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Two Nights of Chaos in Benton Harbor, Michigan
Aired June 18, 2003 - 14:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We turn now to Benton Harbor, Michigan, a town hung over from two nights of riots marked by savage beatings, shootings, arson and violent attacks on police and firefighters. All of that sparked by a police chase and the death of an out-of-control biker.
CNN's Jeff Flock in Benton Harbor, where a state of emergency has been declared.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in Benton Harbor, Michigan, they are trying to cool the situation, both literally and figuratively. Perhaps you see, this is a firefighter, Engine Company No. 54, dumping water -- continuing to dump water.
Now a second trip out here to the scene of one of the house fires, this is, as we've said, one of several fires that burned out of control last night. Firefighters not really able to get back in here to help put these fires out, because of what the police chief called a "riot situation."
Let's take you back to the pictures from last night where the flames were hot. Local residents marching into the streets, setting fires, beatings took place. This all after the night before a motorcyclist had been pursued by police in a police chase. The motorcyclist crashed his vehicle and was killed.
The local residents we talked to said that it is a climate in this town where they feel that they don't get from the local police, the state patrol, respect and the kind of services and help that they need in this town and the respect that they need. One of the local pastors telling us it has been a situation that has been simmering for some time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need help in this community. We have a poor, dying community that needs help, and there's a cry of frustration when you see the riots. That was a cry of frustration. It's not the proper response. That's not what we want our community to be known for. We have law-abiding citizens here. We have pastors here. We have people here that care about their community, care about their children. At the same time, we have a community whereas it seems to be running wild now. We need some help.
FLOCK: The question then becomes: What is going to happen tonight? I stand in front of Engine No. 53 from the Benton Harbor Fire Department. Perhaps you see what happened to it last night. If, indeed, there are more fires tonight, firefighters are going to be very reluctant to go down in the middle of any kind of a riot situation and attempt to put fires out. That was part of the problem that happened last night. They just didn't want to go down and get in the middle of it.
This engine obviously did get in the middle of it. Many people were hurt, a lot of problems. There will be a much greater police presence on the streets tonight in Benton Harbor, and we will just have to watch it to see how it all comes out.
I'm Jeff Flock, CNN, in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
Aired June 18, 2003 - 14:03 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: We turn now to Benton Harbor, Michigan, a town hung over from two nights of riots marked by savage beatings, shootings, arson and violent attacks on police and firefighters. All of that sparked by a police chase and the death of an out-of-control biker.
CNN's Jeff Flock in Benton Harbor, where a state of emergency has been declared.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
JEFF FLOCK, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Here in Benton Harbor, Michigan, they are trying to cool the situation, both literally and figuratively. Perhaps you see, this is a firefighter, Engine Company No. 54, dumping water -- continuing to dump water.
Now a second trip out here to the scene of one of the house fires, this is, as we've said, one of several fires that burned out of control last night. Firefighters not really able to get back in here to help put these fires out, because of what the police chief called a "riot situation."
Let's take you back to the pictures from last night where the flames were hot. Local residents marching into the streets, setting fires, beatings took place. This all after the night before a motorcyclist had been pursued by police in a police chase. The motorcyclist crashed his vehicle and was killed.
The local residents we talked to said that it is a climate in this town where they feel that they don't get from the local police, the state patrol, respect and the kind of services and help that they need in this town and the respect that they need. One of the local pastors telling us it has been a situation that has been simmering for some time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We need help in this community. We have a poor, dying community that needs help, and there's a cry of frustration when you see the riots. That was a cry of frustration. It's not the proper response. That's not what we want our community to be known for. We have law-abiding citizens here. We have pastors here. We have people here that care about their community, care about their children. At the same time, we have a community whereas it seems to be running wild now. We need some help.
FLOCK: The question then becomes: What is going to happen tonight? I stand in front of Engine No. 53 from the Benton Harbor Fire Department. Perhaps you see what happened to it last night. If, indeed, there are more fires tonight, firefighters are going to be very reluctant to go down in the middle of any kind of a riot situation and attempt to put fires out. That was part of the problem that happened last night. They just didn't want to go down and get in the middle of it.
This engine obviously did get in the middle of it. Many people were hurt, a lot of problems. There will be a much greater police presence on the streets tonight in Benton Harbor, and we will just have to watch it to see how it all comes out.
I'm Jeff Flock, CNN, in Benton Harbor, Michigan.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com.
