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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin
Ferguson Trying to Heal; FBI Warns of New ISIS Threat; Report: ISIS Leader's Wife & Son in Custody; UVA Taking Action; New Hacking Warning; Janice Dickinson Speaks Out
Aired December 02, 2014 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: The White House trying to mend police/community relations in the wake of the Ferguson protests, as a new controversy erupts overnight between the St. Louis Rams and police over that "hands up" gesture on the field.
The FBI warning companies about a serious hacking threat after Sony Pictures was breached. Who authorities believed could be behind the hacking, ahead.
Stepping down. Bill Cosby parts ways with a major organization, as model Janice Dickinson sits down with CNN to speak out about the night she says the comedian sexually assaulted her.
Good morning. Welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans. John Berman has the morning off. It is Tuesday, December 2nd, 5:00 a.m. in the East.
Exactly one week after the streets of Ferguson, Missouri, erupted in rage and violence, the nation is still struggling to cope with issues of race and justice behind that unrest. Attorney General Eric Holder begun a planned series of public conversation on the subject with a speech at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Holder said he plans to announce rigorous new standards for federal law enforcement to, quote, "help end racial profiling once and for all."
Holder's remarks were interrupted by protesters chanting "no justice, no peace."
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
ROMANS: Meanwhile, the "hands up, don't shoot" gesture made by some St. Louis Rams players that offended the local police officers association and then it sparked controversy overnight. St. Louis County police officials, they characterized a call from the Rams chief operating officer as an apology. But the team said, no, no, it was not an apology. I
In a statement late Monday night, the Rams said, "We express our respect for their concerns surrounding yesterday's game," adding, "together, we are beginning a healing process that will require time, energy and honest dialogue."
With more on Monday's Ferguson aftermath, we have CNN's George Howell from Ferguson.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
GEORGE HOWELL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: There was a call from walk outs from protesters here in Ferguson, Missouri. And fair to say we saw that play out. In New York City, we saw people take to the streets in protesting for Mike Brown. In Washington, D.C., we saw the same. People surrounding the Justice Department, even blocking the streets at times.
Here in Ferguson, Missouri, it's fair to say that it was a relatively quiet day, but there were still some very serious conversations that were had by many in this community. People frustrated with the quality of life, frustrated with how they are treated by police officers, the quality of education and lack of economic opportunity.
They basically got to sound off at a meeting that was commissioned by the governor of Missouri, a meeting designed to start finding solutions to these deep-seated issues in this community.
But fair to say, Christine, there is still a great deal of outrage and frustration and when you go into the meetings, when you walk through this community and when you see the protests around the country, you get a sense that, you know, that it is still there but people are trying to work through it -- Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. George Howell for us in Ferguson -- thanks for that this morning, George.
President Obama spending almost all of Monday on Ferguson. The president holding a series of meetings on the relationship between police and the communities they serve. After speaking with cabinet members, law enforcement officials, young activists and others, the president vowed that in his remaining two years he'll make sure there is follow-through.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: What I try to describe to people is why this time will be different, and part of the reason this time will be different is because the president of the United States is deeply invested in making sure that this time is different.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The president also laid out a new plan calling for tighter controls on the militarization of police, a 21st century police task force. He wants $75 million for police officer body cameras.
Breaking overnight: there are reports that one of the wives and sons of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al Baghdadi have been detained by the Lebanese army. "Reuters" reporting they were detained at the border trying to cross from Syria into Lebanon. It's not clear what their names or nationalities are. But we're going to bring you details as they become available.
The FBI issuing its strongest warning yet that American service members maybe targeted in the U.S. by ISIS. They are urging military personnel to review their social media activity to avoid attracting extremist attention. The big concern here is that ISIS members overseas may be tracking personal information about specific U.S. soldiers like their addresses based on their social media posts.
CNN law enforcement analyst Tom Fuentes explains the danger.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: People at home take pictures during their smartphones or modern cameras, which record GPS coordinates into the picture. And so, if they post that on social media and say, here we are, welcoming our father home from Afghanistan and they're taking pictures in the home, it's telling the bad guys where they live.
(END VIDEO CLIP) ROMANS: The concern is that ISIS is gathering information overseas and then identifying homegrown lone wolf extremists in the U.S. who could help carry out attacks.
The FBI is warning U.S. businesses to be wary of hackers using malicious software -- software that can wipe out entirely computer systems. It's the same software used in a devastating breach at Sony Pictures last week. Because of that breach, some movies have become available online before their release. Investigators suspect North Korea could be involved.
University of Virginia President Teresa Sullivan on Monday confronting what she now admits a problem of sexual assault on her campus. UVA has been in an uproar since "Rolling Stone" reported two weeks ago that seven men raped a woman at fraternity in 2012.
CNN's Joe Johns has more this morning from Washington.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, though the president of the University of Virginia had been scheduled to speak to the National Press Club, she opted to give an address to the university community about the situation on campus. She posed a series of questions that she and UVA are attempting to address. More than anything, it is a summary of the discussions that have been going on since the story broke.
Questions like, does the university do everything possible to protect every student and whether they've done enough to support survivors and encourage reporting? And what's the rule of alcohol in fraternity and sorority organizations?
Sullivan also announced what sounds like the outline of an action plan and the first mostly modest steps she's taking to try to address the issue, including finding ways to reduce underage drinking and rooting out date rape drugs on campus, forcing fraternities to provide greater safety for guest as part of their agreement to operate on campus, hiring an additional trauma counselor for the women's center and putting a local police substation on campus.
Also going forward with a previously planned bi-standard training program for sexual assault. And anonymous survey in the spring to determine how often students experience sexual abuse on campus.
The university's only explanation for cancelling Sullivan's appearance at the National Press Club was that her energies were best spent focusing on the UVA community, though it was clear with the police investigation into the alleged gang rape still going on, a free wheeling exchange with the national media could come back to haunt the university and its lawyers -- Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Joe Johns in Washington this morning for that. Thank you, Joe.
Will he or won't he? Jeb Bush is talking about his plans for 2016.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEB BUSH (R), FORMER FLORIDA GOVERNOR: So, I'm thinking about running for president and I'll make up my mind in short order. You know, not that far out into the future. I don't know the exact timeline.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
ROMANS: The former Florida governor making comments on Monday in the preview of the campaign theme. Bush is calling for a more active foreign policy. Bush says his decision will hinge on whether he can, quote, "lift people's spirits and not get sucked into the vortex." Even more important, whether the sacrifice for his family is, quote, "tolerable."
Seven minutes past the hour. Time for an early start on your money.
Right now, U.S. stock futures is higher reversing course from some losses yesterday. Those losses yesterday, the Dow lost 51 points, S&P and NASDAQ closed lower.
The freefall in oil prices have stalled here. The price for a barrel of crude climbed 5 percent making up some of the steep losses since OPEC decision not to cut output last week. Crude oil is down 35 percent from the peak this summer.
You may think rising oil prices is a bad thing, right? Low fuel costs is good for consumers. But plunging prices can be bad sign for the global economy. Because so many countries depend on oil revenue, low prices can create major instability worldwide. So, no question these low oil prices have been a real boon for consumers, but really causing some international concerns, especially for oil producers who rely on that money to run their countries.
All right. I want to get to Indra Petersons this morning. She's got an early start on your forecast this Tuesday.
Hi, Indra.
INDRA PETERSONS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: I think you probably what we're expecting today. You can feel it when you walk outside. We need a snazzy name for this, the big drop. That's what it feels like today in the Northeast. Look at the temperature difference we are expecting to see today from just yesterday, about a 30-degree drop. Yesterday, 70s in D.C., yes, hardly the case today. We are actually looking for 40s.
Another way to look at it, look at the temperatures right now. Places like D.C. currently about 41. New York City currently 37 degrees currently. This is the current temperature.
Let's show you what we expect for the afternoon. It's actually going to get cooler in through D.C. and barely warm up out to New York city. The cold air is still funneling in through the day. It is a bit chilly out there, definitely below normal. Of course, what is coming our way? Rain, sleet and snow.
You can see it is making its way to Philadelphia right now. You see the flurries pushing on in. The easy way to define the line here, snow the further you are, towards New England, you'll be seeing that kind of a wintry mix. You're going to see some rain. You're going to see some sleet, some snow, back to sleet.
Out towards the mid-Atlantic and down to the south, you will talk about rain since it is warmer down there. Otherwise, here we go. It's kind of that roller coaster. Still looking at the trend in New York City. Yes, it's cool today, you warm up tomorrow, but it cools off after that.
The big story still remain out west. A look at the low combined with the moisture, heavy rain. Today is the biggest day event, where we're looking for flooding concerns. They need the rain, horrible drought conditions. Still a lot.
ROMANS: They need the rain, but there's a lot too quickly.
All right. Thank you for that, Indra.
A fresh round of protests in Hong Kong and now the stakes are getting higher. The protest leaders are urging demonstrators on with a new message.
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ROMANS: Breaking overnight: al Shabaab militants claiming responsibility for killing at least 36 people in Kenya. The victims bodies found in a quarry in a Kenyan village of Kormey, bordering Somalia. A CNN affiliate tells us at least 20 gunmen targeted a group of workers at that site. We're told now the Red Cross is working to secure the area and help any victims they find.
In Hong Kong this morning, teenager protest leader Joshua Wong has began a hunger strike. He is demanding talks with the government over the future of democracy there. Even Wong admits it is a desperate measure. After two months camping out in the streets, pro-democracy protesters are growing weary and in-fighting has begun to fray the movement.
Senior international correspondent Ivan Watson is live in Hong Kong this morning for us with the latest.
Ivan, what are the protesters looking for here?
IVAN WATSON, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, what they say they want is more democratic reform. They want the 2017 elections in Hong Kong to be held in a more democratic fashion.
Now, as you mentioned, taking a very desperate approach to try to put pressure on the government which is housed in the building over here after they failed to try to blockade that building Sunday night and Monday morning. That 17-year-old leader Joshua Wong announcing that he is on a hunger strike now. It's a little bit more than 18 hours. He's only going to be drinking water.
Two other teenage female student activists joining him on this strike. I spoke to him a few hours ago. Take a listen to what he had to say.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JOSHUA WONG, PROTEST LEADER: It's the only way to get the government to speak with us. We hope to solve the problem and to raise general awareness on the issue.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WATSON: Now, Christine, it's important to note that also within the last few hours, one of the key protest groups, the founders of the Occupy Central Movement, they came out and they publicly urged the students who make up the bulk of people who have been holding this two-month long sit-in, they urge them to go home, to end the sit-in and continue their struggle for democracy using other methods.
That young man, Joshua Wong said he will not be going home soon. We are getting splintering within the protest movement, two months on.
All right. Thanks so much for that, Ivan.
Sixteen minutes after the hour. Another casualty of the scandal engulfing Bill Cosby is his long relationship with Temple University. The comedian has resigned from Temple's board of trustees. That's a position he held for 32 years.
Meantime, one of Cosby's accusers, former supermodel Janice Dickinson sat down with CNN's Fredricka Whitfield and took on his lawyers that she is a liar. She says proof and her words show her story about something that claims happened in 1982 is a fabricated lie. Dickinson tells Fredricka that in 1982, she was too frightened to come forward.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, former supermodel Janice Dickinson says hearing the other accounts from other women about alleged sexual assaults by TV mogul Bill Cosby was empowering and encouraging. Thirty years ago, she says she was too afraid to press charges. Now afraid no more, especially after hearing Cosby's attorney Martin Singer call her story a fabricated lie.
JANICE DICKINSON, FORMER SUPERMODEL: That slander right there. These attorneys weren't with me at the time. I have proof from Polaroids and I have proof from what I wrote down. And I can -- I can back this up 100 percent, you know, on the hands of my children's heads, I'm not lying.
WHITFIELD: How do you prove that? How do you prove that when it's your word against his?
DICKINSON: I should have gone to the police. Once again, I was embarrassed and disgusted. I was afraid for my career. So, I moved out.
How do I prove it? Put me on a lie detector test, OK? Put me on a government lie detector test. Someone's going to be in big trouble for calling me a liar.
Bill Cosby, you know the truth. Bill Cosby, you were there.
Bill Cosby -- put a lie detector test on Bill Cosby. I do not know. This has affected me in my house.
(CRYING)
It has really affected these women. I'm strong and I'm going to stand on my own two feet and I'm going to tell me side of the story. And it's not going to end here.
WHITFIELD: Dickinson tells me it is too late to press criminal charges against Bill Cosby, she is exploring other legal options -- Christine.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
ROMANS: All right. Fredricka, thank you for that. I mean, you can see the full interview for yourself with Janice Dickinson on CNN.com.
New controversy this morning over the St. Louis Rams hands gesture on the football field. The situation after Ferguson is so tense, even the word "apology" is loaded. Laura Rutledge has the details in the "Bleacher Report", next.
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ROMANS: The NFL this morning says it will not punish the St. Louis Rams players who made the hands up don't shoot gesture on Sunday on the field before their game.
Laura Rutledge has more for us this morning in the "Bleacher Report". LAURA RUTLEDGE, CNN SPORTS: Hey, Christine. And yes, the NFL is
standing by the Rams telling the St. Louis Police Officers Association who demanded a public apology and punishment for the five Rams players, it's not going to happen.
The NFL did release a statement saying they respect and understand the concerns for all individuals who expressed views, but it looks like the league wants no part of the controversy. Coach Jeff Fisher and two players involved in a pre-game gesture summed up their thoughts.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JEFF FISHER, RAMS HEAD COACH: They're exercising their right to free speech. They will not be disciplined by the club nor will they be disciplined by the National Football League.
KENNY BRITT, RAMS WIDE RECEIVER: I'm not here for the police. I'm here for the cause that could come out of this if people come together.
JARED COOK, RAMS TIGHT END: It's kind of dangerous down there. No one don't want to get caught up on anything. So, we want to show our respect to the protests and people who have been doing a heck of a job around the world.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
RUTLEDGE: Yesterday, members of the Rams front office met with the police officer as association calling it a positive discussion. The Rams say they plan to honor police at a future game.
A neuro pathologist will examine the Ohio State athlete, Kosta Karageorge. Karageorge was found dead of apparent suicide and had history of concussions. This type of investigation is not normally part of the autopsy process, but it will be done on Karageorge because of his history.
The reining Heisman trophy winner Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston is set for the student conduct hearing. Winston e faces four violations of the code due to alleged sexual assault of a female student back in December 2012. This hearing has been postponed twice. Falls four days before the Seminoles play in the ACC championship game.
Adrian Peterson will have his appeal hearing before an independent arbitrator this morning. Peterson and the NFLPA is appealing the league's decision to suspend him without pay for at least the rest of this NFL season. Peterson was suspended for violating the NFL personal conduct policy with abusive discipline on his 4-year-old son last Monday. He will not be considered for reinstatement before April 15th, 2015.
Monday night football, the Jets and Dolphins game was in a word ugly. Dolphins could not get much going early, but rallied in the fourth with this Lamar Miller touchdown run. Geno Smith started for the Jets over Mike Vick. He looked like Geno Smith. With a late interception, Dolphins win, 16-13.
And, Christine, they keep their wild card hopes alive.
ROMANS: Thanks, Laura.
Twenty-five minutes past the hour. President Obama and Attorney General Holder taking steps to prevent racial profiling in the aftermath of the Ferguson outrage and those protests. What they propose, next.
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