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Protesters Rally in 100+ Cities; Obama's Comments on Race Drew Mixed Reactions
Aired July 20, 2013 - 16:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: For crowds of people to gather demand justice and remember one name, Trayvon Martin.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trayvon!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trayvon!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Trayvon!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: Some of the rallies are small and muted. Others are larger and louder. This is Atlanta today. People who still can't believe the verdict from the George Zimmerman trial shouted and prayed together. Sanford, Florida, now where Trayvon Martin was killed and where George Zimmerman was acquitted, people carried pictures of the teenager there.
And in nearby Orlando and Daytona Beach, they did it as well. And look at this crowd, this is downtown Chicago, they're shouting no justice, no peace. Rally leaders in Chicago are joining the call for federal charges against George Zimmerman.
I'm in New York, so is CNN's Alina Cho, west coast Dan Simon in Los Angeles. Miami, Nick Valencia and in the nation's capital, Athena Jones. I'm talking to all those correspondents today in so many cities but the tone is similar and the demands are the same, so let's take you live now to Miami first with CNN's Nick Valencia. So Nick, you talked to Trayvon Martin's father just a short time ago. What did he have to say?
NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It was very emotional, Don, and the scene behind me was much different than it is right now. It was a very lively, robust crowd, hundreds and hundreds of people here today, and as you mentioned, they want, you know, the Department of Justice to take a closer look at the George Zimmerman verdict. They also want the appeal of stand your ground law.
But let's get back to Tracy Martin. Tracy Martin took the microphone. He teared up talking about his son, Trayvon. He said it's not going to end, his legacy will not end so long as he's alive. He also said he will fight for the sons of everyone in the crowd. I spoke to him one- on-one and he talked about how he felt just looking at all the supporters he had here today -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TRACY MARTIN, TRAYVON'S MARTIN FATHER: It's overwhelming. It just goes to show the love and the support that our families and friends have for us here in Miami as well as across the country, and it sends a message to the nation that we're not going to sit back and let our children be killed and don't say anything about it.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
VALENCIA: At the end of the demonstration, Don, some of those that were present here decided to march up and down the streets. Their plan initially was to try to close down i-95, interstate 95, which is a major thoroughfare that runs through Miami, those plans changed. They did end up going to the police headquarters only to come back out here outside the courthouse and when they were here, that message was very clear, justice for Trayvon Martin. Don?
LEMON: Nick Valencia, thank you very much. Alina Cho is here in New York. And Alina, tell us what people rallying in New York and the Bronx are demanding here today.
ALINA CHO, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Don, I can tell you at this rally here at One Police Plaza in New York City, the keynote speaker was Sybrina Fulton, Trayvon Martin's mother, but make no mistake it was hard to ignore two of the biggest stars on the planet who were also on hand to lend their support. We're talking about Beyonce and Jay-Z. The two superstars did not make any remarks, but they didn't have to. The Reverend Al Sharpton even had proof they were here, he instagramed a photo of him with the two superstars and Sybrina Fulton. Hundreds of people were here on hand today chanting no justice, no peace.
Of course, this is one of more than 100 such protests across the country. Today Sybrina Fulton called Trayvon a child. She said that he was just carrying a drink and candy and vowed today, Don, that she would work for Trayvon but said I will work for your children as well. Don?
LEMON: All right. Alina, thank you very much. We want to head now to Washington, D.C., Athena Jones is there. Athena, what did you see today?
ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Don, that chant no justice, no peace was also the refrain here outside the federal courthouse in D.C., hundreds of people showed up for the Justice for Trayvon rally here, braving very high temperatures, some of them even wearing hoodies, some brought iced tea and Skittles in solidarity with Trayvon Martin, all of them, of course, wanting the Department of Justice to bring federal civil rights charges against George Zimmerman.
Now, whether that's going to happen is still an open question. But I can tell you that one of the other big themes we heard a lot about today is that the racial profiling. One speaker took issue with the recent comment in "The Washington Post" that argued that people have a right to be afraid of young black men, black men like Trayvon Martin because black men are perpetrating a majority - or a higher proportion of the crimes. Let's listen to what that radio host Joe Madison had to say about that -
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOE MADISON, RADIO TALK SHOW: If that's the case, we ought to be afraid of every white man because the hard data says that they are serial killers. Now, we ought to be afraid of every white man because they blow up buildings and kill people in movie theaters, and high schools.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
JONES: So, pretty strong words there we heard from that radio host. They got a big response from this crowd. We also heard from clergy and from activists like Dick Gregory, the longtime civil rights activist. It was a very spirited but peaceful as well rally here, Don.
LEMON: All right, thank you very much, Athena Jones.
We want to go now to the West Coast and Dan Simon. Dan, we saw violence in L.A. after the verdict last weekend, most of the rallies were peaceful, but how are protesters treating this call for justice today?
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Don, well, really from coast to coast all these protests today have been peaceful, and no exception here in Los Angeles. I guess the thing that stood out in my mind, Don, is you really had people of all races and of all ages here in front of the courthouse, the federal courthouse, here in Los Angeles. And organizers are glad or they were glad, that this was a daytime event. They felt like that would really reduce the chances of seeing violence and that's definitely what we're seeing here today.
The crowd has mostly left. Apparently some folks are now headed to city hall here in Los Angeles. But I guess I would also echo what all of my other CNN colleagues had to say in terms of the messages and the sentiments are coming out of here, people really demanding the same thing, and that's - they obviously want to see the Justice Department press this civil rights case against George Zimmerman and, of course, time will tell if that, in fact, happens, Don?
LEMON: Dan Simon, and all my colleagues across the country at these rallies, thank you very much for your reporting today.
In the meantime there's some other news to tell you about a horrible accident in Texas, look at this a woman riding a roller coaster at Six Flags over Texas fell to her death yesterday. Witnesses say she tumbled out of her seat when the coaster dropped during a steep turn. Her son was on the ride and saw his mom fall.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The man was sitting next to a woman and they were both saying, "Let me out, let me out, my mom fell off, my mom fell off, I need to go find her." And the park workers were kind of taken aback by it and didn't know if he was being serious or not, once they realized he was being serious, they rushed to go assist her.
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LEMON: Well, the woman who fell has not been identified. Six Flags officials say the coaster is closed while they investigate the accident.
Well, luckily not everything that happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Take for one example this one, this storm. It roared into the Las Vegas area yesterday, flooding streets, downing trees and damaging several homes. The storm ripped holes in the roof of this bar on the strip allowing water to come pouring into the building. Thankfully the storm didn't stay, though. It's back to hot and sunny today in Vegas and they're probably grateful for that right now.
After the president's remarks well one commentator came on CNN to say "Hold on, black men aren't the only ones who get profiled." He said he does too as a white man. We'll talk to him next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: Welcome back, everyone. President Obama spoke from the heart sharing his experiences with racial profiling. Like being followed in a department store or walking along a street and hearing car doors lock, clicking, car door locks clicking and as you go by. This is very personal for African-American men, but the president's remarks drew fire from CNN political commentator Ben Ferguson, I want you to listen to this -
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BEN FERGUSON, CNN POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: The president was incredibly specific today speaking on behalf of the African-American community and giving specific examples of saying that white women when a black man gets in an elevator they cringe, hold their breath and grab their purse.
Well, guess what, I park in a parking garage and every time I'm walking to my car and we're in the staircase and there's a woman by herself, she probably is nervous and I make sure I stay far behind her. That's not racial profiling. That might be a woman concerned because she's by herself. I would say to any woman that's gotten into an elevator or walked in a staircase to her car from the parking garage that they are just as frightened by any man by themselves out of concern for their safety, that is not have to solely be in a racial context.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LEMON: All right. Ben Ferguson joins me now from Dallas. There he is. So, Ben, thanks for coming on the show. I know -
FERGUSON: Good afternoon.
LEMON: I know we're not going to agree on this, right? And we've known each other for a long time. FERGUSON: Yes. We might somewhere, you never know.
LEMON: Yes. Do you really think that white women are equally afraid of white men and African-American men, do you believe that?
FERGUSON: I think that women in a certain situation, like in an elevator by themselves with any man or a stairwell by themselves with any man or if they're at a streetlight late at night by themselves and no one else in the car are going to lock their door, they're going to clutch their purse and they're going to do it because they're in a situation where they're vulnerable to any person and it can't only be race, because I have seen women when I go to my parking garage every day, they are nervous when they're by themselves regardless of the age of the man that's around them because they're in a vulnerable situation. That's not only during issues of race.
LEMON: Ben, I don't disagree with you for some of that, but if you think - you think it's equal then I don't mean to call names, but I think you're sadly nave or you're just being -
FERGUSON: Well, but this -
LEMON: You're just doing it on purpose just to -
FERGUSON: - going on experiences, Don. Don, let me ask you this when I was -
LEMON: When you said she was probably - hang on, let me finish. You said she is probably nervous, that's what you said in your comments. Probably.
FERGUSON: Sure.
LEMON: There's a difference between someone being visibly nervous or getting off an elevator or you see them clutching their purses or you see them locking their doors and -
FERGUSON: Let me -
LEMON: Go ahead.
FERGUSON: Are you saying, Don, that every woman in America that's white is automatically 100 percent of the time terrified of an African-American man in any one of these situations but they would not be terrified if it was a white or Hispanic man?
LEMON: No, that's what not we're talking about.
FERGUSON: That's incredibly broad brushed.
LEMON: That's what we're talking about. That's what you're saying. I'm saying generally -
FERGUSON: Don, you asked the question and what you're implying is, is that every white woman in America is automatically -
LEMON: That's not what I'm implying. That's what you're hearing.
FERGUSON: What are you saying? OK, what are you saying?
LEMON: Listen to me. I'm telling you about my experience. The president is telling you about his experience and you're saying that we're not having that experience and how - who are you to tell us we're not having that experience when you're not living it, you're not in our bodies? It's insulting for you to say, "Oh, that's not happening." How can you say that, you don't live as a black man, you don't know that.
FERGUSON: First of all, I don't think - this is where you and I fundamentally disagree on this whole entire subject. You say that African-American men are feeling profiled by white women when they get into an elevator. And what I'm saying is -
LEMON: I'm not saying that they're feeling profiled about getting into an elevator. That is just we're sharing experiences with you. That's not the only way people are profiled.
FERGUSON: OK. Well - but, Don, this is - what I'm saying to you is there are a lot of other circumstances outside of that, where women are just as fearful in that elevator or in that staircase, gripping their purse or locking their doors.
LEMON: I don't disagree with you, but chances are - but chances are, Ben, that it's not going to happen with a white guy. I've been plenty of white guys on elevators and women and women - white guys get on elevators with women and nothing happens. I - I -
FERGUSON: So, do you think that most white women are afraid of any black man in America?
LEMON: I asked the white women on my staff before this, and they said generally they think that most white women are more afraid of African- American men -
FERGUSON: I'm asking you.
LEMON: No, that's not what I said. I'm telling you my experience as an African-American man. So, I told you I asked the women on my staff and they said generally they think that more - that most white women are fearful of black men and they're taught to be that way especially white women in suburban areas and that's the experience from white women on my staff.
FERGUSON: Right.
LEMON: Go ask a few and see what they say to you.
FERGUSON: Well, Don, first of all, I've grown up my entire life in a community where I was, in fact, a minority. I've also grown up where my father was in law enforcement. I've also been the victim -
LEMON: We have to wrap. My producers are telling me we don't have time, go ahead. FERGUSON: Well, what I'll say is this I have been profiled and the police told me I was profiled but I don't assume that every African- American man even though two of them shot at me from point-blank range are out to kill me and I think that's an over generalization to put it in race in such a simple term that paranoia of white people in America to the point where every black man -
LEMON: It's not paranoia. It's not paranoia. Ben, simply just from a place of - what do I want to say, your - it's not entitlement, but you're at a place in society -
FERGUSON: Well, I came from poverty so I don't think I'm entitled.
LEMON: Yes, but you still have a certain entitlement as a white person that many people of color don't have. You don't see that?
FERGUSON: When I look at where I grew up and I grew up in a community surrounded by poverty -
LEMON: Scratch that.
FERGUSON: I don't I have any extra advantage.
LEMON: Scratch that, I'll say a place of privilege. I'll wrap producers, hang on. I'll just say a place of privilege, not necessarily a place of entitlement and you're filtering it through a place of privilege that you don't understand, your privilege does not allow you to see certain biases and certain circumstances in this society. And I - my - what I said on the air yesterday -
FERGUSON: But Don, Don, I have to say -
LEMON: Just let me finish. Let me finish. What I said on the air yesterday was that I hoped that you would sleep on it and at least think about it before having a knee jerk reaction to what the president was saying, the most powerful African-American in the world telling you that there is an issue and you're telling him that his circumstances and what he sees and what he lives is not valid. And that is insulting to do that. Yes, that's what you're saying.
FERGUSON: No. Well, I didn't have a knee jerk reaction because I've been talking about race the majority of my life coming from a very racially diverse community in Memphis, Tennessee, so this wasn't knee jerk. My point was this, when you say -
LEMON: You immediately - you immediately responded to the president -
FERGUSON: Let me finish, let me finish. I listened to you.
LEMON: You immediately responded to the president without even thinking, you didn't even give it five minutes, you didn't even give it overnight. You immediately responded through your filter and you didn't wait and say, let me think about this.
FERGUSON: Don, Don - first of all, it was more than an hour since the president spoke when I made my comments and my point was this and I make it again today - when you come out as the president of the United States of America and you paint a picture that every white woman in America is over -
LEMON: That's not what the president said. You're putting words in the president's mouth. The president did not say that. He didn't say that. You can go back to the president's transcript, he did not say that.
FERGUSON: He said that they clutched their purse.
LEMON: He said he had experiences where people do that. He did not say that every white woman did that. Now that is taking a leap ten. I got to go.
FERGUSON: He implied it.
LEMON: I got to run. He didn't imply it. If he wanted to say it, he would have said all white women. He said he has had an experience where people do that, some people do that, not all people.
But anyway, I'm getting - my producers are going to kill me. I got to run. Thank you for coming on. We'll be right back.
FERGUSON: Thank you, sir. Good to see you.
LEMON: You as well.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Most people are seeing that geeks changed the world so much in the past 10 or 20 years, that they haven't changed government yet.
We get people to take a year off. It's geeks. It's also designers and also product managers and people from the technical industries and we get them to work with people in city hall to solve problems in cities for a year.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): She wants to fix local government. One smartphone app at a time. This Saturday, 2:30 Eastern on "The Next List."
(END VIDEOTAPE)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: To Houston now where behind the doors of one house was a horrible secret. Four men claim they were held captive, lured in and locked up in a garage, and now the homeowner's grandson is facing felony charges. Ed Lavandera joins me now from Houston. Bizarre story, Ed, what do we know about what's happening in that house?
ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, you know, I think the investigators and many people in this neighborhood are still trying to piece together. There was a welfare check call to this home here that you see in this - on the north side of the city of Houston, and when authorities arrived here and just behind that purple wall that is a converted garage that authorities say four men were locked up inside and from what they've told authorities in the last 24 hours they say they were being held inside there against their will.
And further they also have told authorities that their government paychecks, disability checks or social security checks or veterans checks had been taken by the grandson who has now been charged in connection with this crime. Now, authorities are trying to figure just how long all of this was going on. It's not been very clear as to the timeline and just how long these men were inside, but neighbors told us yesterday that when they saw the four men emerge from the house, they looked in very bad shape, malnutrition, three of them had to be taken to a local hospital to be checked out. Listen to what some of the neighbors told us yesterday -
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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I was in my yard when I've seen them coming out in the ambulance, and they didn't look good at all. Man, they looked like malnutrition, real poor, oh, lord.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh my god, it just touched my heart. I mean I fear for them. I don't know. It just really got me hurting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
LAVANDERA: Now, the grandson of the homeowner has been arrested. That man - a man by the name of Walter Jones, Don, and he has been charged with two felony criminal counts, one injury to the elderly by act and one injury to the elderly by omission and those are felony criminal charges but at least the good news for now is that those three men who were taken to hospital yesterday we're told by police here in Houston that they are now in stable condition and - in stable condition and doing much better, Don?
LEMON: Ed Lavandera, Ed, thank you very much for that story.
What's happening with the royal baby watch? That's next.
Plus this -
GUPTA: Don, today I'm going to be talking marijuana as a potential treatment for cancer. It may sound weird, but I'll tell you, there's some serious scientific research out there including with children.
Also I've got a reality check of this new wave of laws that are restricting abortion, we'll discuss it, all of it, at 4:30 Eastern.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
LEMON: All right. Royal watchers, royal baby, appears to be running late. Just look at the bored media, they're camped outside St. Mary's Hospital in London, oh, and it's a heat wave there, too, that's where Prince William and Duchess Katherine are awaiting their first child. A royal source told CNN the baby was due July 13th, a week ago, one week ago! There's the baby bump right there, but the royal couple has been mum about any specific due date. So, stand by. Could happen at any time. We'll have it for you here on CNN.
We're back 30 minutes from now and we're going to be talking more about the George Zimmerman verdict, about the Trayvon Martin case, about stand your ground, and I'm going to talk to Leonard Pitts who is a very famous columnist, a very knowledgeable columnist who wrote an article saying "Wake up Black America." What's that all about? We'll see you right after Sanjay Gupta.
