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Fauci Cautions Life May Not Return To Normal Until Next Year; Face Masks Work: New Study Shows Their Effectiveness; Outbreak In Beijing Food Market Causes Swift Corrective Measures; France Reopens Restaurants And Cafes, Macron Advises Vigilance; New Video Captures Deadly Officer-Involved Shooting; Philippine Journalist Maria Ressa Convicted of "Cyber Libel"; White House Considers $2 Trillion Stimulus Plan; Trump Administration Plans to Cut U.S. Troops in Germany. Aired 1-2a ET
Aired June 15, 2020 - 01:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[01:00:00]
MICHAEL HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: Hello. And welcome to our viewers joining us here in the United States and all around the world. I'm Michael Holmes and coming up here on CNN Newsroom.
Several videos captured the police killing of another man in the United States. What the footage reveals, and what it leaves unanswered.
Beijing taking action after a resurgence of coronavirus cases.
Veteran journalist , Maria Ressa, found guilty of cyber libel in the Philippines, and critics say it is a politically motivated prosecution by the Duterte government.
Welcome, everyone. For nearly three weeks straight now, the U.S. has been consumed by protests against police brutality.
The latest flash point in this unrest is Atlanta, Georgia where an officer killed a black man on Friday.
The Atlanta mayor vowed on Sunday that America will quote, "get to the other side of this."
The medical examiner says Rayshard Brooks, who was 27, died from two gunshot wounds to the back which caused organ damage and blood loss. The district attorney considering felony murder charges against the police officer who shot him and is expected to make a decision on charges by Wednesday.
That officer was fired and the Atlanta police chief also resigned in the wake of this latest incident.
The killing of Brooks reigniting the fury over the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis last month which set off nationwide and worldwide demonstrations against racial injustice. And we are getting a clearer picture of the moments leading up to that
shooting, the deadly encounter captured on police body cam and other video.
CNN's Boris Sanchez brings us a report from the scene.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Large crowds of people have come and gone from this Wendy's in South Atlanta where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed on Friday night. Many of them protesting, some of them setting up a makeshift memorial.
What is captured on camera of the incident Friday night paints a complex picture. Brooks at different points joking with police officers, engaging in polite conversation but in one fell swoop everything changes.
We should warn you, some of this video is graphic and difficult to watch.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
Responding to a call from a Wendy's in South Atlanta Friday night, Officer Devin Brosnan approaches Rayshard Brooks' car.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OFFICER DEVIN BROSNAN, ATLANTA POLICE DEPARTMENT: What's up, my man? Hey, what's up, my man. Hey. Hey man, you're parked in the middle of the drive-through line here. Hey, sir, what's up, man? Hey, you're parked in the drive-through right now. Hey, sir. You all right?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Asleep in the drive-through lane, police body cam footage shows the 27-year old does not respond right away.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROSNAN: Are you tired? All right, man. I'll move my car. Just pull up -- just pull somewhere and take a nap (ph). All right. All right. You good?
RAYSHARD BROOKS: Yes.
BROSNAN: All right.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Brooks eventually wakes up and agrees to move his car before he appears to fall asleep again.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROSNAN: My man, you (INAUDIBLE) back to sleep. You got to move your car. (INAUDIBLE) going back to sleep.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Brooks moves to a nearby parking spot where Brosnan asks:
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROSNAN: How much did you drink tonight?
BROOKS: I had one (INAUDIBLE).
BROSNAN: Not much, how much is not much? Well, now you say one drink, what kind of drink was it?
BROOKS: (INAUDIBLE) margarita.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All right. Any drugs today?
BROOKS: Absolutely (ph), I don't do drugs.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Brooks struggles to find his license and tries to step out of the car.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKS: I want to get out because --
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: No, just stay in the car for me, all right, man? (INAUDIBLE) your license.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Brosnan then radios for another officer to conduct a DUI test.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He's pretty out of it. Definitely got some (INAUDIBLE) liquor in him right now.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: When Officer Garrett Rolfe arrives, Brooks denies ever having been asleep.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The reason why we're here is because somebody called 911 because you were asleep behind the wheel while you were in the drive-through, right? Do you recall that?
BROOKS: I don't. I don't.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't recall that? BROOKS: No (ph).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You don't recall just minutes ago where you were passed out behind the wheel in the drive-through?
[01:05:00]
BROOKS: Nuh-huh.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: He agrees to a breathalyzer test, says he can't remember how much he had to drink. And then he tells police --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BROOKS: I know, I know. You just doing your job.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: When Rolfe tries to handcuff Brooks, he resists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hey, stop that.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Witness video shows Brosnan readying his taser.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
You're going to get tased.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Brooks grabs it out of his hand.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hands off the taser.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: Breaking free, Brooks punches Rolfe who fires his stun gun as Brooks takes off.
And here's the moment the altercation becomes deadly. We slowed this down for you.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
You can see Rolfe chasing Brooks, each man now carrying a taser. Watch as Rolfe moves his taser from his right hand to his left and reaches toward his handgun. That's when Brooks turns and fires the taser. And Rolfe shoots, firing three times at Brooks as he flees. Bystanders almost immediately begin cursing and shouting at the
officers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Both of your careers are definitely done because you just shot a man. For no reason.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: A few minutes after he's shot, Officers Rolfe and Brosnan begin to provide medical treatment.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Mr. Brooks, keep breathing.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SANCHEZ: A short time later, Brooks is rushed by ambulance to a nearby hospital where he's later pronounced dead.
And Officer Rolfe who opened fire has been terminated. Officer Brosnan, who first responded to the scene here, has been placed on administrative duty. And Erika Shields, the chief of police in Atlanta resigned over the weekend.
Of course there is an ongoing investigation, potentially with charges coming this week.
Boris Sanchez, CNN. In Atlanta.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Now even with the video, prosecutors have a lot to consider as they decide whether to charge that former officer with murder.
CNN legal analyst Joey Jackson breaks it down for us.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: Was the officer who fired the shot in immediate fear of death or serious physical injury? Prosecutors will analyze that question very closely. And, of course, they will look and see how much time the officer had to react.
Number two. Did the force the officer used, was it proportionate to the threat that Rayshard posed at that particular time? And number three, whether or not he acted reasonably, that is, the officer under the circumstances?
And so, we're left with the question.
And I think there could be reasonable minds who agree or disagree on the analysis I put forth with respect to the way it'll be analyzed. But the question remains whether or not you had to elevate to that
next step, which is deadly force. What, if anything else, could you have done to preserve and protect a life? And I think that's the question.
I think force has to be the final, the last resort. And when someone's running away, it's highly problematic even when firing a taser that you felt you were going to die.
And that, I think, is what prosecutors will analyze and come forth with when they render a decision on Wednesday.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Joey Jackson there. Now some of the video of the shooting and the moments before it were difficult to watch. And it was emotional for Atlanta's mayor.
She did talk about that a little earlier right here on CNN.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR KEISHA LANCE BOTTOMS, ATLANTA: The reality is what can you say? I watched the body cam video, I watched it for 30 minutes.
I watched the interaction with Mr. Brooks and it broke my heart. When he talked about his daughter's birthday party that he was planning for -- this is not confrontational, this was a guy that you were rooting for.
And even knowing the end, watching it, you're going, "Just let him go, just let him go. Let him call somebody to pick him up."
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Well, protesters in Seattle continue to hold a six-block area around an abandoned police precinct. They're calling it an autonomous zone where artists and performers are calling the shots.
But as CNN's Dan Simon explains, police eventually want back in.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: It is a beautiful and sunny afternoon here in Seattle and that has pushed the crowds to a level that I don't think we have seen throughout this occupation.
If we pan the camera, you can see all the people down there and it is like this festival setting where you have barbecues and live music and different speakers on the stage.
Behind me you can see some Native Americans. They have been doing a drum ceremony, you see the teepee there.
The centerpiece of this occupation is the police precinct behind me. And when officers vacated the precinct early last week, it did have its desired effect. It did de-escalate the tension that existed between protesters and police.
But the question now is when might officers get back into that station?
The police chief was asked about that today. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
[01:10:00]
CARMEN BEST, POLICE CHIEF, SEATTLE: I wish I had the answer to how long it might last. I can tell you that we want to move it forward as quickly and efficiently as possible.
But my concern, as a police chief -- besides that I want to be back in our precinct doing the work -- is that we don't want to -- we don't want anyone there to be harmed. We don't want this to be something that devolves into a force situation.
So we're really trying to take a methodical, practical approach to reach a resolution where everyone gets out of here safely.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIMON: Now the chief has a valid concern because she says because officers are not in that station it is taking triple the amount of time to respond to calls in this area. And of course she would like to get her officers back into that station as soon as possible.
But right now there seems to be no plan or strategy for that to happen.
Dan Simon, CNN, Seattle.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Oklahoma has been seeing a rise in coronavirus infections, but the U.S. president still plans to hold a large rally in that state.
Now one of his top advisers is talking about precautions.
We'll explain when we come back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Twelve-year old, Hazem Al-Hossain, has a budding career in sports commentary.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
HAZEM AL-HOSSAIN: Goal, goal.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
AL-HOSSAIN: I love commentating more than playing. For me, it's more interesting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like many soccer fans around the world, he's missing the game. Suspended due to the outbreak of coronavirus.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL-HOSSAIN: I don't support any one team. Any commentator should be neutral.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And staying neutral is, of course ,critical when you comment on your friends alleyway matches.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
AL-HOSSAIN: (Speaking in foreign language)
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He also does play-by-play for online games at home in Damascus with his big brother, Mulham.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MULHAM AL-HOSSAIN (through translator): When I play PlayStation, he always sits next to me and starts commentating on the match. I wish him luck, and wish to see him as a famous commentator one day.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hazem has a few followers on his Facebook page.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SONEL ALI: His videos are very nice and he has a beautiful voice. We have to remember that he is only 12 years old.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Plenty of time to finesse his skills for the big leagues.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
[01:15:00]
HOLMES: America's top expert on infectious diseases warns life under the coronavirus pandemic may not return to normal until next year.
Doctor Anthony Fauci's prediction comes as parts of the U.S. have been struggling to contain the outbreak, at least 18 states still reporting a rise in new infections.
Overall, the country still leads the world in confirmed cases by far, it's not even close.
Brazil has the second highest number and the outbreak there is getting worse as well. On Sunday, officials counted more than 17,000 new cases, at least 612 new deaths.
Beijing reporting 79 new cases of the coronavirus after a break out at what is considered the largest food market in Asia. China's capital had gone 56 days without seeing any new cases. Well, now 11 neighborhoods are on lockdown.
And every new medical patient with a fever will be tested for COVID- 19.
Steven Jiang joins me now from Beijing with more.
Tell us more about these new numbers. What other details that you found?
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEVEN JIANG, CNN SENIOR PRODUCER: That's right, Michael. As you mentioned, Beijing had not reported new cases for more than two months until last Thursday.
Since then, the dozens of new cases, almost all of them are linked to the Xinfadi wholesale food market which housed thousands of vendors and used to see huge crowds on a daily basis. That's why the authorities have shut it down on Saturday and sealed off this market as well as surrounding areas.
They're also placing (ph) a growing number of neighborhoods in the city with newly-reported cases under very strict lockdown.
Now they are conducting very extensive contact tracing and mass testing for anyone who had visited this market since May 30th, as well as their close contacts. On Sunday alone, they tested more than 76,000 people, of whom 59 people tested positive.
Now, we're also seeing all of these very strict, obsessive health checks, and screening measures are making a strong comeback across the city. Remember, things had been easing off quite a bit in recent weeks. Now, of course, students who had just returned to schools are told they have the option of studying from home again.
Really another sigh of how concerned the authorities are with the situation here being described as severe with a lot of lingering uncertainty -- Michael.
HOLMES: I was going to ask you. With the food market issue, how do these sorts of concerns impact or do they impact food supply, the food safety side of things? Because it's a huge place, as you said.
JIANG: That's right. This market used to provide 70 percent of the city's vegetables and 10 percent of its pork. So when it was closed down Saturday it really caused a lot of concern among the local residents. So that's why there was some initial panic buying online. But the government has since promised to deploy supplies from
elsewhere to ensure none --- disruption of people's food supply. So right now, seems like if you go to a grocery store or a supermarket, there is ample supplies of food items.
But there is also another concern. Because officials have found traces of the virus in multiple environmental samples taken from the market including chopping boards used to chop imported salmon. That really has prompted restaurants and supermarkets across the city to take the fish off their shelves and menus.
And also with officials vowing to strengthening inspection of cargoes from overseas -- Michael.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Wow. Steven, thank you. Steven Jiang there in Beijing.
Now the U.S. surgeon general is urging more Americans to wear face masks.
On Twitter, Jerome Adams said they could help reduce the asymptomatic spread of the virus, which would help businesses reopen faster. Makes sense doesn't it?
President Trump's economic top advisor agreed with that assessment. He told CNN's Jake Tapper everyone should be wearing face coverings, even those attending the president's upcoming rally in Oklahoma.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
LARRY KUDLOW, ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT FOR ECONOMIC POLICY AND DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL ECONOMIC COUNCIL: People must observe the safety guidelines, okay? Must. The social distancing must be observed. Face coverings in key places must be observed.
JAKE TAPPER, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": I'm glad to see you calling for people to wear masks. And I assume that that also means at the Trump rally ---
KUDLOW: Absolutely.
TAPPER: -- in Tulsa.
KUDLOW: I mean --
TAPPER: People should be wearing masks to the Trump rally in Tulsa this Saturday.
KUDLOW: Well, okay. Probably so.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Joining me now is Professor Renyi Zhang from Texas A&M University. Professor Zhang led a team of researchers who published a study on face masks just a few days ago. It does show wearing masks is the most effective way to prevent
infections.
Let's talk more about this study with the professor.
Yes, this study was fascinating. It found that masks alone prevented more than 78,000 infections in Italy over a brief period of time, more than 66,000 infections in New York City. The bottom line is they work.
[01:20:00]
I mean, there are many different rules around the U.S. Do you think wearing them should be mandatory?
DR. RENYI ZHANG, PROFESSOR OF ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY: Yes. So basically, what we're looking at here is that we look directly into the data, the trend of the pandemic.
So we're looking to three places. So the first place is Wuhan, China and the second place is Italy, the third place New York City.
So what we're looking at here is that we're looking to how the cases, the total infections and also the daily cases, how the curve goes.
Like in China, they have almost simultaneous implementation of different measures so it's very difficult to see. But in other places, like Italy and New York City, what they did is at first they -- like in Italy, they locked down the city. So they leave some period. And after that, we saw the curve skew (ph) going up then they start implementing face covering.
And finally, like in New York City, the mandatory -- the mandated face covering was implemented April 17th.
Then basically, what you look at here is just look at how the cases -- I mean, the total infections, the daily case, and how the curve change and how the curve become flattening, and how the curve start to bend.
And basically, what we see is in Italy, and also in New York City, the curve really started to bend when face masks were implemented.
HOLMES: So they work. It's sort of a bit of a no-brainer, in a way. But there is a lot of resistance to it, particularly in the U.S. and the West in general.
Why do you think westerners are resistant to wearing them?
ZHANG: That's a very interesting question. If I consider most countries in Asia like China, Japan and South Korea, I think they have the tradition. One of the problems there was the air was very polluted. Like China, India had enormous problems with air pollution.
Now everybody knows that putting on a face mask will protect yourself so people sort of are used to those kind of a practice. But somehow, in the U.S., we're just used to blue skies, and people just don't feel comfortable putting on those face masks.
HOLMES: And I know you're a scientist, but there's a political aspect to this because there has been mixed messaging from leaders. The New York governor mandating masks, the surgeon general strongly advising their use.
But you've got the president and the administration in general pretty much actively avoiding them.
There is a photograph that was tweeted by the vice president of him in front of dozens of staff members, no spacing, no masks.
I'm curious. As somebody who has seen effectiveness of them what's the risk of that sort of messaging from the top?
ZHANG: I find it very hard to understand, this situation. But as a scientist, I believe the disease is preventable by taking some important procedures.
So to me, I think you will greatly reduce the chance that you're going to -- contracting the virus if you put on a face mask and then you practice good hand hygiene as well as practicing social distancing.
HOLMES: Right.
ZHANG: So I simply do not understand why people are so resistant, so resistant toward face covering.
HOLMES: I just wanted to ask one final question. There's going to be a big political rally in Tulsa next week, 20,000 or more people in an auditorium. Would you go to that?
ZHANG: I would not go to there. I think it's very unsafe. Unless everybody is putting on a face mask.
HOLMES: Right. A really fascinating study, and I appreciate your time. Professor Renyi Zhang, Texas A&M. Thank you so much.
ZHANG: Thank you.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: The French president, Emmanuel Macron, is speeding up the easing of coronavirus restrictions.
In a televised address on Sunday announcing that, starting Monday, cafes and restaurants can reopen fully and traveling everywhere in Europe will be allowed.
But he emphasized the importance of remaining vigilant.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
EMMANUEL MACRON, PRESIDENT OF FRANCE (through translator): This does not mean that the virus has gone and that we can completely drop our guard. We will need to live with it for a long time more. Respect social distancing.
The summer of 2020 will not be a summer like any other.
[01:25:00]
And we will need to survey the evolution of the epidemic to be prepared. In case it comes back stronger.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Mr. Macron also promised to build a stronger economic model that is less reliant on global supply chains.
Meanwhile, Spain is set to welcome visitors from the EU with the exception of Portugal from June 21st. That's when EU travelers will not have to going to quarantine when entering the country.
As for the delay in reopening its borders with Portugal, the Spanish prime minister says that comes at the request of the Portuguese government.
It's taking a lot of effort to get the world's largest economy running on all cylinders again. When we come back, how the White House hopes to do it by revving up the U.S. manufacturing sector.
We'll have details on that.
Also, we'll talk to one of the men in this now iconic image that has taken social media by storm. As calls for racial injustice continue.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As the world begins to adapt to the new normal of business in the time of coronavirus, many firms are adjusting their focus towards civic duty.
The Arab Banking Corporation has of banking corporation has announced a $10 million fund for COVID-19 relief efforts across the Middle East and North Africa.
The Bahraini Group says it wishes to lessen the financial burden on those most impacted and support frontline medical workers and volunteers.
Meanwhile, the Malaysian arm of Amway has donated a total of 250 air purifiers to public hospitals across the country. The donation is worth about $325,000.
And from hospital to hospitality, a group of Spanish chefs has join together as "Delivery 4 Heroes." While the Barcelona restaurants are closed, the group is distributing two and three hundred free meals to hospital staff per day.
For more stories of the people making a difference and to find out how you can impact your world, go to CNN.com/impact.
SCOTT MCLEAN, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Scott McLean in Madrid, Spain and this is CNN.
(MUSIC)
HOLMES: Got an update for you now on the latest police-involved shooting in the U.S.
The medical examiner says Rayshard Brooks died from two gunshot wounds to the back after a scuffle with a white police officer at a fast-food drive-through, here in Atlanta Georgia, on Friday.
That officer since fired, and could face charges later this week.
The incident throwing more fuel on the United States' raging struggles with racism, and setting off new demonstrations across the country.
[01:29:35]
Atlanta's mayor says the silver lining is that the movement is leading to open conversations about racism and bias.
Let's take a closer look at some of the body cam video released in that case, and a warning: some of the pictures are disturbing.
Now, in the first part you will see officers approach Rayshard Brooks' car at the Wendy's drive-thru because he had apparently fallen asleep in line.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Don't go back to sleep, just pull it over there.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got you.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ok. All right.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you step out with me please?
RAYSHARD BROOKS, KILLED BY POLICE: Yes, sir.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have any weapons on you or anything like that?
BROOKS: I don't have anything on me.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Is it ok if I pat you down just to make sure?
BROOKS: 1009 --
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Now, after a field sobriety test, one officer says Brooks has had too much to drink, and moved in to arrest him, as you see there, and then the struggle begins.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop fighting. Stop fighting. Stop fighting. Stop fighting. You're going to get tased. You're going to get tased.
(INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop. Stop. You're going to get tased.
(INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: (EXPLETIVE DELETED) Hands off the taser. Hands off the taser.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop fighting. Stop fighting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: During all of that, Brooks did grab one of the officers taser, and started to run.
All right. Now, let's have a look at another angle. This has been slowed down. You can see the officer chasing Brooks. Brooks turns and points the taser at the officer, you do see a flash it discharges. A moment later, he is shot by the officer.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: Demonstrators continue to gather across the U.K. calling for racial justice. Black Lives Matter activists holding protests in London and Leeds on Sunday. They were relatively peaceful compared to Saturday when scuffles did break out in London between anti-racism demonstrators and far-right protesters.
And a powerful image has emerged from those scuffles of a black protester carrying a white man to safety. Patrick Hutchinson says he picked the man up after noticing he was injured during the clashes.
He spoke to CNN's Salma Abdelaziz about the moments leading up to that moment.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
SALMA ABDELAZIZ, CNN PRODUCER: Is this you in the photograph?
PATRICK HUTCHINSON, ACTIVIST: Yes, that is me in that photograph.
ABDELAZIZ: Can you describe to me what's happening in this picture?
HUTCHINSON: My friends and I put a cordon around this man. He was on the stairs, lying in the fetal position with you know, anything is about to happen to him. The first time I saw him was when I started to climb underneath him because I went to pick him up.
ABDELAZIZ: And you could've looked at this man and thought he is my enemy. Why did you choose to help him?
HUTCHINSON: There was a particular thought I had that, you know, you have to show some sort of, you know, love for your fellow man, ok. Regardless. Because I was saying that the other three officers that were present when George Floyd was unfortunately murdered, if they -- just one of them had stepped in and stopped, you know, their fellow officer from doing what he did, he would be alive today.
ABDELAZIZ: You put him on your shoulder, you carried him over to the police, then what happened?
HUTCHINSON: I'm carrying him. My friends surrounding me, protecting myself and the man on my shoulder. He was, you know, still sort of getting -- receiving blows. You could still feel people trying to hit him.
Carried him over to the police, and I said, here you are. And one of the police officer said thank, you. You did a good thing -- good thing there, man.
ABDELAZIZ: What you want people to take away when they look at that picture?
HUTCHINSON: I think, hopefully, they will take away breaking down the race barriers and realize and see that we are all one people, that we are all one race.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
HOLMES: Hutchinson referred to the Black Lives Matter protesters history in the making, adding that it was a no-brainer to support it.
A setback for press freedom in the Philippines. Coming up, the verdict against award-winning journalist Maria Ressa and her news Web site.
And, as fears of a second COVID wave rise, White House making plans for another stimulus package.
We'll be right back.
[01:34:26]
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
HOLMES: A court in the Philippines has found journalist Maria guilty of cyber libel. Ressa is a former CNN bureau chief, and the founder and CEO of the news site Rappler which has produced extensive coverage of President Rodrigo Duterte and his deadly war on drugs.
Press freedom groups say the charges against Ressa are politically motivated prosecution by the Duterte government.
I spoke to Maria last hour and she says the verdict will not affect Rappler's coverage.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARIA RESSA, FOUNDER AND CEO, RAPPLER: When power, great power, tries to hang a Damocles sword over your head, if you allow it to affect you they succeed. Because you're not doing the kind of journalism, the investigative journalism we should be doing.
So what we have learned in Rappler is we swat it away, and we keep our eye on the ball.
It makes me wonder and worry, what is the government afraid of? Why are they afraid of journalists? Why must they always make me feel their power?
I think I'm a nice person. I ask very respectfully. Our reporters are very respectful. But they just don't like the questions. And we need to get back to this idea of checks and balances.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
HOLMES: And Anna Coren joins me now with more on this from Hong Kong. A very controversial case -- give us a little bit more of a sense of the background.
ANNA COREN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, you heard Maria there, talking about the Filipino government afraid of the questions that the journalists are asking. And President Rodrigo Duterte has taken exception to the questions that Maria Ressa and her company, the journalists that Rappler have asked.
I mean they have been on a crusade against his war on drugs in which thousands of extra judicial killings took place across the Philippines, you know, Duterte's war on drugs.
But this has put a target on Maria's back. There were 11 criminal charges against Maria. They have been now reduced to eight. Obviously today, she has been convicted of one of them. That cyber libel case which, you know, human rights groups, Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch -- everyone is coming out saying that this is in an absolute sham. This is President Duterte trying to silence the independent media.
[01:40:04]
COREN: And look, Maria she said she was devastated -- straight after that verdict -- devastated but was, of course, prepared for what could happen. And this is, you know, getting attention right around the world.
Take a listen to what Maria said straight after that verdict.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
RESSA: I appeal, to you, the journalists in this room, the Filipinos who are listening to protect your rights. We are meant to be a cautionary tale. We are meant to make you afraid. All right.
So, I appeal again -- don't be afraid. Because if you don't use your rights, you will lose them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
COREN: You heard Maria there getting a little bit choked up. She is obviously a very optimistic, positive person. I spoke to her on her way to court this morning and she said she was feeling good, but prepared.
Now, I should say that one of her lawyers is Amal Clooney, the high profile human rights lawyer and she he issued a statement shortly after the verdict. Let me read to you some of this.
She said, "Today, a court in the Philippines became complicit in a sinister action to silence a journalist for exposing corruption and abuse. This conviction is an affront to the rule of law, a stark warning to the press, and a blow to democracy in the Philippines."
Amal Clooney also called on the U.S. government to take note of what is happening because Maria Ressa is a U.S. citizen after all. She's Filipino, but also a U.S. Citizen who was educated at Princeton, as we say, she's a former CNN journalist.
She was "Time" Person of the Year in 2018 because of what she is doing in the Philippines. The Philippines -- it is such a dangerous place to be a journalist, and yet she has decided that this is her passion.
She could've led to the U.S. she could have escaped these charges, but she chose to stay to face the music, and to fight for not just other journalists but for the Filipino public who she believes deserves the truth -- Michael.
HOLMES: Yes. And incredibly moral and courageous journalist. Anna -- good to see you. Thanks for that. Anna Coren in Hong Kong.
Global stocks could be heading for another volatile week, U.S. stock futures are down as investor concerns increase over the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19 cases. Several U.S. states have reopened weeks ago and now are reporting rising numbers of infections and hospitalizations.
Meanwhile, the White House considering a fourth stimulus package that could be at least $2 trillion.
John Defterios is in Abu Dhabi to break it all down for us.
You know, the global markets, shaky ground all over again. I mean is this a U.S.-driven phenomenon?
JOHN DEFTERIOS, CNN EMERGING MARKETS EDITOR: I think that's a fair comment -- Michael.
And the worry of investors have gone long in this market, the sell-off has accelerated in the last 45 minutes of trade. We had Wall Street and Main Street very divided, almost numb to the plight of the recovery here.
But now with the second wave in the United States, the impact that could have on long-term job dislocation, there is a rethink.
Let's take a look at Asia in particular here. And you can see the sharp sell-off in both the Nikkei and in Seoul. Shanghai has been relatively stable then we saw better than half percent loss and you can see the losses there in Hong Kong. And the tight link between Asia and the U.S. futures is quite extraordinary. If you look at the Dow futures and also the S&P 500 futures, you're looking at losses of well over 2 percent.
If you look at the headline number there for the Nasdaq, everybody has touted the fact that we hit 10000, that's long gone because we've had a correction now of better than 500 points. Although the percentage loss on the Nasdaq is not as bad as the other two major indices.
It's worth flagging -- Michael, when you have a slowdown here or a potential slowdown of growth. We see oil prices falling yet again, 2 to 3 percent as well.
HOLMES: Yes. All very concerning.
We touched on this, the White House doing this other bailout plan or talking about it. I mean it was against it, and now it seems to be pushing for it. What is the aim?
DEFTERIOS: That is the fastest pivot I've seen politically, in a long, long time.
HOLMES: Yes.
DEFTERIOS: They say $2 trillion but perhaps even more. This is coming from Peter Navarro, who is the trade adviser to the United States. He has been very controversial on trade with the U.S. and China, suggesting this is needed to entice manufacturers back to U.S. soil. It's make in America, buy American. And this quite politically- charged, of course.
[01:44:50]
DEFTERIOS: And at the same time, which is a bit odd here, Larry Kudlow who's another economic adviser to the President, suggested that jobs are being restored in time here and businesses are starting to open up. This is what he said to Jake Tapper yesterday on the weekend programs.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LARRY KUDLOW, WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISER: You have got new business applications are skyrocketing. And by the way, small businesses are now about 80 percent reopening. So this is all positive news coming off the pandemic. We are in the recovery stage.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
DEFTERIOS: So he says we are in the recovery stage. It begs the question -- Michael, why do we need the $2 trillion stimulus? Nancy Pelosi, the House leader, was suggesting it should be $3 trillion. The White House poured cold water on that. Mitch McConnell who's an ally of the President suggested we need something smaller about a trillion dollars.
But the controversy here that people are not talking about it is a payroll tax to U.S. industry which will add to the budget deficit and to U.S. debt, something that would be very difficult to pass in the House giving favors to U.S. industry at this stage.
HOLMES: Yes, a long term aim of Republicans won't be popular with Democrats especially (INAUDIBLE).
Larry Kudlow, always an optimist.
Good to see you -- John Defterios. I appreciate it. Thank you.
DEFTERIOS: Thanks.
HOLMES: President Trump wants to cut U.S. Troops in Germany. Up next, we will talk to a former commander of those troops and get his thoughts on that plan.
We will be right back.
[01:46:17]
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HOLMES: In just a few hours, a Russian court will pronounce sentence on Paul Whelan. He's a former U.S. Marine accused of espionage. Russian prosecutors are asking for 18 years in a maximum security prison. Whelan has been in jail since December 2018 and has pled not guilty to all charges.
The U.S. Ambassador to Russia calls the proceedings a mockery of justice saying authorities haven't even let him see Whelan and haven't provided U.S. officials with any evidence of the alleged crimes.
Nearly two dozen Republican lawmakers are pushing back on a White House plan to drawdown U.S. troops in Germany. President Trump has long criticized that country for not playing its part in NATO spending.
At least 34,000 U.S. troops are stationed in various parts of Germany. The exact number that would be cut is unclear, as some Republicans urge Mr. Trump to stay committed to NATO.
Joining me now CNN military analyst and former commanding general of the U.S. Army-Europe and the 7th Army, Lieutenant-General Mark Hertling.
Good to see you. And not just because you commanded the troops we're about to discuss. But the President seems to think that U.S. troops, whether they are in Germany or South Korea, or Japan are somehow protecting those countries, yet they are protecting U.S. interests, aren't they?
LT. GEN. MARK HERTLING, CNN MILITARY ANALYST: Yes. What I would say, Michael, it is more in the strategic interest of the United States to have forces in Europe. And secondly, to have them where they are because there's quite a bit of infrastructure that support the soldiers in those locations most of which are in Germany because of the end of the Second World War.
But I've got to tell you, we have spent literally billions of dollars to right-size Europe from both the 1990s and in the early 2000s where the forces have already drawn down.
And yes, it is very much in our strategic interest for a variety of reasons. And I could name ten of them for you right now.
HOLMES: Give me a couple. What is the impact on the U.S. security interest? I mean they are not there to fight a war, you know, unless one, they are there really to prevent one, right.
HERTLING: They are. There is a combat deterrent force there, but in fact that is the smallest part of the force in Europe. Of the 30,000 or so U.S. Army soldiers in Europe, about two-thirds of them are either logisticians, intelligence or some type of support unit.
Now, that usually happens with the military unit, you know that. Only about 10,000 of the 30,000 are there who are actually combat forces. But what most people don't understand is, the forces that are in Europe in Germany are at places that support other continents.
Not only the European footprint which has 49 different countries that we partner with, but also Africa, the Middle East and even, in some cases, when we conduct diplomatic relationships with Russia.
One of the big things we have there is a huge hospital, Landstuhl Hospital. That hospital not only takes care of military personnel but also some civilian U.S. personnel there as well as all the embassies of the 49 countries in Europe and the 54 countries in Africa and several countries in the Middle East where we have embassies.
HOLMES: I was going to say, you know, when it comes to the President's attitude to U.S. troops overseas and NATO, specifically, this weakens that alliance, all of it does, and that only helps one person, doesn't it?
HERTLING: It does. It not only weakens NATO, but it weakens our relations with the countries that we engage with. I mean I spent 10 years of my career doing what is called theater security cooperation, engagements with other countries to help them become allies.
And allies support one another. We will never go to war again without an ally. We will never conduct peacekeeping operations without an ally. And those are the kinds of things that are being hurt by this kind of messaging, this kind of communication. It not only affects NATO in Germany; it also affects our allies. And we see that on a daily basis.
HOLMES: Yes. And that one person it would help is Vladimir Putin. I should point out.
HERTLING: Right.
HOLMES: Yes. I found it interesting, one of the most interesting things about this argument is the almost universal opposition to the suggestion. You even had 22 Republican members of the House Armed Services Committee urging the President not to do this, saying it would significantly damage U.S. national security and strengthen Russia.
That's Republican members of that committee.
HERTLING: Yes.
HOLMES: I mean why would he be doing this? Weakening that footprint?
[01:54:54]
HERTLING: Well, that is an unanswerable question. I don't know. But you're right. There is certainly bipartisan support, because most of the members of Congress have staff. And when I went through as the commander the last drawdown, they took the force in Europe from 90,000 to 30,000 -- I was in Congress almost on a monthly basis, telling them our troop to task function. How many troops we needed to accomplish the multiple missions that we had there.
So most of the congressional staffers and many of the congressmen understand that it's a very small force fighting way above their weight class and they are all muscle and no fat in Europe. You can barely accomplish the missions that they have with the number of forces over there.
HOLMES: Yes, it is interesting that a lot of the talk is about well, sometimes the President's mentioned the cost but you have got to base them somewhere. It's still going to cost money, wherever you put them, even if you ship them back to the states.
Yes. I mean, you know, I was interested too about Russia's posture. We are pretty much out of time, but Russia is already sort of muscling in on the Balkans and elsewhere -- what could he do if the U.S. isn't there to sort of, you know, sort of bolster the forces?
HERTLING: Well, Mr. Putin and his military have been very adept at using what they call conflict and asymmetric warfare in many of the countries in Europe. The Baltics, Poland, Romania, Bulgaria -- I could go through the litany of list that he has affected.
And what is interesting is, you know, the focus seems to be on Germany when in fact the forces, the U.S. forces in Europe, their strategic deterrence is on any kind of broadening of the Russian expansion.
And what we saw the last time when President Obama said he was going to pivot to Asia, Russia perked up their ears and they started to be a little bit more demonstrative in their approach to broadening their attempts at influence. And it was not a good thing. That was back in 2008 and '09 timeframe. So yes, we have seen it before and we don't want to see it again.
HOLMES: Lieutenant General Mark Hertling, always a pleasure. Good to see you -- sir.
HERTLING: Thank you -- Michael. HOLMES: And thanks for spending part of your day with me. I'm Michael
Holmes.
I will be back with another hour of CNN NEWSROOM after the break.
[01:57:07]
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