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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Protests Turn Tense Overnight in Ferguson; ISIS Releases Beheading Video of American Journalist; Violence Erupts in Gaza

Aired August 20, 2014 - 05:30   ET

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

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

ROMANS: Our breaking news this morning: late-night protests remain mostly peaceful, but with tense moments following nights of chaos and violence. This as Attorney General Eric Holder arrives in Missouri today to examine the deadly police shooting of unarmed black teenager Michael Brown. We are live with the very latest in Missouri.

An American journalist kidnapped by terrorists, beheaded on camera. ISIS issuing a new warning to the United States promising more death to Americans. We are live in Iraq with the very latest.

Welcome back to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. It is 30 minutes past the hour.

Let's start with tense protests but virtually no violence overnight in Ferguson, Missouri. After 10 days of unrest, protesters remained mostly peaceful last night. But this small town, it's still seething over the shooting death of unarmed teen by police.

Attorney General Eric Holder heading to Ferguson today to personally oversee the federal investigation into his death, the death of Michael Brown, as local prosecutors prepare to bring evidence today -- presenting evidence to a grand jury.

We want to bring in Stephanie Elam, live from Ferguson.

And, Stephanie, from your position there on the ground, what was different last night? Was it -- that police did not fire tear gas last night?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Not firing tear gas is a good place to start, Christine. That made a big difference for people. But even as the -- when the sun was still up, you could see a difference in tone and how police were engaging with the people on the street there.

I saw a lot of police officers just walking up and talking to people. I saw some shaking hands with some of those civilians on the street. I saw them coming up to them without helmets on, without major riot gear, coming up and asking people to disperse. And people did.

For the most part, it was a very civil, controlled protest and march last night. The vast majority of what happened last night was better. But as it got closer to midnight, that tensions start to build up and a lot of the marchers did disperse and go home. But there were some people that stayed around. I mean, they were kind of standing up in the parking lot area, while the police were lined up in the middle of the street.

And you could feel the tension burst. And then someone threw a water bottle toward the police. And that's when we felt things burst.

Now take a listen because you're going to hear two different sides here. But take a listen to one protester as she explains what it looked like from her vantage point.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We had a large group of peaceful protesters who had been out here for hours, literally hours, walking in all of the designated areas, picking up their own trash, you know, keeping people in line, making sure that people were hydrated.

The whole night was without incident. And at some point, when the police decided that it was time for to us go, they began to agitate that situation.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: Now Captain Ron Johnson came out and had a presser right around 2:00 in the morning to talk about last night. He said that there were 47 people that were arrested, compared to 31 the night before. But he said there was no tear gas deployed. He said that not one bullet was fired by any of his officers. And yet he saw it as a turning point.

Now what was interesting, though, is that our Steve Kastenbaum actually asked him why that at any point did the police officers put on this sort of riot gear, the helmets, the masks, the batons, the shields because that seemed to amplify some of the anger that was out there in the street. And this was what he had to say to that.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CAPT. RON JOHNSON, MISSOURI HIGHWAY PATROL: When I got home last night at 3:30 in the morning, my wife was up. The lights were on. And when I walked through the door, I knew that I was in trouble. She didn't say hi, she said, why didn't you have your vest on? And when I left today, and I got here, the first text that I had on my phone is, "You promised". And a promise means that I am going to come home. And these men and women are going to come home.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: And during the evening, we did see different points that police sort of getting into a tactical position. In fact right around where our live location was last night, where we were standing, police sort of forming an L around where we are because at one point, everyone ran down the street one way, then there was an interaction with police there. And then they all ran back out the other way and into the media staging area, the area that we were told to set up. And so a lot of people were mixed in there with the media. So they

came through and they swept everyone out, and pushed them all out into the street and tried to disperse them that way. They had dogs out there. There were police officers with guns. I did see one police officer who had his gun up and actually waving it towards people. And I saw another officer tell him to put his gun down. So there were tensions.

But what we also saw were police checking themselves and I also saw people from the community lining up to form that line to say look, we're not going to have this antagonistic sort of energy tonight and breaking up what was happening between the police and the people who were just out there, and forming a line saying, this is enough. Calm down.

And it seemed to work. People were going on their own and taking command of the situation. Just regular, everyday people to keep the situation calm last night -- Christine.

ROMANS: I suppose, Stephanie, there's a hope then that this is a turning point. I know it's been so fragile, every night has been fragile. It doesn't take much to inflame that energy, as you -- as you call it, but there must be hope there on the ground that this was the turning point last night?

ELAM: Yes, well, Captain Johnson definitely said that. He thinks that this was a turning point that things were better. That they learned and did things better and that also -- working with people, leaders from the community, working with the clergy, people who could go out into the community and help make that difference. And the fact that there were a lot of protesters who did come out and show that there were very displeased with how things are being handled with the death of Mike Brown.

They voiced their opinions, they marched, they demonstrated, they did that during the day. And then I talked to some people who said, we're leaving before the sun goes down. We don't want to be here, we don't want to be confused for people who may be out here, agitating the situation. We're going to go home and he said those people also helped out the situation last night as well.

So is it a turning point? We'll see. This is 10 days in. And we've seen it once before where it kind of got to a point where we thought it was better and then it flared up again. Everyone is sort of holding their breath and waiting to see what happens tonight.

ROMANS: All right. Stephanie Elam, thank you for that. Stephanie in Ferguson. We're going to be following all of the latest breaking developments in Ferguson all morning. So keep it right here.

U.S. officials trying to verify the authenticity of a gruesome disturbing video released by ISIS terrorists. It was posted online, showing the beheading of American journalist James Foley. Foley was kidnapped in Syria, nearly two years ago. Thanksgiving 2012. The video concludes with terrorists threatening to kill another American journalist they have. Nick Paton Walsh live from Irbil, Iraq. And we're hearing from Jim

Foley's family.

We're starting to hear this morning, Nick, from a lot of his colleagues and friends remembering a man who was fearlessly in pursuit of telling a story to help -- to help people. What can you tell us?

NICK PATON WALSH, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: You have to bear in mind that the situation Jim was in often as a freelancer meant that he would have to endure significant less resources. And at times because of that greater risk to get to the various places he needed to to tell the story. But also when he was kidnapped, it's important to bear in mind that this was a different situation in Syria.

He was abducted near Binnish, in a town in northern Syria. Back in November 2012. That was before ISIS, as we know them bow, was barely really an issue in Syria. Let alone a unified militant group also trying to work in Iraq as well and holding in territory here, too.

He was possibly picked up in the initial wave of abduction of foreigners but were in many ways criminally motivated or designed to give people leverage in complex situations and the increasing radicalized environment there. But it tells you a lot about how things have changed in Syria and Iraq. But now horrifyingly, he ends up in the hands of militants.

The one actually killing him with a British accent, it seems, who killed him because of U.S. intervention in Iraq to push ISIS back of the last week that they move towards the Yazidis and other ethnic minorities here, too.

Jim Foley himself we worked with him briefly. A man driven by telling the story, courteous, gracious, dynamic. We've reported with him on the presence of a foreign Libyan fighter fighting in Aleppo. There from the start, unafraid to take risks to bring a story to people and now quite horrifyingly meeting this end.

His mother says he's not an instrument of U.S. foreign policy, nothing to do with Washington decision to bomb ISIS targets here in northern Iraq. And she goes on to add she could never have been prouder of her son.

ROMANS: Just 40 years old. One of five children. We certainly send our condolences to the Foley family.

Thanks for that report -- Nick.

Twitter is taking down graphic images showing the beheading of the journalist. The CEO Dick Costolo tweeted this morning that Twitter is actively suspending accounts as they discover them.

And as Nick Paton Walsh has reported, social media has been part of the, quote, "vanguard of fear," as Nick puts it, for the publicity machine behind ISIS.

Time for a quick check of the market this morning. European stocks are down right now. And Asian stocks ending their day mixed. Futures here pointing a little bit lower. A slight pause in what has been a pretty steady climb for stocks. The Nasdaq now at a 14-year high. The S&P 500 just a few points away from a record. And the Dow back near 17,000 driven by strong corporate earnings and very low interest rates.

The Federal Reserve will release minutes from his July meeting later today. Of course, we'll be paying close attention to any hit at a timeline to raise interest rates.

Breaking news overnight. Protests in Ferguson, Missouri, turning tense but calm. We've got the new video ahead.

Plus, severe storms flooding Phoenix. Look at these dramatic water rescues. What happened and is it over?

Indra Petersons joins us with that, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Flash floods forcing dramatic water rescues in the Phoenix area. I want you to look at this. Whoo. Rushing water outside of Phoenix. A monsoon surge trapping people in their homes Tuesday.

This person is desperately flagging rescuers and news choppers. Crews also rescued people from flooded vehicle. This woman pulled out of a van to safety. The rain, the flooding, the debris forced authorities to close or restrict traffic on nearly two dozen roads including a major freeway.

Indra Petersons has a look at your forecast.

And Indra, when that much rain comes that quickly, especially out there in the desert it just rises.

(WEATHER REPORT)

ROMANS: All right. I heed your warning.

PETERSONS: All right.

ROMANS: Thank you so much, Indra Petersons.

Let's take a look at what's coming up on "NEW DAY." Kate Bolduan joins us now.

Gosh, Kate, there's just so much going on around the world.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR, NEW DAY: I know and none of it seems to be good news. That's for sure.

At this very moment, Christine, we're going to be following the very latest from Ferguson. Chris is on the ground there. Will be there for us all morning long. One I guess we can call it silver lining as that peaceful protests seems to reign last night, they did become briefly heated overnight but nothing like the nights we've seen before. We're going to look what the sparked these hostilities, though, amid all of the talks yesterday. But something's got to give and there has to be peace.

We're going to hear it from the Ferguson Police chief as well.

Plus, Attorney General Eric Holder is expected to arrive today. What will his visit accomplish? His former spokesman is going to be joining us as well as the lawyer for the Michael Brown's family, one of the attorneys representing the family. He's going to be speaking to us. What they want to hear from the attorney general himself.

And we're going to be covering that truly horrific video that was released by ISIS that appears to show the beheading of an American jourmalist. Now they're threatening the life of another American.

We're going to get the White House's reaction and also look at what effect this vicious act will have on American operations in Iraq going forward -- Christine.

ROMANS: Yes. Just so sad. Our condolences to the family of Jim Foley. Thanks so much.

BOLDUAN: I know.

ROMANS: Looking forward to you in that program.

We're following breaking news out of Ferguson like Kate did where a late-night protest over the deadly shooting of the unarmed black Michael Brown remained mostly peaceful. But tense moments following these days of chaos.

Plus, the war is back on in Gaza. Hamas and Israel launching new airstrikes. Peace negotiations failed. We're live with what's happening right now after the break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CROWD: No justice, no peace. No justice, no peace

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: The sounds of mostly peaceful protests overnight. In Ferguson, Missouri. There were arrests and some tense moments but no violence last night. Attorney General Eric Holder heads to Ferguson today. He'll be there to oversee the federal response to the shooting death of unarmed teenager Michael Brown shot to death by police. This on the same day prosecutors begin presenting evidence to a grand jury. Stay with CNN all morning for the continuing breaking coverage of the unrest in Ferguson.

Violence erupting again in Gaza, hopes for a lasting cease-fire all but shattered. Israeli airstrikes killing 14 people and wounding at least 100 more after Hamas launched dozens of rockets at Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, claiming the Israelis had opened, quote, "a gateway to hell."

Let's get the latest from Fred Pleitgen live in Gaza. Full-Blown Conflict, the peace has dissolved.

FREDERIK PLEITGEN, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely, Christine, and it certainly gives the impression that Hamas and other militant groups here in Gaza still very much have the capability to re-launch a lot of rocket towards Israel, even after that week's long conflict that they've already been through. So far the numbers that we're getting from the Israeli Defense Forces is that at least 50 rockets have been launched towards Israeli territory.

Surely those numbers by now must be outdated because we are hearing a lot of rocket launchers going on basically all the time.

Again they say 50 rockets at least have been launched towards Israeli territory. They say five of those have been intercepted by the Iron Dome Missile Defense System. Some of them, however, seemed to have impacted in urban areas. We're still trying to get reports as to how big the damage there is. But as you said so far the services here in Gaza are saying that 14 people have been killed on the ground here.

There was also apparently an assassination attempt on the head of the Qassam Brigade. The military wing of Hamas last night. His name is Mohammed Deif. So far what we're getting from Hamas is that the man's wife and daughter were killed in that incident. And we're also waiting to get more information from the Israeli Defense Forces.

But as you said, right now, it looks more like full-blown conflict than any sort o f road towards some sort of cease-fire. And it doesn't appear as though both sides at this point seem to be willing to try and talk it out and come to some sort of agreement. So it looks very, very bleak here. And I can tell you many people on the ground here in Gaza, very, very worried about the situation of what might happen in the next couple of days -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Fred Pleitgen, thanks for keeping us up to date.

Fred Pleitgen in Gaza for us this morning.

In northern California, doctors are treating a potential Ebola patient. Blood samples are being tested right now by the CDC. The patient who may have been exposed to the deadly Ebola virus is being kept in isolation at South Sacramento Medical Center.

Meanwhile researchers at the National Institutes of Health, they're pushing up human clinical trials to test a promising new Ebola vaccine. Those trials will now begin in early September.

This, as the death toll climbs in West Africa, now topping 1200 people. More than 2200 suspected or confirmed cases since the outbreak began back in December. The president of Liberia declaring a curfew, ordering security measures to quarantine some 50,000 people to stop the virus from spreading.

Other West Africa nations closing their borders as the U.N. calls for exit screenings of passengers trying to leave those countries.

Fifty-four minutes past the hour. Breaking new developments out of Ferguson, Missouri, ahead. But first, you may not realize this, but your paycheck is shrinking as we speak.

An EARLY START on your money, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Fifty-eight minutes past the hour. Let's get an EARLY START on your money this morning.

Stocks approaching record highs. Futures down slightly right now. But the last couple of days it seems like nothing can stop the bull market from running.

Nasdaq closing yesterday hear -- at a 14-year high. The S&P 500 just a few points away from its record. And the Dow back near 17,000, driven by strong corporate earnings and low interest rates.

Your paycheck shrinking. In the last five years, hourly wages have risen about 10 percent. But if you account for inflation, real wages have actually fallen slightly since 2009. And even this year with solid job growth, real wages haven't risen at all in about six months.

Something the Fed, Janet Yellen, at the Fed, very closely watching even as it overall economy improves.

All right. That's it from here. "NEW DAY" starts now.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Move back. You ought to get back.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking news, a peaceful night -- almost. Late-night clashes lead to 40 arrests but no tear gas. No shots fired. We're live in Ferguson after a night that counts as progress.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: On the ground, Attorney General Eric Holder arriving in Ferguson today. A grand jury also now set to take up the case. Will Officer Darren Wilson be indicted? We have the very latest.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Breaking new details. An American beheaded by ISIS and now more American hostage lives are threatened if the U.S. airstrikes do not stop.

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan, and Michaela Pereira.