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New Day

Holder Announces Plan to End Racial Profiling; Rams: No Apology to Police; Obama Vows to Ease 'Simmering Distrust'; UVA President Vows to Change Rape Culture

Aired December 02, 2014 - 06:00   ET

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

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Ferguson fix. President Obama calling for big changes from police. Protesters interrupt the attorney general's first meeting to find a solution. And controversy grows between the St. Louis Rams and police. The team says they apologize for nothing.

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: The president of UVA outlines her plan to fix the sex assault scandal that has rocked that elite school, so why did it take so long, and will the new measures go far enough?

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Stepping down, embattled comedian Bill Cosby stepping down as a trustee for his alma matter as more women allege he sexually assaulted them. One of the first to share her story joins us to explain why she could not stay quiet any longer.

CUOMO: Your NEW DAY starts right now.

ANNOUNCER: This is NEW DAY with Chris Cuomo, Kate Bolduan, and Michaela Pereira.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

CUOMO: Good morning, welcome to NEW DAY. It's Tuesday, December 2nd, 6:00 in the East, almost. Chris Cuomo and Alisyn Camerota here. Up first, Attorney General Eric Holder announcing plans to end racial profiling once and for all in America. How? Tough new standards for police. That's good, right? Not to the hecklers. They interrupted the big speech at the Atlanta church where Martin Luther King Jr. was once pastor. Proof, we guess, that talk isn't enough in the current climate.

CAMEROTA: We're going to be talking all about that moment.

Also, the NFL now finds itself in the middle of the Ferguson fallout. St. Louis County Police claim they received a, quote, "apology" from the St. Louis Rams after five of their players held up their hands in a show of support for Michael Brown. But the team insists there was no apology. So which one is it?

Our team coverage begins with Ed Lavandera from Ferguson, Missouri, this morning. Good morning, Ed. ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn. Well, that is

a back and forth that seems that it will be something that continues into today as conversations about police relations and the African- American community across the country rage on.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIC HOLDER, ATTORNEY GENERAL: While the grand jury proceeding in St. Louis County has concluded, I can report this evening that the Justice Department's investigation into the shooting death of Michael Brown, as well as our investigation into allegations of unconstitutional policing patterns, or practices by the Ferguson Police Department remain ongoing and remain active.

LAVANDERA (voice-over): Inside the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Attorney General Eric Holder addressed the country. At times his words were stifled by the chants of protesters. The attorney general paused to insure their voices could be heard.

HOLDER: What we saw there was a genuine expression of concern and involvement. Let me be clear -- I ain't mad at you, all right?

LAVANDERA: Late Monday night, the St. Louis Rams finally addressed the controversy surrounding this public show of solidarity by five of its players, their "hands up, don't shoot" message. A local police association said it implied that Michael Brown was shot while attempting to surrender. The Rams chief operating officer called the angered officers and released a statement saying in part, "We expressed our respect for their concern surrounding yesterday's game. The Rams will continue to build on what have always been strong and valued relationships with local law enforcement and the greater St. Louis community as we come together to help heal our region."

But the Rams spokesman followed up with CNN, making clear they did not apologize. The NFL is also not apologizing. Its spokesman says, "We respect and understand the concerns of all individuals who have expressed views on this tragic situation."

Back in Missouri at the first community meeting of the Ferguson commission, more frustration.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You should understand that. We understand this. We're getting killed out here.

LAVANDERA: For his part, President Obama promised to follow through.

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: And part of the reason this time it will be different is because the president of the United States is deeply invested in making sure that this time it's different.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hands up! Don't shoot!

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Hands up! Don't shoot!

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Hands up! Don't shoot! LAVANDERA: Nationwide, demonstrators simply walked out on Monday.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To walk out of school.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: To walk out of school.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To walk out of school.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: To walk out of work.

LAVANDERA: Encouraged by the movement to flood the streets in protest.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LAVANDERA: And it was yet another quiet night here on the streets of Ferguson, you know. And now a lot of city officials are talking about scenes like this: a lot of the burned-out buildings and businesses that were lost in the violence from last week. The mayor here in the city says he's trying to figure out a way to get a lot of these businesses and convince them to stay here in the community -- Chris.

CUOMO: Well, they've got big challenges there in Ferguson, we know. And we've been reporting from the beginning that what happened with the shooting reflected issues that go way beyond one place in Missouri. Thanks for the reporting this morning.

Now, we heard from the president. He says that this time will be different. And he says he's going to dedicate the rest of his term to improving the relationship between police and the black community.

Part of his plan involves money, a $263 million program which will provide with -- up to 50,000 body cameras to police. That sounds good, but money may be the easy part. When asked Monday if justice was done by the Ferguson grand jury, the president did not give a direct answer.

Senior White House correspondent Jim Acosta joins us now. And that really goes to what's tricky here, is how you balance the perceptions of what happened and what justice means today, Jim.

JIM ACOSTA, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: That's right, Chris. It is a tricky balancing act. But as you said, President Obama vowing to get results in the aftermath of the unrest in Ferguson.

After a series of meetings at the White House, the president unveiled his plans for the steps forward. Here we'll put them up onscreen for you. He wants to tighten controls on police department use of military equipment; a new 21st century policing task force; and a proposal for $75 million to purchase those body-worn cameras you just mentioned for police officers. Those cameras could go a long way in establishing when officers use appropriate force.

And after sitting down with law enforcement leaders, civil rights leaders and church leaders from across the country here at the White House yesterday, the president said he understood why so many young Americans are calling for changes in police tactics in minority communities.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: It violates my belief in what America can be. To hear young people feeling marginalized and distrustful, even after they've done everything right.

That's not who we are. And I don't think that's who the overwhelming majority of Americans want us to be.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ACOSTA: Now as for presidential trip to Ferguson, Missouri, it appears that is off, at least in the near future. A White House official said a visit was discussed last week, but instead, advisers decided on yesterday's series of meetings for what they're calling a more comprehensive approach in dealing with this issue.

Meanwhile, as you heard from Ed Lavandera, attorney general Eric Holder was in Atlanta last night speaking to civil rights leaders. And Chris and Alisyn, Holder said he would unveil new guidelines to help end racial profiling later on this week. We should get those by the end of this week, Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: Yes. It will be very interesting to hear what those guidelines are. Jim, thanks so much.

ACOSTA: You bet.

CAMEROTA: Let's talk to two people who were involved in the heated discussions about Ferguson. Dr. Raphael Warnock is the author of "The Divided Mind of the Black Church." He's the senior pastor of the Ebenezer Baptist Church where Eric Holder spoke yesterday. And Chief Richard Beary is the president of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and the chief of police at the University of Central Florida. Gentlemen, thanks for joining us.

DR. RAPHAEL WARNOCK, PASTOR, EBENEZER BAPTIST CHURCH: Thank you so much, Alisyn. Great to be with you.

CAMEROTA: Dr. Warnock, I want to start with you, and I want to start with that moment where protesters or maybe just participants in the church stood up, and they were very vocal. And they had a message for Eric Holder. Let me just play one little portion of this.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(CHANTING)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Dr. Warnock, they had their hands in the air. They had signs. It was hard for to us hear them. What was their message to Eric Holder?

WARNOCK: Well, you know, if you think about this whole movement or this chapter of the movement beginning with the shooting of Michael Brown, it's really the passion and commitment of students just like those we saw last night, that have kept this discussion going.

And so it was a very spirited meeting. We were at Ebenezer Baptist Church, the home church of Martin Luther King Jr. And so we're no strangers to this kind of engagement.

CAMEROTA: Yes. But what specifically were they trying to impart to the attorney general?

WARNOCK: Well, I think that they were pressing the message that this is no more business as usual. We're focused on this. We're grateful for the visit from the attorney general, but we've got specific things that we need to be -- that need to be addressed. Public policy changes that address this issue.

And I think the attorney general did a fine job of addressing those issues while, at the same time, saying in his own words, that I ain't mad at you. He said, "I'm not upset..."

CAMEROTA: Right.

WARNOCK: ... that these young people are expressing their voices. Protest is as American as apple pie, and we were glad to build a big tent at Ebenezer last night where law enforcement, the attorney general and the activists...

CAMEROTA: Absolutely.

WARNOCK: ... and clergy leaders were all under the same roof.

CAMEROTA: Yes, and he said that he welcomed how engaged they were.

Chief Beary, I want to turn to you, because let's talk about that public policy. You were involved in the meeting yesterday with President Obama where he talked about how he plans to move forward. Let me play what he said after that meeting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

OBAMA: There was a cautionary note, I think, from everybody here that there have been commissions before, there have been task forces, there have been conversations, and nothing happens.

What I tried 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)

CAMEROTA: So Chief Beary, what can be different, exactly, this time?

CHIEF RICHARD BEARY, PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE: Well, you know, it was a great meeting with the president yesterday, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police, we've been calling for commission for almost 20 years now.

A lot has changed in law enforcement since the 1965 Johnson summit. And, you know, we've been out there out front, trying to address -- there's just so many scientific changes. There's behavioral changes. And there are a lot of reforms that we think are -- should have been on the table before now. So we're actually just thrilled that we're moving forward.

CAMEROTA: And such as? I mean, what do the chiefs of police, which reforms do you want to see happen today?

BEARY: Well, I think we all support technology. Law enforcement has always been a leader trying to push new technology out. So the cameras are a good thing.

You know, community policing was -- is a great program. We've got to get back into that. We kind of lost traction because of the budget cuts that happened over the last eight or ten years. So we need to get back into community policing.

We also have got to get back to building that community trust. You know, law enforcement is a very, very difficult job. But the fact is, you can only do better when you're partners. You have to have partners in this business. You know, the president and the vice president both spent a lot of time with us yesterday. So I'm convinced there's a commitment to it. And it's got to be a long-term strategy.

But again, the police chiefs across this country have been supportive of this concept and this commission for quite some time.

CAMEROTA: Chief, I want to ask you also about what's going on in St. Louis with the Rams football team. You know, five members of the Rams came out on Sunday, and they had their arms raised up in solidarity, they said, with the protesters. And the St. Louis police didn't like that. They felt that that was showing disrespect or at least not siding with the police. Where do you fall on this issue?

BEARY: Well, you know, that's the beauty of America. You know, I've been in law enforcement 37 years. I've seen a lot of things. I don't take -- I don't take things personal. We try to stay professional. You know, I can understand feelings getting hurt. But at the end of the day, you know, we've got a mission that we have to accomplish and let's move ahead with the mission.

CAMEROTA: All right, gentlemen. Dr. Raphael Warnock, Chief Beary, we really appreciate you coming by NEW DAY and sharing what happened yesterday. And we'll see how we can all move forward. Thanks so much.

WARNOCK: Thank you.

BEARY: Thanks.

CAMEROTA: Let's go over to Michaela for some more news.

PEREIRA: All right. Time for your headlines. Alisyn, thanks so much.

Breaking this morning, the Lebanese army has detained a wife and son of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi. According to Reuters, it reportedly happened as they crossed from Syria in recent days. A Lebanese newspaper said al-Baghdadi's wife, who has not been identified, was traveling with a fake passport.

The FBI advising U.S. businesses to beware of a hackers using a malicious software that can destroy entire computer systems. Officials believe it's the same malware that was used in a crippling hack attack at Sony Pictures entertainment last week. That breach resulted in several films being leaked online before the release. The United States is investigating whether North Korea was involved. We're going to have more on this story ahead here on NEW DAY.

Federal safety regulators are now investigating whether Graco delayed reporting a defect that led to the largest recall of car seats in U.S. history. More than six million car seats were recalled earlier this year. The defect involves car seat buckles that become stuck in the latched position, potentially putting a child's life at risk in the event of an emergency.

A senior GOP staffer on the hunt for a new job today after taking a jab at the Obama daughters in a Facebook post. Elizabeth Lauten resigned after an uproar she caused by suggesting that Sasha and Malia Obama lacked class and respect during Wednesday's turkey pardoning ceremony. She even blasted the first lady and the president, calling them bad role models. Lauten did later delete the post and apologize. However, that was not in time to save her job.

CAMEROTA: It would still be interesting to hear from the congressman...

PEREIRA: Yes.

CAMEROTA: ... for whom she worked.

PEREIRA: Absolutely.

CUOMO: Good luck with that. Free speech is fine, but when it becomes part of the political state of play, no good. No good.

All right. So how about this? A very provocative question, does one of the best universities in the country have a culture of sexual assault? There have been big changes announced at the University of Virginia. But why did it take being exposed to acknowledge the problem? One student leader gives us the inside scoop, coming up.

CAMEROTA: And Temple University cutting ties with Bill Cosby, as one of the first women to come forward with rape allegations against the comedian joins us with an update on NEW DAY.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: University of Virginia president Teresa Sullivan addressing questions about sex abuse on campus head-on for the first time. Sullivan skipped an appearance in Washington, D.C., to meet with students and address the issue that made national headlines after a "Rolling Stone" article detailed an alleged gang rape at a frat party.

CNN's Joe Johns is following developments from our Washington bureau. What's the latest, Joe?

JOE JOHNS, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Alisyn.

The university's president is speaking the language of victims' rights advocates, going so far as to suggest the school might adopt a victims bill of rights, really the latest indication of how UVA is trying to respond to the allegations that a culture of sexual abuse exists on the campus.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS (voice-over): The University of Virginia's president, Teresa Sullivan, canceling a scheduled appearance at the National Press Club in Washington Monday. Instead, deciding to address the UVA community about the sexual violence controversy engulfing the campus.

TERESA SULLIVAN, PRESIDENT, UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA: There's a piece of our culture that is broken. And I ask your help in coming together as a strong and resilient community to fix it.

JOHNS: Sullivan announcing the outline of an action plan. Mostly modest steps to address the issues detailed in "Rolling Stone" magazine, alleging a culture of sexual assault at UVA. Sullivan says the university would find ways to reduce binge drinking and root out date rape drugs on campus.

SULLIVAN: If the predators can find the sellers of these drugs, then law enforcement should also be able to find them.

JOHNS: Force fraternities to provide greater safety for guests as part of their agreement to operate on campus. Hire an additional trauma counselor for the school's women's center. Put a local police substation on campus and conduct an anonymous survey in the spring to determine how often students experience sexual abuse on campus.

Many students optimistic.

ERIK ROBERTS, UVA STUDENT: President Sullivan's response really has united us further in our quest to make this community better than the way we inherited it.

JOHNS: Others skeptical.

LAUREN STARK, UVA STUDENT, ALLIANCE FOR SOCIAL CHANGE: We need broad community conversations about the values of this university. And that isn't happening yet.

JOHNS: Sullivan suspended all fraternity activities until January, while students started an online petition calling for the permanent closure of the fraternity house where an alleged gang rape occurred two years ago. UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not one more.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Not one more.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Not one more.

JOHNS: An urgent call for change as students in this divided community undergo a painful reexamination of their school's culture.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

JOHNS: And the university's only explanation for canceling Sullivan's appearance at the National Press Club was that her energies were best spent focusing on the UVA community. Though it was clear that, with the police investigation into the alleged gang rape still underway, a free-wheeling exchange with the national media could come back to haunt the university and its lawyers -- Chris.

CUOMO: Well also, Joe, there are big questions about when the university decided to come forward and why.

So let's get into that some more here. We have William Cadigan. He's a student at the university as well as an executive board member of One in Four. That's an all-male sexual assault peer education group.

And Mr. Cadigan, it is good to have you on this morning. And it's important to note that One in Four is from the origins of the founding of the organization when one in four females from the age of 14, had either experienced rape or attempted rape. Now, the statistic is one in six. But you keep the name to show how far, you know, what it was like when you started and how far you still need to go, yes?

WILLIAM CADIGAN, EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER, ONE IN FOUR: That's right, Chris. Thank you for having me on.

CUOMO: Absolutely. So let's get to the bottom of what's going on at the university. Do you think it was known before the "Rolling Stone" article that there was a real problem with how this behavior was treated on campus?

CADIGAN: I think definitely. I think that this is an issue that people have really been working towards for a long time. And that a lot of advocates, the university, has been working on addressing. But I think it really took a jarring event to really bring us to the point that we're at now. Which is where, you know, everyone in the community is really fired up and really wanting to get in on some sort of advocacy and promote change.

CUOMO: The assumption is that universities like this are very hair- trigger when it comes to behavior that's as toxic as sexual assault. And that they would have come out at the first inkling of a situation like this. But I guess that competes with the notion that institutions often protect themselves. How is it perceived that the university took a couple of weeks to come forward after the article?

CADIGAN: yeYes, well, I think that, especially as student advocates, you know, we would have appreciated some more transparency and appreciated a quicker response.

But I will say that the community has not been idle. That there's been a number of rallies and protests. And a couple of student groups came together and held a dialogue for people to just come and talk about how the article made them feel, and it had over 450 people there.

CUOMO: Right.

CADIGAN: So people have been moving forward. And I think that the university's statements yesterday were a very positive step in all of us coming together as a community.

CUOMO: Right. But you have to remember that, look, you're young men and women there. You're obviously taking charge of your own destinies at the university, and that's the reason we're covering it. But the university is supposed to be protecting you guys. You know, to parents all over the country, you're their kids.

And it's not about you pushing the university to change. The university is supposed to be thinking for you in a lot of ways here. Do you believe that they have been behind the ball and maybe covering up?

CADIGAN: I don't -- I don't think covering up, no. But I think that they could have had a much better and much more coordinated response.

CUOMO: Better and coordinated response. That's a very savvy answer for a young man.

So let's look at how you change to be better. What needs to happen at the University of Virginia?

CADIGAN: Well, I think it's a couple of things, but I think it starts with a deep cultural examination. And...

CUOMO: What does that mean? Help me understand what that means, a cultural examination.

CADIGAN: Sure. So -- so I think we need to look at the way in which we as a culture treat survivors when they come forward. I think that's the first and foremost thing that we need to do.

For anyone who's read the article, the treatment of these survivors when they come forward to share their stories is, for me, horrific. And I think that that's a very important issue. Because, if we can build a community that supports these survivors, then you know, we can start to get them -- encourage them to report and have them feel supported in going forward. I think that's a very important issue.

CUOMO: And that's something that you believe the university is addressing?

CADIGAN: Yes, I think that the university can address it. But I also think we as a student body...

CUOMO: Sure.

CADIGAN: ... and as a nation really need to focus on what we do in our individual lives that can support survivors or might make survivors feel like they wouldn't be believed if they came forward.

CUOMO: The student body creates its own culture of what is cool and acceptable. There's no question about that. But there needs to be the fear of what happens when these norms are violated.

Nobody has been kicked out yet. There are no criminal cases involved here. What does that tell you about the direction of change?

CADIGAN: Well, I think it -- it says that -- that we still have a lot of work to do. And I think that that statistic speaks as much to our cultural failings as it does to our institutional failings. And I think that that really shows that in a -- in an area where we have to make sure that we're, you know, protecting and watching out for the survivors, that that means that we haven't done enough for them.

And I think, certainly, we can make certain changes and institutional reform does try to streamline that process. But at the end of the day, it comes down to whether or not we as a community are willing to stand up and support the survivors.

CUOMO: William, one quick thing.

CADIGAN: Sure.

CUOMO: University of Virginia is the one in the spotlight right now. Do you think this university is different than many other schools across the country?

CADIGAN: Well, I think UVA is obviously a very special place. It's been a special place to me for my four years here. But in terms of this issue, this is an issue that occurs all across the country.

But I don't think that means that we should ignore that here at UVA. I think we have a unique chance to look at our specific culture and make some real changes on a personal level. So I think that this is an issue that occurs all across the country, but UVA is unique in that it's in the spotlight right now; and we can make real changes.

CUOMO: We'll be watching you. We're dealing with it on an entirely different level with what happened in Ferguson, Missouri, and that is something that's representative across the country, as well. We're looking for change there. And we're going to see what you all do at your university on this level with this issue. Thanks for joining us, William Cadigan.

CADIGAN: Thanks, Chris.

CUOMO: Alisyn.

CAMEROTA: OK, Chris, we're following some breaking news now: Terrorists slaughtering dozens of non-Muslims in Kenya, and the details are horrifying. We have a live report ahead. (COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: We have some breaking news, and we go to the Kenya/Somalia border, where al-Shabaab is claiming responsibility for killing at least 36 people in a quarry.