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Two New Orleans Hospitals Appear Unsalvageable; Emmett Till Documentary Released

Aired October 06, 2005 - 14:30   ET

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

KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, the future of two of the main hospitals serving New Orleans is in question. Charity and University Hospitals suffered extensive damage from Hurricane Katrina.
The head of Louisiana's Charity hospital system, Don Smithburg, says that the two hospitals have become dangerous places and must be torn down.

He joins us now live from our New Orleans bureau. Good to see you, Don, but not good news when it comes to Charity and University Hospital. You went on this tour today, tell us what you saw.

DON SMITHBURG, CEO, CHARITY HOSPITALS: Well, I've been in the facility numerous times since we were able to evacuate the institution. And so much of the damage is not really available to the naked eye. Mechanical systems, environmental hazards, just general destruction from the storm and the floods make the facility absolutely unusable for health care purposes.

PHILLIPS: And now, you've seen it. You've been able to see the damage for yourself, but have health experts actually gone inside the hospitals and said, absolutely this is unsalvageable?

SMITHBURG: Oh, indeed. Consulting engineers have evaluated the structural, environmental and mechanical systems and have come to the very gloomy conclusion that the facility really is not fit for health care purposes.

PHILLIPS: Now, Charity was the main trauma center for southeastern Louisiana, so how is this going to impact trauma response to the region? Obviously, there aren't as many people living in the area right now, but you've got to look towards the future. What does this mean just for medical capability in the area?

SMITHBURG: Well, one of our biggest concerns at LSU is to ensure that the health care infrastructure across the state is adequate. And right now in southern Louisiana, in particular in the New Orleans Metropolitan Area, the health care infrastructure is not anywhere near capacity capability.

And so we've been fortunate, since our trauma center is down and wore the only trauma center in the region at Charity hospital, that the Navy brought in the Comfort, the Navy hospital ship. And it is our safety net. It is the back-up, if you will, for trauma cases.

As the mayor continues to invite New Orleans residents back into the community, there will be more and more needs for health care. And so what few facilities are up very quickly are going to be saturated. So what are we going to do?

In the interim, we're working very hard to stand up temporary facilities so that by the time that the Comfort has to be redeployed to sea, we will have adequate facilities at least for the time being to help provide care to the citizens of the community.

PHILLIPS: What is it going to take to get the area, I guess, 100 percent perfect in your eyes with regard to hospital care? Obviously, a lot of money, a lot of time -- where will the money come from? I mean, what is best-case scenario? What is the reality check of what has to happen, Don, if indeed these hospitals, you know, are going to come back?

SMITHBURG: Well, for us, the realistic plan is to make application to FEMA for replacement funds for our facilities. It is our understanding that these facilities in their current condition meet the test for replacement funding. So, we're moving with great dispatch on the planning effort to replace those facilities and, in fact, we've made a fair amount of progress.

It will cost in the neighborhood of $750 million to put up new facilities to replace the Charity and University Hospitals. In the meantime, we think we can have up in place temporary facilities that will operate as a full scale hospital, albeit not in permanent buildings, that could hold us up for the next three to five years.

PHILLIPS: Where are all the patients right now? Where have they been sent to?

SMITHBURG: Well, patients from throughout the New Orleans Metropolitan Area have been dispersed, really, to states all over the south and the Midwest. Our patients were difficult to track, but once they were evacuated they became the responsibility of FEMA. But we found most of them.

But let me tell you this. So many of the evacuees to who came out of New Orleans ended up in LSU's other public hospitals -- in Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Alexandria, our North Shore hospitals -- and we've seen a real surge of patients in those institutions and we expect that the population shifts to other parts of the state that we will continue to see a much larger volume than here before we had seen in those facilities because New Orleans is down.

PHILLIPS: Well, this is a bit of a gruesome question and, no doubt a gruesome task, but I know at the basement of Charity, of course, was a morgue. Have you been able to account for those bodies? Were you able to respectfully deal with the dead that were already inside that hospital, Don?

SMITHBURG: Well, I'm frankly, Kyra, glad you asked the question the way you did because being respectful is, of course, of highest priority. We worked closely with the coroner since they were -- the coroner was heavily involved in the aftermath cleanup, if you will. I don't have the latest reports on our ability to identify those patients.

Most of them were in the morgue before Katrina, and so we had records on those. The problem we face is that all of our active medical records were destroyed by the storm. But the unavailability of medical and dental records make it difficult, but we hope to be able to notify loved ones of those family members very soon.

PHILLIPS: Well, Don, I know you've got a tough road ahead. We'll follow up with you and follow the money trail, too, $750 million. It's a lot of money, but you have got to have those hospitals. Thank you, Don.

SMITHBURG: Yes, ma'am. Thank you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well, trailer city -- it may not be sweet, but these mobile homes are home for some hurricane survivors, a lot of hurricane survivors. And some people say that the new FEMA cities are a blessing; others disagree.

Tomorrow Vice Admiral Thad Allen of the U.S. Coast Guard will visit one of these trailer towns. He's going to join us live to discuss the housing situation. As you know, he's in charge of helping FEMA get everybody out of those shelters and back into their homes in a safe way.

Well, just ahead this hour, violent home invasions in a rural southern town. The target? Hispanic farm workers. Why crimes against immigrants are on the rise.

And later, the murder of Emmett Till. One filmmaker's mission to find truth in justice decades after this vicious killing.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Police have arrested a third person, a 26-year-old woman, in connection with the deaths of six Mexican immigrants in south Georgia. Two men were arrested earlier. The six were killed in a mobile home park near Tifton, Georgia.

Susan Candiotti reports.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Six Mexican farm workers who spent their days in the fields of southern rural Georgia picking vegetables and cotton, viciously beaten, robbed and shot to death during a string of home invasions.

VERNON KEENAN, DIR., GEORGIA BUREAU OF INVESTIGATION: Of the six victims, one was shot and beaten and the remaining five were beat to death with what we believe is a ball bat and a hammer.

CANDIOTTI: The most recent attacks happened in four mobile home parks before dawn Saturday, in two neighboring counties. Four others were injured, including a woman police say was beaten and raped in front of her children. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've been in law enforcement 30 years right here in this county, and this is the worse we've ever been faced with.

CANDIOTTI: Police say the motive was money.

KEENAN: These victims were workers who kept money, small amounts of money, on themselves and in their homes. They don't speak English. They are reluctant to report crimes to the police.

CANDIOTTI: Sometimes reluctant, police say, because of bad experiences with police in their home countries. Neighbors were frightened, wondering whether they'd be next.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's really scary because, like, you never know, they might come back.

CANDIOTTI: Five days after the attacks, two men and a woman from Colquitt County were arrested and each charged with six counts of murder. Authorities say all three could be linked to at least 20 similar home invasions here, singling out Hispanics, in the past three months. With crimes among farm workers sometimes unreported, police say it's possible there could be more victims. No mug shots are being released, pending a photo line-up with witnesses.

KEENAN: The state of Georgia is appalled that this has occurred in our state.

CANDIOTTI: All the more reason, police say, with the arrests, they hope the attacks will stop. But they admit they don't know if anyone else is involved.

Susan Candiotti, CNN.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PHILLIPS: A murder that inspired a movement. A documentary that seeks justice. I'll speak with the filmmaker of the untold story of Emmett Louis Till. Keith Beauchamp joins me live, coming up next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Well, murdered at 14, remembered as a catalyst to the civil rights movement. Half a century later, Emmett Till's family is still waiting for justice. The Justice Department has reopened the case and his casket. Why? Because of a dedicated filmmaker who made it his mission to get to the truth.

Keith Beauchamp's findings are in his just-released documentary, "The Untold Story of Emmett Louis Till." Keith is here with us here in Atlanta. And it's great it finally meet you in person.

KEITH BEAUCHAMP, DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER: Thank you for having me.

PHILLIPS: How many years have we been working on this? At least three.

BEAUCHAMP: Practically grew it with you in this case. You know, it's an honor to be here, face-to-face and talk to you.

PHILLIPS: Well, how does it feel to finally have the film finished? It's going to start airing next week. Your investigation led to the Justice Department reopening this case, which, of course, has led to a number of other civil rights cases being reopened.

BEAUCHAMP: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: It's incredible.

BEAUCHAMP: It's still surreal to me. I've been through a lot through my ten-year journey trying to tell this story. And finally we're towards the end of the road to reach our goal. The case was opened last year and it's very important to keep Emmett Till's name out there in the forefront, to make sure justice is done. So, now we have an opportunity to galvanize the public, once again, behind these efforts. And through my film, I'm hoping to do that when it's released in theaters next week.

PHILLIPS: And, for almost ten years of your life, you've done nothing but this. I mean, how have you paid the bills? How have you been able to shoot everything and travel and dedicate your life to this?

BEAUCHAMP: Well, it's been very difficult. You know, starting working on this case at the early age, I was 24 years old at the time. I'm 34 years old now. So I practically grew into this case. And with the help of my family, friends, especially my parents -- we were able to weigh things out and, basically, get this film produced. It was financed by myself and my parents.

PHILLIPS: That's amazing, Keith. All right. Let's talk about Emmett Till's mom. Boy, what an incredible woman.

BEAUCHAMP: Yes, ma'am.

PHILLIPS: And she passed away a couple years ago, actually on the day that we first did -- first talked about this segment, which was so bizarre. But I just want to play a part of the interview. You had a wonderful interview with her. It's in this documentary. Let's listen to this. And then I just want to talk about her bravery in a time when she was up against so much.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MAMIE TILL MOBLEY, EMMETT TILL'S MOTHER: Oh, yes, we're going to open the casket. He said, well, Ms. Bradley (ph), do you want me to do something for the face? Want me to try to fix it up? I said, no, let the people see what I've seen. I said, I want the world to see this.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: And what she wanted the world to see was the before and the after. From when he was beaten and tortured. And, truly, when the world saw these pictures and saw that open casket -- I mean, the civil rights movement was in full force.

BEAUCHAMP: Absolutely. There have been many legends that happened throughout the South during that time, but what set this legend away from all the others was that Emmett Till's mother had done this courageous act by having an open casket funeral. And she wanted the world to see what happened to her son. She wanted the world to see the face of hatred.

So, you know, through this, the American civil rights movement was then mobilized. It was because of Emmett Till's murder that Dr. Martin Luther King decided to take on the Montgomery bus boycott. It was because of Emmett Till's death that Rosa Parks refused to get up from her seat that day. So this is a very important case, for not only African-American history, but American history, as well. Because we have all benefited from the American civil rights movement.

PHILLIPS: And I don't know if a lot of people realize that didn't live through that area what Ms. Mobley was up against, with regard to the racism and the ignorance. And you captured that with this part, this sound bite from a Tallahatchie County sheriff. Listen to what he had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SHERIFF H.C. STRIDER, TALLAHATCHIE CO., MISSISSIPPI: We never have any trouble until some of our southern niggers go up North, and the NAACP talks to them.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

PHILLIPS: Unbelievable, just to first hear the "N" word and then complain that the NAACP is a pain in his side.

BEAUCHAMP: Absolutely.

PHILLIPS: Unbelievable.

BEAUCHAMP: Yes, I would have to tip my hats off to those officials in the NAACP, people like Medgar Evers, Hoovey Hurley (ph), Absen Moore (ph), Dr. T.R.M. Howard (ph), members of the black press, and Ian Booker (ph) of "Jet" magazine, Moses Newsome, as well as James Hicks of the Baltimore (ph) Afro-American newspaper.

The reason why we're at this point right now is because of their works. I just went back and studied their works and were able to go to the people that they wasn't able to find in 1955 and found out these people are still alive. So I have to tip my hats off to those soldiers without swords to helping us get to this point.

PHILLIPS: You saw Medgar Evers in so much of that old film. He was right there by Mrs. Mobley's side and it's amazing to see how so many of those activists grew into the individuals, you know, that they are today.

I want to talk about the individuals, the suspects that were never held accountable. And you put the film -- or you put the pictures and the film of the two men and their wives. We see them right here. And they were just so thumbs up and happy that they weren't found guilty, but, of course, they weren't. I mean, look at who tried them.

BEAUCHAMP: Absolutely. One of the startling things about this case was the confession of the two brothers. They confessed to the crime, to murdering Emmett Till and they gave their story to William Bradford Huie for $4,000 who published their story four months after the trial and the double jeopardy rule prevented them from being tried again.

But, through my research, I was able to uncover there were up to 14 people involved with the kidnapping and murder of Emmett Till. Five of these people were black men. We believed that they were forced to participate because they were employees to J.W. Milam and Roy Bryant. Right now I firmly believe that there is five people who could possibly be indicted.

PHILLIPS: Now, let's talk about that, people possibly being indicted. Carolyn Bryant, the white woman that Emmett Till whistled at -- I know we've got a picture of her. There she is right there coming into the courtroom.

Her name now Carolyn Bryant Dunham (ph) living in Greenville, Mississippi. Have you been able to confront her? She's still alive and could she be held accountable because you told me the FBI went back and interviewed this woman?

BEAUCHAMP: Well, I have never had an opportunity to speak with her personally. It's always been through someone. During the time of my research, I didn't want to be biased, I wanted to hear both sides of the stories so I went out to look for her and eventually found out that her family was keeping her in hiding and things of that nature so I didn't pursue it.

Right now, that investigation had moved forward to we're looking for indictments to happen. I mean, unfortunately in 1955 Carolyn Bryant was supposed to be arrested. I mean, they had a warrant out for her arrest in 1955. She was never served that warrant. And, you know, that is one thing that I found through the FBI records when I studied the case. So, there's questions that she needs to answer about this crime and I'm hoping that will come, that day will come.

PHILLIPS: Well, you know we'll follow up on all of it. And it's great to know see the Justice Department talking about opening up an actual department within a department just to deal with these civil rights cases, reopen them and look at them again. Keith, you've done tremendous work. It's been such a pleasure to know you for a couple years as this has unfolded. It's wonderful.

BEAUCHAMP: Yes. Thank you very much. And I ask everyone, please, come out and support this film. It means so much.

PHILLIPS: October 14th, it will be in theaters. Don't miss it.

Time to check in with CNN's Wolf Blitzer. He's standing by in Washington to tell us what's coming up at the top of the hour in "THE SITUATION ROOM." Hi, Wolf.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, Kyra. Thanks very much. Coming up here in "THE SITUATION ROOM," was there a spy in the White House? A retired U.S. Marine is under investigation for allegedly stealing classified documents. We'll take a closer look at the case.

In Harriet Miers' defense, many conservatives are angered with the president's pick for the high court. We'll meet one who says she's the right woman for the job.

Plus, a cervical cancer vaccine, a study showing it to be 100 percent effective, but should everyone run out right now and get one? We'll take a closer look at what it means.

And inside Guantanamo, what really goes on at the island prison? I'll ask a former U.S. Army chaplain there, James Yee (ph). He's joining us live. Much more coming up. Back to you, Kyra.

PHILLIPS: All right, Wolf, we'll be watching.

Straight ahead, "Celebrity Spotlight." The big entertainment buzz on LIVE FROM.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PHILLIPS: Really big baby news from Tinseltown and squashing rumors that a Hollywood couple has split. All that and more. Who else knows so much about the stars? Our own Sibila Vargas live from L.A. -- Sibila.

SIBILA VARGAS, CNN ANCHOR: Well, you know, they call me a red carpet sage. But some said it wouldn't last, Kyra. Now, Tom Cruise and main squeeze Katie Holmes are taking their relationship to a whole new level. They're having a baby.

Their publicist has confirmed Katie's pregnancy and say the couple is very excited. This will be Katie's first child and Tom's third. He has two adopted children from his marriage with Nicole Kidman. Tom and Katie have been dating since April; they got engaged in June.

And it looks like Ozzy Osbourne's baby could be a real treat for his fans. It's a new album covering some of rock 'n' roll's greatest hits. Ozzy will be taking on the likes of John Lennon's "Women," Joe Walsh's "Rocky Mountain Way," and the Moody Blues' "Go Now."

It's all part of the new album "Under Cover" which will be released as a dual disk. The DVD side will contain a featurette called "Dinner with Ozzy and Friends" and video of the rocker covering the Beatle's song "In My Life." The collection will be out November 1st.

Meanwhile, already out are the tabloid headlines that Nick and Jessica have split. Well, the couple is fighting back saying ixnay on those rumors. Magazine reports have prompted reps for Jessica Simpson and Nick Lachey to come forward, denying the couple has separated. A joint statement on behalf of the couple say Nick and Jessica have not separated. Rumors to the contrary are simply not true.

Well, from one Simpson to another, Ashlee Simpson is getting a chance to redeem herself this weekend on "Saturday Night Live." Oh, oh, oh remember that fiasco? Simpson became the butt of jokes after getting caught lip synching on "SNL."

The singer's father, Joe Simpson, blamed the moment on acid reflux. Nevertheless, the singer did not escape the public's ridicule. Now she's getting a second chance on the show. The 21- year-old will sing songs from her upcoming album "I am Me." Kyra, I don't know about you, but I recommend some tea before performing. A little tea and honey. A little tea.

PHILLIPS: Or a little shot of whiskey, whatever you prefer. All right, Sibila Vargas, thank you.

Well, that wraps up this Thursday edition of LIVE FROM. I'm Kyra Phillips at the CNN Center in Atlanta. Now, Wolf Blitzer, live in THE SITUATION ROOM.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: I'm Wolf Blitzer and you're in THE SITUATION ROOM, where news and information arrive in one place simultaneously. Standing by, CNN reporters across the United States and around the world to bring you today's top stories. Jack Cafferty's back as well. Happening now, it's 3:00 p.m. here in Washington.

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