Return to Transcripts main page

Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

White House Holds Meetings on Ferguson; Qatar Blocks U.S. Couple's Exit; Cyber Monday Boom; New Clashes at Hong Kong Protests

Aired December 01, 2014 - 05:00   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. President Obama holds a series of big meetings today about the anger and unrest in Ferguson. That following a grand jury decision on Officer Darren Wilson. So, how can the country, how will 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 of any wrongdoing in the death of their adoptive daughter. So, why aren't they allowed to leave? And what is the U.S. doing about it?

BERMAN: It is Cyber Monday. How are you celebrating? Have you decorated the credit card or keyboard or whatever you are supposed to? We'll tell you what you need to know before you go online to shop and shop some more.

ROMANS: Decorated the keyboard. That's clever.

BERMAN: I don't know what we're supposed to do.

ROMANS: That Cyber Monday. That holiday that didn't exist a few years ago.

BERMAN: Eggnog, I know you need a lot of eggnog on Cyber Monday.

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

ROMANS: I'm Christine Romans. It is Monday, December 1st. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.

We'll begin with the big agenda in the Obama administration today -- focusing on Ferguson and its aftermath. The president devoting his entire day to this issue. He is holding a series of meetings with local law enforcement officials, with young civil rights leaders, elected officials, 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, with a meeting and a speech today at Ebenezer Baptist Church. BERMAN: The conversation of Ferguson extended to the football field.

Five members of the St. Louis Rams raised their hands as they took the field against the Oakland Raiders. That's the "hands up, don't shoot" gesture that has become such a big part of the protest in Ferguson. Now, the St. Louis Police Officers Association criticized the players for doing this action.

In Ferguson itself, the streets remained relatively quiet overnight following the resignation of Officer Darren Wilson, and that city's announcement of plans to increase minority representation on the police force there.

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: All right. 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 wants people to leave their jobs and 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 charged with starving their adopted daughter to death in 2013, convicted on a lesser charge, and 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 g tells CNN international that he and his wife are tired of the endless legal wrangling.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MATTHEW HUANG, TRAPPED IN QATAR: It has been a very difficult and tiring experience. 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 that we would be really allowed to go.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: Secretary of State John Kerry is speaking out on the Huangs' plight, praising the appeal's court decision, and saying it is now time to let these couple return home.

ROMANS: So, how far you can 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. 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, by the way, says she will be back on the bench this morning following last week's heart surgery.

BERMAN: The Israeli security forces shot a Palestinian woman after she allegedly stabbed a civilian attempted to stab a soldier in the West Bank. An Israel Defense Forces spokesperson says the civilian was lightly wounded. The spokesperson says the alleged attacker was taken to nearby hospital where she is listed in serious condition. We're going to keep you up-to-date on the details of the story as they continue to come in.

ROMANS: All right. Another breaking news story we are following this morning actually. There are reports of gun battles, reports of 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 about this morning.

BERMAN: Turning to the battle against ISIS. The U.S.-led coalition is refocusing its fire on the Islamic terror group's de facto capital of Raqqa. A London-based human rights group says more than 30 U.S. airstrikes hit Raqqa overnight. 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 go now to our senior international correspondent Nic Robertson live in London.

Let's start with what's going in Syria, Nic.

NIC ROBERTSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes, this is the significant development, John. The fact that the coalition is now focusing air strikes in a large part on Raqqa, 30 strikes according to this Syrian Observatory for Human Rights here in the U.K., saying 30 strikes over the weekend.

That is significant. Raqqa is the capital of ISIS. Several years ago, they made it their administrative hub. It's been a safe haven for them. This is the place they carry out street executions, beheadings, where they have their religious courts, where they have some of their prison detention facilities.

So, striking this while at the same time striking the sort of significant border town of Kobani in the north of Syria on the border with Turkey. That's something we have been able to see from across the border in Turkey. But this focus back to ISIS capital is really a strike at the heart of the organization. Reports say that some of their leaders have already shifted camp and in other areas of Syria. But it will affect continue strikes that will affect their ability to operate in the way they have been operating.

Again, this is the beginning, significant, but clearly to be effective, it would have to last and be a much longer air campaign than just one round of 30 strikes, John.

BERMAN: Nic, let's turn to Afghanistan for a moment now, because it really does seem to be surge in violence there. What's behind it?

ROBINSON: You know, the Taliban are trying to do a couple of things here at the moment. Number one, they are trying to show that they are defeating the international community here. So, this as the U.S. and NATO forces drawdown and hand over to Afghan security at the end of this year, they will keep 12,500 troops in country. That's the current plan.

So, the Taliban is trying to show that they are forcing that situation. At the same time, you have a new leadership, a new president, his deputy as well, both heading to NATO and Brussels today to firm up agreements on the sort of continued support Operation Resolution Support. It's being termed. So, the Taliban trying to strike fear, again not just the capital, all around the country into the hearts and minds of Afghans, John.

BERMAN: For us in London -- thanks so much, Nic.

ROMANS: New concern about sports-related concussions this morning after the body of missing Ohio State football player Kosta Karageorge was discovered on Sunday. He was found in a dumpster with a handgun nearby. Police say it appears Karageorge died from a self inflicted gunshot. His parents say he had several concussions and confusion spells and he complained of those 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 Kosta, you will walk away remembering. A great guy, always had a big heart.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Karageorge's body was identified through his tattoos.

BERMAN: The World Health Organization has announced it has not reached its goal, at least one of them, in the fight against the deadly Ebola outbreak in West Africa. The group had 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. Only Guinea right now is on track to reach that target.

ROMANS: All right. Ten minutes past the hour on this first trading day of December. Time for an update on Cyber Monday. The biggest online shopping day of the year. It's supposed to be bigger today. The United States online sales are expected to reach a record $2.6 billion. That will up 15 percent from last year, 127 million people expected to join in.

One notable difference this year. Cyber Monday is no longer a one-day event. Amazon is calling it Cyber Monday deals week. It lasts eight days long.

Target is pushing Cyber Week. Best Buy dropped the timeline altogether. Best Buy is just offering cyber savings.

It is part of a push for, I guess, more convenient deal shopping. Not just one day and getting them in time to arrive by Christmas.

BERMAN: The 12 days of cyber holiday. Five golden rings. Something about turtle doves --

ROMANS: Don't buy something you cannot pay off --

BERMAN: Can you get those online?

ROMANS: Turtle doves? I'm going to try. There are cyber deals for turtle doves.

BERMAN: Free shipping on turtle doves. ROMANS: They fly themselves.

Stocks are looking weak despite the spending talk and spending frenzy. U.S. stock futures are lower. Stocks around the world are lower.

Oil prices are plunging. That is the big macro story, boys and girls. Oil prices plunging. It's good for you, the consumers. But, boy, it's sending ripples to global economy.

BERMAN: It's going to be a big, big deal. Think of what that means in Iran and Russia, countries that are depending on those oil prices to stay high.

ROMANS: They have budgets that are written like $94 a barrel. It's $64 a barrel. I mean, you can't -- that's tough.

BERMAN: Eleven minutes after the hour.

Clashes -- new clashes erupting in Hong Kong between pro-democracy protesters and police. This is some of the worst unrest in months of demonstrations. We're going to go live to Hong Kong with the latest.

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: Violence has escalated overnight between police and pro- democracy protesters in Hong Kong. These two sides clashing this morning at the main protest site in the city's Admiralty District. Now, look, police tearing down tents and barricades. Protesters surrounding the government headquarters and they charged on the main east/west area nearby.

We've got our senior international correspondent Ivan Watson there live in Hong Kong right now with the very latest.

It looks a bit calmer behind you, Ivan. But you were there in the pre-dawn hours when it got really, really frenetic.

IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: That's right. It got pretty rowdy there.

And what was happening was that the demonstrators after two months of this sit-in in downtown Hong Kong, they tried to break the stalemate by setting up additional barricades and trying to occupy the main road in front of the government headquarters. Well, they succeeded in kind of out numbering police and pushing them back for a couple of hours. And then the police just came right back in, right in front of us, swinging batons and firing pepper spray and routing the students and protesters, thousands of them, within a matter of minutes, detaining dozens of them and taking apart barricades like the one behind me really in a matter of minutes. And illustrating that the Hong Kong security forces do have the strength and ability to break up these protests if there's the political will to do that. But so far, the authorities have allowed this protest encampment to

stay in place. The demonstrators say they want a more democratic system of elections for elections planned for 2017, two years from now. The government not budging on that at all.

And in the meantime, this protest encampment, according to polls, has gotten more and more unpopular for residents of Hong Kong who see this as a real inconvenience. It is blocking their way to get to and from work and errands. Recent polls show majority of Hong Kong residents want this to go -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Ivan Watson for us in Hong Kong this afternoon, this evening there. This morning here. Thank you.

BERMAN: Three days from now there? I'm confused by the time thing.

All right. Calls for a Republican congressional staffer to resign. Elizabeth Lauten who is the communications director for Congressman Steven Fincher of Tennessee apologized after taking a dig at the president's daughters on Facebook.

She criticized 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 during the turkey pardoning event." She went on, "Dress like you deserve respect, not a spot at the bar. And certainly don't make faces during televised public events."

There are a lot of people who say the first daughters should be off- limits to attack like this.

A Facebook petition has started online calling for Lauten to resign or to be fired.

We want to know what you think about this. Go to Facebook.com/earlystart. Or you can tweet us @earlystart.

ROMANS: All right. American universities are losing appeal for foreign students. In 2012, 16 percent of students looking for education abroad picked a college in the United States. That is down from 23 percent in 2000. The U.S. still attracts the most students, but it's not the obvious choice anymore. There's competition out there, the U.K., Germany, France all gaining ground.

U.S. always was the number one destination for study abroad. That might be changing.

BERMAN: I would rather come here, if anyone asks me. I'm from here anyway. So, it's not like I have to come abroad to come to the United States.

All right. Eighteen minutes after the hour.

What will the weather hold for the day? Indra Petersons is literally starting our forecast.

Good morning. INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Good morning.

ROMANS: Happy December.

PETERSONS: Wow, that's crazy, right?

Yes, definitely seeing things change. I think we felt it for a while. It feels like it has been December for so long -- thanks to all these storms that have pushed their way through. Another one is out there today, but this one generally bringing some light rain. We're talking the Northeast back down through Texas.

Some of you will be looking at snow and some freezing rain will be out there today. As far as that wintry mix, we're looking at portions of Illinois, also in through Missouri as the system makes its way through.

By tomorrow, D.C. during commute time, you could start to see some snow flakes out there. I'm not talking about a lot, but throughout the day tomorrow, kind of the wintry mix spreading into the northeast and kicking out of here. Cool air and nice shot of chilly air right behind the system. You are going to feel that change.

Now, this is not a huge storm, but you will talk about a couple of flurries. Generally, most of you seeing under an inch of snowfall. What you are going to be seeing is that huge temperature divide again. Look at Raleigh, 68. Single digits out towards Minneapolis. So, yes, the cold air is making its way in. And we're talking about a 30 degree temperature for many of us in the Northeast in just about Monday.

BERMAN: Yes, thanks for that.

ROMANS: Thanks, Indra.

All right. St. Louis Rams players using their Sunday match up against the Oakland Raiders to make a statement, a controversial statement about the events unfolding in Ferguson. Laura Rutledge has the details on that for us in "The Bleacher Report". That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Big action on the football field, but controversy as well.

Laura Rutledge has more on the "Bleacher Report".

Good morning, Laura.

ROMANS: Hi, Laura.

LAURA RUTLEDGE, BLEACHER REPORT: Good morning, John and Christine.

And yes, their game against the Raiders yesterday, several Rams showed their support for Ferguson, Missouri. It happened during pre-game introductions. Five Rams players walked on the field making the hands up don't shoot gesture that has become popular among protesters. A Rams spokesman said the team wasn't aware the five players were planning to do the gesture.

Not everyone was happy with the exhibition. The St. Louis Police Officers Association released a statement in part, saying, "The St. Louis Police Officers Association is profoundly disappointed with the members of the St. Louis Rams football team who chose to ignore the mountains of evidence released from the St. Louis County grand jury this week and engaged in the display that police officers around the nation found tasteless, offensive and inflammatory."

One of the five players who took part Stedman Bailey Jr. reacted on Twitter after the game, saying, "It's crazy that racism is still alive in this country. We are all entitled to our own opinions."

Now, what many are calling a possible Super Bowl preview, the Green Bay Packers and New England Patriots matched up yesterday. It was the first time Aaron Rodgers and Tom Brady ever faced each other, and this one went to Rodgers and the Packers. Rodgers threw two touchdowns, helping out his case to be this year's MVP. Packers win 26-21, and snapped the Patriots' seven-game win streak.

All right. Sunday night football: Chiefs and Broncos. During the game, Chiefs players wore special jerseys and KC fans held up signs, paying tribute to Chief's player Eric Berry. Berry will miss the rest of the season after doctors found a mass in his chest. The team announced last week that Barry may have lymphoma, a form of cancer. Once the game got started, the Broncos and Peyton Manning did what they do best. Broncos win their sixth straight against the Chiefs, 29-16.

And we might have seen the start of the Johnny Football era in the NFL. Johnny Manziel finally got to play a meaningful snap for the Browns after they benched Brian Hoyer in the fourth quarter of yesterday's loss to the Bills.

Let's start with good Johnny. Marching down the field and scoring on a 10-yard run, wasting no time flashing the signature money signs. And not so good Johnny. He bobbled a snap and got knocked on his back in the end zone. Not pretty.

You definitely expect some rookie mistakes from Manziel. But overall, I think he was pretty good. And looks like we might be seeing more of him.

ROMANS: I'll tell you, Laura. Every day, there's the good Johnny and bad Johnny. I deal with this constantly in the performance --

BERMAN: That's so unfair, that's just so unfair. I never bobble in the end zone.

Laura, thanks so much.

ROMANS: All right. Twenty-six minutes past the hour. 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 next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)