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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Ferguson in Focus; U.S. Couple Held in Qatar; Cyber Monday Boom

Aired December 01, 2014 - 04:00   ET

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

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Ferguson in focus. The president will hold key meeting today about the anger and unrest in Ferguson following the grand jury decision on Officer Darren Wilson. So, how can the country move forward on such a divisive issue?

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: A U.S. couple barred from leaving Qatar, even though a court cleared them in the death of their adoptive daughter. Why aren't they being allowed to leave the country and what is the U.S. doing about it?

BERMAN: And brace yourselves. It is Cyber Monday, the biggest online shopping day of the year. What you need to know before cracking open the laptop and breaking out your credit card. That's ahead.

ROMANS: I'll tell you what you need to know. If you can't pay for it by January, don't buy it today.

BERMAN: Sage advice.

Good morning, everyone. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm John Berman.

ROMANS: And I'm Christine Romans. It is Monday, December 1st, everybody. Four a.m. in the East.

The Obama administration focusing on Ferguson and its aftermath. The president devoting his day to this issue, holding a series of meetings with local law enforcement, young civil rights leaders, elected officials and faith leaders. Now, these meetings will cover everything from federal programs that provide military equipment to local police to building trust between law officers and the communities they police.

The Attorney General Eric Holder heads to Atlanta today. He has the same mission. He kicks off a series of nationwide public conversations, set off with a meeting and a speech today at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

BERMAN: Now, the conversation of Ferguson has now extended to the football field. Five members of the St. Louis Rams, they raised their hands, they took the field against the Oakland Raiders in a hands up, don't shoot gesture that has become so symbolic in the Ferguson protests. The St. Louis Police Officers Association criticized the players for doing this. In Ferguson itself, the streets remained relatively quiet following

the resignation of Officer Darren Wilson, and that city's announcement of plans to increase minority representation on its police force.

CNN's Ed Lavandera is in Ferguson with more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: John and Christine, the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, have quieted dramatically in the last weeks since the riots and the violence of one week ago. But Darren Wilson is no longer a member of the Ferguson Police Department. He turned in his resignation over the weekend. The mayor of the city accepted it, and it's also said that there will be no severance package or payments made out to Darren Wilson.

The mayor also focused on Sunday talking about bridging the gap between the African-American community here in Ferguson and its police department, also announcing a series of steps and incentives to bring more African-American police officers to the police force.

But the mayor here sounding squarely like he wants to focus on the future and turning this page on this bad time.

MAYOR JAMES KNOWLES III, FERGUSON, MISSOURI: I think it's best that at this point, we continue to move on as a community. Officer Wilson and his family has moved on. And at this point, the city of Ferguson is looking to -- you know, again, talk about how we can bring this community together.

LAVANDERA: And, John and Christine, really the focus also is on getting businesses that have been shutdown over the course of the last week back up and running. What is interesting is you look up and down many streets here in Ferguson, stores that have had to board up, just kind of organically, people have started painting these boarded up windows, kind of the symbols that have been left behind after such a terrible week -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Ed Lavandera, thanks for that.

Now, activists are calling for a nationwide walk-out by workers and students today, in solidarity with Ferguson and other communities affected by police violence. The group Ferguson Action is urging people to walk off their jobs or leave class at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time.

BERMAN: After nearly two years jailed in Qatar, an American couple's hope for freedom is raised and then shattered. Matthew and Grace Huang were convicted of starving their adopted daughter to death in 2013 and they were sentenced to three years in prison. On Sunday, an appeals judge set the couple free, but when they got to the airport in Doha, immigration officials blocked them from boarding their plane. Matthew Huang told CNN International there is a new warrant for their arrests on unknown charges. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW HUANG, TRAPPED IN QATAR: We are tired of the process that seems like it will never end. The court process was long and tedious and never until today's ruling did we hear truth from any justice, anyone involved in the court process. And now again, we are finding ourselves stuck and waiting while we were promised we would be really allowed to go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Secretary of State John Kerry is speaking out on the flight, praising the appeal's court decision, that was to release them, and saying it is now time for them to return home.

ROMANS: So, how far can you go in a Facebook or Twitter post? It may be decided in a case before the Supreme Court this morning. Anthony Elonis is hoping to get his conviction for threatening his soon-to-be ex-wife overturned. Now, he posted graphically violent rap lyrics about his wife on Facebook, and he was sentenced to 44 months in prison. Now, he claims those posts were artistic, cathartic, free speech. So far, he had lost his appeal.

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg says she will be back on the bench this morning following last week's heart surgery, by the way.

We are following breaking news in Nigeria this morning. There are reports of gun battles and explosions in the Nigerian city of Damaturu. Government TV reports that Boko Haram launching an attack and that there is intense fighting. All of this happening right now. We're going to keep you updated as we learn more this morning.

BERMAN: All right. Let's turn now to the battle against ISIS. The U.S.-led coalition is refocusing its fire on the Islamic terror group's de facto capital in Raqqa. A London-based human rights group says more than 30 U.S. airstrikes hit Raqqa overnight. Now, lately, the coalition's main target has been the area around Kobani, that is on the Turkish-Syrian border.

While that's going on, in Afghanistan, the Taliban is stepping up its pressure on the capital. The police chief of Kabul resigned, following days of deadly attacks by the Taliban. The chief did not give a reason for stepping down.

I want to start with what's going on in the fight against ISIS.

Senior international correspondent Nic Robertson live in London with more.

Good morning, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Good morning, John.

Look, a lot of the fight -- attention on the campaign, international campaign against ISIS has been focused on Kobani. It's a border town with Turkey and it's been very visible from across the border. We have seen the air strikes impacting. Kurdish fighters have gone in there to help support the town's people in their fight against ISIS.

But the real heart of ISIS in Syria is Raqqa, a town that they took control over almost two years ago, their de facto capital. They had beheadings on the streets, executions by other means on the streets. It's where effectively the government is. The Islamic courts are there. Their administration is there. Some of their sort of bigger or more secure jail systems were believed to be there.

So, going after Raqqa, which is what it appears the coalition is doing according to the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights is really going to the heart of the ISIS problem. How effective is it going to be? Has their leadership already scattered in advance of the coalition campaign? That's not clear.

But that is where Raqqa has made its capital, made a big stance. Any attack there is going to have a significant impact on it, John.

BERMAN: Let's shift focus right now to Afghanistan, Nic. There is new leadership in place in that country. There also seems to be a new surge of violence created by the Taliban.

ROBINSON: Yes, you have this new leadership. President Ghani and his deputy, Dr. Abdullah Abdullah, both going to Brussels today to meet with NATO officials. NATO applauding the parliament there in Afghanistan last week, that passed a massively popular vote in support of bilateral agreements with the United States and agreements with NATO to continue to support Afghanistan as it transitions to running its own security at the beginning of next year. Out of 102 parliamentarians, only seven voted against it. There's popular support on the streets as well for international support to keep bolstering, it's called Operation Resolute. To keep bolstering the Afghan security forces next year.

But the reality is the Taliban is trying to match that. Two significant attacks in Kabul over the weekend, killing five people in an attack on the British diplomatic convoy. One of them a British security worker, aide workers killed, and a base that was just handed over to Afghan forces by British forces in Helmand, a massive base. That attack by the Taliban. They are sending an international and domestic message, John.

BERMAN: Indeed. Symbolic, to say the least. Probably more than symbolic.

Nic Robertson for us in London, thanks so much.

New concern this morning about sports-related concussions after the body of missing Ohio State player Kosta Karageorge was discovered on Sunday. He was found in a dumpster with a hand gun nearby. Police say it appears Karageorge died from a self inflicted gunshot. His parents say he's several concussions and confusion spells and complained of the symptoms before he disappeared following practice last Wednesday. In a statement, the Ohio State athletic official said they were

shocked and saddened by his death. His teammates say he will be missed.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOE RAMSTETTER, OSU FOOTBALL TEAMMATE: Everyone loved being around. He had the great stories, always laughing. You get to sit down on the couch next to Kosa, you will walk away remembering. A great guy, always had a big heart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: His body was identified through tattoos.

ROMANS: All right. Nine minutes past the hour. Time for an update on Cyber Monday, everybody.

It's the biggest online shopping day of the year, entirely made up by the industry to get you to spend money that you have in your pocket. Expected to be bigger today, by the way. In the United States, online sales are expected to reach a record of $2.6 billion. That would be 15 percent increase from last year. Remember, three or four years ago, this didn't exist as a holiday, but the industry knows how you love to spend your money, so they're trying to get you to spend more. About 127 million people expected to shop online today.

One noticeable difference this year, Cyber Monday is no longer a one- day event. Amazon is calling it Cyber Monday deals week, Berman. It lasts eight days. Target is pushing cyber week. Best Buy dropped the whole time line altogether, just offering cyber saving.

It's part of the push for more convenient deal shopping. More reasons for you to spend money, hopefully money you have, not money that you're putting on a credit card. And make sure these gifts arrive by Christmas.

Stocks looking weak, by the way, despite all the spending. U.S. stock futures, taking a quick look right now. They are lower. Stocks around the world are lower.

You know why? Oil prices are plunging. This is a huge business story. These oil prices down to $64 a barrel, potentially destabilizing when you have oil prices move so quickly from $107 a barrel this summer to $64 now. So, watch this space.

BERMAN: Just to back up to Cyber Money. Are you telling me it's not a real holiday?

ROMANS: Cyber Monday is not a real holiday. Cyber Monday made up by industry marketers who want you to spend money. John, come on. 2009, it did not exist. How did we live without it?

BERMAN: I don't know, I don't know.

Eleven minutes after the hour right now. New clashes erupting in Hong Kong. Some of the worst unrest in the

two months of demonstrations. We're going to go live there with what sparked this latest round of violence.

ROMANS: And growing anger after a Facebook post about the Obama daughters goes viral. Should a Republican staffer lose her job over the comments she made online?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Violence escalated overnight with police and pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong. The two sides clashing this morning at the main protest site in the city's Admiralty District. Police tearing down tents and barricades. Protesters surrounding government headquarters and charge on a main east/west avenue nearby.

Our senior international correspondent Ivan Watson is there for us. He is live this morning in Hong Kong with the latest.

Good morning, Ivan.

Bring us up to speed about, I guess, a new tenor, a new turn in these protests.

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Christine.

We were here before dawn this morning and there was certainly clashes taking place. The demonstrators tried to occupy new territory. They tried to block off the entrance to the government headquarters here in an effort to kind of, as their leaders put it, paralyze the government, to try to get more concessions out of it for what they say are their democratic demands.

Well, the police after being pushed back a little bit, after about an hour or two, they really came back swinging batons, using pepper spray, and clearing the area. I can happily report that right now, the scene is peaceful here at the main protest encampment.

This has been really a tent city that sprang up more than two months ago as a result of this dispute over how the future elections will be held in Hong Kong and as we have seen over the past 24 hours, the police, the government are not going to tolerate the protesters trying to occupy fresh territory, but they don't seem to be making any move whatsoever against this sprawling tent city, which again, has been in place here for more than two months.

So, this test of wills, this marathon sit-in continues -- Christine.

ROMANS: Marathon sit-in. Indeed.

All right. Ivan Watson, thanks for that in Hong Kong this morning.

BERMAN: Lawmakers head back to Capitol Hill today. And they face a jam-packed agenda. They only have until December 11th to pass a government funding bill. Republicans angry at President Obama's plan to reform immigration through executive action. But the key question is, will they shut down the government to stop it? So, stay tuned. That's one of the big things we'll be watching this week.

On the Democratic side, outgoing Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is pinning some of the blame for Democratic losses in November on President Obama. He says the president, quote, "wasn't very good about delivering a clear, concise message."

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DEVAL PATRICK (D), OUTGOING MASSACHUSETTS GOVERNOR: Election Day was a good day for Republicans, a great day for Citizens United, and a bad day for Democrats who don't stand for anything. And when Democrats do stand for something, or as I have said in the past, grow a backbone and stand up for what it is we believe, we win.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Governor Patrick told NBC's "Meet the Press" that he thinks Hillary Clinton would be, in his words, a terrific candidate for president. He adds that he himself will not be running in 2016.

ROMANS: There are growing calls this morning for Republican congressional staffer to resign. Elizabeth Lauten has apologized for taking a dig at the president's daughters on Facebook. She's the communications director for Congressman Steven Fincher of Tennessee. She criticized how Sasha and Malia Obama for how they carried themselves during the president's Turkey pardoning event last week, saying, quote, "try showing a little class" and, quote, "dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at a bar and certainly don't make faces during televised public events."

Host of CNN's "RELIABLE SOURCES", Brian Stelter, looks at why the story has received so much attention.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BRIAN STELTER, CNN HOST, RELIABLE SOURCES: I think the story has gained traction because historically, the first daughters and sons of presidents have for lack of a better word have been off limits. You know, politicians and the media can criticize and scrutinize the adults all they want, but there's been a general sort of sense that people don't go after the children of those presidents. I think that's probably why this has gotten so much attention.

You know, it's interesting that this woman is a communications director. She works with the media. She speaks to the press and public for Tennessee Congressman Steve Fincher. Yet, now, she is in the PR nightmare, I would say.

It all started because of her Facebook post, as you said, on Thanksgiving. This was something that she posted in relative obscurity. It was barely noticed until a reporter at the African- American web site "The Root" noticed it. That got a lot of attention. That caused it to go viral, and now, there has been calls for her to be fired. I'm not sure that will actually happen. We haven't heard from the congressman about this over the weekend. They may be trying to wait and see if it blows over.

But it really gets to the point I was making about how the children of presidents have historically been off limits. That was true for George W. Bush. That was true for Bill Clinton and all into the past as well. It's one thing to criticize the president and say as she did, your mother and father don't respect their positions very much for the nations for that matter.

But it's another thing to address them directly and say, try showing a little class. That's what created so much outrage in the case. And that's why I think people are waiting to see what the congressman is going to say.

Back to you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROMANS: Thanks, Brian.

One thing I'm struck by this, it was at a turkey pardoning ceremony. If anything deserves class, it's --

BERMAN: It's pardoning a turkey.

Look, a lot of people remarked at the expression of the girls' faces during the event, which I think is fair game. You know, everyone had fun at the back, and they didn't look like they were happy to be there, neither the turkeys, by the way. When you start talking about what they were wearing, I think it crosses the line.

ROMANS: Brian, thank you.

You know, you can go to Facebook.com/EarlyStart and tell us what you think about that story. You can tweet us @earlystart as well.

BERMAN: We have a shocking story to tell you about out of Georgia. A father accused of hiding his son behind a wall for four years. How he was finally found and emotional reunion with his mother, next.

ROMANS: And Janay Rice breaking her silence. What she says about the night her husband, former Baltimore Raven Ray Rice knocked her unconscious. That night has set off a national conversation about domestic violence.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: The World Health Organization announcing it has not reached its goal in the fight against the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The group wanted to isolate 70 percent of the sick and bury 70 percent of the dead by today in the heart of countries of Liberia, Sierra Leone and Guinea. Now, Guinea is on track to reach that target, today's target. BERMAN: The father and stepmother accused of hiding a 13-year-old boy behind a wall in their Georgia home will remain in jail. A judge denied bond for a Gregory Jean and Samantha Joy Davis after they were charged for false imprisonment and cruelty to children when the boy was found over the weekend behind a wall camouflaged with towels. Gregory Jr. was reunited with his mother after he had been reported missing four years ago.

ROMANS: Ray Rice and his wife Janay are speaking publicly for the first time since the former Baltimore Ravens running back was suspended indefinitely for assaulting his then-fiancee in a hotel elevator. In the NBC "Today" show interview, Janay talked about her feelings immediately after that incident.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JANAY RICE, RAY RICE'S WIFE: I was furious. We came home and we didn't talk the entire ride. I didn't speak to him the entire ride home.

He tried to talk to me. I didn't want to hear anything. I just knew he hit me and I was completely over it. I was done. I didn't want to hear anything. I just didn't want to entertain him, anything that he has to say, any explanation. Of course, in the back of my mind and in my heart, I know that our relationship would not be over because I know that this isn't us and it's not him.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: In a separate interview, Janay told ESPN the two have been attended counseling and they are more committed and they are stronger since the incident. Ray Rice won an appeal of his NFL suspension. He has been reinstated. He's now free to sign with any team, any team who will have him.

BERMAN: It will be interesting to see if any team takes that risk.

Those flying home from the holiday weekend, they faced a huge round of travel woes. Thousands of flights delayed, hundreds canceled on what is actually the busiest travel day of the year, that's the Sunday after Thanksgiving. The security line at Chicago Midway International Airport was reportedly over a mile long. Is that even possible?

ROMANS: One-point-two miles. Actually probably is. Midway is huge.

BERMAN: That is crazy. Nearly 15 million people were expected to travel 15 miles or more for Thanksgiving, marking the highest volume since 2007. A mile long.

ROMANS: If you are watching from an airport lounge trying to find your way, good luck.

BERMAN: Goodwill toward men.

ROMANS: All right. Much more ahead, including President Obama's big day focusing on Ferguson and the violent aftermath of the grand jury's decision. We've got that for you, ahead.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALES (singing): Let us march on to victory.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)