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New CDC Guidelines Advise Caution with Travel, Especially Public; Viral Video Shows White California Woman Harassing Filipino- American Woman; State Sen. Audrey Gibson (D-FL) Discusses Trump to Accept GOP Nomination in Jacksonville; Trump Requires Rally Goers to Sign Coronavirus Waiver; Filmmaker Stanley Nelson Discusses Trump Rally in Tulsa on Juneteenth, and the Tulsa Massacre. Aired 1:30-2p ET
Aired June 12, 2020 - 13:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[13:30:00]
DR. ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: Brianna, the CDC came out very clearly saying, hey, you know, this is bad as it is. This is my commentary. We don't have to wait for the second wave. It is already bad. The CDC saying the pandemic is not over.
So let's take a look at some everyday things that they tell us that we should be doing. First of all, stay apart, social distance. Every person you come in touch with that increases the chance of getting coronavirus. Don't share objects. And wear a face covering.
Let's talk about a report that just came out of Texas A&M researchers. They say, in Italy, wearing masks prevented 76,000 infections between April 6th and May 9th. And in New York City, it prevented 66,000 infections between April 17th and May 9th.
So tens of thousands of infections avoided because people wore masks. It is the thing to do because you care about other people -- Brianna?
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: Yes. It's just, you know, it is stunning, become so politicized and some people don't do it.
Elizabeth Cohen, thank you for the numbers, showing us why it's so important.
COHEN: Thank you.
KEILAR: If you want to attend the president's rallies, you will actually have to sign a coronavirus waiver, but are they enforceable? We'll look at that.
Plus, just in, the president just responded to accusations that he intentionally picked Juneteenth for a rally in Tulsa.
A search is under way for a white woman caught on video harassing a Filipino woman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: This is not your place. This is not your home! We do not want you here!
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:36:20]
KEILAR: It is the latest viral video of a racist rant. A white woman in California harassing a Filipino-American woman telling her, quote, "We don't want you here."
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Listen to me. We don't play games here anymore. OK? Next time you ever talk to me like that you're going to get your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) kicked by my family. And they will (EXPLETIVE DELETED) you up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: What did I do?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: They're going to (EXPLETIVE DELETED) you up.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why? What did I do?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE; That's right. Because you are a (EXPLETIVE DELETED). Look at the whole stairs to yourself?
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Why don't you go somewhere elsewhere? You can go to a gym? This is not just for you!
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You need to --
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of this world. Get the (EXPLETIVE DELETED) out of the state. Go back to whatever (EXPLETIVE DELETED) Asian country you belong in.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: OK, racist.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED). This is not your place. This is not your home! We do not want you here.
You put that on Facebook. I hope you do.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: We don't know what happened in the lead-up to this video. You can see they both seem to be referring to that.
But both women were exercising at a park in southern California at the time that this video shot. And the older white woman began yelling at the young Asian woman, accusing her of blocking the stairs.
The younger woman filed a criminal report with local police. Officers said they have not identified the older woman but have an idea of who she might be.
Peaceful protesters in Jacksonville, Florida, this week chanted at the city's mayor, "No RNC." The city is set to host part of the Republican National Convention in August. President Trump will accept his party's nomination there.
And the change of venue comes after the president criticized the speed at which North Carolina was reopening from a coronavirus lockdown.
Joining me is Audrey Gibson, the state Senate Democratic leader.
Thank you so much for joining us. We really appreciate it.
Tell us your reaction was when you heard the president's speech had been moved to your city.
STATE SEN. AUDREY GIBSON (D-FL): Thank you so much for having me.
My first reaction was no. And, secondarily, it was made to seem as if it were not planned. And I believe that is totally -- it is totally planned to have the acceptance speech here after the governor of North Carolina refused to have certain parts of the convention because of the concern for the constituents there.
As well as, apparently, Mr. Trump decided that he doesn't want social distancing.
And so Jacksonville is a swing city in a swing state. And it's very much orchestrated that the acceptance speech would be held here in Jacksonville.
KEILAR: Is that what you mean when -- you called the move by the Jacksonville mayor a plot? Is that what you meant by that?
GIBSON: Exactly. It didn't happen by accident. It was planned that way.
KEILAR: So the governor of North Carolina wanted fewer people at the convention because of the coronavirus pandemic. And now the president is planning to speak at this 15,000-person arena. What are your concerns about keeping people safe?
GIBSON: Well, there apparently will be shoulder to shoulder so there's no social distancing there. Florida is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases just like some other states. And so it doesn't make health sense to put people in harm's way. And there's another way to do it.
[13:40:07]
To try to show a full arena to make yourself look large at the risk of COVID-19, more COVID-19 spreading, is just counter to representing this country. KEILAR: It's also notable, the president is accepting this nomination
on the 60th anniversary of what is known well in Jacksonville as Ax Handle Saturday. I think other people haven't necessarily been aware of this. But this was within of the darkest days in your local history when a white mob organized by the KKK chased and beat peaceful black activists in 1960.
What is your thought on it being this day?
GIBSON: The rest of that story and that is they chased them with hammers and ax handles. Peaceful people.
So it seems almost intentional that the acceptance speech is here without any respect or consideration of the commemoration of that by most likely our African-American community and those who will join with us.
It's the same sense, nonsense of having a rally in Oklahoma on the day that many others died. It doesn't make any sense. It's disrespectful and callous.
KEILAR: Senator Gibson, thank you for joining us. We appreciate it.
GIBSON: Thank you.
KEILAR: President Trump is requiring his rally-goers in Tulsa to sign a waiver to agree not to sue him if they get coronavirus. But does he have the legal ability to enforce it?
Plus, he just responded to criticism of picking a rally site on Juneteenth in Tulsa where the 1920s racial massacre happened, the anniversary of that passing a short time ago. Hear what he said.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:46:44]
KEILAR: When President Trump returns to the campaign trail for the first time during the coronavirus pandemic, rally-goers will face something new. Attendees at his rally in Tulsa, Oklahoma, will have to sign a waiver saying they won't sue if they get COVID-19 at the event.
I want to bring in CNN legal analyst, Elie Honig, with us.
Tell us about this waiver. Is this like -- is it enforceable?
ELIE HONIG, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Yes. Brianna, it could well be enforceable.
First, there's obviously a mixed message here. The message is, it's safe enough, everyone, come on out. We'll have a rally. We'll get thousands of people together. But sign the dotted line just in case it isn't safe and you can't sue us.
But, yes, generally. these kinds of waivers are enforceable. It depends on the specific circumstances. But Oklahoma is a state that will enforce these waivers, meaning, if people get sick, they might actually lose their ability to sue.
KEILAR: So that's kind of the question -- that leads to my question, which is legally sound then, but when it comes to optics maybe not so great.
HONIG: Not the best optics. But this is what lawyers do. They do the CYA work so people don't get sued.
Looking at the facts of this waiver, it is very short, to the point, and it is the kind of thing that a customer can decide to walk away from.
If someone makes you sign a waiver before putting your kids in a daycare, that is harder to walk away from.
This is a rally. Anyone can walk away from this.
I think the lawyers have done a good job. Not the best political message. But if they go to the rally, they might give up the right to sue.
KEILAR: Elie, thank you so much. We're really happy to see you.
HONIG: Thank you.
KEILAR: Thank you.
The date and location of the president's rally are also raising alarms. The fact to choose June 19th, which is Juneteenth, right? That's what it is, celebrating the end of slavery in the United States.
And he chose Tulsa, Oklahoma, the site of one of the most horrific massacres of African Americans in American history.
Details of the affluent black district of Black Wall Street destroyed by white mobs. This, included in a PBS documentary title "Boss," which looks at the black experience in business.
And joining me is the multi-Emmy- award-winning filmmaker behind the documentary, Stanley Nelson.
Stanley, thank you for joining us.
STANLEY NELSON, FILMMAKER: Thank you so much. It is great to be here.
KEILAR: So, Stanley, the president just said that he did not pick Juneteenth to hold his rally on purpose. But says he thinks of it as a celebration. What do you say to that?
NELSON: I think, you know, it is a slap in the face. It is not only once again Donald Trump being blind and deaf to African Americans but also, you know, almost going out of his way to just, you know, slap us in the face.
You know, Tulsa is almost a sacred place because of what happened in Greenwood. And to start out there's, you know, once again, it is something that was chosen. It is not that it happened by accident.
[13:50:01]
KEILAR: And just -- I mean, tell us about what happened. Tell us about why choosing Tulsa especially -- I think the anniversary just passed of the massacre. Tell us why this is so kind of like head scratching.
NELSON: Yes. Next year marks the 100th anniversary of the riots in Tulsa. And Greenwood was the African American part of Tulsa. A place that African Americans went to form their own community, their own town, as was done over and over again after the Civil War.
It's a history not really known. African Americans moved west, looking for some kind of peace and dignity in their lives. And they built a thriving community in Greenwood.
And one night, because of one of the trumped-up accidents, there was a riot by the white citizens of Tulsa. And hundreds of African Americans were killed, over 1200 homes were destroyed and burned. And 215 or so homes were not burned but looted.
It was a horrible, horrible massacre, basically, burning down the town of Greenwood.
And part of the cause of that was jealousy of the business success that Greenwood had. It was called "The Black Wall Street."
KEILAR: Yes. So, cutting down successful African Americans.
And you're working on a major documentary series, "Terror in Tulsa, The Rise and Fall of Black Wall Street."
You've done extensive research and documentaries on African American history and experiences.
And now, as you're watching the demonstrations, following the killing of George Floyd with people of every age and race demanding racial justice, does this moment to you seem like a turning point? Are you hopeful? Are you reserving judgment on that? Where are you?
NELSON: I'm very hopeful. I'm hopeful but holding back judgment. We don't know where it's going to lead. But I'm hopeful.
Partly, because we see so many different kinds of people protesting. We see it in all 50 states. We see young people and old people.
And especially for young people, once you've been politicized, had your eyes opened, it's hard to go back.
And so I think, hopefully, this will be the start of something. It's -- as we all know, we've been glued to the TV. It's something extraordinary that happened and we hope it continues.
KEILAR: Stanley Nelson, thank you. You are the director of "Terror in Tulsa." We will be looking forward to that, "The Rise and Fall of Black Wall Street." Good to see you NELSON: Thank you so much.
KEILAR: More on our breaking news on several fronts. The president says he supports banning chokeholds but that they are sometimes necessary and, quote, "innocent."
Plus, for the first time, we're hearing directly from the colleagues at the center of George Floyd's death. Hear what they are saying.
And the CDC is still holding a call and issuing new warnings about the coronavirus inside the U.S. Stand by.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[13:58:02]
Band-Aid is answering the call to be more representative of its customers, by offering bandages for different skin tones. The 100- year-old company posted pictures of its new bandages on Instagram, saying, it is, quote, "dedicated to inclusivity."
Band-Aid also saying in a statement, "We're committed to launching a range of bandages in light, medium and deep shades of brown and black skin tones. We stand in solidarity with our black colleagues and collaborators and community in the fight against racism, violence and injustice."
And the company also promised to make a donation to Black Lives Matter.
And after 24 seasons over 18 years, ABC's reality show "The Bachelor" announced a casting first today. Matt James, a black man, will take the lead role in the dating show.
And this follows a petition urging ABC to address a lack of diversity on the program. Quote, "ABC and Warner Brothers have been producing 'Bachelor' content for 18 years. During that time, they've cast 40 season leads, yet only one black lead. This is unacceptable," the petition read.
In season 13 of the spinoff, "The Bachelorette," ABC did cast the first African American woman to lead the franchise.
I'm Brianna Keilar. We're here at the top of the hour.
Confederate statues are going down, Black Lives Matter banners going up. And policing in the U.S. is on the verge of major reform, as the nation experiences a reckoning. It's confronting the racism that many Americans face today.
One person digging in and resisting change is President Trump. He just defended his tweet, "When the looting starts, the shooting starts." He said it's not a threat, even though it traces its origins to a threat of violence from a Miami police chief in the 1960s.
Here he was moments ago. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[14:00:01]
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Why those words?
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: So, that's an expression I've heard over the years. And it --
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER: Do you know where it comes from?
TRUMP: I think Philadelphia, the mayor of Philadelphia.
