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Early Start with John Berman and Zoraida Sambolin

Baltimore Curfew is Working; Searching for Survivors in Nepal; Orioles-White Sox Game Today Closed to Public. Aired 5-5:30a ET

Aired April 29, 2015 - 05:00   ET

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

[05:00:08] CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: Happening now: calm in the streets of Baltimore following a mostly peaceful night of protests. Police used smoke canister and pepper pellets to keep those crowds in line. A striking difference from Monday's all out riots.

Good morning and welcome to EARLY START. I'm Christine Romans in the studio here in New York.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: And I'm John Berman, live in Baltimore this morning. It's Wednesday, April 29th. It is 5:00 a.m. in the East.

And breaking just now, the curfew here is over. It ended at 5:00 a.m., a curfew enforced by Baltimore City Police, Maryland State Police and also the National Guard.

The National Guard standing by behind me here, at Baltimore City Hall, right here, which is a strange sight for a lot of people to see when you see heavily armed National Guard troops protecting our city halls across this country, is an unusual thing. But it's part of the state of emergency now in place here in this city.

The curfew began here at 10:00 last night. And after it began, there was a moment tension, fairly extreme tension. A standoff, you can see it right here between police and protesters, the police doing a step and drag, moving the protesters away.

This confrontation, you can see it only ended after police fired smoke canisters, also pepper pellets. You can see some of the demonstrators here throwing smoke canisters back toward the police. But whatever the police did, it did seem to work. That area, which is the intersection of Pennsylvania Avenue and North a few miles from where I'm standing had cleared out. There's another picture of a few hours after that is pretty much empty all night. The streets here pretty much empty all night.

And as Baltimore begins to come back to life today, we will see how this increased presence, how it affects things here on the streets.

I want to bring in CNN's Athena Jones who has been here for so many days now in Baltimore.

And, Athena, we did see arrests last night, about ten, a small handful of arrests. You did see a confrontation there. But it was quick, it was brief. It is a very different situation, it does seem now than what it was just 48 hours ago.

ATHENA JONES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Absolutely. On Monday afternoon into Monday evening, we're about talking hours of unrest, violence. Frankly, a very dangerous situation.

This was a brief standoff that was able to be brought under control. And so, the police commissioner feels that the curfew was a success. Let's listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

ANTHONY BATTS, BALTIMORE POLICE COMMISSIONER: After curfew went up, we've had about ten total arrests. We're getting reports from organizations that we do not have a whole lot of activity or movement throughout the city as a whole. So, the curfew is in fact working, as the mayor had called.

One of the interesting things today that I just kind of happen (INAUDIBLE) while answering the question, is that as I exited the building to go to a meeting today, we have pretty close to about 12 or 15 young adults waiting in line to become police officers at the Baltimore Police Department.

In light of the activities, I asked them are you still willing and able and wanting. They very much enthusiastic and excited about becoming members of the Baltimore Police Department which says a lot.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

JONES: Interesting to here Commissioner Batts talk about young people wanting to join the Baltimore Police Department with what we've seen over the last several days. But as you mentioned, the police have a wide range of discussion when it comes to enforcing the curfew. So, there were a few arrests, 10 or 11, most of those were for violating the curfew, a couple for disorderly conduct, looting. One for brandishing a weapon.

But all in all, it was a much calmer situation, that certainly helped by the 2,000 National Guard troops and the thousands of police officers from Maryland and other states.

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: That area where we saw the confrontation last night of Pennsylvania north, I understand the National Guard actually will be there tonight. They think that's a little bit of a flash point there. I think most of the people involved in the confrontation last night were Baltimore City police. Tonight, they're going to be reinforced by the National Guard. Just because they want to keep that area calm, that area where there is tension.

Now, the young people -- you keep mentioning the young people here -- and they were part, they were the instigators in some way of these demonstrations that turned violent on Monday. They will be back in school today. JONES: That's right. They were. That's where it all began on Monday

afternoon. And now, yesterday, they closed the schools. Today, Baltimore public schools will reopen.

The CEO of the school system sent that notice out. They'll have activities. Principals and teachers are planning to try to teach the kids, help them learn about these events of recent days, especially on Monday. There'll be counselors on hand.

There will be consequences when they can identify the students who took part in the violence. But the whole idea is to move past this and talk in a way that will honor Freddie Gray.

The CEO of Baltimore schools as encouraged parents to talk with their children about how to express themselves in positive ways. And we're hearing a lot about folks we talked to.

[05:05:00] You know, they say violence is not the answer. It's not what the Gray family wants. It won't bring justice for Freddie Gray. And that, frankly, when's there violence and rioting on the streets, you know, people don't hear the message.

BERMAN: No, they don't hear the message. You know, I heard kids talking about Freddie Gray. That's what they want to discuss and they know as you say, Athena, when there are things happening here on the streets, when they arise, when there's violence. That discussion just isn't happening.

Athena, thanks so much.

JONES: Thanks.

BREMAN: All right. So, among the officers patrol here in Baltimore, there were those National Guard troops, thousands of National Guard and state troopers here. They were called in a state of emergency.

Now, there was a delay in calling that state of emergency after the rioting broke out on Monday. And that delay, that period of time in between, is putting the governor and the mayor here on the defensive. The governor is a Republican, Larry Hogan, and some people are suggesting that maybe he's trying to shift some of the blame to the Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake who is a Democrat.

Rawlings-Blake, the mayor, said she faces a tough balancing act.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIPS)

GOV. LARRY HOGAN (R), MARYLAND: We were working all week and we had already prepared the National Guard, we had already called out all the assets, we had already activated the emergency command center. And when the mayor requested, we brought them in.

We did quite a bit, but we waited until the mayor asked for us to come in. We didn't think it was appropriate to come in and take over the city without the request. MAYOR STEPHANIE RAWLINGS-BLAKE (D), BALTIMORE, MARYLAND: I want to

say, just to be very clear, a lot of this started with high school kids. And we tried to have a response that was appropriate and not excessive. And that's what our parents are asking us for.

(END VIDEO CLIPS)

BERMAN: You know, it's not just about politics. This is about management. They have to manage the situation here and that means the elected officials who are politicians just need to get the job done. And that's what the discussion there is about.

Now, the president who is also an elected official, he's calling those who rioted here in Baltimore, he's calling them criminals and thugs. The White House now has the president out front and center discussing the issues here in Baltimore.

Monday when the riots first broke out it was the brand-new attorney general, Loretta Lynch, her very first day on the job who was front and center discussing things. But now the president, he was in a news conference with the Japanese prime minister. And he had some emotional statements to make about the events here in Baltimore.

CNN's Michelle Kosinski with more now from the White House -- Michelle.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hey, John and Christine.

And keep in mind, when these rioting broke out and started escalating on Monday, what we heard from the White House was a very low-key response. Not similar to what we've seen in prior police incidents after Ferguson. But 24 hours later, I mean, the president knew he was going to get a question from somebody on the subject at this press conference, and he was ready. Just let loose on how he feels about things for 14 minutes, using pretty blunt language and saying there is no excuse for violence.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Senseless violence and destruction. That is not a protest. That is not a statement. It's people -- a handful of people taking advantage of a situation for their own purposes, and they need to be treated as criminals -- criminals and thugs who tore up the place.

This has been a slow-rolling crisis. This has been going on for a long time. This is not new. And we shouldn't pretend that it's new.

If our society really wanted to solve the problem, we could, it's just it would require everybody saying this is important, this is significant. And that we don't just pay attention to these communities when a CVS burns. We're paying attention all the time because we consider those kids our kids and we think they're important, and they shouldn't be living in poverty and violence. That's how I feel. KOSINSKI: And the president in some ways didn't really hold back. I

mean, saying that in large part, what he was seeing there in Baltimore was not a protest. And not everybody was happy that he used the word "thug" either.

But when you look at the entirety of what he said, you can see clearly, he's really trying to be so diplomatic about this, cover all the basis, first wanting to clearly in strong terms call out those who are committing acts of violence, applaud the people within the community trying to stop that violence. He even said that often, they get far, far less attention than the violent people do.

He also wanted to support police officers who are doing their job properly, but also called out those who aren't. And he put this extremely diplomatically, saying that there had been too many instances of police interacting with people, primarily African- Americans, often poor, in ways that raise troubling questions. He said it seems like these things are happening now every week or every couple of weeks -- John and Christine.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Michelle Kosinski for us at the White House.

Now, Michelle just mentioned that the president wanted to mention those who are doing things right.

[05:10:04] Well, there's one person here that everybody is talking about, a mother. Her name is Toya Graham. And you no doubt seen the video of Toya Graham there slapping her son on national television after catching him participating or trying to participate in some of the Baltimore violence the other day.

Now, Toya says she did not mean to humiliate the young man. She says what she was trying to do was protect him.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

TOYA GRAHAM, BALTIMORE MOM: I could see the objects being thrown at the police. I was like in awe, like, oh, my God. You know, this is really happening right here with me. And lo and behold, I turn around and I look in this crowd and my son has actually come on across the street with his hoodie on and a mask.

At that point, I just lost it. He gave me eye contact. At that point, not even thinking about cameras or anything like that -- that's my only son. And at the end of the day, I don't want him to be a Freddie Gray.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: That's my only son, she says.

When Police Commissioner Anthony Batts saw that video of Toya slapping her only son, he said, "I wish I had more parents who took charge of their kids tonight." Well, last night, whether its was parents, or whether it was the kids themselves making the decision, they were not out in the numbers that they were. The curfew did seem to largely work. And the curfew now this morning at 5:00 a.m., Christine, has been lifted to a new day.

ROMANS: And officials there are saying that it worked. That curfew worked, getting people off the streets worked, and that the protests were mostly, mostly peaceful.

John, thanks. We'll check in with you in a few minutes.

You know, the businesses in Baltimore, some of them closed with heavy damage in that neighborhood. The day after a CVS was looted and set on fire, community members -- look at this -- they all came together to gather and clean up the mess there. Five CVS stores in the area were damaged and stayed closed on Tuesday.

Baltimore's mayor said the community fought hard, fought really hard to get a CVS at that location, and then rioters burned it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAWLINGS-BLAKE: Everybody knows we have a city with great needs. And there are many that are struggling. What happened last night made sure that more people are struggling, and that more people have needs. And those needs are going to go unmet because of what was destroyed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: A lot of clean up still do.

Violence erupting overnight in Ferguson, Missouri. At least two people were shot during demonstrations stemming from the Baltimore situation. Now, it's believed both Ferguson victims were shot by someone in the crowd. They were not shot by police. The police were target of rock throwing. Also, trash cans and a portable toilet were also set on fire. The Ferguson community still in turmoil following last summer's shooting death of Michael Brown.

We're following the very latest on the Baltimore protests all morning long. But first to Nepal, where the death toll is rising from that earthquake. Rescuers are facing new challenges, some four days after that quake.

We're live with the very latest, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[05:16:20] ROMANS: Welcome back.

Hope for finding more earthquake survivors in Nepal fading fast this morning. Search and rescue teams struggling to reach devastated villages. The official death toll now topped 5,000. Eight million people affected by this, and 1 million children desperately need help this hour.

I want to bring in CNN's Oren Liebermann. He's live from Kathmandu.

The relief aid is coming in. But you rightly point out this is a small airport, you can only have big planes there at one time.

Are they doing a better job of smoothing out logistics to get aid to this earthquake-ravaged country?

OREN LIEBERMANN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You're exactly right, Christine, there are countless challenges getting help to remote places in Nepal. It starts at the airport where it's simply not a big airport to handle all the international aid, all; the medical experts, all the doctors and supplies that are coming in. So, they're only trickling in, not coming in fast enough to help everybody at once.

The other challenge is getting to the places that needed most. Kathmandu has search and rescue teams. There are doctors helping out here. You can see behind me, this is a tent city, so there's a lot of help that still needs to come to remote areas, the small villages in rural Nepal that really need that help that are very difficult to get not only because of the terrain and the infrastructure, but also because of the weather.

It's rained here the last few days. It's forecast to rain again, maybe you can see behind me, the clouds are beginning to build up. That will only add to the challenges of getting help to the remote areas especially the ones that couple be helped with a helicopter. Now, there has been a few stories, miracle stories, people being pulled from the rubble, nearly 80, 90 hours after the earthquake. Unfortunately, the fear is those stories will be few and far in between but the death toll will keep on rising.

Let me set the scene for you here, this is a tent city in the middle of Kathmandu, one of perhaps many tent cities. People resigned to the fact that they may be here a long while as that aid slowly trickles in. Some of these people, maybe their homes were destroyed in the rubble, the rest simply don't trust their homes. They see cracks in the wall and they don't think it's a stable foundation, a livable situation. So, they're out there. There are people are handing out food and water, but not enough of it. A tremendous help effort but it's only trickling in for the people that need it the most in Nepal, in Kathmandu and in the more remote areas of the country -- Christine.

ROMANS: All right. Oren Liebermann for us there at that refugee site in Kathmandu -- thank you.

More testimony today in the penalty phase in the Dzhokhar Tsarnaev trial in Boston. The defense expected to focus again on Tsarnaev's older brother Tamerlan. A computer expert testified Tuesday about jihadist material found on Tamerlan's computer and how his wife researched martyrdom before the 2013 bombings. Jurors will decide if Dzhokhar Tsarnaev gets life in prison or the death penalty.

After hearing arguments today, the Supreme Court is now expected to issue a ruling in June that could make same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. The plaintiffs in four consolidated cases are challenging state laws that ban same-sex marriage or refuse to recognize legal marriages from other states or both. Same-sex marriage is currently legal in 37 states and Washington, D.C.

Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders making a move. The 73-year-old independent will reportedly jump into the 2016 presidential race. He's expected to launch his campaign with announcement Thursday. Sanders, a self-described socialist, plans to seek the Democratic nomination. He'll be the most liberal challenger to Democratic front- runner Hillary Clinton.

[05:20:01] Major League history will be made today at Baltimore's Camden Yards with the sound of silence. Coy Wire has the details on a Major League first on bleacher report, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: All right. It is a Major League Baseball first. Due to security concerns here in Baltimore, this afternoon's game between the Orioles and the White Sox will be closed to the public in Camden Yards. Empty seats.

Coy Wire with more on this morning. I should say, empty bleacher report.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS: Absolutely, good morning, John.

First of all, the Orioles were forced to postpone Monday and Tuesday's game because of the violence. And that pushed Major League Baseball to take that unprecedented step. As you mentioned, there will be no fans allowed at the Orioles home game against the White Sox.

That empty stadium is going to be a bit eerie. That's the first time it's happened in the history of the league. Fans will still be able to catch the game on television and radio, just not live at the ballpark. The team has also moved their weekend series against Tampa Bay out of the city. The game will be played at Rays Stadium in St. Petersburg, but the Orioles will still be designated the home team there.

And now, a lot of celebrities have shown support for the city, including former Baltimore Ravens star Ray Lewis, who's a sports legend there.

[05:25:00] His fiery speech has gone viral. The same fashion that he used to motivate his teammates on the football field, he begged people of Baltimore to stop the violence. Watch this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAY LEWIS, FORMER BALTIMORE RAVENS PLAYER: You don't have -- you don't have no right to do what you're doing to this city. Too many hard working people built this city. We put this city together. We put the city on our back. There's too many people put in real sweat, real tears to make our city a better place.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Now, John, Lewis was scheduled to be in Chicago with ESPN to work the NFL draft which starts tomorrow, but he's decided not to go. He's going to stay in Baltimore to try to help the city he loves.

And Olympic gold swimming champ -- gold medalist and Baltimore native Michael Phelps also showed report on social media for his town. He tweeted last night, "I love our city, and it's truly a great city. And I know we're better than this. We can get this together. Be more."

So, John, back to that Orioles/White Sox series, the games that were postponed on Monday and Tuesday will now be made up on May 28. There's a doubleheader. Today's game, that one disclose to the public, that will now get going 2:05 local time.

John, back to you.

BERMAN: It's going to feel so, so strange, coy. I know the public address announcer will be calling the game. He'll be announcing the players coming up to the plate to nobody sitting in the stands. It's just going to be strange.

I can't imagine -- I mean, you're an athlete, Coy -- I can't imagine being a player in a situation like that, can you?

WIRE: No, absolutely not. I mean, it's eerie as I mentioned to fathom the game, where you're used to having that support around you. And now, it's going to feel so dull, so dead. Just absolutely what's happening around the city is affecting the sports world in a great way.

BERMAN: Yes. Look, there are more important things than baseball. Police officials say they want to be able to deploy law enforcement to other places besides the stadium. That's what's driving it. Still, it is sad to see.

Coy Wire, thanks so much.

WIRE: You're welcome, John.

This morning, as we sit there, the curfew has been lifted, it is over. And according to Baltimore police, it largely worked. There were moments of some intensity right there, but a decent night. Can it continue? We'll give you the latest developments, right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)