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President Biden to Commemorate Tulsa Race Massacre; Asian- American Communities Start Volunteer Foot Patrols; Indigenous Groups Call for Searches for Mass Graves; Australian Softball Team Arrives in Japan for Games; Greece Working on "Covid-Free" Islands to Attract Tourists. Aired 4:30-5a ET
Aired June 01, 2021 - 04:30 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[04:30:00]
ROSEMARY CHURCH, CNN ANCHOR: It has now been a century since one of the darkest chapters in American history. In the coming hours President Joe Biden will travel to Tulsa, Oklahoma, to commemorate the Tulsa Race Massacre. On May 31st, 1921, a white mob attacked a thriving black community known as Black Wall Street. As many as 300 people were killed and thousands were left homeless according to the Tulsa Historical Society and Museum. The area consisted of more than 35 city blocks of black-owned shops, hotels and theaters. Many of those businesses were burned to the ground.
President Biden issued a proclamation on Monday writing in part: I commit to the survivors of the Tulsa Race Massacre, the descendants of victims and to this nation that we will never forget. We honor the legacy of the Greenwood community and of Black Wall Street by reaffirming our commitment to advance racial justice through the whole of our government and working to root out systemic racism from our laws, our policies and our hearts.
On Monday, the Tulsa community dedicated a prayer wall at the historic Vernon African Methodist Episcopal Church. It was heavily damaged during the massacre but evolved to an emblem of resilience. National civil rights leaders joined local faith leaders for the ceremony.
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REV. WILLIAM BARBER, CO-CHAIR OF THE POOR PEOPLE'S CAMPAIGN: The blood can't rest. You can't cover over the blood by trying to make a tourist event out of a tragedy. You can't cover over the blood and talk about reconciliation when there's been no conciliation. Tulsa was one of more than a dozen from 1863 to 1923, massacres that accounted for more death per capita than 9/11.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Not many survivors of the massacre are still around today, but 106-year-old Lessie Benningfield Randall is sharing what she remembers.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LESSIE BENNINGFIELD RANDALL, 106-YEAR-OLD MASSACRE SURVIVOR: The soldiers were coming in, run the revelers out, and then everybody was running and hiding and trying to get away. I don't know, it was just a big mess.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: And she went on to tell a reporter it is a big shame that racial inequity still exists.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Can you tell us what has gotten better?
RANDALL: What has gotten better?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
RANDALL: Well, I will tell you, it's kind of hard to say there. It's hard to say really.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's gotten worse? Can you tell us what's gotten worse?
RANDALL: Well, lord -- well, I think equality, we are not all equal. So we should all be equal regardless of color or creed, anything, but we are not.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
CHURCH: Asian-Americans have been targeted in yet another vicious attack. New York police say a 55-year-old Asian woman was walking past outdoor diners when a man punched her in the face. An arrest has been made and the woman was taken to the hospital.
Well with attacks like that on the rise some Asian-American communities are coming up with creative ways to protect themselves and make visitors feel more comfortable as well.
[04:35:00]
Dan Simon shows us how these communities are turning their pain and anger into positive action.
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DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): It is one of the oldest Chinatowns in North America, a distinctive cultural hub in the heart of Oakland. But recent attacks on businesses and pedestrians have caused foot traffic to wane, business owners say, with many stores shutting down early each day since the pandemic began, and racist, verbal and physical assaults on Asian-Americans grew.
DAVID WON, STARTED PATROL TO POLICE COMMUNITY: This is disappointing. You know, this is our country, and this is where we grew up. SIMON (voice-over): So 59-year-old David Won, an Oakland native and financial services professional, decided to do something to protect members of his own community, becoming a part of a group to help restore a sense of safety along these iconic blocks.
WON: We want to make shoppers in the area feel safe, and we want to make, you know, business owners feel safe also.
SIMON (voice-over): This all-volunteer foot patrol fans out across the neighborhood seven days a week.
WON: Probably two-thirds of the walkers are, you know, ladies in their 60s and early 70s. Probably the average age is probably 65 to 68 years old. And we try to -- we just show our presence to try to make sure that individuals that might be out there, you know, don't try to commit any crimes.
SIMON (voice-over): One study, using police data from 16 of the nation's largest cities and counties, shows reports of anti-Asian hate crimes up 164 percent from the same time last year.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Stop Asian hate!
SIMON (voice-over): The surge could be even greater because hate crimes against Asians are often under-reported. Similar foot patrols have expanded to other cities, including Seattle and New York. In Oakland, there are now at least four different groups conducting patrols.
WON: At least on every patrol, there are people that say thank you for coming down. You know, we wouldn't be down here without you.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Oh yes, it's very good patrol. And most of the clients say that they -- they feel safer to come in Chinatown and to come for haircut or shopping.
SIMON: Business owners tell us in the few months since the foot patrols starts in February, they've had a measurable impact.
JENNIFER CHEUNG, OWNER, NEW TIN'S MARKET: When we have a problem, we just call, and they just come out, come to help. So the customers feel as -- more safe. So they just -- the business is coming back.
SIMON: And the group wants to make it clear that they're not a replacement for police. Their aim is to prevent crimes from taking place, and when they do see something ugly happen, to speed up the response team. And we talked to folks throughout here, and they seem to really welcome the additional presence.
Dan Simon, CNN, Oakland.
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CHURCH: The Nigerian government is again searching for students kidnapped by armed gunmen. The latest attack happened Sunday at an Islamic school in central Nigeria. Police say bandits rode in on motorcycle shooting at random and killing at least one person. The school's headmaster says more than 150 children are missing or unaccounted for. A government spokeswoman says the school includes kindergartners, elementary and middle school age children and these types of kidnappings have become all too common in northern Nigeria. A Reuters tally finds more than 700 students have been abducted for ransom since December.
The NHL held a moment of silence before Monday's playoff game between the Montreal Canadians and the Toronto Maple Leaves to mourn the 215 children whose remains were found buried near a former residential school.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We acknowledge the affected families of the 215 children whose lives were taken at the former Kamloops Indian Residential School in British Columbia. In honor and respect for the 215 children the Toronto Maple Leaves, Montreal Canadians and the National Hockey League invite our fans to join us in a moment of reflection as we grieve in humility, in solidarity, (INAUDIBLE) with the first nation. All residential school survivors and indigenous communities across Canada.
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CHURCH: Canada's indigenous groups are now calling for a nationwide search for mass graves at every former residential school site. Paula Newton reports on the growing demand for answers.
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PAULA NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The discovery last week was really left the entire country reeling and there have been memorials from coast to coast to coast. Of course, what indigenous people want is more than just the memorials. In many indigenous communities they call it the knowing, but it's not just a factor of how many bodies may be buried there in British Columbia -- 215 they estimate now preliminarily -- but the fact that there were schools like this, well over 100 of them all over the country.
[04:40:08]
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission here in Canada determined there were well over 4,000 children that had gone missing. The enormity of this really has been known for decades and yet not many governments have been able to act on it. Justin Trudeau said again that his government was committed to making sure that something was done here. He has certainly called all of this shameful and yet there has not been a lot of action. I want you to listen now to the opposition leader Jagmeet Singh, and how emotional he got in determining what should be done now.
JAGMEET SINGH, LEADER OF CANADA'S NEW DEMOCRATIC PARTY: We're going to fighter to justice for you.
The federal government has to play a role in making sure that these families know what happened. These families know the truth. That these families can have closure and Canada can confront the reality of this genocide.
NEWTON: All of this happened really of course in a backdrop where indigenous people's today still suffer so much discrimination, systemic discrimination right across Canada. That is something that the federal government also says is a reality. But when we talk about justice indigenous people's tell us that, look, so much more has to be done when you consider the fact that even the Vatican has not apologized for its role. Many of these schools were run by the Catholic Church. This is what indigenous people want to get to and they to make sure that of course these families who they say their suffering was real, that it must be acknowledged and that they must have some sense of closure.
Paula Newton, CNN, Ottawa.
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CHURCH: Next on CNN NEWSROOM, international athletes have begun to arrive in Japan for the Tokyo Games, but with the country battling a fourth COVID wave there are a lot of questions about whether Japan is ready to play host. We will take a look.
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CHURCH: Well, two of the greatest of all time take to the court at the French Open, plus another basketball fan takes things too far. Patrick Snell has our minute in sports.
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PATRICK SNELL, CNN WORLD SPORT: We begin this Tuesday with all the fallout from Naomi Osaka's decision to withdraw from the French Open. The Japanese superstar who was fined $15,000 for not doing a media press conference after her first round victory, citing mental health reasons revealing she suffered long bouts of depression since winning the U.S. open in 2018.
Meantime, Serena Williams through to round two but over after a bit of a scare in the first ever night session match at the French Open, as she overcomes Romanian Irina-Camelia Begu. And another of the sports greats, Roger Federer returning to grand slam action for the first time since last year's Aussie Open. The Swiss very impressive in beating Denis Istomin of Uzbekistan.
Here in the U.S. yet another case of fans behaving badly, a man running on to the court during the Wizards game for playoff victory in Washington D.C. against the 76ers. Tackled by a security guard and dealt with by the authorities.
And Sergio Aguero is to join Spanish football giants Barcelona after a decade at Manchester City. With that, it's back to you.
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CHURCH: Thanks for that Patrick.
Well 52 days and counting until the start of the Tokyo Games, and Olympians have already begun to arrive. The Australian women's softball team, the Aussie Spirit, flew into Narita just a few hours ago. They are among the first international athletes to travel to the games since the pandemic forced its delay.
Meanwhile, Japanese media reports spectators maybe required to have a negative COVID test in order to attend the games. So let's turn to CNN's Blake Essig. He's in Tokyo covering the countdown to the Olympics for us. Good to see you Blake. So the Australian softball team arrived 52 days before the start of the games. So how will they stay safe in the midst of rising cases there in Japan?
BLAKE ESSIG, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, Rosemary, for the next six weeks the softballers from Australia are going to be spending all of their time between the team's hotel in Ota City, just outside of Tokyo and a nearby training facility. That's it. They'll have some interaction with the local community but it'll all be virtual.
Now this is great news of course for all those hoping that the games do actually take place this summer. Other than the South Sudanese track and field team who have been here since the pandemic began, they are the first team to arrive. Now further sending the message that these games will go ahead just as the IOC and Japanese government have been saying for months.
Now while the team from Australia has been fully vaccinated, starting today the vaccine rollout from Japanese athletes officially got under way. Current more than 2.5 percent of Japan's population is fully vaccinated for only medical workers, people over the age of 65 are eligible for a vaccine. Now in an effort to reduce the burden on local government and speed up Japan's vaccination program, later this month vaccinations will start being offered in workplaces and universities.
Now the decision to vaccinate athletes ahead of people who might be considered higher risk isn't sitting well with some medical professionals. One infectious disease specialist recently told me that holding the Olympics is like holding a festival in the middle of a disaster. He said vaccines should not be given to host an event, instead they should be given to save lives.
And regarding vaccines, the IOC says 80 percent of the people inside the Olympic village will be vaccinated but that doesn't include the roughly 78,000 foreign delegates expected to travel to Japan for the games. No word on where they're going to stay or whether they will be vaccinated. And as you mentioned, assuming the games do happen we know that there will be no foreign spectators allowed to attend. But according to local media who are citing unnamed sources, Olympic organizers could allow spectators into venues with proof of a negative vaccine test. And that being said, Olympic organizers maintain that the official decision spectators will be made sometime in June -- Rosemary.
CHURCH: Yes, negative COVID test there. All right, thank you, Blake Essig joining us live. Appreciate it.
Well Greece puts its vaccination efforts into overdrive. It's all in an effort to attract tourists in the coming months. Their plan for a COVID-free get away when we return.
[04:50:00]
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CHURCH: Greece is quickly working to vaccinate as many people as possible before the summer tourist season gets into full swing. The goal is to have COVID-free islands in an effort to make travelers feel more confident in booking trips. CNN's Sam Kiley has our report.
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SAM KILEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Not exactly the modern temple to Aphrodite that Mykonos has a reputation for. The party island is barely waking up, two weeks after the official tourist season was declared open.
Museums are still locked up, many shops shuttered. But others are getting a makeover, while plans to create more than 80 COVID-free islands get underway.
It is the centerpiece of Operation Blue Freedom, the Greek plan for economic recovery driven by tourism. Before the pandemic, a fifth of the population was employed in the industry which generated 18 percent of GDP.
With U.S. visitors being Greece's biggest spenders, Athens is banking on a summer surge in American visitors. And U.S. airlines are increasing flights to Greece this year for New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Newark and Washington D.C. The key is an aggressive vaccination campaign to jab every island resident by the end of June so visitors can come if they've been vaccinated themselves, survived infection, or have a negative PCR test.
IRENE ASIMOMITIS, RECEIVED COVID-19 VACCINE: It's a COVID free island. It's a COVID-free island. And we wait all the tourists to arrive in Mykonos to enjoy the beaches, to enjoy the life.
KILEY (voice-over): Getting that done may rest on ending nationwide regulations, that ban music and crowds. Iraklis Zisimopoulos is a heart doctor.
[04:55:00]
He also owns several Mykonos nightclubs and hotels. His clients call in with two questions, especially from America.
IRAKLIS ZISIMOPOULOS, SEMELI HOSPITALITY GROUP CEO: First of all, they ask if we are all vaccinated. And secondly, they can really party on the island like they used to.
KILEY: A vaccine party. ZISIMOPOULOS: Yes. That is the magic recipe.
KILEY (voice over): Around 18 percent of Greeks have been fully vaccinated. New COVID cases are falling, and deaths are about 40 a day. For now though, the clubs are empty. Only cocktail shakers generate any rhythm. Potion from Circe to soften the blues.
Tourists are trickling back, and they're doing their best to enjoy a beach, without decibels of dance music. But with more than half the residents population vaccinated, all eyes are turning to Athens to unleash Dionysus and let the fun begin in July.
VANGELIS SIAFIDAS, ALEMAGOU BEACH BAR AND RESTAURANT CO-OWNER: Not necessarily that the tourists need to feel that safe in order to come and party and feel safe, you know. Because for example, last year people were ready to party. It was hard for us to enforce the rules on them. But I think we are all trained now, us, the clientele, and the personnel, everyone is right that this is going to be a better summer.
KILEY: That's if a Hades of sound is your thing.
KILEY: There's a lot of talk in Mykonos about how the vibe won't get going until the loud music starts. But for the more mature traveler that can only be a relief.
Sam Kiley, CNN, Mykonos.
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CHURCH: Tough assignment for our Sam.
Well stunning footage out of Iceland to share with you of a drone crashing straight into an erupting volcano. It coasts towards the crater then straight into the bubble hot lava. The volcano is about 25 miles outside Iceland's capital and has been spewing lava since March. Even more incredible, this is the first eruption the area has seen in hundreds of years.
Thanks so much for your company. I'm Rosemary Church. "EARLY START" is up next, you're watching CNN. Have yourselves a fabulous day.
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