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CNN Live Saturday

Possible Car Bomb Ignites Building In Beirut; Interview with Paul Malley

Aired March 26, 2005 - 16:00   ET

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

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


(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: She's doing remarkably well under the circumstances.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Terri Schiavo's father says it's not too late to save his daughter, but all legal doors appear to be closing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was marching on crutches. And he was walking all the way, 55 miles from Selma to Montgomery for my freedom, for our freedom and for our right to vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GERRI WILLIS, CNN ANCHOR: Their first effort ended in a bloodbath. The follow-up changed history. One woman's first person account of the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery 40 years ago.

LIN: And on the road again but burning, a different kind of fuel: Willie Nelson's alternative energy push.

Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. I'm Carol Lin.

WILLIS: And I'm Gerri Willis.

All that and more after this check of the headlines.

A loud explosion has rocked Beirut, Lebanon. Video from the scene shows smoke and flames rising from an industrial area. The cause of the blast has not been determined. And right now there is no word on casualties. Beirut has been the seen of a number of protests since the assassination of a former prime minister last month.

Insurgent attacks are claiming more lives. Two U.S. soldiers were killed by a car bomb in southwestern Baghdad today. A U.S. marine was killed in Iraq's Al Anbar Province yesterday.

Four more U.S. soldiers died in a blast in Southeastern Afghanistan. U.S. military investigators are trying to determine whether it was a land mine or roadside bomb. Dramatic rescue at the Vatican today. Firefighters and Vatican officials overpowered a man who had threatened to jump off the top of St. Peter's Basilica. The man was described as having a history of psychiatric problems. The incident apparently didn't have any impact on preparations for tomorrow's Easter Sunday services.

And Pope John Paul II has spent most of the day resting. He's been watching the Holy Week services on television this week, but the pope is expected to bless the Catholic faithful from his window at Easter mass tomorrow.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

LIN: Right now, let's pick up with the legal fight over Terri Schiavo, which appears to be coming to an end. Eight days after her feeding tube was removed, there was yet another ruling against her parents, but her husband's attorney says that's a victory for the woman at the center of this battle.

We have correspondents covering all the angles of this story for you. CNN's John Zarrella is standing by at Terri Schiavo's hospice in Pinellas Park, but first let's go to our Randi Kaye in Dunedin where Michael Schiavo's attorney held a conference just a while ago. And he had a lot to say on behalf of his client as well as the condition of Terri Schiavo being disputed right now, Randi.

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He sure did, Carol. He spoke for about half an hour to the gathering of the media here. He wanted for speak on behalf of his client Michael Schiavo, because he said there had been difference accounts of Terri Schiavo's condition, and he wanted to clear that up.

He spent about 20 minutes with Terri Schiavo at the hospice this afternoon. He said she looked beautiful, in all the years he's seen her, he's never seen such a look of peace on her face. He said there was what he called a naturalness about her.

Here's a little more of what he had to say at this afternoon's press conference which wrapped up just a half hour ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE FELOS, MICHAEL SCHIAVO'S ATTORNEY: She is calm, peaceful, resting comfortably. Her lips are not chapped, they're not bleeding. Her skin is not peeling.

Frankly, when I saw her, and it's the first time I've seen her since the artificial life support was removed eight days ago, she looked beautiful. In all the years I've seen Mrs. Schiavo, I've never seen such a look of peace and beauty upon her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Now, the other bit of news coming out of today's press conference is that the Schindlers, Mary and Bob Schindler, Terri Schiavo's parents, have requested communion for their daughter, and George Felos did share with us that that communion had been denied. That request, he said that she had received the sacrament of communion through her feeding tube March 18, the day the feeding tube was removed.

He also said that the legal battle is over. And that was in reference to the fact that Judge George Greer from the 6th Judicial Circuit Court here in Florida had ruled on a motion against the Schindlers and their attorney. They had wanted some more time for their daughter to be evaluated by doctors and to prove that she has a will to live.

That was based on some testimony from a woman by the name of Barbara Weller, who spent some time with Terri Schiavo in her hospice room. She said that Terri Schiavo was attempting to express a will to live. And here is her in her own words explaining that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARBARA WELLER, WORKS FOR SCHINDLER'S ATTORNEY: I took her by the arms like this, and I said, Terri, if you could just say I want to live this would be all over. I said, Terri, can you just try and say I want to live? And Terri said "ah" and then she screamed "wah." And she said it so loud that the cop outside the door heard her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: The judge said it's a stimulus response. He said it's the same argument that's been made for years now. Apparently Barbara Weller was holding the hands of Terri Schiavo and she was simply responding to the touch is what he ruled on that.

So again another stumbling block to the Schindler family and another door closed on the legal battle for them to try to save their daughter and have that feeding tube reinserted -- Carol.

LIN: Randi, did George Felos say how Michael Schiavo, Terri Schiavo's husband, is doing through all of this?

KAYE: I did ask him that, as a matter of fact, at the press conference. He said he's been at the hospice from the moment that that feeding tube was removed. He wouldn't say whether or not that he was at her bedside, but he has been at the hospice facility.

And I will mention too, there were four or five sheriff's deputies here at the press conference. That's why they're a bit concerned about security, and he would not go into specifics about Michael Schiavo's whereabouts and exactly where he is at every hour of the day.

LIN: All right. So that implies that there may be some sort of threat against Michael Schiavo specifically?

KAYE: He would not go into that. We know that there was this gentleman that was arrested, the FBI was interested, for making some threats against Michael Schiavo and Judge Greer, just yesterday as a matter of fact. He said that he believes that law enforcement is doing their job. That's what George Felos said. And he thanked them for their time. And wouldn't talk anymore about security when it comes to Terri Schiavo and Michael Schiavo.

LIN: All right. Randi Kaye thank you very much. Randi Kaye reporting live from Dunedin -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Terri Schiavo's father says his daughter is quote, "fighting like hell to stay alive." He is also urging calm at the hospice that's been caring for the brain-damaged woman. The facility has attracted more than 100 people calling for her feeding tube to be reinserted.

CNN's John Zarrella joins us now from Pinellas Park, Florida. John, hi, What's going on?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Gerri, I will bring you up to date. Today her father urging calm her. And police had a little bit of an incident. We mentioned it a few minutes ago. It's calm now, but they did bring in some more security, some more police. They won't say how many there are here now, but there are certainly more police than there have been in the last seven day, eight days that I have been here.

They thought that there might have been a breach in security, so they closed down the road. And then they added more police presence at the entrance over my left shoulder here to the hospice, and more police presence on the right-hand entrance as well.

Now, as far as the family members gathered here, Bob Schindler did go in to see his daughter earlier today. And he characterized her as a real fighter, that she is continuing to fight, continuing to try to stay alive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

B. SCHINDLER: I can tell you and assure you she is fighting like hell to stay alive. And I want the powers to be to know that. It's not too late to save her. So anyone that has the authority to come in and to save Terri, they can do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: Now, her brother, Bobby, also went in a couple hours ago. And when he came out, he was visibly upset. He eventually went before the microphones, and really kind of lashed out a bit at those, he said, who want to see her dead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOBBY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S BROTHER: And for every person out there that believes it was wrong for Congress and the governor to get involved in my sister's case, they need to go inside right now and look at my sister. And when they come out, you need to ask them if the Congress and governor were wrong for getting involved in my sister's case. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: Now Suzanne, that's Terri's Sister, Bobby Jr.'s sister as well -- Suzanne went in also, and she came out. She did not talk to anyone today about her sister's condition. But the entire family has been here throughout the day.

Now, the brother and sister did leave just a few moments ago. But certainly, as has been the case in the past, I'm sure they will be back throughout the course of the afternoon and evening to go in and see Terri.

So again, a very hot, sticky day here on the West Coast of Florida. About the same number of protesters that we have seen throughout the week, which is somewhat surprising to those of us here. We thought this being a Saturday that there might be substantial more folks here, but that just has not materialized -- Gerri.

WILLIS: John, what's the mood there?

ZARRELLA: Well, the mood right along has been one more prayerful, more calm, it was certainly more upbeat in the first days when there still seems to be a great deal of hope that legal action might work. But as one court defeat after the other continued to follow, the mood certainly became more somber.

Yesterday being Good Friday, clearly was a very somber day here. And what you don't hear any longer here are a lot of people chanting and yelling, save Terri. It's more of a somber mood here today certainly than it was, as I said, in those first early days when at least there seemed to be more hope that this side -- their side might prevail in the courts -- Gerri.

WILLIS: John Zarrella, thank you for that report.

New "Time" magazine polls are offering a glimpse into how Americans feel about the Terri Schiavo case. One survey focuses on born-again Christians or evangelicals. More than half of the respondents in this group, 53 percent, agree with the decision to remove her feeding tube. 41 percent disagree.

Meanwhile, President Bush's intervention in the case may be having a negative impact on his approval rating. It slipped to 48 percent last week. That's down from 53 percent earlier this month. And almost two thirds of Americans polled by the "Time" say the decision by Mr. Bush and Congress to intervene has more to do with politics than with values.

When broken down by party, Republicans are statistically split on this issue, but 78 percent of the Democrats say the intervention has more to do with politics, as do 68 percent of independents.

LIN: Well, a few minutes ago Randi Kaye was reporting from the scene where Michael Schiavo's attorney just held a news conference and touched on this matter that a man is under arrest for allegedly trying to arrange the deaths of two key figures in this case.

Richard Allen Meywes of North Carolina is facing charges, including solicitation of murder. Authorities say he was offering $250,000 to anyone who would kill Terri Schiavo's husband, Michael and another $50,000 for the killing of circuit court judge George Greer who ordered Terri Schiavo's feeding tube removed.

Greer has been under the protection of two U.S. marshals in recent weeks.

WILLIS: Now overseas to Lebanon where an explosion in Beirut has left a building engulfed in flames. The blast happened in a predominantly Christian sector of that city. Our Brent Sadler joins us now by telephone with the latest.

Brent, what's going on?

BRENT SADLER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Thanks, Gerri. Local officials and some security chiefs on the scene are saying this bares all the hallmarks of another car bomb attack against a target in a predominantly Christian area just outside the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

If so, if this is another car bomb blast, it would be the third such bomb attack against similar targets in this area for the past eight days. And it comes against deepening political paralysis in this country surrounding the withdrawal of Syria forces. It's been going for the past several weeks.

We're getting no confirmation of casualties. But certainly from the scenes that we're seeing that have been televised for the past couple of hours on local television, a large fire has engulfed the building. It's understood to contain possibly a print works with a lot of combustible materials inside that would account for the large amount of fire and smoke.

Earlier, some officials were saying the victims may have been trapped inside the burning building, that not confirmed at this stage. But certainly this does go to emphasize the way the Lebanese now feel about their lives in and around the Lebanese capital. And that is that it is extremely dangerous, unpredictable and insecure, given the range of the three attacks.

If this does prove to be an attack, in the past eight days, this coming, Gerri, just five weeks after that massive bomb explosion that assassinated former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, throwing this country into political upheaval -- Gerri.

WILLIS: A lot of people on the streets there. I'm wonder if there's panic. Are people panicking there, or is calm prevailing?

SADLER: No. People are certainly very concerned about the security here. This is one of three similar situations we've seen in the hours of darkness in the Lebanese capital over the past week. Normally, on a Saturday night, Beirut would be heaving with people going to various entertainment centers. I can tell you, I'm living in the city. It is very, very quiet, deathly quiet in fact. People are afraid. And this instance, whether it is a bomb attack -- and it does seem to be at this stage according to local officials -- will only go to further undermine confidence in the security of Beirut as this continues upheaval between those that support the Syrian presence here and those who are against the Syrian presence continue to be at loggerheads with each other -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Brend Sadler, thank you so much for reporting on that.

LIN: All right. Lots of breaking news today. And much more on the Terri Schiavo case. Straight ahead in this hour, including a discussion about living wills and what they should include, and advice on talking to your doctor about making life and death decisions.

Plus, a final good-bye. A community comes together to remember the life of young Jessica Lunsford.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: In Florida, hundreds of mourners are saying good-bye to Jessica Lunsford, the nine-year-old girl who was abducted and found killed near her home. Ferdinand Zogbaum from CNN affiliate Bay News 9 attended today's memorial in Crystal River.

Ferdinand, it's got to be such an emotional experience having been there and seen the family and so many people who have come out to support them.

FERDINAND ZOGBAUM, BAY NEWS 9 CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, it was an emotional experience for a lot of people. A lot of people showed up today.

The community has really been amazing throughout this whole thing. Right after they discovered Jessica was missing, about 1,300 people showed up for many days after that to help search for her.

Now, during the ceremony, there was a lot of crying, a lot of tears were shed. It was a hard time. The church was full of people, despite the bad weather here today. And sheriff Jeff Dawsy, who led the investigation as well as Jessica's father, Mark Lunsford, had this to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF JEFF DAWSY, CITRUS COUNTY, FLORIDA: I thank you for your confidence in me. I thank you for cheering me on morally, which you have, and emotionally, and I appreciate that. And I've said this over to you guys, believe me, I'm so sorry I didn't bring her back home to you alive. I love you guys. And thank you very much.

MARK LUNSFORD, JESSICA LUNSFORD'S FATHER: Who am I? My name is Mark. I live a simple life. I worked all my life. And I raised kids all my life. And someone has taken this away from me. We need to make a lot of changes. And I know that there are people here today that are going to make this happen for other children. It is only about the children. They are our future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZOGBAUM: Now, as you can see a lot of people were touched. Jessica's father Mark was visibly shaken as well as Sheriff Jeff Dawsy who has done a lot in this investigation.

After the ceremony, after the memorial, everybody came out in front of the church and they were all given balloon, yellow balloons, red balloons were given out to kids, moms, dads, grandparents. And they were all released into the skies to be sent to Jessica to say that we are remembering you.

Now, we talked to one girl who did release a balloon. And she hopes that Jessica knows that everyone is thinking about her.

LIN: Ferdinand Zogbaum, thank you very much for that report.

Now yesterday, we had told you about an amber alert. And we are still awaiting word on whether a body found yesterday is that of a missing Iowa girl, 10-year-old Jetseta Gage.

Authorities say she vanished from her Cedar Rapids home Thursday with a registered sex offender. Investigators discovered the body of a young girl yesterday in a rundown mobile home.

The man authorities say was seen leaving with Gage, Roger Bentley, was arraigned this morning on one count of child stealing. The sheriff says he's awaiting autopsy results to confirm if the body is that of the missing girl.

WILLIS: Some dangerous weather is threatening the Southeastern United States. Tornado watches are in effect, and storms are developing quickly. The latest from the CNN weather center right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WILLIS: Welcome back. Some wicked weather is threatening to rattle the nation's southern midsection today. Thunderstorms with hail and dangerous lightning are in the forecast. Meteorologist Brad Huffines has more on this severe storm system and the national outlook -- Brad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WILLIS: Well Brad, thank you for that.

The Terri Schiavo case has brought much attention to living wills. Still ahead, advice on how one goes about making such a document. Get some paper and a pen ready, you're definitely going to want to hear about this. This is information you'll want to have when CNN LIVE SATURDAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WILLIS: The Terri Schiavo case has focused a great deal of attention on living wills. They're documents which outline the type of medical care you want or don't want and when you can't speak for yourself.

Paul Malley has answered a lot of questions about living wills this week. He's president of Aging With Dignity in Tallahassee, Florida. Paul, welcome.

PAUL MALLEY, AGING WITH DIGNITY: Thank you. It's good to be with you.

WILLIS: Good to have you here.

I want to start with this idea of living wills, exactly what they are. They tell the doctor, they tell your family what to do, but what kinds of topics do they covered?

MALLEY: Sure. A living will, basically, is a legally valid document that lets you make decision now about the kind of care you would want in case of a serious illness, in case you're not able to speak for yourself. It also lets you name a healthcare surrogate, which is essentially the person who would be your voice if you're no longer able to speak for yourself as well.

WILLIS: But Paul, what I don't understand is when do think things go into effect? I mean if I'm a car accidents and I'm knocked unconscious, does the will go into effect then?

MALLEY: Well, then your surrogate may be speaking on your behalf. In the five wishes document, wish No. 1, you name that person to make decisions in case you're not able to make those decisions for yourself.

Some of the other more detailed directions that you might give about life support treatment will only come into play under certain situations, if you're terminal ill, in what some doctors would call a persistent vegetative state or an end stage condition.

WILLIS: You know we were talking about surrogates before. And it seems pretty obvious, maybe I'd pick my husband. Is it easy to pick the right person to administer this will?

MALLEY: It may be easy. It's important to really give it some thought. It may not be the first person who comes to mind. You really want to pick someone who is going to know, understand and be willing to follow your wishes. Sometimes that is a spouse, sometimes it might be another close relative, or even your best friend, someone who knows your wishes and will stick up for you.

WILLIS: Does it need to be somebody who is really outspoken, who isn't afraid to go head to head with the medical establishment?

MALLEY: That can definitely help. A backbone wouldn't hurt. You want them to be your voice and to be forceful, and make sure that your wishes are known to the providers and that they follow your wishes.

WILLIS: Paul, do I have to go hire an attorney to do this? Or can I do it online? What's the best way to go about actually getting a will that will work for me.

MALLEY: You don't have to have an attorney. And one way to get it is to use the five wishes document, which is available at agingwithdignity.org. And when you receive that, all you have to do is sit down and fill it out. It's basically a user-friendly template that asks some of the right questions, and you fill in the answers.

All you have to do is sign it and have it witnessed by two people. It's then a legally valid document. Then you want to make copies and make sure you give a copy to your doctor and your family so that they know where your wishes are.

WILLIS: Now, I know you believe there are other things that can be covered in one of these documents that might be a big help for people. For example, how comfortable you want to be if you do fall into this kind of situation.

MALLEY: Absolutely. No matter where I am in the country, when I ask the question what would be important to you if you were sick and near the end of life, people always say I want to be at home, I would like my family with me, I don't want to be in pain. So those are the types of things we also put into five wishes, to let you get to the heart of what is really important to you, and to be able to describe that to your family who would be your potential care givers and your health providers. Those things are important to many of us. So it should be included in the conversation and in the written document.

WILLIS: Paul Malley, thank you for that.

MALLEY: Thank you.

LIN: Really good advice. A lot of people have so many questions about living wills and who you need to talk to. And in addition to the attorney, should you talk to a doctor? Well, it turns out that may be good advice, because I didn't consider that. Life and death choices are not always so black and white, so talking to a doctor about some of the choices before you sign a legal document may be good advice indeed.

So, we're going to bring in Dr. Bill Lloyd from the University of California -- UC Davis Medical Center, actually, to talk more about this.

Dr. Lloyd, why talk to a doctor when really it sounds more like a legal question and who would be your best representative should you become incapacitated?

DR. BILL LLOYD, UC DAVIS MEDICAL CENTER: Well, Carol, death is just the continuation of life itself. So it only follows you want to find a good primary doctor to sit down with you and explain what your choices as life comes to an end. And remember, it's all about choices, so this is a discussion that will take some time. Don't try to shove it into a clinic visit. Schedule some special time so that you and your doctor can understand what the choices are.

LIN: All right. I want to acknowledge to the viewers that frankly, Dr. Lloyd, you actually sound like to the audience that you are speaking to us from the afterlife. We're going to try to tweak the audio problem that we're having there. But let's go on with the interview.

So, what kinds of questions do you have to make sure that you ask the doctor? What sort of information do you need to know before you fill out this legal document?

LLOYD: You want to make sure there's absolute clarity regarding the diagnosis and medical problems. Make sure that you and your family know what's wrong and that it matches what the doctor knows.

You know, Carol, the biggest problem that comes with these end of life decisions is when there's a disconnect between what the health team knows and what the family knows, or what the family believes.

LIN: Give me an example.

LLOYD: It could be a lot of wishful thinking. And that could lead to confusion and paralysis, an inability to make decisions about end of life.

LIN: Give me an example.

LLOYD: Well, you may be -- have a problem with a severe chronic illness, diabetes, renal failure, et cetera, and you may not be dying anytime soon, but you may put in a living will or a medical directive that says, I don't want any extensive antibiotics used to save my life. But the health team may recognize, well, you've got a couple years to go. If you have pneumonia and we give you these antibiotics, you'll be better in just a few days. We can help get you over the hump. So you have to know all the different permutations are.

You know, it's not simply do not resuscitate. It's not an all or none phenonmena. So stage by stage, you have to understand what your health condition is or your loved one's health condition is and where those mileposts are where you may want to make choices regarding accelerated therapy or perhaps withdrawing therapy.

LIN: That seems like a strange situation for the doctor. I mean, let's say you have a patient coming in, and he or she has an advanced directive, OK, when it comes to patient care. Doesn't that interfere with the decision-making that you have to make on behalf of either caring for them or saving their lives? So, give me the ideal scenario. You've got a situation, what you the doctor need to know in order to know that there wouldn't be another Terri Schiavo-like dispute.

LLOYD: Certainly. In addition to a properly executed medical directive, like we talked about earlier, the living will, a durable power of attorney will also be helpful. And if that surrogate is around, then it provides for a wonderful guide for the health team, because everything will be laid out: who is this individual? What are their problems? And how far do they want to go?

Are they looking for maximum supportive care? You know, comfort and treating them with dignity, versus maximum therapeutic care. We want you to go all the way, all the medications, artificial ventilation, renal dialysis, et cetera. It will all be laid out.

All the healthcare has to do -- the team has to do is simply read the document and decide with the surrogate where the patient is and what needs to happen.

LIN: All right. Thanks very much, Dr. Lloyd.

And would you recommend that any time you're seeking treatment, that you carry this document with you just in case?

LLOYD: Certainly. Always have it available.

LIN: All right. Because you see different specialists and whatnot sometimes with advanced care. Dr. Bill Lloyd, thank you so much.

LLOYD: We'll talk again soon.

WILLIS: We have information just in. Ed Henry is at the Florida state Capitol in Tennessee -- or in Tallahassee, pardon me. Ed, go right ahead.

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Gerri, that's right. We've just learned that at about 4:00 p.m. today, an attorney for the parents of Terri Schiavo filed an emergency, all writs petition with the Florida State Supreme Court, which is just behind the state Capitol here in Tallahassee. It has now been referred to all of the state justices of the Supreme Court here in Florida immediately, some 90 pages to review.

No word on when they will act, according to a court spokesman, telling CNN that it has passed on, though, to the judges. Obviously, it's Easter weekend, so we don't know how quick they will act on it.

This is a request from the parents of Terri Schiavo that the State Supreme Court take another look at a decision made by Judge Greer in the Circuit Court today to not put the feeding tube back in for Terri Schiavo. Obviously, a last-ditch appeal here to the State Supreme Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court has already said they're not getting involved. We've seen one lower court ruling after another on the state level go against the parents. The parents were very frustrated last night, both parents coming out and saying that they are essentially losing hope here, and they want to see Governor Jeb Bush get involved. Since Governor Bush has indicated that he does not he believe he has the executive power to supersede what the courts have already ruled, the family is obviously now going to the State Supreme Court. They just filed this all-emergency all writs petition at about 4:00 p.m. Eastern time -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Ed Henry, thank you for that report.

Stay with us. CNN LIVE SATURDAY continues in a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: Well, it was 40 years ago this month that Selma, Alabama became the focal point of the civil rights movement. African- Americans, demanding their right to vote, set off a massive march to Montgomery, Alabama.

WILLIS: But the march turned into a bloodbath with Alabama state troopers. Still undeterred, what the demonstrators did next would change the course of the entire nation. Here's CNN's Paula Zahn.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): As soon as they learned of the violence on Bloody Sunday, Dr. Martin Luther King and Reverend Ralph Abernathy went to Selma to arrange another march. They knew it would be dangerous, which was made clear to Donzaleigh Abernathy who was six-years-old at the time.

DONZALEIGH ABERNATHY, AUTHOR "PARTNERS TO HISTORY": It was shortly thereafter that daddy sat us down as children and told us he might not make it and that we needed to be prepared. And my father wanted us to understand that sometimes you have to be willing to lose your life, to die on the cross, and that he was doing it for us to make the world a better place for us.

REV. MARTIN LUTHER KING, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: We have the right to walk to Montgomery if our feet can get us there.

ZAHN: Dr. King appealed to religious leaders across the U.S. to join the cause. Then, just two days after Bloody Sunday, King and Abernathy led another large group to the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

ABERNATHY: At that point, everybody got on their knees and they prayed.

REV. RALPH ABERNATHY, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: ...let us bow in prayer.

D. ABERNATHY: And daddy prayed this prolific prayer.

R. ABERNATHY: People walking and walking and fighting for freedom.

D. ABERNATHY: And they got up, and they returned nonviolently. ZAHN: To go all the way to Montgomery without police interference, the marchers need a court order. That night, violence struck again. Three white ministers who came to Selma to join the march were attacked by a white mob.

KING: I understand one was so brutally beaten that he had to be rushed to the hospital in Birmingham with a possible brain concussion.

ZAHN: Reverend James Reed died from his injuries.

ANDREW YOUNG, FORMER ASSISTANT TO MLK: Well, it was just uncalled for. And it was not something that a civilized Democratic nation could tolerate.

D. ABERNATHY: The momentum starts to build, because, you know, you cannot be depressed after something like this has happens. It just makes them more determined. And they had the great support of Lyndon Baines Johnson.

ZAHN: On March 15th, 1955 (sic) President Johnson addressed the nation, directly responding to the violence in Selma. He asked legislators to pass a Voting Rights Act.

LYNDON JOHNSON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Their cause must be our cause too. Because it's not just negroes, but really it's all of us who must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice. And we shall overcome.

REP. JOHN LEWIS, FORMER SNCC CHAIRMAN: And I looked over at Dr. King, and he started crying, tears came down his face. We all cried a little. To here is the president of the United States use the theme of the civil rights movement, we shall overcome.

ZAHN: Two days later, a federal judge granted the marchers the permission they requested. On March 21, 1965, a group of more than 3,000 set out on a 54-mile walk to Montgomery. Matt Heron was a photojournalist documenting the journey.

MATT HERON, PHOTOGRAPHER: It felt like a new day for everyone. I mean, housewives left their aprons in northern cities and got on planes and came to Selma. Hundreds and hundreds of people poured in, most of them had never been in the South before.

LEWIS: It was like we were involved in a holy crusade.

D. ABERNATHY: The person that stuck out the most in my mind that I marched with was this absolutely wonderful man named Jim Leavenworth. Who was this white man who had lost one leg and he was marching on crutches. And he was walking all the way, 55 miles, from Selma to Montgomery for my freedom, for our freedom and for our right to vote.

HERON: And as we marched through these black belt counties, people came out of the rural, out of the woods and stood by the side of the road in absolute wonder. No one I think in the deep south ever expected this. ZAHN: But the Justice Department was concerned that violence would be directed towards Dr. King. On the last day of the march, they requested that Dr. King be driven the rest of the way to the state Capitol in Montgomery. He refused.

YOUNG: He was dressed in a dark blue suit, as -- which is kind of a preacher's uniform. I got everybody -- every black preacher with a blue suit on, and I put them all on the front row together, saying that snipers from a distance, people say we all look alike anyway.

ZAHN: It took Dr. King and the marchers five days to make it safely into Montgomery and the steps of the Alabama State Capitol. The number of people had grown to 25,000.

D. ABERNATHY: And then Dr. King preached that speech, and he said how long? Not long, because no lie will not live forever. How long, not long.

KING: Because you shall reap what you sew.

D. ABERNATHY: I just remember standing backstage and jumping up and down screaming, because what he had to say was so great that day.

ZAHN: But the victory celebration soon turned to sadness.

LEWIS: There a young woman, white, housewife, who came down as a volunteer, named Violo Liuzzo from Detroit. And she was ambushed by members of the Ku Klux Klan.

D. ABERNATHY: And the car drove up to the side of her. And she turned and she looked at then. And they took the shotgun and shot her they in the face and her brain splattered all over Lee Ray Motten (ph) who was sitting beside her in the car.

LEWIS: We didn't become bitter, we didn't become hostile, we kept the faith, and we became much more determined to see that the voting rights act was passed and got people registered to vote.

ZAHN: Less than five months later on August 6, President Johnson signed the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law.

At this year's 40th anniversary commemoration, Andrew Young had the opportunity to meet the children of Violo Liuzzo and James Reed.

LEWIS: I got really emotional, chocked up so much I could hardly talk. I said to them, I know I have profited by the sacrifice and blood of your father and your mother. And I don't forget that.

ZAHN: Selma marked the turning point in a struggle to secure every citizen's right to vote.

LEWIS: To me it represented one of the finest hours of America. There had never been a march in America like this before. And there has not been one since.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WILLIS: That's all for this hour of CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Because of breaking news, we were unable to bring you the Willie Nelson story. We'll try and show you that tomorrow.

Meantime, straight ahead, it's "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS."

LIN: We may have to interrupt "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS," because we are expecting a news conference from Bobby Schindler Jr, Terri Schiavo's brother. The family has filed yet another court case, this time all the way to the State Supreme Court in Florida. We are waiting the latest on that court remover.

And at 6:00 Eastern, in case you need to catch up on all the day's events and the latest breaking news in the Terri Schiavo case, I'm going to have a fresh hour of CNN LIVE SATURDAY where we are going to have the latest movements and sum it up all for you.

WILLIS: And I'll be back in just a couple of minutes with a check on the hour's headlines.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com


Aired March 26, 2005 - 16:00   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BOB SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S FATHER: She's doing remarkably well under the circumstances.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: Terri Schiavo's father says it's not too late to save his daughter, but all legal doors appear to be closing.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He was marching on crutches. And he was walking all the way, 55 miles from Selma to Montgomery for my freedom, for our freedom and for our right to vote.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GERRI WILLIS, CNN ANCHOR: Their first effort ended in a bloodbath. The follow-up changed history. One woman's first person account of the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery 40 years ago.

LIN: And on the road again but burning, a different kind of fuel: Willie Nelson's alternative energy push.

Hello and welcome to CNN LIVE SATURDAY. I'm Carol Lin.

WILLIS: And I'm Gerri Willis.

All that and more after this check of the headlines.

A loud explosion has rocked Beirut, Lebanon. Video from the scene shows smoke and flames rising from an industrial area. The cause of the blast has not been determined. And right now there is no word on casualties. Beirut has been the seen of a number of protests since the assassination of a former prime minister last month.

Insurgent attacks are claiming more lives. Two U.S. soldiers were killed by a car bomb in southwestern Baghdad today. A U.S. marine was killed in Iraq's Al Anbar Province yesterday.

Four more U.S. soldiers died in a blast in Southeastern Afghanistan. U.S. military investigators are trying to determine whether it was a land mine or roadside bomb. Dramatic rescue at the Vatican today. Firefighters and Vatican officials overpowered a man who had threatened to jump off the top of St. Peter's Basilica. The man was described as having a history of psychiatric problems. The incident apparently didn't have any impact on preparations for tomorrow's Easter Sunday services.

And Pope John Paul II has spent most of the day resting. He's been watching the Holy Week services on television this week, but the pope is expected to bless the Catholic faithful from his window at Easter mass tomorrow.

Keeping you informed, CNN, the most trusted name in news.

LIN: Right now, let's pick up with the legal fight over Terri Schiavo, which appears to be coming to an end. Eight days after her feeding tube was removed, there was yet another ruling against her parents, but her husband's attorney says that's a victory for the woman at the center of this battle.

We have correspondents covering all the angles of this story for you. CNN's John Zarrella is standing by at Terri Schiavo's hospice in Pinellas Park, but first let's go to our Randi Kaye in Dunedin where Michael Schiavo's attorney held a conference just a while ago. And he had a lot to say on behalf of his client as well as the condition of Terri Schiavo being disputed right now, Randi.

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: He sure did, Carol. He spoke for about half an hour to the gathering of the media here. He wanted for speak on behalf of his client Michael Schiavo, because he said there had been difference accounts of Terri Schiavo's condition, and he wanted to clear that up.

He spent about 20 minutes with Terri Schiavo at the hospice this afternoon. He said she looked beautiful, in all the years he's seen her, he's never seen such a look of peace on her face. He said there was what he called a naturalness about her.

Here's a little more of what he had to say at this afternoon's press conference which wrapped up just a half hour ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GEORGE FELOS, MICHAEL SCHIAVO'S ATTORNEY: She is calm, peaceful, resting comfortably. Her lips are not chapped, they're not bleeding. Her skin is not peeling.

Frankly, when I saw her, and it's the first time I've seen her since the artificial life support was removed eight days ago, she looked beautiful. In all the years I've seen Mrs. Schiavo, I've never seen such a look of peace and beauty upon her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Now, the other bit of news coming out of today's press conference is that the Schindlers, Mary and Bob Schindler, Terri Schiavo's parents, have requested communion for their daughter, and George Felos did share with us that that communion had been denied. That request, he said that she had received the sacrament of communion through her feeding tube March 18, the day the feeding tube was removed.

He also said that the legal battle is over. And that was in reference to the fact that Judge George Greer from the 6th Judicial Circuit Court here in Florida had ruled on a motion against the Schindlers and their attorney. They had wanted some more time for their daughter to be evaluated by doctors and to prove that she has a will to live.

That was based on some testimony from a woman by the name of Barbara Weller, who spent some time with Terri Schiavo in her hospice room. She said that Terri Schiavo was attempting to express a will to live. And here is her in her own words explaining that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARBARA WELLER, WORKS FOR SCHINDLER'S ATTORNEY: I took her by the arms like this, and I said, Terri, if you could just say I want to live this would be all over. I said, Terri, can you just try and say I want to live? And Terri said "ah" and then she screamed "wah." And she said it so loud that the cop outside the door heard her.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: The judge said it's a stimulus response. He said it's the same argument that's been made for years now. Apparently Barbara Weller was holding the hands of Terri Schiavo and she was simply responding to the touch is what he ruled on that.

So again another stumbling block to the Schindler family and another door closed on the legal battle for them to try to save their daughter and have that feeding tube reinserted -- Carol.

LIN: Randi, did George Felos say how Michael Schiavo, Terri Schiavo's husband, is doing through all of this?

KAYE: I did ask him that, as a matter of fact, at the press conference. He said he's been at the hospice from the moment that that feeding tube was removed. He wouldn't say whether or not that he was at her bedside, but he has been at the hospice facility.

And I will mention too, there were four or five sheriff's deputies here at the press conference. That's why they're a bit concerned about security, and he would not go into specifics about Michael Schiavo's whereabouts and exactly where he is at every hour of the day.

LIN: All right. So that implies that there may be some sort of threat against Michael Schiavo specifically?

KAYE: He would not go into that. We know that there was this gentleman that was arrested, the FBI was interested, for making some threats against Michael Schiavo and Judge Greer, just yesterday as a matter of fact. He said that he believes that law enforcement is doing their job. That's what George Felos said. And he thanked them for their time. And wouldn't talk anymore about security when it comes to Terri Schiavo and Michael Schiavo.

LIN: All right. Randi Kaye thank you very much. Randi Kaye reporting live from Dunedin -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Terri Schiavo's father says his daughter is quote, "fighting like hell to stay alive." He is also urging calm at the hospice that's been caring for the brain-damaged woman. The facility has attracted more than 100 people calling for her feeding tube to be reinserted.

CNN's John Zarrella joins us now from Pinellas Park, Florida. John, hi, What's going on?

JOHN ZARRELLA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Gerri, I will bring you up to date. Today her father urging calm her. And police had a little bit of an incident. We mentioned it a few minutes ago. It's calm now, but they did bring in some more security, some more police. They won't say how many there are here now, but there are certainly more police than there have been in the last seven day, eight days that I have been here.

They thought that there might have been a breach in security, so they closed down the road. And then they added more police presence at the entrance over my left shoulder here to the hospice, and more police presence on the right-hand entrance as well.

Now, as far as the family members gathered here, Bob Schindler did go in to see his daughter earlier today. And he characterized her as a real fighter, that she is continuing to fight, continuing to try to stay alive.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

B. SCHINDLER: I can tell you and assure you she is fighting like hell to stay alive. And I want the powers to be to know that. It's not too late to save her. So anyone that has the authority to come in and to save Terri, they can do it.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: Now, her brother, Bobby, also went in a couple hours ago. And when he came out, he was visibly upset. He eventually went before the microphones, and really kind of lashed out a bit at those, he said, who want to see her dead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BOBBY SCHINDLER, TERRI SCHIAVO'S BROTHER: And for every person out there that believes it was wrong for Congress and the governor to get involved in my sister's case, they need to go inside right now and look at my sister. And when they come out, you need to ask them if the Congress and governor were wrong for getting involved in my sister's case. Thank you.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZARRELLA: Now Suzanne, that's Terri's Sister, Bobby Jr.'s sister as well -- Suzanne went in also, and she came out. She did not talk to anyone today about her sister's condition. But the entire family has been here throughout the day.

Now, the brother and sister did leave just a few moments ago. But certainly, as has been the case in the past, I'm sure they will be back throughout the course of the afternoon and evening to go in and see Terri.

So again, a very hot, sticky day here on the West Coast of Florida. About the same number of protesters that we have seen throughout the week, which is somewhat surprising to those of us here. We thought this being a Saturday that there might be substantial more folks here, but that just has not materialized -- Gerri.

WILLIS: John, what's the mood there?

ZARRELLA: Well, the mood right along has been one more prayerful, more calm, it was certainly more upbeat in the first days when there still seems to be a great deal of hope that legal action might work. But as one court defeat after the other continued to follow, the mood certainly became more somber.

Yesterday being Good Friday, clearly was a very somber day here. And what you don't hear any longer here are a lot of people chanting and yelling, save Terri. It's more of a somber mood here today certainly than it was, as I said, in those first early days when at least there seemed to be more hope that this side -- their side might prevail in the courts -- Gerri.

WILLIS: John Zarrella, thank you for that report.

New "Time" magazine polls are offering a glimpse into how Americans feel about the Terri Schiavo case. One survey focuses on born-again Christians or evangelicals. More than half of the respondents in this group, 53 percent, agree with the decision to remove her feeding tube. 41 percent disagree.

Meanwhile, President Bush's intervention in the case may be having a negative impact on his approval rating. It slipped to 48 percent last week. That's down from 53 percent earlier this month. And almost two thirds of Americans polled by the "Time" say the decision by Mr. Bush and Congress to intervene has more to do with politics than with values.

When broken down by party, Republicans are statistically split on this issue, but 78 percent of the Democrats say the intervention has more to do with politics, as do 68 percent of independents.

LIN: Well, a few minutes ago Randi Kaye was reporting from the scene where Michael Schiavo's attorney just held a news conference and touched on this matter that a man is under arrest for allegedly trying to arrange the deaths of two key figures in this case.

Richard Allen Meywes of North Carolina is facing charges, including solicitation of murder. Authorities say he was offering $250,000 to anyone who would kill Terri Schiavo's husband, Michael and another $50,000 for the killing of circuit court judge George Greer who ordered Terri Schiavo's feeding tube removed.

Greer has been under the protection of two U.S. marshals in recent weeks.

WILLIS: Now overseas to Lebanon where an explosion in Beirut has left a building engulfed in flames. The blast happened in a predominantly Christian sector of that city. Our Brent Sadler joins us now by telephone with the latest.

Brent, what's going on?

BRENT SADLER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Thanks, Gerri. Local officials and some security chiefs on the scene are saying this bares all the hallmarks of another car bomb attack against a target in a predominantly Christian area just outside the Lebanese capital, Beirut.

If so, if this is another car bomb blast, it would be the third such bomb attack against similar targets in this area for the past eight days. And it comes against deepening political paralysis in this country surrounding the withdrawal of Syria forces. It's been going for the past several weeks.

We're getting no confirmation of casualties. But certainly from the scenes that we're seeing that have been televised for the past couple of hours on local television, a large fire has engulfed the building. It's understood to contain possibly a print works with a lot of combustible materials inside that would account for the large amount of fire and smoke.

Earlier, some officials were saying the victims may have been trapped inside the burning building, that not confirmed at this stage. But certainly this does go to emphasize the way the Lebanese now feel about their lives in and around the Lebanese capital. And that is that it is extremely dangerous, unpredictable and insecure, given the range of the three attacks.

If this does prove to be an attack, in the past eight days, this coming, Gerri, just five weeks after that massive bomb explosion that assassinated former Lebanese prime minister Rafik Hariri, throwing this country into political upheaval -- Gerri.

WILLIS: A lot of people on the streets there. I'm wonder if there's panic. Are people panicking there, or is calm prevailing?

SADLER: No. People are certainly very concerned about the security here. This is one of three similar situations we've seen in the hours of darkness in the Lebanese capital over the past week. Normally, on a Saturday night, Beirut would be heaving with people going to various entertainment centers. I can tell you, I'm living in the city. It is very, very quiet, deathly quiet in fact. People are afraid. And this instance, whether it is a bomb attack -- and it does seem to be at this stage according to local officials -- will only go to further undermine confidence in the security of Beirut as this continues upheaval between those that support the Syrian presence here and those who are against the Syrian presence continue to be at loggerheads with each other -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Brend Sadler, thank you so much for reporting on that.

LIN: All right. Lots of breaking news today. And much more on the Terri Schiavo case. Straight ahead in this hour, including a discussion about living wills and what they should include, and advice on talking to your doctor about making life and death decisions.

Plus, a final good-bye. A community comes together to remember the life of young Jessica Lunsford.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

LIN: In Florida, hundreds of mourners are saying good-bye to Jessica Lunsford, the nine-year-old girl who was abducted and found killed near her home. Ferdinand Zogbaum from CNN affiliate Bay News 9 attended today's memorial in Crystal River.

Ferdinand, it's got to be such an emotional experience having been there and seen the family and so many people who have come out to support them.

FERDINAND ZOGBAUM, BAY NEWS 9 CORRESPONDENT: Yeah, it was an emotional experience for a lot of people. A lot of people showed up today.

The community has really been amazing throughout this whole thing. Right after they discovered Jessica was missing, about 1,300 people showed up for many days after that to help search for her.

Now, during the ceremony, there was a lot of crying, a lot of tears were shed. It was a hard time. The church was full of people, despite the bad weather here today. And sheriff Jeff Dawsy, who led the investigation as well as Jessica's father, Mark Lunsford, had this to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF JEFF DAWSY, CITRUS COUNTY, FLORIDA: I thank you for your confidence in me. I thank you for cheering me on morally, which you have, and emotionally, and I appreciate that. And I've said this over to you guys, believe me, I'm so sorry I didn't bring her back home to you alive. I love you guys. And thank you very much.

MARK LUNSFORD, JESSICA LUNSFORD'S FATHER: Who am I? My name is Mark. I live a simple life. I worked all my life. And I raised kids all my life. And someone has taken this away from me. We need to make a lot of changes. And I know that there are people here today that are going to make this happen for other children. It is only about the children. They are our future.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZOGBAUM: Now, as you can see a lot of people were touched. Jessica's father Mark was visibly shaken as well as Sheriff Jeff Dawsy who has done a lot in this investigation.

After the ceremony, after the memorial, everybody came out in front of the church and they were all given balloon, yellow balloons, red balloons were given out to kids, moms, dads, grandparents. And they were all released into the skies to be sent to Jessica to say that we are remembering you.

Now, we talked to one girl who did release a balloon. And she hopes that Jessica knows that everyone is thinking about her.

LIN: Ferdinand Zogbaum, thank you very much for that report.

Now yesterday, we had told you about an amber alert. And we are still awaiting word on whether a body found yesterday is that of a missing Iowa girl, 10-year-old Jetseta Gage.

Authorities say she vanished from her Cedar Rapids home Thursday with a registered sex offender. Investigators discovered the body of a young girl yesterday in a rundown mobile home.

The man authorities say was seen leaving with Gage, Roger Bentley, was arraigned this morning on one count of child stealing. The sheriff says he's awaiting autopsy results to confirm if the body is that of the missing girl.

WILLIS: Some dangerous weather is threatening the Southeastern United States. Tornado watches are in effect, and storms are developing quickly. The latest from the CNN weather center right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WILLIS: Welcome back. Some wicked weather is threatening to rattle the nation's southern midsection today. Thunderstorms with hail and dangerous lightning are in the forecast. Meteorologist Brad Huffines has more on this severe storm system and the national outlook -- Brad.

(WEATHER REPORT)

WILLIS: Well Brad, thank you for that.

The Terri Schiavo case has brought much attention to living wills. Still ahead, advice on how one goes about making such a document. Get some paper and a pen ready, you're definitely going to want to hear about this. This is information you'll want to have when CNN LIVE SATURDAY returns.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WILLIS: The Terri Schiavo case has focused a great deal of attention on living wills. They're documents which outline the type of medical care you want or don't want and when you can't speak for yourself.

Paul Malley has answered a lot of questions about living wills this week. He's president of Aging With Dignity in Tallahassee, Florida. Paul, welcome.

PAUL MALLEY, AGING WITH DIGNITY: Thank you. It's good to be with you.

WILLIS: Good to have you here.

I want to start with this idea of living wills, exactly what they are. They tell the doctor, they tell your family what to do, but what kinds of topics do they covered?

MALLEY: Sure. A living will, basically, is a legally valid document that lets you make decision now about the kind of care you would want in case of a serious illness, in case you're not able to speak for yourself. It also lets you name a healthcare surrogate, which is essentially the person who would be your voice if you're no longer able to speak for yourself as well.

WILLIS: But Paul, what I don't understand is when do think things go into effect? I mean if I'm a car accidents and I'm knocked unconscious, does the will go into effect then?

MALLEY: Well, then your surrogate may be speaking on your behalf. In the five wishes document, wish No. 1, you name that person to make decisions in case you're not able to make those decisions for yourself.

Some of the other more detailed directions that you might give about life support treatment will only come into play under certain situations, if you're terminal ill, in what some doctors would call a persistent vegetative state or an end stage condition.

WILLIS: You know we were talking about surrogates before. And it seems pretty obvious, maybe I'd pick my husband. Is it easy to pick the right person to administer this will?

MALLEY: It may be easy. It's important to really give it some thought. It may not be the first person who comes to mind. You really want to pick someone who is going to know, understand and be willing to follow your wishes. Sometimes that is a spouse, sometimes it might be another close relative, or even your best friend, someone who knows your wishes and will stick up for you.

WILLIS: Does it need to be somebody who is really outspoken, who isn't afraid to go head to head with the medical establishment?

MALLEY: That can definitely help. A backbone wouldn't hurt. You want them to be your voice and to be forceful, and make sure that your wishes are known to the providers and that they follow your wishes.

WILLIS: Paul, do I have to go hire an attorney to do this? Or can I do it online? What's the best way to go about actually getting a will that will work for me.

MALLEY: You don't have to have an attorney. And one way to get it is to use the five wishes document, which is available at agingwithdignity.org. And when you receive that, all you have to do is sit down and fill it out. It's basically a user-friendly template that asks some of the right questions, and you fill in the answers.

All you have to do is sign it and have it witnessed by two people. It's then a legally valid document. Then you want to make copies and make sure you give a copy to your doctor and your family so that they know where your wishes are.

WILLIS: Now, I know you believe there are other things that can be covered in one of these documents that might be a big help for people. For example, how comfortable you want to be if you do fall into this kind of situation.

MALLEY: Absolutely. No matter where I am in the country, when I ask the question what would be important to you if you were sick and near the end of life, people always say I want to be at home, I would like my family with me, I don't want to be in pain. So those are the types of things we also put into five wishes, to let you get to the heart of what is really important to you, and to be able to describe that to your family who would be your potential care givers and your health providers. Those things are important to many of us. So it should be included in the conversation and in the written document.

WILLIS: Paul Malley, thank you for that.

MALLEY: Thank you.

LIN: Really good advice. A lot of people have so many questions about living wills and who you need to talk to. And in addition to the attorney, should you talk to a doctor? Well, it turns out that may be good advice, because I didn't consider that. Life and death choices are not always so black and white, so talking to a doctor about some of the choices before you sign a legal document may be good advice indeed.

So, we're going to bring in Dr. Bill Lloyd from the University of California -- UC Davis Medical Center, actually, to talk more about this.

Dr. Lloyd, why talk to a doctor when really it sounds more like a legal question and who would be your best representative should you become incapacitated?

DR. BILL LLOYD, UC DAVIS MEDICAL CENTER: Well, Carol, death is just the continuation of life itself. So it only follows you want to find a good primary doctor to sit down with you and explain what your choices as life comes to an end. And remember, it's all about choices, so this is a discussion that will take some time. Don't try to shove it into a clinic visit. Schedule some special time so that you and your doctor can understand what the choices are.

LIN: All right. I want to acknowledge to the viewers that frankly, Dr. Lloyd, you actually sound like to the audience that you are speaking to us from the afterlife. We're going to try to tweak the audio problem that we're having there. But let's go on with the interview.

So, what kinds of questions do you have to make sure that you ask the doctor? What sort of information do you need to know before you fill out this legal document?

LLOYD: You want to make sure there's absolute clarity regarding the diagnosis and medical problems. Make sure that you and your family know what's wrong and that it matches what the doctor knows.

You know, Carol, the biggest problem that comes with these end of life decisions is when there's a disconnect between what the health team knows and what the family knows, or what the family believes.

LIN: Give me an example.

LLOYD: It could be a lot of wishful thinking. And that could lead to confusion and paralysis, an inability to make decisions about end of life.

LIN: Give me an example.

LLOYD: Well, you may be -- have a problem with a severe chronic illness, diabetes, renal failure, et cetera, and you may not be dying anytime soon, but you may put in a living will or a medical directive that says, I don't want any extensive antibiotics used to save my life. But the health team may recognize, well, you've got a couple years to go. If you have pneumonia and we give you these antibiotics, you'll be better in just a few days. We can help get you over the hump. So you have to know all the different permutations are.

You know, it's not simply do not resuscitate. It's not an all or none phenonmena. So stage by stage, you have to understand what your health condition is or your loved one's health condition is and where those mileposts are where you may want to make choices regarding accelerated therapy or perhaps withdrawing therapy.

LIN: That seems like a strange situation for the doctor. I mean, let's say you have a patient coming in, and he or she has an advanced directive, OK, when it comes to patient care. Doesn't that interfere with the decision-making that you have to make on behalf of either caring for them or saving their lives? So, give me the ideal scenario. You've got a situation, what you the doctor need to know in order to know that there wouldn't be another Terri Schiavo-like dispute.

LLOYD: Certainly. In addition to a properly executed medical directive, like we talked about earlier, the living will, a durable power of attorney will also be helpful. And if that surrogate is around, then it provides for a wonderful guide for the health team, because everything will be laid out: who is this individual? What are their problems? And how far do they want to go?

Are they looking for maximum supportive care? You know, comfort and treating them with dignity, versus maximum therapeutic care. We want you to go all the way, all the medications, artificial ventilation, renal dialysis, et cetera. It will all be laid out.

All the healthcare has to do -- the team has to do is simply read the document and decide with the surrogate where the patient is and what needs to happen.

LIN: All right. Thanks very much, Dr. Lloyd.

And would you recommend that any time you're seeking treatment, that you carry this document with you just in case?

LLOYD: Certainly. Always have it available.

LIN: All right. Because you see different specialists and whatnot sometimes with advanced care. Dr. Bill Lloyd, thank you so much.

LLOYD: We'll talk again soon.

WILLIS: We have information just in. Ed Henry is at the Florida state Capitol in Tennessee -- or in Tallahassee, pardon me. Ed, go right ahead.

ED HENRY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Gerri, that's right. We've just learned that at about 4:00 p.m. today, an attorney for the parents of Terri Schiavo filed an emergency, all writs petition with the Florida State Supreme Court, which is just behind the state Capitol here in Tallahassee. It has now been referred to all of the state justices of the Supreme Court here in Florida immediately, some 90 pages to review.

No word on when they will act, according to a court spokesman, telling CNN that it has passed on, though, to the judges. Obviously, it's Easter weekend, so we don't know how quick they will act on it.

This is a request from the parents of Terri Schiavo that the State Supreme Court take another look at a decision made by Judge Greer in the Circuit Court today to not put the feeding tube back in for Terri Schiavo. Obviously, a last-ditch appeal here to the State Supreme Court.

The U.S. Supreme Court has already said they're not getting involved. We've seen one lower court ruling after another on the state level go against the parents. The parents were very frustrated last night, both parents coming out and saying that they are essentially losing hope here, and they want to see Governor Jeb Bush get involved. Since Governor Bush has indicated that he does not he believe he has the executive power to supersede what the courts have already ruled, the family is obviously now going to the State Supreme Court. They just filed this all-emergency all writs petition at about 4:00 p.m. Eastern time -- Gerri.

WILLIS: Ed Henry, thank you for that report.

Stay with us. CNN LIVE SATURDAY continues in a moment.

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LIN: Well, it was 40 years ago this month that Selma, Alabama became the focal point of the civil rights movement. African- Americans, demanding their right to vote, set off a massive march to Montgomery, Alabama.

WILLIS: But the march turned into a bloodbath with Alabama state troopers. Still undeterred, what the demonstrators did next would change the course of the entire nation. Here's CNN's Paula Zahn.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR (voice-over): As soon as they learned of the violence on Bloody Sunday, Dr. Martin Luther King and Reverend Ralph Abernathy went to Selma to arrange another march. They knew it would be dangerous, which was made clear to Donzaleigh Abernathy who was six-years-old at the time.

DONZALEIGH ABERNATHY, AUTHOR "PARTNERS TO HISTORY": It was shortly thereafter that daddy sat us down as children and told us he might not make it and that we needed to be prepared. And my father wanted us to understand that sometimes you have to be willing to lose your life, to die on the cross, and that he was doing it for us to make the world a better place for us.

REV. MARTIN LUTHER KING, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: We have the right to walk to Montgomery if our feet can get us there.

ZAHN: Dr. King appealed to religious leaders across the U.S. to join the cause. Then, just two days after Bloody Sunday, King and Abernathy led another large group to the Edmund Pettus Bridge.

ABERNATHY: At that point, everybody got on their knees and they prayed.

REV. RALPH ABERNATHY, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: ...let us bow in prayer.

D. ABERNATHY: And daddy prayed this prolific prayer.

R. ABERNATHY: People walking and walking and fighting for freedom.

D. ABERNATHY: And they got up, and they returned nonviolently. ZAHN: To go all the way to Montgomery without police interference, the marchers need a court order. That night, violence struck again. Three white ministers who came to Selma to join the march were attacked by a white mob.

KING: I understand one was so brutally beaten that he had to be rushed to the hospital in Birmingham with a possible brain concussion.

ZAHN: Reverend James Reed died from his injuries.

ANDREW YOUNG, FORMER ASSISTANT TO MLK: Well, it was just uncalled for. And it was not something that a civilized Democratic nation could tolerate.

D. ABERNATHY: The momentum starts to build, because, you know, you cannot be depressed after something like this has happens. It just makes them more determined. And they had the great support of Lyndon Baines Johnson.

ZAHN: On March 15th, 1955 (sic) President Johnson addressed the nation, directly responding to the violence in Selma. He asked legislators to pass a Voting Rights Act.

LYNDON JOHNSON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Their cause must be our cause too. Because it's not just negroes, but really it's all of us who must overcome the crippling legacy of bigotry and injustice. And we shall overcome.

REP. JOHN LEWIS, FORMER SNCC CHAIRMAN: And I looked over at Dr. King, and he started crying, tears came down his face. We all cried a little. To here is the president of the United States use the theme of the civil rights movement, we shall overcome.

ZAHN: Two days later, a federal judge granted the marchers the permission they requested. On March 21, 1965, a group of more than 3,000 set out on a 54-mile walk to Montgomery. Matt Heron was a photojournalist documenting the journey.

MATT HERON, PHOTOGRAPHER: It felt like a new day for everyone. I mean, housewives left their aprons in northern cities and got on planes and came to Selma. Hundreds and hundreds of people poured in, most of them had never been in the South before.

LEWIS: It was like we were involved in a holy crusade.

D. ABERNATHY: The person that stuck out the most in my mind that I marched with was this absolutely wonderful man named Jim Leavenworth. Who was this white man who had lost one leg and he was marching on crutches. And he was walking all the way, 55 miles, from Selma to Montgomery for my freedom, for our freedom and for our right to vote.

HERON: And as we marched through these black belt counties, people came out of the rural, out of the woods and stood by the side of the road in absolute wonder. No one I think in the deep south ever expected this. ZAHN: But the Justice Department was concerned that violence would be directed towards Dr. King. On the last day of the march, they requested that Dr. King be driven the rest of the way to the state Capitol in Montgomery. He refused.

YOUNG: He was dressed in a dark blue suit, as -- which is kind of a preacher's uniform. I got everybody -- every black preacher with a blue suit on, and I put them all on the front row together, saying that snipers from a distance, people say we all look alike anyway.

ZAHN: It took Dr. King and the marchers five days to make it safely into Montgomery and the steps of the Alabama State Capitol. The number of people had grown to 25,000.

D. ABERNATHY: And then Dr. King preached that speech, and he said how long? Not long, because no lie will not live forever. How long, not long.

KING: Because you shall reap what you sew.

D. ABERNATHY: I just remember standing backstage and jumping up and down screaming, because what he had to say was so great that day.

ZAHN: But the victory celebration soon turned to sadness.

LEWIS: There a young woman, white, housewife, who came down as a volunteer, named Violo Liuzzo from Detroit. And she was ambushed by members of the Ku Klux Klan.

D. ABERNATHY: And the car drove up to the side of her. And she turned and she looked at then. And they took the shotgun and shot her they in the face and her brain splattered all over Lee Ray Motten (ph) who was sitting beside her in the car.

LEWIS: We didn't become bitter, we didn't become hostile, we kept the faith, and we became much more determined to see that the voting rights act was passed and got people registered to vote.

ZAHN: Less than five months later on August 6, President Johnson signed the historic Voting Rights Act of 1965 into law.

At this year's 40th anniversary commemoration, Andrew Young had the opportunity to meet the children of Violo Liuzzo and James Reed.

LEWIS: I got really emotional, chocked up so much I could hardly talk. I said to them, I know I have profited by the sacrifice and blood of your father and your mother. And I don't forget that.

ZAHN: Selma marked the turning point in a struggle to secure every citizen's right to vote.

LEWIS: To me it represented one of the finest hours of America. There had never been a march in America like this before. And there has not been one since.

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WILLIS: That's all for this hour of CNN LIVE SATURDAY. Because of breaking news, we were unable to bring you the Willie Nelson story. We'll try and show you that tomorrow.

Meantime, straight ahead, it's "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS."

LIN: We may have to interrupt "PEOPLE IN THE NEWS," because we are expecting a news conference from Bobby Schindler Jr, Terri Schiavo's brother. The family has filed yet another court case, this time all the way to the State Supreme Court in Florida. We are waiting the latest on that court remover.

And at 6:00 Eastern, in case you need to catch up on all the day's events and the latest breaking news in the Terri Schiavo case, I'm going to have a fresh hour of CNN LIVE SATURDAY where we are going to have the latest movements and sum it up all for you.

WILLIS: And I'll be back in just a couple of minutes with a check on the hour's headlines.

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