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Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan Says President Trump Threat "Illegal And Unconstitutional"; United Kingdom Economy Shrank By Record 20.4 Percent In April; Confederate Symbols Removed Amid Protests For Racial Equality; Anti- Government Protests Erupt In Lebanon As Lira Tanks; Hong Kong Students Adjust To New Classroom Rules. Aired 11a-12p ET
Aired June 12, 2020 - 11:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[11:00:00]
ISA SOARES, CNN ANCHOR: The anti-racism protests really sweeping the world. Is it a peaceful rally or a battle zone? We will start with an ongoing
demonstration that's really sparked anger and the threat of retribution from U.S. President Donald Trump.
It's all about this. A group protesting the death of George Floyd to cover a full-block area around and now abandoned police precinct in Seattle,
Washington. The Mayor likens it to a block party, but President Trump wants the protesters out.
He tweeted to the Mayor and the State's Governor, take back your city right now if you do. Do it, I will have much more from Seattle shortly. But this
as you can imagine is much bigger than just one neighborhood or even one country ahead of a protest today in London a statue of Former British Prime
Minister Winston Churchill has been boarded up.
It was sprayed with the words Churchill was a racist during an early approach as you remember. Despite his World War II heroism, Churchill was
known to have held racist views. Britain's current Prime Minister Boris Johnson says it is absurd his words and shameful that a memorial to this
wartime leader would be a target of attack.
Let's bring in CNN's Max Foster live for us in London. And Max what the view is right around the world? Give us a sense of where you are and what
we're expecting to see regarding the other statues close to Winston Churchill there?
MAX FOSTER, CNN LONDON CORRESPONDENT: Outside the Houses of Parliament here, this has been the scene of many protests, most of protests of course
been peaceful by night. They can fire up a bit. And you can see that building there. This is a temporary structure built around the Churchill
memorial, the Churchill statue.
Someone wrote graffiti over the weekend that Churchill is a racist. So, they've - the massive - pulled that up to protect it, they say. You can see
below there's a big crowd, big argument ensuing there between some black lives matters protesters and the far-right group.
This has become a flash point because a lot of the fall rights I'll see pretty annoyed that Churchill was graffiti, but also there has been boarded
up and in their words hidden from you, hidden from history. In response some far right activists have told CNN that they plan to attack all the
statues of a spin around to the other end of the square.
On the other - we have got Mandela, here you got Gandhi and he is the mass officers said that they are now going to protect those two statues as well
going into the weekend ahead of more protests. But the tensions have become so much wider than George Floyd here, it's about a lot of other local
issues, and frankly, Britain's past.
SOARES: And Max, you're touching on that, we're expecting more protests over the weekend. Perhaps the weather won't dampen this various crowds that
probably still show up. Give me a sense from those you've been speaking to over the last week or so, what protesters want to see? What are their goals
here?
FOSTER: They want fundamental change in society and they want fairness for black communities across health care, across jobs, across every part of
society. They're angry. But I'll just say most of the protests have been pretty peaceful.
There is another big concern about COVID-19. So you have got the Mayor, the Head of the Police, also the Prime Minister all coming together to tell
people to stay home. So that creates extra risks. They talk about for example in Australia, protest groups have seen a rise in the virus, and
they're concerned about that happening here.
Boris Johnson also pretty furious about the attack particularly on Churchill, he's a Churchill historian, he's written books on Churchill.
Hear what he had to say about the fact that being attacks on there. And I think there's also some - criticism as well about the Mayor bothering,
covering up Churchill as well in this way.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BORIS JOHNSON, BITISH PRIME MINISTER: And what makes me sad about what's happening today is that, you got a situation in which the statue of Winston
Churchill, who is a national hero, has had to be boarded up for fear of violent attack. And that to me is both absurd and wrong. You should not
have a situation which people who are protesting on one basis are violently attacking the police or public property.
And I'm afraid what's happened with these demonstrations is that a tiny minority, or a growing minority, unfortunately, have hijacked them. And
they are using them as a pretext to attack the police, to cause violence and to cause damage to public property.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FOSTER: So we are expecting more protests this weekend. I'm not quite sure where they'll be because they're not necessarily - with the police in the
same way as they were. So the police are saying we don't want protests. But you're seeing the result of government and law enforcement as well really
upping the moment is Isa, and I think this weekend, they're going to tolerate less probably because of a damage being done to monuments.
[11:05:00]
FOSTER: But also because of the concerns about the spread of the virus.
SOARES: Yes. And I'll be speaking to Member of Parliament later this hour exactly about the statues and why he disagrees that they should not be
boarded up there? Max Foster for us outside the House of Parliament thanks very much, Max.
As we mentioned at the start of the show, the City of Seattle is trying to calm tension on its streets. While the President seems to be trying to ramp
it up. As issue is a full block area I should say that protesters took over after police withdrew. Mr. Trump, his threatening action, its state and
city meters were into act. Take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: We are not going to let this happen to Seattle. If we have to go, we're going to go in, the Governors
got to do it, that they'll do it, The Governor - he said great National Guard troops, so he can do it. But one way or the other it's going to get
it done. These people are not going to occupy a major portion of a great city.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Now, Seattle's Mayor tells CNN such action is not only unnecessary, but it's also illegal, take a listen.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MAYOR JENNY DURKAN (D-WA), SEATTLE: I think the President, number one, there is no threat right now to the public, and we're looking, we're taking
that very seriously, we're meeting with businesses and residents. But what the President threatened is illegal and unconstitutional.
And the fact that he can think he can just tweet that and not have ramifications is just wrong. We take public safety very seriously. We met
with businesses and residents today. We don't have to sacrifice public safety for first amendment rights. Both can exist and we'll make sure that
both exist in Seattle.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: Now, the area in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood is being called an autonomous protest site. There is no word on when the police will
return. CNN's Dan Simon is there for us.
DAN SIMON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Isa. We're in the heart of the occupation area or the Capitol Hill Autonomous Zone, which authorities are calling it
or short for CHAZ. You can see the police department behind me that is essentially been occupied by these protesters.
You can see the graffiti there on the side and also the Seattle people department. The way this all unfolded is on Monday, you did have the police
department, they essentially abandoned this area. They abandoned their police station to sort of deescalate the situation that had been unfolding
between officers and protesters.
Things had gotten violent. Tear gas was deployed so they decided to leave the area and it had the intended effect. This has been a peaceful protest
ever since on Monday. That said you did, of course, see the President's tweets where he's saying that the Mayor and the Governor of Washington
really need to crack down and try to clear this area the Mayor of Seattle responding to Mr. Trump's rhetoric. Take a look.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
DURKAN: We've got four blocks in Seattle that you just saw pictures of that is more like a bloc party atmosphere. It's not an armed takeover it's not a
military junta. The Chief of Police was in that precinct today with her command staff looking and assessing on operational plans. What the
President threatened is illegal and unconstitutional. And the fact that he can think he can just tweet that and not have ramifications is just wrong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SIMON: While city leaders do acknowledge that the protests have largely been peaceful, one problem right now is that the Chief of the Department is
saying that it now takes officers triple the amount of time to respond to calls in this area. And at this point there appears to be no clear strategy
coming forward in terms of when officers will eventually reclaim the station, Isa?
SOARES: Thanks very much, Dan Simon. Well, President Trump meanwhile remains defiant as well as resistant to change, this as the country shows
sign of what could be a remarkable culture change. Joe Jones is in Washington with a closer look at the President's message.
And Joe, we have seen, and Dan touched on this, the President in many ways continuing to dig in his heel, downplaying the protesters' complaints. So,
what has been his reaction thus far to what we have seen in Seattle? What's he saying?
JOE JONES, CNN SENIOR WASHINGTON CORRESPONDENT: Well, the President has been pretty clear that the Mayors of the Seattle, the other city officials
there, if they don't take it over and get it back under control, he says he will. It's not clear what constitutional authority the president can make
that threat under because, quite frankly, if a Governor calls in, say, the National Guard, then it works.
If the President on his own says he's going to send the military into a sovereign state in the United States, it seems to be a legal problem for
him, and that's just for starters. But there is a bigger story here, and that's the story of the President going against the grain in the United
States.
[11:10:00]
JOHNS: You have people in Seattle and a bunch of other localities, even some Republicans up on Capitol Hill, members of the President's same party
who are saying things need changed, change needs to be drastic, police needs to be brought under control. And we need to face the issues of
systemic racism in the United States.
And the President meanwhile seems to be backing away from so many of those. So the question is what's going on here? And CNN's reporting is, according
to talking to individuals who are familiar with the President's thinking, he believes that the same strategy of racial and cultural division that he
used in the 2016 elections is still valid and can still be successful this election year.
As you know, in the U.S., there is an election in November. The question, of course, is whether he can pull it off again because he used a lot of
division in the last election? It worked for him then, but now there are some changed circumstances in the United States, and not just emotionally.
It's also clear right now the President is running behind in the polls against the Presumptive Democratic Nominee Joe Biden. And in fact, the
President's polling seems to suggest he's running right along a similar track as did some other incumbent American Presidents who lost reelection.
So there is a real concern here about the polls, Mr. Trump and how he holds onto his base, Isa?
SOARES: Yes, a lot has changed, hasn't it, Joe? A lot has changed in the last few years. And like you said, he is, as we've seen, going against the
grain but also, as some may argue. We're just not meeting the moment. Joe Johns there for us. Thank you very much, Joe good to see you.
Now we are starting to see a cultural shift following the wave of protests in the United States and really right around the world, against racism as
well as police brutality. People are calling for real change, not only law enforcement treatment of black people, but in the culture shaping opinions
about them. And the entertainment industry is taking action.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've been very so long, Ms. Scarlett. You just got to go on being brave. Think about your pole like he used to be.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't think about--
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: HBO Max has removed the 1939 film "Gone with the Wind" because of its racist depictions. And until it can be rereleased with the discussion
of context of announcement of slavery plus.
Paramount has canceled the popular and long-running reality TV show "Cops." The show glorified police, and it's not just in the U.S. mind. Anti-racism
protests are having an impact on the entertainment here in the U.K., too. Take a look at this.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You get down - patterns.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What you love to in this --?
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: The BBC has removed an episode of the Sitcom "Faulty Towers" you can see that from the UKTV streaming service. The episode included the
famous line, "Don't Mention the War" but earlier problematic scenes including a racial slur about the West Indies Cricket Team.
And another comedy that you may know here in the U.K., "Little Britain" has been dropped from Netflix and other streaming side that is due to
controversial portrayal of minority.
So let's take a deeper dive if we can into the chart - and the change retaking place as a result of these anti-racism protest with a familiar
face here in CNN Ayesha Hazarika. She is a British Standup Comic, Political Commentator, and Former Political Adviser to Senior Labor Party Politician.
She joins me now live by Skype from London. Ayesha, great to have you on the show.
Let's talk about what we've seen. George Floyd's really senseless stuff has prompted all of us, I think it's fair to say to have really uncomfortable
been necessary conversations about race and politically about our own history. As you look at these protests, not just right around the world,
but also in the U.K. What do you think? Do you think we're seeing a cultural revolution here sows?
AYESHA HAZARIKA, POLITICAL COMMENTATOR: Well, I think this is a really deeply profound moment for race relations on both sides of the Atlantic,
not just here in the United Kingdom, but across Europe as well. We were all absolutely horrified by the murder of George Floyd, which we saw sort of
happened in real-time.
But it has led to an outpouring of grief and anger, but deeper reflection on what caused it, and a deeper reflection into the systemic and
institutional racism and racial inequality that exists in our society.
[11:15:00]
HAZARIKA: And I think people are really thinking about every aspect of life, politics, the media, culture, sports, the creative industries, the
judiciary, everything is being sort of thought about. But it's interesting the point about the cultural icons.
I think that's very important in many ways. I think we have to move on as a society. Comedy dates very quickly. I remember growing up watching things
like "Little Britain". And even at the time I felt slightly uncomfortable because it did seem very sexist, the idea that you would sort of do
blackface seemed kind of antiquated.
But to look back on it now, it just seems kind of prehistoric, and even the creators of some of those shows have distanced themselves and said, you
know what, we wouldn't do it now. What I'm nervous about though is just trying to ban everything.
And I think you don't just right wrongs by erasing history, you have to think about going forward. So rather than just like erasing everything, you
mentioned "Gone With the Wind," you mentioned "Little Britain," I would like TV commissioners and TV executives to actually right those wrongs by
not just deleting their hard drives, but by hiring and commissioning new diverse talent.
SOARES: And that's so important how to move this? How we move it on in terms of endless moment of reflection, as you're saying Ayesha, because the
concern, and I'm sure you share, and many viewers of our share it too is this, this very idea of cultural censorship. Because this once this
Pandora's Box is opened, where do we go? You can even say Shakespeare's "Othello" some equivalent racist. So where do you draw the line? And that's
the huge concern.
HAZARIKA: Exactly. I think it's very important to look back. You need to learn from your history to map out a future. But it doesn't mean you can
erase everything, and nor should you. What's so important is that this becomes a teachable moment, and that we use this too really to educate
ourselves. And by the way everybody has some element of prejudice everybody has some element of racism. We all have to educate ourselves.
And one of the big rouse that is waging here in the United Kingdom is over our colonial past, the British Empire, and all part in the slave trade. And
I'm from Scotland, just some of your viewers will tell from my accent.
People in Scotland is part of a country in the north of the United Kingdom, they didn't even realize that half of the big squares in the big cities are
named after prominent slavers. So I think we all need to take this moment to really learn about our past.
We learn about the good, let's learn about the bad as well, and let's look at the big things that we can do to change society. For example, what do we
teach in the curriculum? How do we give better educational opportunities to minorities?
How do we make the criminal justice system fairer and not overrepresented by BAME people? How do we make our workplaces fair? You and I both work in
the media. We know there are not many black and brown faces either on screen or in terms of senior executive roles.
We've got a big job to do, and my frustration and my worry is that, we're so angry and we're so focusing on tearing down symbols, we're maybe not
focusing on actually trying to make real change in the future.
SOARES: And I'm playing devil's advocate here, Ayesha. But do you believe just what we were just showing some of the statues being torn down. Do you
believe that you need these, you need these statues, you need these shows in order to educate, in order to show what bigotry barbarism looked like.
Do you think that's needed?
HAZARIKA: I don't think you need statues to necessarily teach about history. We don't have statues Adolf Hitler, but we still know about the
atrocities of the holocaust. But I think that the statue, the moment where, in Bristol, they pulled down the statue of Edward Colston.
And I don't like the idea of kind of anarchy. But sometimes you do need a powerful moment that really catches the imagination of people and it
becomes a symbol, a symbol of rage and pain. And we all also have to be honest.
The fight for equality, whether it was the ending of apartheid, whether it was women getting the vote, it's never elegant, it's never pretty, it's
never sort of dainty. There is often struggle there is often some civil disobedient and direct action.
But you can't just - in that, you need both. You need to have these big moments of passion and fire, but then you need to actually change the
structures of power in the society.
SOARES: Our viewers will note that you're a stand-up comedian, Ayesha. Finally, how do you as a stand-up comedian, how do you change? How do you
need to measure what you say?
[11:20:00]
SOARES: Now are you going to be slightly more careful and how you use comedy and differences?
HAZARIKA: So I think comedy and humor can be a really powerful way of communicating difficult messages and actually educating people. People
don't want to be electric at. People don't want someone wagging their finger and saying, you are a bad person.
And what I do in my comedies, I actually impress those duplicating, I talk about being indeed Muslim, Scottish and the kind of things that I have come
up. And I think that puts people at ease. And then if you can laugh at somebody and you can laugh at something, it often opens your mind up, just
think about other things.
So I think comedy can be really powerful. And you know what, if you have to be racist or sexist or homophobic or transphobic or anti - disable people
to be funny, I don't think you're that funny. I don't think you need to punch down to be funny.
SOARES: Ayesha Hazarika, always great to have you in the chair. Thanks very much Ayesha. Good to see you.
HAZARIKA: Thank you.
SOARES: Now still ahead right here on the show, the April economy numbers are in to the U.K. and they're pretty bleak I'll tell you that. We look at
the prospect for recovery. And what role Brexit may play, Anna Stewart joins me next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: It is 4:23 or so here in London. Let me show you what Wall Street is looking at this hour, if we can bring the numbers up. Stocks have been
making a bit of a rebound after we saw, really, the worst one-day selloff in three months. So you're actually - they're going down a bit, they're
changing tax a bit up half of a percent or so.
They did start off on a good footing up 2.5 percent or so. But what we're seeing is well below an opening surge. We've got phase of Coronavirus
spread as well as a slow economic recovery sparking yesterday's really drastic selloff. That's in the United States.
April economic numbers here in Britain, meanwhile, are painting a picture of a long road to recovery. Anna Stewart joins me live. Anna, these GDP
numbers really I think it's fair to say underlying the damage of COVID-19 has infecting so many businesses. And I suspect no sector was spared here.
ANNA STEWART, CNN REPORTER: Yes, it really wasn't. And the depth of the contraction for April - contraction of 20 percent was really quite
shocking. And if you add that to March, which was only partly in lockdown then that contraction for the U.K. was about 0.25 of the economy in just
two months. There is really no recession that you can really compare this to.
Now, the next question is the recovery. So April was likely to be the very bottom of this economic hold. That was the first month of full lockdown,
and after that some measures starts to be left. And so, some businesses are seeing a few green sheets for recovery.
But how quickly can this recovery come and how successful will it be? The biggest risk at the moment is mass unemployment. Over a quarter of the U.K.
work force is now on the government furlough schemes. The government is paying the wages of over a quarter of the workforce.
[11:25:00]
STEWART: This scheme is going to be tapered off from next month. So in the next two and a half weeks, businesses will have to start paying a little
bit more towards this scheme. For some businesses that will be fine, they're ready to reopen. For others, social distancing measures, lack of
demand may mean they cannot sustain that usual work force.
And I think you can't expect to see the job losses lacking up. And depending on how severe that is, that's how easy or bad or difficult this
economic recovery will be, Isa?
SOARES: Yes, I do wonder whether these numbers that we just see in this contraction adds to more pressure, of course, to ease lockdown kind of more
quickly. But let's stay with COVID if we may, Anna, and talk airlines because they are now challenging the U.K. quarantine. What are the chances
of this may work? Talk us through it.
STEWART: Well, here the British Airways, Easy Jet, Ryan Air, the three big U.K. airlines threatened legal action against the government on this new
quarantine on the weekend. And now they're followed through. They've asked a judge to review the case immediately because quarantine is already in
place.
Now the argument from the airlines is this really is a measure that has come too late. It would have been more effective right at the beginning of
the pandemic when the U.K. had few cases and there was a large risk of importing cases in from travelers that came from around the world and the
rest of Europe.
Now the U.K. has some of the worst cases on the continent. And these airlines would rather see averages where countries with similar
transmission race of the virus would cancel quarantines for each other or using - testing using contract racing to isolation of people on a case-by-
case basis if they have the virus.
So they are not happy with this. Overall, British Airlines have already announced job cuts of 22,500. Thus those three airlines I mentioned -
Atlantic. They say the job cuts could increase if they don't lift this quarantine, Isa?
SOARES: Thank you, Anna. I want to touch if I may briefly on Brexit. Because believe it or not, it hasn't gone away, and it seems that
government Anna, is now having to backtrack. So where are we with Brexit?
STEWART: I think - forgiven for forgetting all about Brexit, it's been a while since we spoke about it. Bu it's still a huge risk for businesses. As
a quick recap, U.K. did leave EU in January of this year, but it's in the transition period. And that goes right to the end of the year after which
the U.K. will lead the single market and the customs union.
And if a trade agreement isn't in place between the EU and the U.K., where then trade falls back on WTO times which are very costly in terms of
tariffs, in terms of customs. Their businesses wants them idea of what's just going to happen next?
Those talks have not gone well. Now today as you said, that U.K. does appear to be backtracking a little bit regardless actually of a trade
agreement. They're saying they will no longer fully implement border checks and goods coming from the EU into the U.K.
Now that is really good news for businesses on both sides of the border. But the natural question of course will be what happens the other way
around? The U.K. is going to phase this arrangement over six months, but will the EU do the same?
And the big question really is this trading agreement. That's what businesses want to see, they want clarity on it, and they really can't deal
with any more shocks because as we said, they are struggling to survive due to the lockdowns around the pandemic, Isa?
SOARES: Yes, all this has an impact on the economy, like you said. They cannot deal with any more shocks to the economy. Anna Stewart, there for us
in London. Thanks very much, Anna. Coming up right here in the show, the demand to remove confederate symbols grows really across the United States.
We'll have more on the cultural impact of anti-racism protest. That's next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
[11:30:00]
SOARES: Now, Republican-led U.S. Senate Committee has adopted a measure to remove the names of confederate leaders from military bases. It comes amid
a really growing debate of removing certain symbols related to this Civil War in the south.
In North Carolina demonstrators placed a George Floyd inspired park on the confederate statue near the Capitol Building. Several confederate statues
in 11 other states have been removed or are being considered for removal. CNN's Abby Phillip has the story.
ABBY PHILLIP, CNN POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT: A national reckoning on race could now mean the end for the last remaining symbols of America's dark
history of slavery. In cities across the south, statues venerating military leaders of the confederacy are crashing down. After the killing of George
Floyd protests have disrupt the nation and prompted fresh soul searching.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
MARC MORIAL, PRESIDENT, NATIONAL URBAN LEAGUE: I believe it is a same change, and it's a long-overdue movement against hate and racism in this
country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIP: It's the very issue that drew a group of white protesters, including white supremacists and militia members to Charlottesville,
Virginia nearly three years ago but today a massive shift.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It's time to heal, ladies and gentlemen. Richmond is no longer the capital of the confederacy.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIP: Virginia's Governor seeking to remove an enormous landmark that commemorates Confederate Army Commander Robert E. Lee.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
REVEREND ROBERT W. LEE, DESCENDENT OF CONFEDERATE GENERAL ROBERT E. LEE: He was a man his time who fought to continue the enslavement of black people.
And in so doing, set our nation on a course towards destruction.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIP: The Marine Corps banning the public display of the confederate battle flag, and even NASCAR following suit, saying fans will no longer be
allowed to fly that flag in the stands.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BUBBA WALLACE, NASCAR DRIVER: No one should feel uncomfortable when they come to a NASCAR race. Get the confederate flags out of here. That is no
place for them.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIP: The changes are also sweeping through pop culture. On Thursday the popular group Lady Antebellum announcing the change of their name to Lady
A, telling their fans we can make no excuse for the lateness of this realization that the name refers to a pre-Civil War period that included
slavery.
HBO Max saying it has temporarily removed the film "Gone with the Wind" and will return it to the platform with materials putting that period of
history in context and now a push from military leaders to strip the names of rebel generals from military bases.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't have an emotional attachment to the names of those bases.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIP: Former Army General David Petraeus writing, it is time to remove the names of traitors like Benning and Bragg from our country's most
important military insulations. But there is also staunch resistance beginning with President Trump who treated that the bases represent a
history of winning, victory and freedom. And he would not even consider renaming them.
Trump warning his party not to fall for a bipartisan amendment introduced in the Senate to remove the confederate names. But it may be too late as
some Republican lawmakers say the time for change has come.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. MIKE ROUNDS (R-SD): We don't want to forget what's happened in the past, but at the same time that doesn't mean that we should continue with
those bases, with the names of individuals who fought against our country.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
PHILLIP: Now, the amendment that President Trump decried on confederate names has already passed with bipartisan support out of a Senate Committee.
It now potentially faces another vote in the full Senate.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell actually ignored reporters' questions on this issue, but many Republicans will have to quickly decide
will they stand with President Trump on this issue, or will they vote to remove the names of Confederate Generals from military installations all
across the country? Abby Phillip, CNN, Washington.
[11:35:00]
SOARES: Now, here in London, the Mayor Sadik Khan has boarded up statues and monuments for protection ahead of protests planned for this weekend.
And you can see here we show you a Winston Churchill statue many of you would have recognized when you're visiting London it has been totally boxed
up, as you can see there, after protests painted he words wars racists on the statue during last weekend's protest.
Statues of Mahathma Gandhi and Nelson Mandela are being protected as well, we're being told. Joining us now, is a conservative member of parliament
Andrew Bridgen who is calling for Mayor's resignation in light of his decision. Thank you for joining us. First of all, why do you think that the
Mayor should step down?
ANDREW BRIDGEN, BRITISH CONSERVATIVE MP: He's in charge of as part of his duties as Mayor of London, he's in charge of the metropolitan police and
their duty is to keep the streets safe and law abiding. And by covering over one of our monuments, including also the - Tomb where we venerate a -
war debt. He's giving over the streets and - support for lawlessness which is deeply worrying the majority of people across our country.
When George Floyd's untimely and awful death has unleashed a huge wave of anti-racist sympathy which I think is being dissipated by the actions of
some extremists, and these are being encouraged by massive protection.
SOARES: But Mr. Bridgen perhaps he's not encouraging them perhaps he's simply trying to protect these monuments. We've been told from our
correspondent on the ground that Gandhi and Mandela statues will also be protected.
BRIDGEN: What we've seen over here is a group of activists hijacking the black lives matter protest, breaking the law, removing statues, and the
police not intervening. And the problem is that the vast majority of law- abiding citizens in my constituency and across the country, they do worry that if this effectively mobbed that were outside the law can do what they
want.
If they were to take a fence at my house or my car or my family that the police would intervene to protect them, and that's a huge worry for the
majority of people in this country.
SOARES: So Mr. Bridgen, are you actually saying that you would like to see the police intervene and try to protect these statues?
BRIDGEN: Well, we're currently in a lockdown. People are not supposed to be protesting in groups of more than six. What we're seeing is social
distancing completely forgotten about, and ultimately black lives matter, all lives matter. And the virus that we're all fighting at the moment will
not discriminate.
There is a great deal of evidence that black and ethnic minority citizens may be more vulnerable to this virus. They're putting everyone's lives at
risk. At the end of the day, you're not allowed to vandalize statues. Anything can be removed.
We live in a democracy, as you do in America, and if the majority of people or their elected representatives want to change a statue or move it,
they're quite able to do that. But it's not down to a Mayor to decide what should be displayed on the streets of our Capitol, and if Winston Churchill
statue is not safe nothing is safe in our country.
SOARES: Well, it's not just Winston Churchill there are lots of statues, as you know, right outside the House of Parliament. Do you think that it is
important, Mr. Bridgen, right now, that countries right around the world, including the U.K. I may add, have a discussion about history and the merit
of these monuments.
BRIDGEN: Absolutely, and we can have a discussion about that and about everybody else. But we can't deny our past, and if you are to extrapolate
this sort of anything that people don't like should be removed, if we extrapolate that to the extreme, Auschwitz is still there as a memorial to
those who died and remember what actually happened? If we extrapolate that then - I think that should be - that will be a ridiculous thing to happen.
SOARES: But do you understand sir, do you understand the anger as well as the frustrations of so many who have taken to the streets in protest in the
last few weeks?
[11:40:00]
BRIDGEN: Well, the statue of Colston was pulled down in Britain. Apparently he was late to the slave trade. I have never seen his statue I wasn't aware
of his links to the city until very recently. But I mean - that city has been under the control of the labor party, the local government, for a very
long time.
They could have removed the statue any time they wanted to. I believe they even have a local referendum on it and decided to keep it. Without police
intervention, that statue was pulled down and thrown into the harbor, and it now has to be recovered at public cost.
These things are deeply disturbing to a country which is taught a fair and free democracy, and the majority the vast majority people, who don't go out
on marches, don't go out on protests, they're actually fairly appalled by what they're seeing, and we do need to get a grip of the law.
Ultimately there is only the law between us and anarchy, and there are, certainly, elements in these protests who are seeking to undermine our
democracy for their own reasons. And that just can't be allowed to happen.
It's only the law that will bring justice to the George Floyd and his family ultimately. It can't be abused at the same time as we rely on it.
It's all we have it is not perfect but it is all we have until we change that.
SOARES: Do you know how long these statues will be boarded up for sir?
BRIDGEN: That's the worry. If the protests continue, he's very left wing. I think he's appeasing the protesters, and it's abhorrent to most people that
the man who - when we stood alone in the world against Nazism Adolf Hitler, the biggest racist that has ever probably been, and his statue is at risk
of being desecrated, effectively.
SOARES: Well, Sadik Khan will say that he is not appeasing the protesters. He has said he is not appeasing the protesters he's simply protecting the
statues. We have Sadik Khan to come on the show but we got no reply that he couldn't make it. Thank you very much for my producer. Andrew Bridgen there
I appreciate you taking the time to speak to us, sir.
BRIDGEN: Thank you.
SOARES: Now, anti-government protests have erupted again in Lebanon over really dire economic conditions. Take a look at this. Thousands took to the
streets for largely peaceful demonstrations. They are angry over the Lebanese currency, losing it. There is a whopping 70 percent of its value
since October 2019.
Protesters set fires at the Central Bank in Tripoli while burning barricades forced road closures in and out of major cities. The government
is being blamed for not doing enough. Some say too little too late. The Lebanese President now says that the Central Bank will start pumping U.S.
dollars into the market.
Jomana Karadsheh has covered the region extensively and she joins us now. And Jomana, do you know how soon, how fast the government will start
pumping money into the economy?
JOMANA KARADSHEH, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We've heard from the Lebanese Presidencies saying that as of Monday they're going to start pumping U.S.
dollars into the market as an effort to try and stop the Lebanese Lira from sliding even further.
We've seen it tanking even more in recent days. So they're hoping by pumping these dollars into the market that they will perhaps try and
stabilize the current exchange rate. But they don't even know if that's going to work.
And then there's the question of if this is going to be enough? If this is really anything more than just a temporary fix? Especially as you see what
has been going on, on the streets. You know, those protests you mentioned on Thursday, yes, we've seen demonstrations taking place in Lebanon on and
off since that popular uprising that brought down a government last October.
But Thursday's protests, Isa, were so widespread from the country's south to the north, in the Capital Beirut, and it was also a diverse crowd. For
the first time in a long time, we saw members of the Shia working class taking part in these protests supporters of Hezbollah joining the
demonstration.
Some of these protests in Beirut taking place in Hezbollah stronghold. So perhaps an indication here that the group that supports the government is
not objecting at this point to these protests taking place, perhaps an indication that they realize how serious the situation is right now the
anger on the streets, and the economic situation that is impacting almost everyone in Lebanon right now?
[11:45:00]
KARADSHEH: As you mentioned, the Lebanese Lira has lost about 70 percent of its value since October. And what that has meant for the ordinary Lebanese,
it has been devastating. Exports and the prices of basic goods have skyrocketed. People have really not been able to afford the most basics.
They have been warning that they are now facing starvation.
According to the World Bank, half of Lebanon's population so far is living in poverty. And the numbers are going up, Isa, and the people are directing
their anger toward the banking sector, but also toward their politicians, the ruling elite.
They've seen these governments come and go and fail to deliver. So it's very hard to see where this is all headed right now and how the government
is going to get out of this crisis?
SOARES: Yes, from anger to desperation with COVID-19 putting more pressure on an already fragile economy. Jomana Karadsheh for us thanks very much
Jomana. We'll be right back. We're going to take a very quick break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: The Coronavirus pandemic is wreaking havoc on the health of the people in Columbia as well, I may add, as their economic well-being. It is
a country where a lot of people were already living hand to mouth and Stefano Pozzebon now reports. COVID-19 is only really making things worse.
Take a look at this.
STEFANNO POZZEBON, JOURNALIST: Three months ago Lilybeth Fori had a job in the house but the pandemic took nearly everything from her. Like almost
half of the entire Columbian labor force Lilybeth working formally, first as a caregiver in private homes, then as a street worker.
Lockdown measures against Coronavirus meant that she has seen no income since March and to make things worse her house was bulldozed at the
beginning of May. The city says it wasn't safe, but now she can't find a home. She has no job, rental accommodations are scares during the pandemic.
Now she can only look at what remains of her house?
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
LILYBETH FORI, INFORMAL WORKER: Before the virus we had a life. Now we don't. We don't know what we are going to eat or what's going to happen to
us.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
POZZEBON: Columbia may have been spared the worst of the health crisis, but the economy is suffering. Unemployment almost doubled in Columbian cities
since the beginning of the lockdown. Without a job, the people who were displaced from this area are saying that they're facing life on the
streets.
Lilybeth and 60 other people now live in tents and - settlement just meters away from where the houses used to stand. Now the pandemic has only added
to the frustration of people like Lilybeth who says she took to the streets in November last year to demand social change.
It has also increased the disparity between those who can afford the quarantine and work from home and those cannot. By one estimate as many as
7 million Columbians could fall back below the poverty line by the end of the year a level not seen since 2002.
[11:50:00]
POZZEBON: Fabian Serigo Marroquin also took part in the protest last year when he was working as a cook. Now unemployed he is only a little bit also
demolished. He thinks a return to the streets is the only way for things to change for the better.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FABIAN SERIGO MARROQUIN, INFORMAL WORKER: the government slogan is stay at home, but where should I stay? They took away my home.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
POZZEBON: The Columbian government has to far pledged $74 million to prevent the - but little of those resources are designed to help the
informal economy. Columbia is now lifting some quarantine measures while still trying to control the virus. It's a thin line between the health
crisis and the economic collapse. Stefano Pozzebon, CNN.
SOARES: And ahead it is right here on the show following a month's long lockdown Hong Kong is finally sending its children back to school. How
classrooms there are keeping it all together while keeping kids apart? We'll explain, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Now, football fans in Spain who have longed for some normalcy in the Coronavirus pandemic got some good news on Thursday when La Liga
returned. Before the match, players gathered at field for a moment of silence to honor victims of the pandemic. You can see that, they just
celebrated their victory in front of a sea of virtual fans, because in- person fans are not allowed in stadiums. La Liga is the second of the major European Leagues to return.
Well, another return to normalcy in Hong Kong as students go back to school for the first time in four months but they're having to come to terms with
new reality in these classrooms with social distancing masks and so many new rules. CNN's Kristi Lu Stout shows us what it's like now.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
KRISTI LU STOUT, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Familiar feelings for 11-year-old Hanna on her first day back at school. Sorry to say goodbye to her mum, excited
to see the other kids and get back to doing well in class. But it's not summer break or Christmas holidays she's had away from her teachers.
Hanna's school is reopening after a pandemic shut it down.
HANNA, RETURNING TO SCHOOL: I'm very excited, but I'm annoyed that we have to wear a mask all day.
STOUT: Despite its border with Mainland China, Hong Kong has come through the pandemic relatively unscathed. Like other parts of the world, social
distance has been the watch word. But here there have been just 1,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19 resulting in four known deaths. When Hannah
school reopened, the territory had not reported a case for over a week.
HANNA: The hardest part was keeping one meter away, and like every time you leave the room and come back in, you have to put hand sanitizer on, and
some people were forgetting.
STOUT: Students here at Hong Kong's Peak School are finishing up their first week back in this brave new world of social distance learning, and
this is what a lunch room looks like in a time of pandemic. Once lunch begins students will be spaced 1.5 meters apart facing the same direction
it's the one time in their entire school day when they're allowed to take of their masks.
New school rules are strict. P.E.T class turns a sport, hockey, into individual practice. The kids wipe down their sticks. There is no sharing
of water bottles. Classes are separated, half in one room, half in another. The teacher uses Zoom to be in two places at once.
[11:55:00]
STOUT: The toughest part is to ask kids to stay apart from one another that according to Principal Bill Garnett, but anything to start getting things
back to normal.
BILL GARNETT, HONG KONG SCHOOL PRINCIPAL: The communities across Hong Kong are anxious to have the children return and have they turn up on a bus and
walk through the gates on Monday morning was an amazing feeling. They've all got masks on but you can still see the smiles. You can see it in their
cheeks and you can see it in their eyes. They're excited to be back.
STOUT: But being back means bringing the worries of the world into the classroom. Some of these kids have been grouped up in notoriously small
Hong Kong apartment since January, when they decided not to return until after the Chinese New Year break.
GARNETT: We've confidence that we reduced the risks. We - you cannot eliminate the risk and we made that point to the parents that we've done
everything we can to reduce the risk. But little ones, five-year-olds, want to hold hands when they arrive at school, so it is about mitigating that
risk, but we can't eliminate it.
STOUT: The question is will school ever be how it was before COVID-19 hit here in Hong Kong or anywhere?
GARNETT: Hong Kong as a city, this is an opportunity to really show the rest of the world that we can get through this. We're leading the way, and
we can demonstrate that this is something we can do, it is possible. We can keep the children safe and we can have them in school.
STOUT: Parents around the world wait anxiously and hope that their kids can go back to class, too. And, like Hanna's school, the lessons of COVID-19
will keep them safe when they do. Kristi Lu Stout, CNN, Hong Kong.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
SOARES: And CNN and "Sesame street" are teaming up again to host a special Coronavirus Town Hall. It's called "The ABCs of COVID-19," a CNN "Sesame
Street" Town Hall for kids as well as parents. It will air on Saturday, 10:00 am eastern or 3:00 pm if you're watching right here in London.
And that does it for me at this hour. Thanks very much for joining me. I'm Isa Soares in London. We'll be back with you on Monday. The news continues
right here on CNN don't go away.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
SOARES: Now, state leaders, including New York State Governor Cuomo is holding a press conference this hour on police reform. They are speaking
right now. I want to take you live to that.
END
