Return to Transcripts main page

New Day

Nine People Killed, 40 Others Wounded in Chicago Over the Weekend; VMAs Prove to be a Huge Night. Aired 8:30-9a ET.

Aired August 29, 2016 - 08:30   ET

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

[08:30:02] ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: NBA Superstar Dwyane Wade's cousin was killed this weekend in Chicago. And her tragedy is getting a lot of attention. But she's just one of several victims who were killed in a surge of gun violence.

A former Chicago police officer joins us next to talk about what's fueling this crisis and what the solutions could be.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAMEROTA: A deadly shooting of a young mother of four in Chicago last week got the media's attention because the victim was a cousin of NBA Superstar Dwyane Wade.

Nykea Aldridge was one of nine people killed that was killed and more than 40 others wounded over the weekend in Chicago. So why is this city being plagued by gun violence?

We're joined now by Dimitri Roberts, he's a former Chicago police officer. Mr. Roberts, thanks so much for being here.

Before you and I start, let's just look at the numbers so that everybody can understand the enormity of the problem in Chicago, because the numbers are staggering. I want to pull these up for everyone.

Last year, in 2015, there were 2,988 shooting victims. This year, though it is just a little more than half over, there are already 2,808 shooting victims. Meaning, murders are up in that city by 43 percent. Shootings 48 percent. Robberies up 27 percent. Sexual assaults up 20 percent. What do you think is going on in Chicago?

[08:35:20] DIMITRI ROBERTS, FORMER CHICAGO POLICE OFFICER: Well, this has been a problem for a very long time, and what we see playing out on the streets of Chicago is the fallout of a lack of resources in underserved communities and the lack of focused effort and sustainable solutions from both political leaders, as well as policies that can help to engage these issues at the grassroots level.

CAMEROTA: OK, so let's talk about those in more specificity, because I know that you say lack of resources, meaning what? If there was more money, what would it go to, to help stop the violence?

ROBERTS: Well, first of all, after school programs, putting kids into summer employment, and allowing them the opportunity to go from a place where they're hopeless in most cases in these communities, to a place where they can truly understand that their dreams are just as important as the dreams of other members of other communities that do have more resources.

CAMEROTA: You also say there's an influx of guns coming into the inner city. Where are they coming from?

ROBERTS: Well, they're coming from multiple places, and it's the technology that we can roll out and the policies that we can put in place to help stop the influx of guns into the city of Chicago. And more so the technology that we can use to track things like ammunition and things to track who are purchasing the ammunition, as well as the guns, and getting them into the hands of folks that are doing these very horrible acts.

CAMEROTA: Well, what do you mean by technology?

ROBERTS: Well, I'll be holding a press conference tomorrow talking about coding ammunition. But that's just one piece of it, there's also social media, there's also applications that can be rolled out to thoughtfully engage the community and allow them to bridge a better divide and better communication between law enforcement agencies, as well as help them to be armed with the information they need to address some of these community issues on their own.

And I think that's where we'll have a real opportunity to focus on some solutions when we can arm the community and give them the resources they need to address these tough issues they have to deal with and live with every day in their own space.

CAMEROTA: I was interested to read that you also blame social media. You think that these shootings are connected to social media. How so?

ROBERTS: Well, absolutely. What I know from working in these communities is that there are gang members. There are gang activities at play here. But in a lot of cases, these are social issues that spill over into the communities and because there's no leadership in the communities, there's no programs in the community that can actively engage these young men and women in a positive way and help them to resolve their issues, they take this to the streets, they lean on violence, and unfortunately, it spills over into issues like we see today and the unfortunate killing and devastation in these communities that have plague these areas for way too long.

CAMEROTA: Right, so a fight breaks out, say, on Twitter or on Facebook and then because kids don't have coping skills or, you know, whatever, they haven't learned, they then act it out in real life and violence erupts.

So, Mr. Roberts, what is the answer, I mean if -- I know that you have a multi-tiered approach, but if you could have, you know, sort of one wish granted or a couple, what is the answer to stopping this right now in Chicago?

ROBERTS: Well, we have to allow cultural competency to be built in these communities that have dealt with these issues for way too long, both in the police agencies, as well as in the communities. And if I have one wish, that would say empower those members of the community, empower me with the resources necessary to go into these communities, who understand the issues that are there, that have been plaguing these communities for way too long and allow us to go into these communities and engage them with the right level of resources and with the right programs that we can take community members into a place where they want to be.

And that is not in the space of violence. They want sustainable jobs. They want solutions. And more so they want to live a healthy, happy life. And they want to live out the American dream, just as all of us do.

CAMEROTA: Of course they do. And if people want to know more about your plan and the resources you're looking for, you are the president and founder of SevenStar Consulting. And they can check that out online. Thank you very much, Dimitri Roberts.

Let's go over to Chris.

ROBERTS: Thank you.

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, Alisyn, we're going to see this latest wave of violence in Chicago playing out everywhere, even at the VMAs. We have a look at some of the best moments of it and some of the controversial ones, as well. You'll going to get Beyonce, Rihanna, but also Kanye talking about Chicago.

[08:39:55] How did that go over? Next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: Time now for the five things to know for your NEW DAY. First, chaos breaks out at Los Angeles International Airport following reports of an active shooter, police shutdown the airport, fortunately, false alarm.

Donald trump set to deliver a major speech on immigration Wednesday in Arizona. The Trump campaign also says he plans to direct appeal to black voters with events in the inner cities.

Hillary Clinton attending a series of fundraisers as questions swirl about the influence of the Clinton Foundation, the GOP accusing the former secretary of state of engaging in pay to play politics.

Two brothers described by police as gang members on parole charged in the shooting death of NBA superstar Dwyane Wade's cousin Nykea Aldridge. She was caught in the crossfire Friday as she pushed her baby's stroller.

Fans of Mexican superstar Juan Gabriel mourning his sudden death, the six-time Grammy nominee died on Sunday just hours before he was supposed to perform in El Paso. Juan Gabriel sold more than a 100 million albums in his career. He was just 66-years-old.

[08:45:05] For more on the five things to know for your NEW DAY, go NewDayCNN.com for the latest.

All right, guess what, it is time for CNNMoney now, Chief Business Correspondent Christine Romans joins us. What a nice belt.

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNNMONEY CHIEF BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT: Oh, thanks, Chris. But I got a couple important stories for you. Not fashion related I'm afraid.

Trouble in Obamacare options are shrinking of a next year or a third of U.S. Counties may only have a single health insurer option. That's according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

Fewer insurers could mean higher premiums. Insurers say they've been losing money providing insurance to the Obamacare exchange.

America's skies are officially open to business to drones now. New FAA rules take effect today for commercially use of drones. Drone operators must be licensed. Drones can't fly higher than 400 feet. And then must also be always an operator insight. So don't count on drones delivering packaging any time soon, Alisyn, lovely frock.

CAMEROTA: Thank you, I appreciate all the fashion talk and it is fitting for the next segment because it is billed as music's most provocative night and very fashion forward, as well, the MTV VMAs did not disappoint.

Look at some of these outfits. We'll show you the best performances and most bizarre moments. Next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[08:50:33] CAMEROTA: OK, did we speed up that video, or was that in the real time?

CUOMO: No, that's the real deal right now.

CAMEROTA: Whoa, the VMA is proving to be a huge night for some of music's biggest names with Beyonce, of course, at the top of the list.

Joining us now is CNN Senior Media Correspondent and Host of Reliable Sources Brian Stelter, who attended the MTV video music awards rally last night and Entertainment Tonight host and CNN Contributor Nischelle Turner, great to see you.

NISCHELLE TURNER, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: Hi. Good morning, guys.

CAMEROTA: OK. Brian, what was it like to be in the room?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: I mean Beyonce really is in a league of her own. I felt like the arena, it is Madison Square Garden, great setting for the event last night. It was a little bit sleepy until Beyonce came on.

CUOMO: What did you do when she's in the power bomb? She did the power walk. Did you puff up? Did you emulate it?

CAMEROTA: Brian threw out something.

STELTER: Yes, I did, I threw out something, not sure what yet. You know, she's really is extraordinary. You see her, she's about to whack at the cameraman there, pretend to break the camera. And then finished with "Lemonade." This was such a moment of empowerment, really 15, 20 long minute performance. And it was the standout of the night.

CAMEROTA: Oh, my gosh, Nischelle, tell us your ...

STELTER: That is on fire.

CAMEROTA: She's wearing the hat of flames.

TURNER: That's the dance that I did when they called me and said, "Get up at 4:00 a.m. and come in and talk to me this morning."

But literally, Brian is right, I was taking notes last night. And what I wrote down was, Beyonce, Beyonce, Beyonce, Beyonce, Beyonce, Beyonce, Rihanna, Beyonce, Beyonce, Beyonce, Beyonce and did they give out any awards? That's actually what I wrote down.

CAMEROTA: That's awesome. But why did you -- go ahead.

TURNER: I was just going to say, but she also took, you know, her message off the carpet, too, because she made a very political statement when she walked the red carpet before she ever did any of this and brought the mothers of Mike Brown, Trayvon Martin, Oscar Grant, and Eric Garner with her on the red carpet.

So she has been, you know, on this blazing trail she has. And she's coming to her own as a woman. I mean, Beyonce definitely has a voice that we haven't heard from her in a long time.

CUOMO: Well, Kanye did his thing last night also, took to the stage and then kind of went into -- what's the right word? I guess was kind of a rant,r right, about what's going on.

TURNER: Can you find a word for it?

CUOMO: How did it play there? Because , you know, let me, you know, let's watch it, then we'll discuss it.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

KANYE WEST, RAPPER: My role models are artists merchants, it's less than ten that I can name in history. Truman, Ford, Hughes, Disney, Jobs, West. But if you think about last week, it was 22 people murdered in Chicago. You know, like, people come up to me, like, "Man, that's right, tell Taylor that bro, like, I love all you all."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CUOMO: What was his point exactly, other than to pay homage to himself, along with Henry Ford and Steve Jobs?

STELTER: Well, I reread the transcript because I wasn't sure afterwards. And I still couldn't figure it out. But there were a few hecklers in the room. But for the most part, people did give him his due. His MTV was always hoping for, you know, some sort of viral wild moment out of Kanye.

But instead what they got was sort of just a jumble of words. And there wasn't actually throughout the whole show sort of dangerous, shocking moment that MTV likes to have happen. Instead we have were where a lot of great performances, but no real stunning moment.

CAMEROTA: Nischelle, what do you make of that moment by Kanye?

TURNER: Brian, I still don't really get what was going on. You know, he tried to make a couple points about the gun violence in Chicago. He came back to it a couple different times, he started talking about there where people, where 22 people were murdered last week. Then he came back and said, he was speaking at the Art Institute and people were coming up saying my friend died last week, I think I may be next. And he started to go into actually a very valid point about how it can cause, you know, apathy and fatigue and hopelessness.

STELTER: Right.

TURNER: But then again he went on another like Taylor, Kim Kardashian West Rant. So I really don't know what he was talking about. But, hey, I mean ...

CUOMO: It's too bad, missed opportunity.

TURNER: ... whenever Kanye speaks -- yeah, absolutely, Chris. I agree with you.

STELTER: Remember, this time last year he announced he was running for president in 2020. He didn't bring that up last night, so that's notable, I guess.

TURNER: No he didn't.

STELTER: And for the most part, there really weren't political themes besides the gun violence moments that you were talking about, Nischelle. You know, it was mostly female performers, many women of color on stage.

TURNER: Yeah.

CUOMO: He had Fallon, though. He had Fallon who injected some good levity.

[08:55:00] STELTER: And Nick Jonas. But he didn't have people wrestling with the tensions of this election. You know, you didn't hear a lot about Trump and Clinton about -- maybe that was notable, it was a nice break.

CUOMO: Why talk about Trump when you got Ryan Lochte?

CAMEROTA: Let's watch, Ryan Lochte at this moment.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JIMMY FALLON, COMEDIAN: Who had the best video of the year? I can't tell you that. They're all so great and so talented, I could never choose. I couldn't tell you even if there was a gun to my head, which there isn't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CAMEROTA: Another moment levity there, Nischelle. So how did that go over?

TURNER: Yeah, I thought it was fantastic. You know, he had everything down pat, the outfit, the medal, the green/blue, whatever color hair. And yeah, I think there does need to be, you know, levity injected. They had key and peel hosting last night, and they were in character through most of it. I didn't think a lot of that worked. I thought this worked very, very well. And Jimmy Fallon is, you know, he's kind of every man to everyone. So he always kills.

CAMEROTA: So true. He is so talented.

All right, guys, thanks so much for watching. For those of us who had to go to bed early, nice to see the highlights and low lights. Thanks so much. Nischelle ,great to see you.

TURNER: Sure.

CAMEROTA: And thanks to you for watching us this morning. We'll see you back here tomorrow. NEWSROOM with Carol Costello picks up after this very short break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: Happening on the NEWSROOM, chaos at one of the nation's busiest airports.

[09:00:07] Passengers at LAX running past security and on to the tarmac all for nothing?