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Critics: Focus On Gabby Petito Is "Missing White Woman Syndrome"; CNN Anchor Pamela Brown's Brother Helps Immigrant Family In Need; DHS Releases Some Haitian Migrants Into U.S. As Crisis Deepens. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired September 22, 2021 - 15:30   ET

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

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VICTOR BLACKWELL, CNN HOST: Well, the search is intensifying for Brian Laundrie after the remains of his fiancee Gabby Petito were identified yesterday in Wyoming.

And the focus on her story has renewed a conversation about the disproportionate amount of media attention given to white women who are missing.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN HOST: Critics say that quote, eclipses the thousands of missing people of color in the U.S. every year.

Joining us now is Utah State Representative Angela Romero who leads the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls Task Force.

And Karsonya Wise Whitehead, an associate professor at Loyola University of African American studies. Great to have both of you here.

Representative Romero, I want to start with you. As we said one of the things that this entire Gabby Petito case has highlighted is just how many missing people cases there are every year. I mean, the numbers are staggering. Let me pull up this graphic that we have, this is from the FBI.

There are about 35,000 white men and women, including Hispanic, who are reported missing. Every year. 15,000 plus black people, 2,600 unknown race, 1,000 more than Asian people, and 883 Indian -- which I guess is Native American, that's how the FBI is categorizing it. I know that this is part of your daily work. Why aren't other groups getting more attention?

STATE REP. ANGELA ROMERO (D-UT): First of all, thank you for having me, and again, Gabby's case has just put a spotlight on all of the inequity that exists in our country, and how certain people aren't prioritized because race and ethnicity plays a huge role. And so that's why we as a state of Utah in 2019 created a resolution to highlight the epidemic of murdered and missing indigenous women, and then in 2020, and 2021, we renewed our task force, and we have a lot of work ahead of us. BLACKWELL: Dr. K, and that's what I'm going to call you, not out of

disrespect, but because that's a branding on your radio show, I want people to know.

But Dr. K, as we get to the question about the roots of this syndrome as it's recently called. I understand that you believe it pre-dates not just media but even police departments, the root of why there is this prioritization of white women who go missing. What's your view?

KARSONYA WISE WHITEHEAD, AFRICAN AND AFRICAN AMERICAN STUDIES PROFESSOR: And thank you so much for inviting me on the show.

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This term, "missing white woman syndrome" was one that was put forth by the Gwen Ifill, the great Gwen Ifill, to describe how the media gets very caught up, gets very concerned, it gets overly involved when white women and girls go missing, the damsel in distress.

And like everyone else, of course, I want them to be found, I want the families to be restored and made whole. I also want the country to pay some attention to black women, black girls, black men, and black boys, indigenous women and men all across the board who go missing.

I mean, from 2020 to now, over a half million people have been missing, 40 percent of them are people of color, and yet black folks only make up 13.1 to 14 percent of the population. The reason why I say it predates any of the terminology, as if we go back to a time of American slavery, white women were put up on a pedestal. That's what people desired to be, that was what was important, to be protected.

Men were killed, women were killed, boys were killed, girls were killed, all black folks, if they did anything against white women. So, this syndrome of really putting white woman as something to be looked at, as the damsel in distress, that we must all come together. We must do everything we can to find them while we then not pay attention to what's happening with black girls and black women is not new.

I think it's a holdover from how we were taught about who was important, about who matters, who must be protected and who we must focus on.

CAMEROTA: I think that that makes sense. And I think there are a couple of other factors, particularly with the Gabby Petito case, and that is there's so much video of her in the days, with her fiancee on their trip leading up to this. So, there's a lot of video that viewers can sort of focus in on and look at and study and watch. And it did kind of engage, I think, these, you know, digital detectives and the country in a way that they wanted to crack the case. They wanted to find her.

And they still -- there's still a mystery of where her fiancee is, and people are still looking for him. And so Representative, I mean, now that we know that there's, you know, 55,000 adults reported missing, what can the media do differently? Obviously, we can't cover everyone every day. What do we need to do when we don't have those factors, like the video that I'm talking about and the mystery, how can we get people's attention?

ROMERO: Well, I think we really need to be equitable. I think the doctor really laid it out well. We have to look at historical trauma. We have to look at how people of color have been viewed in this country by people for -- since the creation. And how we were not equal, and so, again, I put this responsibility on the media but I also put this responsibility on all of us, that we have to elevate everyone, and we can't put a particular group on a pedestal.

BLACKWELL: Dr. K. beyond media coverage, we should focus on law enforcement. There's this study out of the University of Wyoming where Gabby Petito's body was found that 21 percent of all missing persons for more than a month over the last decade were indigenous people. Only 11 percent were white people. So more than a media fascination, law enforcement seems to get on it when white people are missing, and indigenous people, not so much.

WHITEHEAD: Well, that's the way it's always been. I mean, I think that we live in a society, and I know people are now uncomfortable talking about critical race theory, they're uncomfortable talking about white supremacy. They're uncomfortable talking about racism, but for us to understand the root of why this is essentially a problem with how we value people and who we see as being important, we have to go back to the root.

Why don't the police spring into action when it's a black woman or some indigenous girl. Why are we criminalized? Why are we seen as being a runaway? Why are we seen as being something to be thrown away, and not focused on unless you have this intense media coverage.

In order to take TikTok seriously -- and I do, I understand that's important to my sons, I get it. Why was TikTok so interested in Gabby Petito, would they have been as interested if it was a young black woman.

Well, in our society, we have been taught early on about who matters. The media's response, the public's response is only a holistic response in the way we've been taught about who is valued. It goes back to the root, and I still say in order for us to understand it, we're going to have to dismantle it, and we're going to have get our hands dirty, and talk about how we can change it.

BLACKWELL: Yes, all right. Dr. K. Wise Whitehead, and Utah State Representative Angela Romero. Thank you both.

CAMEROTA: Thank you, ladies.

WHITEHEAD: Thank you very much.

CAMEROTA: All right, key Democrats are arriving for high stakes talk with the president as this stalemate within the party threatens President Biden's economic agenda.

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(COMMERCIAL BREAK) BLACKWELL: This week in a special series called "CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE," we are spotlighting innovative thinkers and bold doers who are challenging norms.

CAMEROTA: Pamela Brown's champion is her big brother Lincoln. A few years ago, he gave Christmas presents to an immigrant family in need and that one positive act led to a whole community rallying to help the family.

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UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Quite the workout.

LINCOLN BROWN: Everyday he does this and he won't let go.

PAMELA BROWN, CNN SENIOR WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Lincoln and Will have forged a bond that has changed both of their lives, for the rest of their lives.

LINCOLN BROWN, BROTHER OF PAMELA BROWN: Christmas, 2018, I was just looking for another way to give back. I haven't posted on Facebook for the first time in years, I just said, hey, if you know a family that needs help or anyone that needs help, let me know.

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The teacher reached out to me and said, hey, there's a family. They're in bad shape. They need help, and can you bring us some presents. And the first time I met Will, he just moved here from Tanzania, his mom has to make money to go to work. But his mom has a daughter, and there's no daycare, there's no childcare. So, what is she supposed to do? How many times Will then has to stay home to take care of his 2- year-old little sister?

He just gave us a lot of big hugs and was so sweet and kind. Will just really left an imprint on my heart.

WILL, RECENTLY FROM TANZANIA: I told Lincoln, you're my only friend that I have.

PAMELA BROWN: They walked away and felt like that wasn't right. There need to be more done, and just by getting some friends on Facebook to pitch in, suddenly this family that had so little, it felt so displaced had this community rallying around them.

LINCOLN BROWN: Let's go!

LINCOLN BROWN: About 52 people who since that first period almost three years ago have contributed and been a part of his life, some really small, and some really big ways but they all matter, right. It wasn't any one person. It's really a group effort.

WILL: And they called me. Will, I need to take you and your sister, let's go to the playground, let's go play soccer.

PAMELA BROWN: They were total strangers. WILL: Yes, I feel lost.

PAMELA BROWN (voice over): And with the fun also came tutoring so Will could learn English.

PAMELA BROWN: Remember that's that hard word. Zany.

WILL: Zany

PAMELA BROWN (voice over): I've seen will go from this shy kid who didn't speak any English to now this confident kid who knows English pretty well now, has so many friends, and has a big smile on his face every day.

Lincoln took the simple step of reaching out to others. One positive act can lead to another positive act. It's not just my brother. It's the community, and it shows the power of collective support.

PAMELA BROWN: The momentum kept building. Lincoln and the community decided to renovate a house. Will pitched in, eager to help what he thought was another family in need.

WILL: I was working very hard as I can because I always knew this was to help someone.

LINCOLN BROWN (voice over): He really got his hands dirty, learned a trade.

LINCOLN BROWN: This house is really for you and your family.

WILL: It gave me something amazing. Was a house, which they gave me on Christmas, which I didn't realize it would be my house.

LINCOLN BROWN: It was really the group that came together, and everyone pitched in their own way.

PAMELA BROWN: My whole life, I have seen my brother be a champion for change, firsthand. Lincoln has never been one to do things the conventional way. And he's always had a big heart and always wanted to serve others.

LINCOLN BROWN: Sometimes you just need someone to believe in you in life to give you a chance, to get you going so that the flywheel of your own life picks up, and then you're good, and you can swim on your own.

I can't wait to see where Will is ten years from now, not because I'm going to push him too hard. That the kid is going to work harder than anybody else. He's going to earn everything he's got.

PAMELA BROWN: I think sometimes we all stay in our little cocoon, our little community, what feels safe, what feels right but family comes in all different shapes and sizes, it doesn't just need to be a blood relative.

LINCOLN BROWN: Come on Will. WILL: I learned you have to help people, white, black, you have to help them. Lincoln now is like a family, a brother, a father and a best friend.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PAMELA BROWN (on camera): And that family extends beyond my brother Lincoln. The community still is very engaged in Will's life and his sister's. And they're constantly posting updates on their private Facebook page.

And I should note that my brother was reluctant to go on camera for this. I grew up with him, and he was always the camera shy one, never wanting attention. And I think he finally relented with a lot of persistence and pressure from me because he saw the value in getting the story out there. So, others might be able to recognize just giving someone a chance, just giving someone like Will and his family a chance so that they can have their own flywheel going in life.

CAMEROTA: Oh, my gosh, that should come with a tissue warning, that segment. That was such a tearjerker, and so beautiful. I'm really glad that you brought us that segment.

BLACKWELL: Yes, when you hear Will say he was my only friend, that was the part that got me, Pamela. That was the part.

PAMELA BROWN: I'm telling you.

BLACKWELL: All right, Pamela Brown.

PAMELA BROWN: Will is an incredible young man, by the way.

CAMEROTA: So is your brother, thanks so much, Pam.

BLACKWELL: We'll continue to share these inspirational stories all this week and be sure to tune in Saturday at 8 p.m. Eastern for the "CHAMPIONS FOR CHANGE" one-hour special.

Those thousands of Haitian refugees flood the southern border -- we're now looking live here as people are crossing back from Mexico into the U.S. often to get food, to get ice that's running out below that bridge. We're learning that some of the Haitians are being released in the U.S. We'll take you live to the border.

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CAMEROTA: The Homeland Security Department says some of the Haitian migrants camped out under this bridge in Del Rio, Texas, are being released into the U.S. while some are being flown back to Haiti. Journalists reported chaos at the Port-Au-Prince airport where migrants appear to have just been dumped.

BLACKWELL: CNN's Matt Rivers is across the border from that migrant camp that's in Del Rio. What are you seeing where you are?

MATT RIVERS, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, we're in Ciudad Acuna which is the Mexican city just on the other side of the border. And essentially what's happening behind me is people crossing pretty openly back and forth between the U.S. side over there and the Mexican side here. We're just east of where that camp is on the Del Rio side under the International Bridge.

Essentially, we can show you what's happening. What's happening here is people are essentially from the U.S. side coming back, coming into Mexico where getting supplies is a little easier from what we can see. It's easy to get clothing on this side, easy to get water, easy to get some food and they're either staying on this side on the Mexico side or bringing those supplies back over.

You can see people heading towards the U.S. side with garbage bags filled with supplies like that. That's what we've been seeing for hours now. There's certainly less people here than there were over the weekend but this is still a very fluid situation.

Basically, the people here, the Haitian migrants have a choice to make. They either go to the U.S. side and try and either get let into the country after being processed by Border Patrol or risk deportation back to Haiti or they come to Mexico where they essentially risk the same thing. If they have asylum status here, they can get either brought to southern Mexico or they run the risk of being deported back to Haiti. It's a very difficult situation.

I just want to end here by showing this. This is that sign some migrants wrote here. And just to read part of it. We need help, President Joe Biden. Keep your promises. Treat us like humans. Stop deporting Haitian people. We don't have food.

It's a really difficult situation for these Haitian migrants on the border. Do they go across to the United States? Do they come here to Mexico? They risk deportation either way.

CAMEROTA: Wow. Matt Rivers, I mean we just see it there with our own eyes. Thank you very much for reporting for us. It's a tough situation for everyone.

BLACKWELL: Yes.

CAMEROTA: I mean for the Haitians, for President Biden clearly yet hasn't come up with an answer yet.

BLACKWELL: Well, the good thing we're not seeing any of those Border Agents on horseback who were using, I don't know if they were horse reins to try to rein in people. That's obviously under investigation. So, we're not seeing that. That's a good thing.

All right. That's it for us this afternoon. "THE LEAD" with Jake Tapper starts right after this.

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