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Navy Upholds Firing of Captain Brett Crozier; Coronavirus Cases Rising in 23 States; U.S. Marks Juneteenth. Aired 3-3:30p ET

Aired June 19, 2020 - 15:00   ET

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

[15:00:09]

BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN HOST: Hi there. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you so much for being with me on this Friday, June 19, Juneteenth, the day that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States of America.

And marches just to mark that day are happening all across the country. In fact, live pictures here -- look at this -- folks taking over this one major highway in Oakland, California. We have all kinds of material for you on Juneteenth, so stay tuned for that.

First, we want to start with the coronavirus pandemic and new concerns that some areas throughout the country have just reopened too quickly. Nearly half of all U.S. states show cases are on the rise, eight of them seeing an increase of at least 50 percent.

And one of the states seeing an uptick is Florida, which just reported nearly 4,000 new infections yesterday. That is the highest that state has seen since the beginning of the pandemic.

And just hours ago, the World Health Organization announced more than 150 new -- excuse me -- 150,000 new cases were reported yesterday, marking the most in a single day thus far.

In terms of companies taking action, Apple is shutting down stores in four states where COVID numbers are up. And one of those is, you guessed it, Florida.

We have reporters covering the story from all angles, starting with CNN's Rosa Flores in Miami.

And, Rosa, what did the governor say about the spike in cases there?

ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know, Brooke, he acknowledged that it's due to an uptick in young people not social distancing. I will get to that in just a moment.

But, first, Florida busting its own one-day record, posting 3,822 cases in one day alone. And, also, we learned that the median age of the individuals who are tested positive for coronavirus has plunged from 65 to 37.

And, according to the governor, it's expected to keep plunging, and, according to the governor, this uptick is due to young people being infected. And he says that they are not social distancing, not wearing masks. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOV. RON DESANTIS (R-FL): I mean, I do think that a lot of this is voluntary compliance. I mean, you're just not going to be able to police every single group of people every single time.

And so I think, as you get into this month after month, I think -- I think people do get a little tired, particularly in some of the age groups that may not be as at risk.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FLORES: So, of course, the question is, so what is the governor's plan?

He says that he's going to have the Florida Department of Health publish public service announcements. Now, I asked him if he was going to have masks be mandatory in the state of Florida. And he says, no. He said that that's going to be up to local governments -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: All right, from Miami, thank you.

Let's go to Kyung Lah in Scottsdale, Arizona.

And, Kyung, a similar issue there. And I know a number of mayors in Arizona are now just taking action in response to the increase in cases in Arizona. What are they doing specifically?

KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What they're doing, is they're ordering masks, if that people are going to be out and about, they are encouraging in some cases or ordering people in public places to wear masks, if you are in a place that you -- especially were you can't social distance.

That's something that all the doctors in the state are saying that is something that will keep people safe. They're doing this, the mayors are, because the governor of this state has stopped short of a statewide mandate. The governor here in this state says it's just not going to work in rural areas vs. a more populated area like Scottsdale or Phoenix, and that he wants to make that decision a local decision.

Now, doctors in this state, approximately 3,000 of them, signed a letter saying they disagreed. They want a state mandate. Why this reaction from the doctors? Well, if you look at what came out today, Brooke, the number here in Arizona has hit a new record, 3,246 new cases of coronavirus being reported today by the Department of Health.

That is a new record, the highest. It is 29 percent higher than just yesterday. So we are seeing these alarm bells being rung by doctors in the state, as well as just looking at the numbers themselves, Brooke.

BALDWIN: Ordering those masks, CDC guidance from the beginning. Wear the mask.

Kyung, thank you so much for the update there. In terms of companies, Cristina Alesci is on the Apple decision to

close the stores in the states seeing the uptick in numbers.

And so what exactly is Apple saying, Cristina?

CRISTINA ALESCI, CNN POLITICS AND BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Well, it said it from the beginning. When it reopened the stores, it said it was going to monitor the situation, consult with its experts, and if it saw an uptick in cases, it was going to shut down the stores again.

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And now we're seeing it in the precise locations that we have been talking about all day, like Arizona and Florida, also North Carolina and South Carolina. In total, 11 stores across those four states will be shutting down.

Brooke, in terms of the impact to the bottom line, it's not about that, because Apple has about 270 stores across the U.S. What it is about is the confidence in the economy to reopen. And that's why we saw the market head lower. And

let's not make any mistakes about this. Trump wants the economy to reopen, like it was pre-COVID. And this example, along with many others that I have been covering, make it absolutely clear that he has no control over how that happens. It's going to be up to these companies who are, by the way, taking things into their own hands. They're not relying on local or state governments to tell them what to do, because, at the end of the day, they are worried about getting sued if customers and employees get sick in their stores.

Ultimately, they're liable. They know they have deep pockets. So they're going to be a target of a lawsuit if they continue to open their stories in an area where the cases are rising.

BALDWIN: Speaking of taking, this whole situation in their own hands, the movie theater chain AMC just reversed its course on its policy for moviegoers. So what is AMC now doing?

ALESCI: This is remarkable, Brooke.

Just yesterday, the CEO of AMC telling a news outlet that they were going to reopen and they weren't going to require masks of customers in places that the federal -- and sorry -- I should say, the state or local authorities required them, that they were going to let the customers make their own decisions in those states that did not require the masks.

Now, today, after a fierce backlash, the company reverses course. And, look, what's remarkable about this story is that Trump has managed to politicize the mask wearing to impact the way that CEOs make decisions.

And now you have a situation where CEOs are considering the political fallout of making a decision and potentially putting that ahead of public safety. It's just a crazy town kind of situation, Brooke. BALDWIN: Oh, and it's a thing that people have to be aware of and

take action on, despite what certain people are saying or not at the top of the country.

Cristina Alesci, thank you very much for that.

Coming up: Atlanta police officers calling out sick in large numbers, the same day the now former officer was charged in the killing of Rayshard Brooks was due in court for the very first time.

Plus, universities in Mississippi facing new pressure over the Mississippi state flag -- what the indeed NCAA and the Southeastern Conference are threatening unless its Confederate symbol is removed.

And we mentioned off the top of the show -- let me show you some more live pictures here, beautiful picture -- look at that -- along the reflecting pool in Washington, D.C., the Washington Monument there. It is Juneteenth. This is the day that commemorates the end of slavery in this country.

And another picture, Oakland California, folks taking over major thoroughfares, highways, showing up, speaking out on this Juneteenth.

We're live. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. We will be right back.

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BALDWIN: We're back. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you for being with me.

Atlanta is left scrambling to keep their streets safe, as a majority of police officers in two different zones did not show up to work today. Why? This is more fallout from the police killing of Rayshard Brooks, and it comes after a number of officers didn't show up for work earlier this week as well, protesting the felony murder charge against that fired officer Garrett Rolfe, who shot and killed Brooks in that Wendy's parking lot last weekend.

Today was his first court hearing, but Rolfe waived his right to that appearance, so neither he nor his attorneys appeared before a judge today.

So, let's go to Atlanta to Ryan Young, who's been there really from the beginning covering all of this.

And so talk to me just briefly about waiving his right to the hearing, and then also these officers just not showing up?

RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, a lot to break down here.

And when you think about this, Brooke, you think about the officer waiving, we sort of knew that yesterday. In fact, some of my sources told me that they believed he would waive. The reason why is the way this indictment works.

The indictment hasn't gone through because there's isn't a grand jury, maybe even until January. So, if you think about this, that officer has no chance of even receiving a bond until that point. He's going to have to sit in jail. That's why a lot of officers were also upset, because they believe, at least let the grand jury come back and then present the indictment. And that would give him a chance for some bond.

But that did not happen today. So, moving forward from here, you have officers from across the city who are really showing their displeasure with what's happened over the last month. If you think about it, four officers were fired for how they treated some college students. Then you had these two officers, one fired and one put on desk duty.

They're really asking the question about how they should move forward as a police force, because what they say is, the standard operating procedure was in place, and they believe that was a justified shoot. So they don't understand how these new rules are being put into place.

But when you talk about the critical needs of a city of this size, you're talking about the city of Atlanta, where there's always a demonstration or always a major event. What people are concerned about is how they're having to use their forces all around the city.

To give you an idea, two different zones had basically no-shows today, and I'm being told that specialized units are being asked to go out and help answer 911 calls.

The Major Crimes Unit, which goes after homicide suspects and does major crime investigations, they have been told to get in uniforms and get out on the street and answer 911 calls. We're told sergeants and lieutenants are doing the same thing.

Now, of course, they're people at home who say, all right, what's the big deal? Well, if you have critical shortages in certain areas, if you have a call-out of a big nature, you can understand how the surges of lack of staff could get other people hurt -- Brooke.

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BALDWIN: Oh, it's the domino effect, right? We will see how long this lasts and what the city will do about it.

Ryan, thank you in Atlanta.

Meantime, three months after the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor, there are some answers to the calls for justice. The mayor of Louisville, Kentucky, has started the process of firing officer Brett Hankison. That's the officer who shot and killed Taylor inside of her own home.

Taylor, who was an EMT, was shot eight times as police officers executed that no-knock drug warrant searching for a totally different person. The family's attorney telling CNN that Taylor's family is encouraged by the news and believes it is a step in the right direction.

CNN's Athena Jones is with me now.

And, again, just going back to the language from the Louisville mayor, has initiated termination proceedings. Flat out, does that mean this officer is getting fired? And what about possible charges?

ATHENA JONES, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Brooke.

Well, charges, we're still not sure about. But this is what the family's calling a first step. This is something that they have wanted the mayor to do, arguing he had the power to do it, the mayor saying, we have got to follow due process.

And so what we have here is an announcement and a memo and letter from the chief of police to this officer in question, Detective Brett Hankison, spelling out what the police chief calls extreme violations of the Louisville Police Department's policies.

These are violations of standard operating procedures, because, as you mentioned, it was Hankison who fired 10 rounds into Breonna Taylor's home. Eight of them hit her.

And so, as the police chief spells out, these are violations of standard operating procedure, four counts of violating obedience to rules, saying that this officer displayed extreme indifference to the value of human life when he blindly fired those 10 shots into Breonna Taylor's home, and then 10 counts of use of deadly force, violating the policy when it comes to use of deadly force, because he blindly and the chief says wantonly fired these 10 rounds into Breonna Taylor's home, without verifying that there was anyone who was a threat, an immediate threat, to the officer.

So, that is where we stand here. Now, Lonita Baker is an attorney for Breonna Taylor's family. And she shared the family's response to this news a little earlier.

Listen to what she said.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LONITA BAKER, ATTORNEY FOR FAMILY OF BREONNA TAYLOR: She said, this is the best news she's gotten today. So she is definitely pleased with that information.

But in talking to her, we still got a ways to go. And there's still a lot to be done until we have justice for Breonna. But we know that more than Brett Hankison had to play a role in Breonna's death.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: And so there you saw Lonita Baker sharing the response from Breonna Taylor's mother.

But they want to see the other officers fired, the other two officers, and charges brought against all three -- Brooke. BALDWIN: Athena, thank you so much, the update there on Breonna Taylor.

Breaking news now: Pentagon officials have just announced that the Navy will uphold the firing of Captain Brett Crozier. Remember, Crozier was the former commanding officer of the USS Theodore Roosevelt who was relieved of duty after sounding the alarm over a coronavirus outbreak on his ship.

CNN's Ryan Browne is on this for us.

And so, Ryan, what's the story here?

RYAN BROWNE, CNN PENTAGON CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, it's been a bit of a series of confusing and interesting events regarding the U.S. Navy and regarding this investigation.

Now, initially, the captain was fired, as you said, according to Navy officials, for sending this warning and distributing it too widely. Then the Navy decided to review that. The head of the Navy, the secretary of the Navy, resigned over his handling of the entire incident.

During the course of that initial review, the Navy actually recommended that the captain, Brett Crozier, be reinstated to command of that ship. But that review was put on pause. It was broadened. It was expanded.

And we're just getting the results of the new investigation today. And that investigation actually upheld that firing, saying that Captain Crozier did not act appropriately, did not take the necessary steps to prevent the spread of coronavirus aboard his ship.

Now, some 1,000 sailors aboard that aircraft carrier wound up contracting coronavirus. One of the sailors actually died from it. And the Navy saying that the captain did not take the right steps with regards to social distancing, with getting sailors off that ship fast enough, and that, while they didn't actually say that his issuing of the warning was problematic, his actual actions while in command were an issue, and saying that, had he not already been fired, the Navy would relieve him of command now.

Now, he will be reassigned. He's not being ejected from the Navy. He will be reassigned elsewhere, but his chances for promotion are almost nonexistent. And his immediate superior officer, Rear Admiral Stuart Baker, who was also aboard the ship, was also dinged in this investigation, saying that he also did not act appropriately, and his promotion is being put on hold, we're being told -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: All right, Ryan, thank you for the update there.

And right now, as we are look at these beautiful pictures out of Washington, D.C., folks gathering, the country's commemorating Juneteenth, the fight for racial justice is erupting in cities nationwide. We're live across the country for you.

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And, as President Trump claims that he was the person who put Juneteenth on Americans' radar, I will talk to one 93-year-old woman who has made it her life's work to make today a federal holiday. Don't miss this.

We will be right back.

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BALDWIN: Welcome back on this Juneteenth. That is June 19.

Right now, coast to coast, Americans are pouring into the streets to celebrate Juneteenth, the day that commemorates the end of slavery in this country. And these marches come at a critical moment for America, with a battle to fix centuries' long injustices in the system.

So we have correspondents following a couple of these marches.

CNN's Brian Todd is in Washington.

So, Brian, just first to you, talk to me about what these folks -- why they're there, why this day is so important.

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brooke, you know, Juneteenth, of course, is infused with much more energy this year after the killing of George Floyd, the killing of Rayshard Brooks, the killing of Breonna Taylor.

That's what's brought this crowd here. There are no fewer than 20 events in D.C., protests, marches, walkouts, strikes, other things, and a lot of it is converging here at Freedom Plaza.

I'm with Trinice McNally. She's one of the leaders of the Black Women's March.

Trinice, tell me, what was the main message that you wanted to come to Freedom Plaza to put forth? Again, you guys marched from across town. What did you want to say?

TRINICE MCNALLY, JUNETEENTH MARCH LEADER: So we're here to remind folks that, as long as prisons exist, then black death will continue.

We especially have the Defend Black Women March here today to remind folks about the death that is consistent in our communities. State- sanctioned violence is not the only violence that is killing black women, girls, femmes, and gender-nonconforming folks. It is patriarchy.

And patriarchy is at the root of white supremacy. And we're here to remind people to abolish the police, to defend MPD, to take police out of schools, and to really move towards abolition as a politic that can keep our people safe and keep all people free.

TODD: All right.

And Paris Hatcher (ph) is another leader of this march.

Paris, Juneteenth, does it take on new meaning here? Is there more urgency? What message do you think should be put forth here?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think what's really important is to understand that Juneteenth has been celebrated in this country by black folks for over 150 years.

And, today, we have this reinvigoration around it because we know that black folks are still fighting. We're still fighting for our liberation and our freedom, in particular black women, queer folks and trans folks.

And so, today, we are rallying to defund the police, to defend black women, and that Juneteenth is essential to black joy and liberation.

TODD: Thank you, ladies, very much. Good luck.

A lot of passion here with these two young ladies, and with hundreds of people here, Brooke.

We will take a walk and show you the scene just a little bit. Then we will throw it back to you. This march started up probably beyond the Capitol, about a mile away, came all the way down here. And there are people speaking over here, a couple hundred people here in Freedom Plaza.

Black Lives Matter has called for streets and highways to be blocked, for walkouts, strikes, things like that. So it is a movement here. It is a very strong movement. Of course, the killings of George Floyd, of Breonna Taylor, of Rayshard Brooks infused this entire thing with new energy.

And I got to tell you, for the past three weeks, since that incident in Lafayette Square, all of these protests have been peaceful. We will see if it stays that way. Looks like it is -- Brooke.

BALDWIN: Yes, you can tell, not a drop of rain are going to stop these people from getting out and showing up and speaking up.

Thanks. Thanks to those two extraordinary women who just interviewed, Brian. Thank you.

And from Washington, let's go to New York to Alex Field, who is standing by.

We know that this is actually the first time in the state of New York that it's a holiday for all state employees. Tell me more what -- about what you're seeing there.

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are outside the federal building in Lower Manhattan, Brooke.

We have got a huge crowd out here, many people right now taking a knee, shining a light again on this fight for racial equality, on a fight for racial justice across the country. This is happening in a city where, of course, we have seen these demonstrations going on for weeks now, and where we are seeing some incremental change, like the City Council passing a sweeping package of police reforms, like the mayor saying that Juneteenth will next year be a holiday here in the city of New York.

But, again, it is not incremental change that the people in these streets are looking for. They are looking for sweeping change, the full reimagining of this country as a more fair, a more equal place.

I'm joined by Kenya (ph).

Kenya, what does it mean to you to be on these streets, to see the progress that is being made? And how much hope do you have that this will be sustained?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: First, I'm very hopeful.

But I'm not ignorant to the fact that it's going to take a lot more than giving us a holiday and reform, because it's so much deeper than that. When we say system, we need change in our school systems. We need change in our legal systems. We need change in everything, in our voting system, the whole thing.

So, yes, this is a start, but we have a lot more work to do.

FIELD: Marches, voting, it's the message that you are sending.

Chuck here has a sign that says, "I am not a hashtag."

Brooke, it is a powerful message for people to realize this goes beyond the Internet. It goes beyond the marches. This is a sustained commitment that people are out here, willing to make, willing to demonstrate right now.

BALDWIN: You can feel it. Can feel it all the way through the screen.

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