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Rallies Held Across Country in Opposition to George Zimmerman Trial Verdict; Interview with Martin Luther King III; Journalist Helen Thomas Dies; Eliot Spitzer Running for New York City Comptroller; Country Singer Openly Gay

Aired July 20, 2013 - 10:00   ET

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

VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN ANCHOR: Now we're just hours away from rallies across the nation protesting the Zimmerman verdict.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They could not leave and get on their own free will.

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POPPY HARLOW, CNN ANCHOR: Hostages held in a house, possibly for years. No, this isn't the Cleveland case. It's another one. And the suspected motivation will shock you.

(MUSIC)

BLACKWELL: He's the newest star to break into country, but Steve Grand is not the typical all-American boy. The music and the personal life that has a lot of people talking.

HARLOW: Good morning, everyone. I'm Poppy Harlow.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. It's 10:00 on the east coast, 7:00 out west. You are in the CNN Newsroom.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This is CNN breaking news.

BLACKWELL: We begin with breaking news into CNN. Veteran journalist Helen Thomas has died.

HARLOW: The legendary White House reporter was 92 years old. She was the first female member of the White House press corps. CNN's "STATE OF THE UNION" anchor Candy Crowley knew her well. She is on the phone with us well. Now, Candy, thank you for joining us. Very sad news. She really broke so many barriers, especially for female journalists, on the political beat. What can you tell us about her?

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": Oh, my goodness. First of all, people really should look up her bio because it's so filled with firsts, it's ridiculous. She was the first chief correspondent for a major news organization. She worked for united press international. She was the person most people might recognize in the old days when they had evening press conferences. She was the one that always said thank you, Mr. President, because she was dean of the press corps.

Let me just tell you a little bit about Helen. She was controversial, and, in fact, her days at the White House were ended over a controversial -- over some things she said about the Middle East. She was incredibly passionate, but she was a persistent reporter that upset every president since John F. Kennedy. That's how long her career goes back.

She convinced him, by the way, show told me this story one time, to boycott those big press dinners that now are held usually in the springtime until they allowed women in. She was the first woman to go into the -- to be accepted into the Gridiron Club, et cetera, et cetera.

When I went to the White House as a 20-something really scared journalist thinking there are all these people that know what they're doing and they're going to think I'm this little nerd that doesn't know anything. No one was nicer to me than Helen Thomas. And she has been to so many women kind of that person who just toughed her way through. People look at her as a big tough journalist, but she had a soft heart. She helped fund scholarships for young women in journalism.

And she was just a dear friend to an awful lot of people. It's not who you saw on the TV screen, often not who you thought you knew when you read her columns, but she was such a mentor to so many people and such a genuinely nice person.

BLACKWELL: Dana Perino, who was White House press secretary under George W. Bush, she just posted on Twitter, "Rest in peace, Helen Thomas. First day I ever toke the podium, she came to encourage me. That was that day." And she posted a picture of that.

What do you think her legacy will be, because you talk about all the firsts, but there is that controversy about her comments about Israel getting out of Palestine? On that day, what do people think of first?

CROWLEY: The people who knew her and the journalist who admire her will -- I think she would want to be known as a journalist that she would let her record stand for itself. Nobody asked tougher questions of both sides than Helen. I think somebody's legacy always depends on how -- again, it's a prism thing, how you see that person. But I will tell you that the people who know her and the people who admired her journalism and her sheer tenacity, she just never let up. I mean, ask any press secretary or any president who was ever grilled by Helen Thomas, she was fierce. She was a genuine fierce woman who was first in so many things. And I think anytime you're a trail blazer, I think that's what you believe behind, but, again, I think Helen would want to be known as a good journalist.

HARLOW: Absolutely.

BLACKWELL: There's a documentary produced on her life and work, and she said you have to be a little daring. You might incur some wrath of the powers that be, but so what? HARLOW: And a daring --

CROWLEY: And she did incur the wrath.

HARLOW: Yes. A daring journalist she was. You're right, Candy. When I was reading that list of all that she had done, the barriers she had broken, it was one first after the other. Yes, her career ended in controversy in 2010. She will be remembered for the entirety of her career. Candy, really great insight into what it was like to work with her. You always like to hear that people are welcoming to you and that sort of thing. So thank you for sharing your stories with us. Appreciate it, Candy.

CROWLEY: Thanks, you guys.

BLACKWELL: We'll talk more about Helen Thomas' work and legacy throughout the hour. Let's go to the demonstrators who in just two hours and more than 100 cities will embark on what they're calling National Justice for Trayvon day.

HARLOW: Protesters want the Justice Department to bring a federal civil rights case against George Zimmerman, the man acquitted a week ago today in the murder trial over Trayvon Martin. CNN reporters are on the ground in several of those cities.

BLACKWELL: Let's start in New York where Trayvon Martin's mother Sybrina Fulton and his younger brother are expected to join protesters. Alina Cho is there. Alina?

ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Victor, good morning. You're right, Sybrina Fulton and her son Javaris will be along the headliners at today's protests. Remember, this is one of just about 100 rallies across the country organized by the national action network led by the reverend Al Sharpton. Sharpton is expected to lead today's rally here in New York at One Police Plaza. It's due to get under way at about noon eastern time. Sharpton and others will be calling on the Justice Department to file a civil rights suit against George Zimmerman citing racial profiling.

And, remember, and it bears repeating, that these rallies come exactly a week after an all-woman Florida jury acquitted George Zimmerman in the murder of Trayvon Martin. Of course, this is a verdict that has sparked outrage. It has sparked protests across the country, and commentary from everyone from Trayvon Martin's family to George Zimmerman's family to the president himself who said yesterday very poignantly "Trayvon Martin could have been me 35 years ago."

And Victor and Poppy, in terms of turnout, we're not getting any word on numbers just yet, but one thing that is positive here in New York City is that the weather has taken a bit of a break. It's about 10 degrees cooler here today than it was yesterday, but one caveat could be that the rain is due to start one hour after the rally starts, and, of course, that could affect turnout as well. Victor and Poppy?

BLACKWELL: Alina Cho for us in New York. Thank you. HARLOW: Let's go to Miami where the demonstration is just getting underway. It's taking place outside the federal courthouse and our Nick Valencia is there. Good morning to you. I know the headliner there today you said will be Trayvon Martin's father, Tracy Martin. Is he there yet?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Poppy. You have to forgive me. It's getting really loud out here. Things just got underway here. We have seen the crowd blossom from four people around 7:00 a.m. to an estimated more than 200. One of those people that was the first here, I want to bring in Miss Regina. You were the first person here and you have had a lot of people take your lead here. Why did you decide to show up?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: For justice for Trayvon and for kids just like Trayvon.

VALENCIA: What is this case about you? It's been a hot button issue about race relations in America about gun control. What is this case about to you and your family?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's about justice for all Americans. Trayvon could have been white, he could have been black, but he was stalked and he was killed.

VALENCIA: If you could talk to Tracy Martin, what would you tell him?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That my prayers are with her.

VALENCIA: Thank you very much for your time. That was Miss Regina. She was one of the first people on site. If you could look around at the crowd here, Poppy, it's largely peaceful. Right now they're bowing their heads in prayer. Things are just starting to get under way. We understand that Tracy Martin, the father of Trayvon Martin, will show up sometime in the 10:00 hour. And this is largely about the stand your ground law here in Florida. It's a two-pronged approach nationally. It's about also getting the Department of Justice to intervene in the decision, the verdict that found George Zimmerman not guilty. The majority of the people here, I would say all these people here, are supporters of Trayvon Martin. Poppy?

HARLOW: Nick, appreciate the reporting throughout the morning.

BLACKWELL: Let's go to the nation's capital, Washington, D.C., where president Obama just yesterday shared his emotional reaction to the Zimmerman verdict and talked about race. Our Athena Jones is there. Athena?

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Victor and Poppy. We're here outside the federal courthouse in Washington, D.C., and the justice for Trayvon rally here will get under way in a couple hours, around noon. People are already setting up. They've been distributing these flyers online to folks, calling on them to bring their hoodies, their signs, their iced tea and Skittles to stand in solidarity with Trayvon Martin and the Martin family. I should emphasize protesters here are not just focused on the call on the federal government, on the Justice Department to bring civil rights charges. They also want to make sure people leave this event today and become more informed about stand your ground laws across the country and work in the states that have them, work to repeal them.

So this is a multipronged goal here today, but one big part is showing public support for the Department of Justice's investigation into this case and hope -- and a call for them to bring civil rights charges. Back to you guys.

BLACKWELL: Athena Jones in D.C. for us. Thank you.

HARLOW: Coming up, Eliot Spitzer is all over the news these days even after his scandal and stepping down, now taking another run at public office. We're going to bring you Spitzer's opponent. That's straight ahead.

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HARLOW: All right, picture this. Things are looking pretty good for you in the primary for New York City comptroller. You're running uncontested in the primary, then boom.

BLACKWELL: Boom.

HARLOW: Boom, a new candidate jumps in, not just any candidate, jumps in, turns the race upside down. That is exactly what happened to Scott Stringer when former New York governor Eliot Spitzer, forced from office in that prostitution scandal jumped in the race. Eliot Spitzer has been all over the airwaves. And now his opponent, Scott Stringer, joins us live from New York. Appreciate you being here.

SCOTT STRINGER, (D) CANDIDATE, NEW YORK CITY COMPTROLLER: It's great to be here.

HARLOW: Let me start with this. I want to take a look at the poll numbers. These poll numbers came out from Quinnipiac University. They were released on Monday, but they have Spitzer leading you by a pretty wide margin, 48 percent to 33 percent. What do you attribute that to and are you concerned?

STRINGER: Those are name recognition polls are what they are. Listen, Spitzer was governor and then he wasn't. My job is to speak about my record, the work that I have done as borough president, my work as a state legislator, my visit for the office of the comptroller, which is to be the chief fiscal officer. I have to get my message out.

And when I talk about my record of leadership, the experience I have, and the integrity I have shown in my public life, I believe we are going to win this race by a substantial margin. Voters don't want to go back, they want to go forward. They want a comptroller who they can count on, who can watch out for their hopes and their dreams and their children. And I think I have demonstrated that without my 20 years record of public service.

BLACKWELL: I know no word is just happenstance and no word is accidental, you stressed the word integrity. I wonder if you will make the prostitution scandal an issue. I want to first hear from former governor Spitzer and then get your response to that. Let's listen to what he told our Alina Cho.

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CHO: You were trouncing Scott stringer in the polls. You're at 48 percent in the latest poll. What do you think that says about New Yorkers and their willingness to forgive?

ELIOT SPITZER, FORMER NEW YORK GOVERNOR: Well, look, I hope there's forgiveness. I think forgiveness is part and parcel of our psyches. Whether that forgiveness will extend to me is an open question. Early polls are not dispositive. Obviously I'm thrilled to see where they are, but, again, my focus is on having a message that I think will resonate with the public, which is that I worked very hard as attorney general, as governor, as a prosecutor years back.

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BLACKWELL: Do you think the governor has shown integrity?

STRINGER: Listen, I think Eliot Spitzer believes there are two sets of rules, one for him and one for the rest of us. He's not in the public campaign finance program so he's trying to buy this election with his own money. I have released five years of my tax returns because if you're going to be leading the public fiscal in this city people have to know your investments and who you are. Eliot Spitzer is not releasing tax returns. He told Mitt Romney he had to release his tax returns. But Eliot operates for what's good for Eliot and the rest of us have to play by the rules.

So the more we get the issues out and talk about integrity, talk about leadership and experience, I believe I'll win this race. And I'm very confident and we're getting a tremendous response out on the streets throughout the city. I'm out in every neighborhood. I'm shaking hands talking to voters, and I think that's going to matter on primary day.

HARLOW: Are we going to see any bolder, surprising moves from you to try to grab the spotlight? Because you're on the program with us now, but I have seen Spitzer all over the airwaves since this announcement was made. It's the voters in New York that matter. I know you're out there shaking hands, but anything we're going to see you do to shake this race up?

STRINGER: The way I'm going to shake the race is up by doing it the old-fashioned way. I'm going to talk about what people care about in New York City. Look, we're coming out of a very tough economy right now. There's a lot of folks in New York City who are suffering. People are worried about paying the mortgage, paying the rent. People are worried about how they're going to educate their children in our public schools. We need a comptroller who will watch the backs of New Yorkers.

This race is about the people. This is not about a failed governorship in a different era. This is about moving forward in this city, and I play by the same rules as working people do in the city. I'm in the campaign finance program, which means thousands of people have donated to my campaign, and that has created a citywide base of support. I'm supported by labor and finance. I'm supported by young people and old people. We have a diverse coalition of people rallying about my candidacy.

You know, what happened back then in Albany when the steam roller came and stayed we would change things for the better, that didn't happen. But I can point to my success as borough president and a member of the assembly where I live to fight for rules reform in the state legislature.

HARLOW: I want to talk about the tax returns a little more. I want to get into that a little more. You have been hammering home at it. There's been writes in "The New York Times" all over about this. You have been calling on Spitzer to release his full tax returns. Something, frankly, he's done in the past, something, as you're right, on his former program on Current TV, he called on Mitt Romney to release his full tax returns. I want to play you this and then talk about that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SPITZER: Romney has now made paying taxes the litmus test for good moral standing in our community. So while I had grown tired and lost interest in Mitt's tax returns, I have a sudden newfound interest in examining them. Game on, Mitt. Where do you stand with your own taxes?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: All right, that is part of one of your most recent campaign ads there. But so to be clear here, earlier this week Eliot Spitzer did release partial tax returns to the Conflict of Interest board, and his camp is saying he's not going to release his full tax returns because it could compromise his business partners. What specifically do you want to see in those tax returns? What are you specifically aiming for here?

STRINGER: Eliot Spitzer said that Mitt Romney should release his tax returns. Eliot Spitzer said that we have to participate in the campaign finance programs in this state and in this city -- in the city rather. When it comes to Eliot Spitzer, he doesn't follow the same rules he asks other people to follow. He won't release his tax returns. He won't participate in the campaign finance program. And New Yorkers are tired of being lectured by somebody who wants to play by a different set of rules than we have to play by.

I think that the issue of the tax returns speaks to the integrity of an individual. You have to play -- you have to be consistent as to what you believe in. How do we have Spitzer sounding like a Republican? Republicans say that the campaign finance system isn't good. Republicans don't release their income taxes a la the whole Romney debacle. And I think we have in New York City a very high standard about elected officials just telling us the truth and being consistent. You know, New Yorkers don't want you to disagree -- agree with them on every issue, but they do want you to be consistent to your beliefs. I think people are tired of being lectured by folks who can't, you know, sort of can't play by those rules, and I think it's troubling.

BLACKWELL: All right, Scott Stringer running for comptroller in New York. Thank you for speaking with us this morning.

STRINGER: Great to be here.

BLACKWELL: Former governor Spitzer paid 49 percent.

HARLOW: He emphasized that in his interview. He said I paid 49 percent. We don't skirt the rules. We'll see if full tax returns come out.

BLACKWELL: And how much this really matters to the voter.

HARLOW: The polls have him pretty far out, but the primary isn't until September.

BLACKWELL: She blazed the trail for women covering the White House. This morning we're following the breaking news on the passing of veteran journalist Helen Thomas.

And we're talking to this country star. He's 23. His music is taking the country by storm, and he's openly gay. You don't want to miss our chat with him, Steve Grand.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Playing professional sports has many physical challenges, but for Boston red sox pitcher Jon Lester, stepping onto the field was only half the story. Our chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta has his story in this week's "Human Factor."

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Jon Lester was a 22-year-old rookie pitcher for the Boston Red Sox when an accident on the way to Fenway Park in 2006 changed his life.

JON LESTER, BOSTON RED SOX: You're sitting there one minute thinking, you know, in my case, I just have some back pain, just need to get anti-inflammatories, maybe some rest or something like that, to you have cancer.

GUPTA: Lester was diagnosed with large cell lymphoma. It's a rare, fast spreading, yet treatable fortunately of blood cancer that affects the lymph nodes. In 2007 Lester started and won game four of the World Series, clinching the championship for the Red Sox. At first Lester was reluctant to talk about his cancer.

LESTER: I just wanted to move on, to get back to doing what I love to do and play baseball.

GUPTA: But that changed in 2010.

LESTER: We had just had our first son. I could only imagine what it would be like for him to go through something like this.

GUPTA: So Lester helped launch NVRQT, never quit, which raises awareness and money for pediatric cancer research.

LESTER: Each ball represents a child diagnosed with cancer, over 125,000 in the last decade. Children's cancer is a monster we all need to bring down.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HARLOW: Welcome back, everyone. 28 minutes past the hour. I'm Poppy Harlow.

BLACKWELL: I'm Victor Blackwell. Here are five stories we're watching this morning.

Legendary White House correspondent Helen Thomas has died. She was 92 years old and would have turned 93 in just a couple of weeks. Thomas was a trailblazer for women in journalism, becoming first woman president of the White House press corps. And she was also controversial later in life making several anti-Semitic and anti- Israel remarks.

HARLOW: Number two, demonstrations are under way in some of the more than 100 cities recognizing what protesters are calling National Justice for Trayvon day. Protesters want the Justice Department to bring a federal civil rights case against George Zimmerman, the man acquitted one week ago in the killing of Trayvon Martin. Trayvon Martin's parents are expected to be at protests in both Miami and New York.

Number three, an explosion earlier today rattled Beijing capital international airport. According to Chinese news agency, a man in terminal three set off homemade explosives with black powder. That man was reportedly hurt but no one else was injured. No word yet on why he did this. No flights were canceled and it looks like again just one injury.

BLACKWELL: Number four, Israel says it will release a, quote, "limited number of Palestinian prisoners." It's aimed at getting peace talks back on track. Secretary of State John Kerry says an agreement has been reached that could get Israelis and Palestinians back to the bargaining table soon.

And finally, everybody is waiting for the arrival of Britain's royal baby, everybody. It's believed the duchess of Cambridge is now at least one day overdue, at least a day, maybe a week. Lots of media are camped outside St. Mary's hospital in London where Catherine is expected to give birth. There was plenty of excitement when a Kate look-alike showed up, but it was just a stunt organized by a British tabloid.

HARLOW: And legendary White House reporter Helen Thomas has died at the age of 92.

BLACKWELL: Yes, sources tell CNN she died at her home today in Washington after a really long illness. While Thomas' career ended in controversy, it was also a string of stunning accomplishments.

HARLOW: Absolutely. She broke ground for so many women reporters that came after her. Our own Candy Crowley says she was not only kinder to her than anyone else when she first came to the White House at just about 20 years old, Candy talked to us about how she was welcomed by Helen Thomas. Elizabeth Corridan has more on the life and the legacy of the journalist Helen Thomas.

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HELEN THOMAS, FORMER WHITE HOUSE JOURNALIST: My question is why did you really want to go to war?

ELIZABETH CORRIDAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Once the unofficial Dean of the press room, Helen Thomas was the longest serving White House correspondent ever. She gave every American president from John f. Kennedy to Barack Obama a taste of her pointed questions.

THOMAS: What is it that prevents your administration from talking to Castro, to the Sandinistas?

It's a widespread perception that you're waffling, that you can't make up your mind.

When are you going to get out of Afghanistan? Why are we continuing to kill and die there?

CORRIDAN: The daughter of Lebanese immigrants, Thomas got her start writing for her high school newspaper. She spent more than 50 years with United Press International, working her way up from a reporter covering women's issues to White House bureau chief, the first woman of any wire service to hold that job. In 1962 she helped convince President Kennedy to threaten to boycott the annual dinners for White House correspondents if women were not allowed to attend.

THOMAS: We were going toe to toe with them on story with the men. When the scales fell from their eyes they finally realized it's OK to have women.

CORRIDAN: She considered traveling with Nixon to China a career highlight. In 2000 Thomas left UPI to become a columnist for Hearst. In that role she became a harsh critic of the Iraq war arguing journalists didn't do enough to question George W. Bush's administration over a war she called "illegal and immoral."

THOMAS: I think that the reporters know in the aftermath of 9/11, we're afraid to challenge the government, were afraid to be seen as un-American, unpatriotic, and as a consequence they really let the country down. CORRIDAN: A few years later her outspokenness cost her her job after she was asked about Israel in this interview.

THOMAS: Tell them to get the hell out of Palestine.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where should they go? Where should they go?

THOMAS: They should go home.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Where is home?

THOMAS: Poland. Germany.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: They should just go back to Poland and Germany?

THOMAS: And America and everywhere else.

CORRIDAN: The video went viral and sparked outrage in the Jewish community and beyond. Thomas abruptly retired and issued a written apology. But later she said she stood by her remarks, insisting she wasn't criticizing Jews but was instead showing support for Palestine.

THOMAS: We had the right to ask questions to help the poor people, the underprivileged, people who have no voice. And I wish reporters would have more responsibility in speaking for the oppressed.

CORRIDAN: Controversial to the end, Helen Thomas always kept true to herself.

I'm Elizabeth Corridan reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HARLOW: Our thanks to Elizabeth for that report.

Meantime, justice for Trayvon rallies planned across this country today. We're talking live with Martin Luther King III iii all about it. That's next.

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BLACKWELL: This is Miami live. One of the justice for Trayvon rallies across the country, more than 100 coast to coast, people calling for federal civil rights charges against George Zimmerman.

HARLOW: Their goal, pressure the Justice Department into bringing a federal civil rights case, civil rights charges against George Zimmerman, who was acquitted one week ago today, acquitted of murder in the death of Trayvon Martin.

BLACKWELL: Martin Luther King III plans to attend a rally here in Atlanta. He's with us first though. Thank you for coming in. I want to start with a picture that's been floating online. It's of your father in a hoodie. A lot of people have used it on Facebook, on Twitter. What do you think about this photo?

MARTIN LUTHER KING III, PRESIDENT AND CEO, REALIZING THE DREAM: I think that it is certainly symbolically being utilized, and very interesting. I don't know in his life that my dad wore hoodies, but I certainly think that perhaps in this context there is some appropriateness.

BLACKWELL: OK.

HARLOW: I want to play our viewers some sound, some of the president's 17-minute speech yesterday, the surprise remarks that we heard in the White House press briefing room. Let's take a listen and I want your reaction, what's going through your mind.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, (D) PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: There are very few African-American men in this country who haven't had the experience of being followed when they were shopping in a department store. That includes me. There are very few African-American men who haven't had the experience of walking across the street and hearing the locks click on the doors of cars. That happens to me, at least before I was a senator.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

HARLOW: Deeply personal words there. You told me you were pleasantly surprised by this. What is your reaction overall to the president's words?

KING: I think -- I would like to believe that overall it is positive. It contextualizes what happened, and the fact that the anger or frustration -- I would not like to use anger, because the goal is to protest nonviolently using what my father and his team used. This is not about a violent demonstration.

But the frustration, the president made it personal in the sense he had experienced these kind of things in his life. And so the frustration that many African-Americans feel is, yes, this case, very frustrated about this, the frustration of systemic kinds of things that have happened over and over again.

What is positive is there's a new level of dialogue that I have not every seen in recent years because people thought civil rights were dead. The reality is we're still in a civil rights era.

BLACKWELL: I want to get to the center of what the purpose is of these rallies across the country, because you are coming out saying that the federal government should file civil rights charges. And I know that people are hurting and people are confused and upset about the verdict across the country, so be it. But can you succinctly just tell me what the center of the case is for a civil rights charge from the federal government?

KING: I think that has to be a legal perspective. I can only say from a personal perspective. Certainly Trayvon Martin had the right to walk home safely, as any young person would have. And if there are technicalities around whether his civil rights were violated, that's what I think the charges are. But, again, I'm not an expert in that area, so I cannot say. I think it's going to also take a long time for this investigation to take place.

BLACKWELL: But you put your name and the family's name on this march, on these rallies. I think people want to know what is the technicality? What is the civil right that was violated? What's at the center of this? Because is it just pain and people want something? Or is there one thing you can point at and say there it is?

KING: I think there are a combination of things. I don't think it's just one civil rights violation. And, again, because I don't know all of the technical definitions of what can be utilized, I think I personally believe that a person walking home, any young person walking home where he was supposed to be ought to have the right to do that. So is that some level of violation? I don't know that it falls under civil rights, but, you know, I have been told that there may be. So it's more that people want to see some kind of -- some kind of action taken because a young person was killed.

BLACKWELL: I got to ask you, when you say action, you've called for possibly boycotting orange juice in Florida because of the stand your ground law in Florida. You said that if the NAACP convention in Orlando. Should people also boycott Georgia peaches and Kentucky bourbon and gulf coast shrimp?

KING: We may have to look at -- I think from a strategic standpoint you have to look at everything. Certainly Georgia has stand your ground laws. All of those two dozen plus states needs to be looked at. And that is the strategy. I haven't said let's do this. I said these are things that have to be considered. These are things that my father had considered in his era.

HARLOW: When you look at the president's remarks yesterday, a lot of the focus is on his personal comments about race and his experience, and the other headline frankly is what he said about, you know, in terms of what further charges there may or may not be. A lot of people read into that and thought that the headline there was that we likely won't perhaps see charges brought by the Justice Department. What did you take away from what you heard from the president when he talked about the verdict and talked about how people should consider that?

KING: I think in the realm of possibilities and realities you have to consider everything. It is very possible that there may not be, but I do think at least the door is open.

And the other thing is not just in relationship to Trayvon. We're all praying for Trayvon's mom, father, and family. We should always be doing that. This family has operating in a dignified manner. But also when you look at the fact that the criminal justice system is 59 percent people of color and we are only 13 percent of the population, there's something clearly going wrong where targeting or profiling consistently operating. Those are the kind of things, some of the laws that are on the books overall. This is a time for us to begin to look at everything so that we can move America forward. We must become a more unified nation. We're far too divided at this time.

HARLOW: You know, we've got to go. I wish we had a whole hour for this.

BLACKWELL: So do I.

HARLOW: I will say your father stood for nonviolence, and thank goodness that after the verdict that is what we have seen.

KING: And let me add one final thing. Today 100 cities are mobilizing around this country as we move toward August 24th, the 50th anniversary march of the march on Washington, where we'll be observing actually that entire week up to the 28th the 50th anniversary of the march on Washington, but a big demonstration is doing to take place on August 24th. So these 100 cities also helped to mobilize so we will have a large demonstration, nonviolent demonstration, on August 24th to observe the march on Washington.

BLACKWELL: All right, Martin Luther King III, thank you for talking with us.

KING: Thank you for the opportunity.

HARLOW: Coming up next, the new country song. Have you seen this, heard this on YouTube? It has taken the country by storm. If you haven't heard it yet, you're in for a real treat. The sensation behind the song Steve Grand. There he is in New York joining us live.

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HARLOW: All right, when you think country music, maybe you think of Dolly Parton, Toby Keith, Carrie Underwood. Who do you think of?

BLACKWELL: I don't really.

(LAUGHTER)

HARLOW: You're not a big country music fan.

BLACKWELL: But there's a new kid on the block, and he's like no other country star you have ever seen.

(MUSIC)

BLACKWELL: His name is Steve Grand, 23 years old, Chicago native. He uploaded this music video to YouTube earlier this month. It's called "All-American Boy," and it's already gotten 1.5 million views.

HARLOW: It has. There's something else about him and this song that is really making headlines and getting people talking.

(MUSIC) HARLOW: His song is about a relationship, love had and lost, with another man. He's an openly gay country singer, and he's joining us now to talk about his newfound fame, all of it.

BLACKWELL: Yes. Steve, thanks for joining us. We call you a country singer. You just wrote a song, sang it, and people called it country, right?

STEVE GRAND, SINGER/SONGWRITER: Exactly, yes. I never set out to write a country song. I never thought of myself as a country artist. But, you know, if that label has meaning for people, I certainly don't want to take that away from them.

You know, I'm just -- I always say I'm a songwriter and, you know, I sit down at the piano and I write lyrics, and I write what moves me, and it crosses over a wide variety of genres. But I could certainly see why people would call it country, and so, you know, I'm not going to -- if it's country to someone and not country to someone else, you know, that's fine by me.

HARLOW: There's so much focus now not only on the popularity of the song but in a lot of media reports about you being openly gay and your struggle with really coming out to your family and being OK with who you are, and then talking about love for another man in the video. It's amazing to me in 2013 this is still getting all the headlines it is, but I guess for country music, if that's what you want to call it, people are really focusing on that. Are you OK with that?

GRAND: Am I OK they're focusing on my sexuality?

HARLOW: Yes.

GRAND: I don't have an issue with it. You know, I got into this to make music to and to tell stories and to express the way that I feel and what moves me in life. And so that's, you know, that's the main thing here. You know, I'm about making music and making art and moving people, and, you know, you can't do that without being honest about who you are and what you want to say.

And so, you know, of course, my sexuality has shaped who I am. It is an important part of who I am, and so that's going to be a part of it just like a lot of other things are a part of it. But it's not something -- I wasn't setting out to sell myself as a gay artist.

BLACKWELL: Let's talk about that element.

GRAND: I'm a songwriter who is gay.

BLACKWELL: And I know you understand the spirit I ask this question, if you're the first in a certain place, the first black or the first woman or the first disabled or anything, that you become the black whatever, the gay whatever.

GRAND: Of course.

BLACKWELL: How do you move beyond becoming the first gay country singer?

GRAND: There's a lot of things people say, first, you know, gay country star, and there's a lot of things wrong with that. First of all, I don't necessarily consider myself country. Second of all, I'm certainly not a star after one YouTube video. You know, hopefully this is just the very beginning of a career because that's -- I gave up everything to do this and I want to keep moving forward and I'm going to keep working really, really hard to make that happen. And, you know, thirdly -- what was I going to say here?

HARLOW: We can jump in while you think about it. I know how that feels. It happens to me --

GRAND: There's one more element -- I said I'm not the first. I said that, didn't I? There's Drake Jensen and Shelly Wright. And I never gave myself the title of being the first. That was the last thing on my mind. I just wanted to tell a story through a song and make something really beautiful that moved people. And I feel like I have done that, even on a smaller level. And 1.5 million views is really not that much. The cat videos get like 100 million views.

HARLOW: I think if I put something on YouTube it get 10 views. I want to point out one really great thing, the fact that you financed this yourself, maxed out our credit cards. It cost $7,000. You put everything you had.

GRAND: I put everything I had and everything I didn't have into it. I saved up like probably a little over $2,000 and I was so excited about that because I had never saved up that much money before. It was huge for me.

HARLOW: Are the agents knocking on the door?

GRAND: Yes. You know, I have gotten offers, definitely. I'm just taking it slow and playing it smart. And, you know, I'm here in New York to talk and meet with different people. I'm just trying to learn because all I ever cared about was making the music good. If the music isn't good and you don't have the emotional resonance you really have nothing new. In a day and age where we're inundated with, you know, ads everywhere and just -- we're bombarded constantly. So you can't buy emotional reason resonance. That's something you really -- you can't fake it and that's what I set out to do. And even a small level I feel like I have done that already.

HARLOW: And it's going well for you.

BLACKWELL: Steve Grand, thank you so much.

HARLOW: Good luck.

GRAND: Thank you so much for having me. It's nuts to be here.

BLACKWELL: First live television interview. You did very well.

GRAND: First very live. Thank you, guys.

BLACKWELL: Back in a moment.

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BLACKWELL: Take a look at this adorable baby gorilla. She was born on Wednesday at the San Francisco Zoo. She's not yet been named, but zoo officials say she appears to be healthy and her parents are caring for her. We're back in a moment.

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