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LeBron James Gets Candid about the "Black Queens in His Life"; CNN On the Ground with Portland Protesters; Josh Earnest, United Airlines Chief Communications Officer, Discusses Becoming 1st Airline to Start COVID Testing Before Flights. Aired 2:30-3p ET
Aired September 25, 2020 - 14:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[14:30:00]
BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: After the grand jury's decision James tweeted a quote made famous by the late civil rights icon, Malcolm X, quote, "The most disrespected person in America is the black woman."
After last night's win, James was asked to expand on that.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LEBRON JAMES, L.A. LAKERS BASKETBALL PLAYER: I think you just look at the history of America and the disrespect black women have got the last 400 years. I mean, you can't turn a blind eye to that.
When I look at my household and see my daughter, who is five, on her way to six, and my wife and my mom, rest in peace, my grandmother, so many black women who have done so many things to me and the sacrifices they made, especially my mom growing up.
And there was still disrespect along the way. And it's still like that today.
In the case of Breonna Taylor's case, just shows it, once again, that the walls of a neighbor were more important than her life.
So, not only did I want to acknowledge that for all the queens in this world, all the black queens in this world and the ones in my life.
So, I had a moment yesterday -- I have a lot of moments. But I felt like it was important to let black women know that you're not alone.
No matter the disrespect or what they may feel, don't stop. Because that's exactly what they want you guys to do.
They want you to stop. They don't want you to not be as popular as you guys are, not as strong as you guys are, as determined as you guys are. They want you all to be at bay.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
KEILAR: I want to bring you in Stephanie Ready, a reporter and host with Turner Sports. She's also the first woman to coach a men's sports team and the first full-time female analyst in NBA history.
What does this mean for LeBron James to be speaking in such length as he is explaining what was a very well received quote that he repeated.
STEPHANIE READY, REPORTER AND HOST, TURNER SPORTS & FIRST FULL-TIME FEMALE ANALYST IN NBA HISTORY: It means a great deal.
Brianna, thank you for having me on to talk about this.
And first, I'd like to point out that the woman who asked that question was Morgan Mitchell (ph). She's one of my colleagues at Turner Sports. And she's an amazing woman. She reiterated the point of being seen and heard.
I was on the air and we were talking about the game at NBA TV for our post-game show and we ran that sound. I had to gather myself a little bit because I found myself getting emotional hearing those words.
Because as you can imagine, being in the sports industry, it's a challenge being a woman, and certainly being an African-American woman. And I've tried to fight battles my entire career.
It felt good to hear someone acknowledge that those battles exist and to stand with us.
KEILAR: And you know, you've been watching sports here. Just an incredible time, right? I think we're all dealing with it in our personal level and family level and looking to sports for a little bit of respite.
You were there before, witnessing players locked in the bubble during what is one of the most pressure-filled times of their careers, the post season, and using that time to focus on social justice issues.
What was that like? Tell us.
READY: It was very impressive. I'm no longer, but I was inside for 39 days. And I hate to say it like that. It sounds like I was serving a jail sentence.
But it was impressive because those men were isolated from society, their friends and loved ones. They were there to accomplish several goals and they're checking boxes every day that goes by.
They're there to compete for championship and they were there to use their platforms to express their concern about the wrongs going on in our society on a day-to-day basis and to express themselves and how they feel like they can effect change.
You remember, in the very beginning, it was big deal about what message would be put on the back of these jerseys.
And the fact the NBA and the NBPA partnered together to figure out a group of messages that they can choose from so each player can choose something that spoke to them individually and elevate a platform that they wanted to bring awareness to. And I thought that was all amazing. And it all came to a culmination when they decided to stop playing,
they had to pause in action. And the owners stepped up big and they decided they would join in. And they made allowances, if you will. They met demands, requests of the players.
[14:35:13]
And now you're seeing 21 of the 30 NBA teams are using there their arenas for polling places now. And it's not because all 30 didn't want to. There are some battles going on in those cities.
But at this moment there, are 21 NBA arenas and facilities being used for polling places locally.
KEILAR: Stephanie, thank you so much for coming on to talk about this. Stephanie Ready, with Turner Sports.
Next, protesters on the extreme left and extreme right are planning events in downtown Portland tomorrow. And CNN is on the ground asking both sides where all of this unrest is headed.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
KEILAR: The city of Portland is preparing for dueling protects tomorrow. Members of the far-left group, Antifa, and the far-right group, the Proud Boys, are among those with scheduled events downtown.
[14:40:07]
The city has seen nearly non-stop protests since the police killing of George Floyd in May.
CNN's Elle Reeve is on the ground, speaking with people who continue to show up night after night.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
(CHANTING)
UNIDENTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: Do not return to this area.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: When they start moving, we start moving as well.
(CROSSTALK)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: We have a problem in our police department that is systemic.
ELLE REEVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): This is one week in Portland, Oregon, where anti-police protests have been going on for more than 100 days and tension between protesters and police have only escalated.
As we got there, a member of the right-wing group, Patriot Prayer, named Aaron Jay Danielson, was killed by an antifascist protester.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Jay loved this country.
REEVE: Everyone we spoke to said they feared violence would escalate.
(WHISTLES)
SISU, ANTIFASCIST PROTEST MEDIC: The reason that we're out here is because (INAUDIBLE.)
(WHISTLES)
SISU: Voting for the lesser of two evils leads us to (INAUDIBLE).
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: We come out, we fight.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: We're not doing this because we hate America. We all have one goal in mind and that is ending police brutality.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: Black lives matter!
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: People are dying, and if water bottles being thrown at the police stops that, I'll do it every day.
(SHOUTING)
REEVE (on camera): How long have you been coming to the protests?
CHRIS WISE, ANTIFASCIST PROTEST MEDICAL: The whole time. Since May 29th for me.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: Our role is basically frontline med support. It could be stripping in the street, could be getting pushed into a building, could be gun shots. We cover it all.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER I've tried to deescalate about three outside agitators who come in with guns. They're always saying -- like some guys who was like, Antifa is terrorism. We're not terrorists, man. It's just protests.
REEVE: Do a lot of people have weapons?
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: We don't have weapons.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: We don't have weapons.
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: To us, weapons are like shields.
(CHANTING)
REEVE: What do you say to people who say, I like peaceful protests. When they burn stuff and break windows, that's different?
LEO, POLICE VIOLENCE PROTESTER: I say property doesn't bleed but I do. If ending systematic oppression means a store gets burnt or looted and nobody's hurt, how is that any worse than living in a situation where I have to fear for my life every day?
(CHANTING)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: We are on top of the doughnut shop, which is ironically located across from the Portland Police Union.
(SIRENS)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: Often, the protests will continue for a couple of hours and then, all of a sudden --
(SHOUTING)
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: -- there will be a huge rush of riot cops.
(SHOUTING)
REEVE: Back in May, when the protests started, did you have a gas mask or anything?
UNIDENTIFIED PROTESTER: No, of course I didn't have a gas mask. I had a face mask for COVID but none of us had gas masks.
I think we've raised about $30,000 this week to buy bulletproof vests because it turns out we might need them. And that's really terrifying.
WISE: So I've got a body cam to record things that need evidence in court. I currently have a head injury. Like, I'm still recovering from a TBA. It was back when we were still under federal occupation.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That was July?
WISE: Yes. They shot me directly in the head with a tear gas canister and I got post-concussion syndrome 22 hours later.
REEVE: I've kind of notice in a few protests, there's a moment of party feeling in front of the police.
But then there's a moment where it gets quiet and it's like there's a tension. It seems to almost be inviting the confrontation, like the protest can't end without that clash.
SISU: Yes. A big part of what's happening here is that it has to be uncomfortable.
SCOTTY HARRINGTON, ANTIFASCIST PROTEST MEDIC: Three came out of the park, the MRAPs were there. Started to announce it was an unpermitted march. People were not happy so people started marching.
Someone threw some incendiary devices and then all hell broke loose. And there was tear gas flying in, fireworks. It was really rough. And they're making a push.
(SHOUTING)
REEVE: How do you see it ending? SISU: I'm not sure. We haven't seen much of any change. The people out
here are active and maybe they didn't start that and that carries on for the rest of your life.
(CHEERING)
REEVE (voice-over): President Trump has warned Antifa will ruin the suburbs.
[14:45:02]
TRUMP: Does anyone want to have someone from Antifa as a resident of your suburb? I don't think so.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Antifa, we don't want your (EXPLETIVE DELETED) kind in Salem, Oregon.
(SHOUTING)
REEVE: Both sides say they act only in self-defense. But in person, things get out of hand quickly.
(SHOUTING)
UNIDENTIFIED PATRIOT PRAYER MEMBER: As far as Patriot Prayer, we do not condone violence. That's not what we're about. I can't speak for some of these other guys. But in the end, we love our country and support our president.
(SHOUTING)
(CHEERING)
REEVE (on camera): Do you think this is a weird civil war?
UNIDENTIFIED PATRIOT PRAYER MEMBER: I don't see it as that yet. But it could lead to that. The whole BLM, Antifa movement has just gotten more and more and more violent as time progresses.
UNIDENTIFIED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER: Enough! Enough!
UNIDENTIFIED PATRIOT PRAYER MEMBER It's literally across the nation. And we're tired of it.
It's time for us, as patriotic citizens, to take back our cities. And if it means by violent means, we'll have to do it.
Elle Reeve, CNN, Portland.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
KEILAR: Still ahead, a CNN survey finds a stunning number of absentee ballots have already been requested.
And United Airlines becoming the first in the country to start COVID testing before flights. One of their executives will join me live next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[14:51:13]
KEILAR: The U.S. has just surpassed seven million coronavirus cases. At least 203,000 have died in the country. And there's no sign that this will end soon.
That's wreaking havoc on the economy, including the airline industry, which lost billions during the pandemic. And in order to financially survive, they must adapt.
United Airlines is the first airline to offer rapid coronavirus tests to some of the passengers.
This will begin October 15th, making the tests available for flights from San Francisco to Hawaii. And the move will help passengers avoid a 14-day quarantine when they land.
We have chief communications officer for United Airlines and former White House press secretary, Josh Earnest, with us.
Josh, this is interesting. Thanks for coming on to explain to us how this works.
JOSH EARNEST, CHIEF COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER, UNITED AIRLINES & FORMER WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: Thanks for having me, Brianna.
This is an interesting opportunity and an interesting way to help our passengers travel. We know that a lot of people want to do right now and we're proceed to lead the industry to get it done.
KEILAR: So you're doing -- so tell us how this logistically is going to work and it seems like you're concentrating on certain passengers?
EARNEST: Right.
This is basically a pilot program where we're going to allow our customers traveling between San Francisco and Hawaii to be able to, when they book their ticket or shortly before they're ready to travel, to also sign up through us to get a COVID test when they're at the airport.
This is a rapid test that would in 15 minutes give you the result.
And you take that result, that is hopefully negative, and take it with you. And when you land in Hawaii, you could show that to Hawaii officials when you land and Hawaii officials will allow you to avoid that 14-day quarantine.
So if you're thinking about traveling to Hawaii -- a lot of people think, I don't want to go because I don't want to spend 14 days in the hotel room. And now you bypass that and hit the beach the very first day.
KEILAR: What if you test positive if you are someone who booked a flight. What happens with that? What does United do?
EARNEST: We'll work with the passenger to reschedule the travel.
KEILAR: So you reschedule travel there.
This is a pilot program. I think ideally, for a lot of people who are afraid to fly right now and are concerned since we've seen, for instance, I think 11,000 people exposed, they've been in airplanes with people who ended up testing positive for coronavirus, obviously, there would be a desire for this to be even more broad.
Is that a possibility?
EARNEST: We certainly hope so, Brianna. And it is all contingent on testing capacity.
The most logical application to this is beginning to facilitate international travel.
Right now, American citizens that want to go to other countries are not able to do so because they face a stiff quarantine when they arrive in that other country.
But if we could get to a place where you could arrive in that other country with a piece in paper in hand that said, in the last 72 hours I've tested negative for COVID-19, we could imagine a scenario where European officials would let you bypass their required quarantine.
And that would facilitate travel and trade and commerce that would have a huge positive impact on the economy not just in Europe but in the United States.
Again, this is not just a benefit for the airline industry. The whole tourism and travel eco-system across the country would benefit dramatically from that kind of an arrangement.
So we're in conversations with the U.S. government. And, hopefully, they'll interact with their counterparts in other countries to try to create that kind of a system.
KEILAR: And real quick, Josh, I have half a minute. How much is this? What is the cost and who shoulders the cost?
EARNEST: Right now, our customers pay the cost. We basically pass through the cost to them. The in-person test at SFO is $250. There's also a mail-in option that you would do 72 hours before you travel. That is $80.
[14:55:07]
But again, all of this is driven by testing capacity. We're not making money off of these tests. We're trying to facilitate travel.
And as testing capacity expands, hopefully, the cost would go down and make it easier for more people to get access to tests and get back on the road. KEILAR: Hey, Josh, thank you so much. Josh Earnest with United. We
appreciate you coming on.
EARNEST: Thank you, Brianna.
KEILAR: So just into CNN, the U.S. Postal Service has agreed to a settlement that would force it to prioritize election mail. This, as the president continues his assault on the integrity of U.S. locations. Virginia's attorney general will join CNN live to respond, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[15:00:00]
