human consumption, with most of that meat going to Europe and Asia.
Brian Todd, CNN, Mt. Airy, Maryland
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