Transcripts For MSNBCW Andrea Mitchell Reports 20200608

Viewing for george floyd begins in his home town and hour from now. Today the floyd family is expected to meet privately with joe biden. At the same time former officer Derek Chauvin now facing seconddegree murder charges for his role in mr. Floyds death will make his First Court Appearance in minneapolis. In new york city, 400,000 people are going back to work today as part of the city beginning the phase one of reopening. Even as the outpouring of demonstrations across the nation over the last 12 days raise concerns about potential spikes of coronavirus cases. Here in washington, President Trump his weekend out of public view in the white house as peaceful protests continued around the white house. The president tweeting attacks on joe biden and prominent africanamericans including d. C. Mayor Muriel Bowser and former secretary of state general colin powell. A republican who voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016 and now endorsed joe biden while blasting mr. Trump. The one word i have to use with respect to what hes done the last several years is a word i would never have used beforesnever would have used with any of the four president s ive worked for. He lies. He lies about things. And he gets away with it, because people will not hold him accountable. Joining me now, nbc White House Correspondent and weekend today Host Kristen Welker and from Lafayette Park amongst protester for days, and Washington Post opinion Writer Jonathan lockhart. Kristen, concerns about the president s reelection with polling seeing as well as the rest of us is seeing, but he was inside. They canceled a possible trip to his bedminster, new jersey, golf resort this weekend. I guess because of the optics of him being away while these protests continue around washington and the rest of country . Reporter thats right, andrea. Concerned about the optics and we are see ag president who is increasingly defiant and increasingly on defense in the wake of colin powell coming out and saying that hes going to endorse joe biden. President trump taking aim at colin powell on twitter. Calling him overrated, blaming him for embroiling the United States in wars in the middle east, and essentially white house officials trying to downplay the endorsement saying, look, this is someone who voted for hrc Hillary Clinton, voted barack obama. The reality, start fog seep in, republican senator lissa murkowski of alaska not sure whether to vote for President Trump. Other republicans who are signaling they may break ranks including mitt romney, whos a frequent critic of the president s. Then, of course that polling you mentioned, andrea. Our latest nbc wall street journal poll shows that biden has a sevenpoint lead over President Trump nationally. That cnn poll shows biden with a doubledigit lead. 14 points. So all of that is creating some concerns here. The president s response is to double down on his strategy to try to make the case he is the law and order president. Hes going to meet with Law Enforcement officials later on today, but, andrea, his response to this entire crisis in the wake of George Floyds death is coming under increased scrutiny because he has yet to address what a lot of protesters say is at the core of this. Systemic racism and what does he plan to do about it . The president has yet to answer those questions, andrea. In fact, in our powell, 31point gender gap. A canyon as we reported it. 21point gender gap against the president. Against him in favor of joe biden. Youve been out amongst the protests and saw the difficulties, occasional violence from 12 days ago, a weekend ago and then the way it evolved after last monday. Of course, the big issue in washington. Talk to me about that as well as lets we show mitt romney whom you covered so intensively, of course, when he was running for president. Mitt romney as shot by Haley Talbott of nbc outside the white house. Lets play that first. We need a voice against racism, many voices against racism and brutality and stand up and say that black lives matter. Its not surprising mitt romney would be against President Trump. The only one voted in favor of impeachment. For him to join that protest and say black lives matter sets him apart from others as well in his party. Reporter it really does, andrea. When i saw that moment, i thought that was probably mitt romney looking to his fathers example for guidance. Remember, George Romney was the moderate republican governor of michigan whose example mitt romney tried to follow in every part of this political career. In that case, George Romney was a foe in many cases of richard nix hoon appointed him to his cabinet at one point. You see the same thing with mitt romney on issues of conscious. I think thats what drove him to add his voice to the chorus out here on the streets. Here in washington, i have been covering these protests since last saturday. They are organic. They change. The feeling changes. The mood changes dramatically at times. Last saturday and sunday we saw a lot of angry, angry people on the streets of washington, d. C. On both of those nights things devolved significantly into riots in different parts of the city. After the clearing of this square on monday, that muchdocumented effort by the president to move Peaceful Protesters out of the way so he could visit the church over my shoulder here. Things in d. C. Have been much, much, much calmer. I think almost, i believe no arrests between tuesday and saturday. Might some arrests saturday. Havent checked the updated numbers. The crowds coming out have been entirely peaceful and i can tell you today folks that are here, taken on almost a vigil. D. C. Reclaimed the streets in some places quite literally with painting of black lives matter. Renaming of streets of black lives matter on the plaza and fences created to keep protesters out is a rallying point. A symbol of everything the protesters stand for. Decorated in their signs and their slogans. Weve seen the situation change over the course of this last week naand a half here in washington. And some people we see behind you, people on bicycles as well as the police on bicycles. A very different look for the d. C. Police than the National Look and the federal Law Enforcement people identified and some unidentified, very controversially. Jonathan capehart, you took that iconic picture, really of Muriel Bowser with john lewis. Lets talk about that as we show it to our viewers. Reporter sure. It was, andrea, an honor as always to be in the presence of congressman lewis. But also for, to have him with mayor Muriel Bowser who really responded to President Trumps tweets and taunts. Actually ugliness. Painting the street in block letters, black lives matter, renaming that portion of the street black lives matter plaza. Lets remember that it was congressman lewis, was a young man, trench coat and backpack at the foot of the Edmund Pettus bridge clubbed in the head by Law Enforcement in alabama fighting for africanamericans and their right to vote. Then to have him, you know, more than 50 years later, 80 years old, fighting cancer, in the middle of a Global Pandemic, wanting to see the black lives matter on the street, and to be there with the woman who made it happen tells you that, again, history is cyclical. Also shows and is reminding people because people applauded when they saw him, andrea. They applauded, because they recognize that heres this man in his 20s, was pushing for equality, fighting for, fighting for dignity for africanamericans but also for the nation. Here we are in 2020, having that same fight, and if anything, he is a living symbol of how the fight is ongoing. It is continuous, and that you cannot let the victories that you have achieved, you cannot let them go to your head. You cannot rest on your laurels. That freedom and democracy are things that must, that you must have vigilance. That you must you know, work really hard to not only achieve them, but to maintain them. And fighting for the right to vote, which is under pressure today as it has not been in many recent years. Thank you so much. That was very, very important and impactful from you, jonathan, and, of course, Kristen Welker and Garrett Haake as well. Joining us now new jersey democratic senator cory Booker Joining us. One of the cosponsors of the new Police Reform legislation unveiled today by Congressional Democrats house and senate this morning. Senator booker, thank you very much for being with us. Lets talk about what is included here and what is potentially doable under federal control . This would ban chokeholds, investigate local Police Departments, and permit registry of Police Officers who have long records as officer chauvin has, a long record of some of these complaints against him. It would also have as well as this National Database ban noknock warrants. A number of these changes, though, but what can be done federally since local Law Enforcement is very much a state and local issue . Well, it actually can do a lot. This is the most sweeping legislation for Police Accountability ever and we know this. Voting is actually a state and local issue but the federal government made a profounding role in the Voting Rights act. This is along the similar lines. To make federal law the ability to hold Police Officers accountab accountable. Right now from qualified immunity, which undermines 1986 civil rights law you cant civilly hold people accountable who violate the common standards, common decency and civil rights of others, to even creating a stand for criminal prosecution on the federal level of police when localities dont do their jobs. It creating when the police are very much against the law. This idea having a National Database is actually not just common sense but urgently needed, because you can have a Police Officer with massive misconduct charges against them in one jurisdiction, leave, go to another state and easily get hired because of no tracking of that data. This is a common sense rule that will actually help protect people, create actually tools localities can use to have much more transparency sbi policing. Much more accountability and data available. Thats really going to help move politicianing to where it needs to be, where everyone regardless of the color of your skin can ensure you get equal treatment under the law. These are powerful tools and im just happy to be one of the coauthors of this legislation. The most of its kind ever in our history. Let me ask you, though, about the practical effect, when youve got someone like Jeff Sessions during his brief tenure at attorney general, basically dismantling what president obama put in place in terms of enforcement of Consent Order against local Police Departments against cities where it was established under the civil rights law that there was a pattern and practice of going against africanamericans . Right. And thats a powerful tool in the toolbox, and when you have a president lie donald trump, and an attorney general like Jeff Sessions or barr, your going to have challenges with that tool. Our bill seeks to enpower state agencies to do the power and practice investigations as were el. Within this bill, regardless who the president of the United States is and the a. G. , there are tools given straight out banning on chokeholds. On noknock warrants. On racial profiling. Some Police Precincts around the country, Police Departments have banned those practices, but those are a matter of their local policies. This would make them federal law. So theres multiple tools in the toolbox in this legislation even with a president whos unwilling to engage in Police Accountability and holding us to a standarding of just equality under the law, a lot of things would make strong changes, but, andrea, youre absolutely right on two points youre making. One is, this does not alleviate the ufor states to launch these as well. On a bigger issue, it doesnt take away our common sentiment, common bon beeon both sides of. We treat drug addiction with prison and police as opposed to access to treatment. A nation that overwhelmingly treats people struggling with Mental Illness with police and prisons and not access to Mental Health care. A nation that criminalized poverty because of inability to pay traffic tickets knows that we have a nation that gives different law to different people, depending on their incomes. A lot of things we have to as a society make a commitment that people who are vulnerable, we are going to do things to invest in community dignity, community strengths, as opposed to trying to treat this with policing and jails, which is so much more expensive and actually worsens the problems that we claim were trying to solve. Let me ask you about a political backlash potentially to the whole protest demand of defunding police. I know its in many cities such as, or beginning in los angeles and new york, to be reallocating money for other kinds of enforcement or other kinds of community work, but defunding could be used by opponents, by the president , to demonize democrats in this election year, both in the senate and of course the national campaign. And do you have any, as a former mayor, do you have any sympathy for what mayor frey in minneapolis experienced where he was, hes a Police Reformer elected on Police Reform and was shouted out of a rally, out of a protest rally this weekend. Anytime you hear a slogan being articulated by activists who are seeking an end can probably inspire a lot of common folks. You can be sure that donald trump is going to try to weaponize that slogan. He tried to weaponize black lives matter. He tried to weaponize a Green New Deal and trying to weaponize these, but, again, listen to the activists, the spirit of what theyre calling to. A society that invests in human wellbeing. Therefore, not necessitating as much in Police Departments. I was a mayor, the biggest line items were for policing and i would defend those budgets because of the urgencies, because we were not as a Larger Society creating systems of Mental Health care. Creating systems that supported the lowincome communities. We have to have a larger conversation in this country about where we have taken our dollars between the time i was in law school, to the time i was mayor of that big city, we were building a new jail or prison every ten days, to become a nation that claims were land of the free with only 5 of the nations population we incarcerate one of every four people on the planet earth. That is a distorted dystopian present we are such an overincarcerating body when theres actually independent studies that do a Balance Sheet analysis, so much cheaper to invest in elevating Human Potential with health care or drug treatment, than it is to incarcerate those folks and release them back on the streets where theyre more traumatized, hurt, vulnerable and unable, even, economically to get jobs or the kind of things that can sustain them. This is something we all can commonly come together and try to do something about. And i know youve acknowledged very openly that you had things to learn as well, because of the problems of the Newark Police force and that did have a Consent Order against it. Bottom line in the few moments left. If you cannot get the United States senate, republicancontrolled, to vote against lynching because of rand paul, how will you get this Police Reform through the senate . Rand paul wont win. 99 senators shown theyve approve of this legislation. I know how the senate works. Remember Strom Thurmond held up the longest filibuster in the senates history. We hoent w he wont win. We are going to pass police intervention. Why . Its the right side of history. It will take work and struggle and to all the nonviolent people out there protesting a vote with just wrote wouldnt be possible a month ago if it wasnt for the demands of Diverse People out there protesting. We know nothing is easy. Continue the nonviolent protests, continue pushing and we will get things done on the federal level as we did with workers rights, civil rights, suffrage legislation, it will pass because people were in the streets willing to protest sacrifice and struggle for that change. Senator booker, thank you so much. Thanks for a hopeful note. To end this conversation on. Thank you. Coming up, breaking ranks. More of general Colin Powells emotional criticism of President Trump and he grows a growing list of this countrys top military officers speaking out against the president s response to the protests. Former homeland expecty jeh johnson joining me next right here on Andrea Mitchell reports only on msnbc. When you say what youre in the mood for, the xfinity voice remote will find exactly that. Happy stuff. The groups happy, im happy. You can even say a famous movie quote and it will know the right movie. Circle of trust, greg. Relax, the needles are jumping. You can learn something new any time. Education. And if youre not sure what youre looking for, say. Surprise me. Just ask what can i say to find more of what you love with the xinity voice remote. Retired joint chiefs chairman general colin powell joining three other joint chiefs chairman speaking out against the president. Colin says for him this is personal. Insulting everybody . Going after immigrants . They dont understand this. I am the son of immigrants. I wouldnt be here if my parents couldnt come here in banana boats in the 1920s. This is america. This is who we are. They dont understand. The president doesnt understand. Joining me, jeh johnson, in the Obama Administration and retired general mccaffrey. Jeh, first to you. What should have happened monday . You are secretary of Homeland Security, you were, previously in the pentagon as general counsel and know rules and in charge of secret service, what should have happened to clear that park or shouldnt it have been cleared at all . Well, in any situation like that, andrea, certain amount of discretion has to be built in to the considerations here. T the secret service has wide latitude to take measures in ordinary circumstances to protect the life of the president. Thats their job. And, for example, if the president had gone to a service at National Cathedral and was on his way back to the white house compound and protesters blocked the motorcade, the secret service would have considerable authority along with the park police, metro police to remove the demonstrators to get the president safely back to the white house compound. Now, this circumstance, the president decides he wants to go for a walk in the park, Lafayette Park. And so somebody should have said to the president , and i think it should have been the job of the secretary of Homeland Security toy say to him, mr. President , there are hundreds if not thousands it of peaceful demonstrators in Lafayette Park right now. Theyre pretty committed. Do you really need to go for a walk in the park . Because were going to clear those demonstrators and its going to be a mess. And the photo op of that happening, what youre showing right now, is going to overwhelm whatever photo op you get out of going up to saint johns church. That conversation should have taken place. It obviously didnt. Every president in my lifetime, i am sure, up to now would have heeded advice to say, youre right. Its just not worth it, and im not going to use the secret service in this way. And, in fact, general mccaffrey, the lines military authority. Secretary esper, and general millie pushing back saying they argued against it. And people were covering up their badges. Federal officers you have the unprecedented list, call it an honor role of former joint chiefs chairmen, four stars as well. Other fourstars as well speaking out against this. What do you attribute this widespread condemnation by you and other of your fellow officers . Well, i dont think theres much question this was a real mess. There was no clear line of command. It appears that the attorney general de facto was in charge. It was a grab bag of federal Law Enforcement from all over the country who had not trained together and an impulsive gesture by the president , a political gesture, that ended up outraging a peaceful protest. I think the bottom line to it was, an enormous embarrassment to secretary esper and to the chairman. I dont think they got what was going on until it was too late. The real problem is the president of the United States. Who was demanding active duty combat forces in the streets of america. We have 800,000 Police Officers in america. Theres 450,000 National Guard who can operate under the control of governors. The district of columbia, of course, is a special case, but this is an outrage and it properly prompted the uniformed military to put out instructions throughout the armed forces, be careful. We swore an oath to the constitution. Jeh johnson, i know you dont have the intelligence as a former official to see the threat making but is there any justification for the fencing that has separated the white house from the American People . Youre right, andrea. I dont have the latest threat streams, intelligence. Im not going to second guess the judgment of the secret service about what it takes to protect the white house compound. I will say this a week ago we were having a debate about the insurrection act of 1807, and i believe i said then that the insurrection act is a law of last resort. When state government, state Law Enforcement has failed and i was pleased that the secretary of defense later in the week said literally the same thing. These are legal principles. So interesting to me and reassuring to me is that you have retired chairman of the joint chiefs, retired fourstars coming out, forcefully, to object to any use of the active duty military on the streets of the United States. Not so much as a legal matter but because it is so ingrained in their value as military officers and a culture you just dont do this. You dont deploy active duty military for a posse com mititus. You just dont do this. I was reassured pleem normally apolitical in their retired life came out to object to this forcefully. And general mccaffrey, you know the culture of the military better than most anyone that i know. Just why is this so ingrained . Why is it so important . Well, look, end of the day from the time we come in the armed forces age 17 from west point and study constitutional law, it underscores what the second has just been talking about. Basically, our armed forces dont arrest people or collect evidence. Thats a red line. Weve done it in the past more than 20 times. U. S. Military forces have been used in some form of domestic uprising, but its a court of last resort. The other thing, look at the 2. 1 million men and women in the armed forces. Were the most diverse meritocracy in american society. And i might add also in every poll the most trusted and respected institution. We didnt get that way by not being attune to the values of the American People. That is so true. Thank you very much for your perspectives. Barry mccaffrey, general mccaffrey and joof course, jeh johnson. Up next, the Minneapolis Police department. And like pictures from houston. A live viewing for george floyd is scheduled to start next hour. Stay with us, youre watching Andrea Mitchell reports on msnbc. You may be learning about, medicare and supplemental insurance. Medicare is great, but it doesnt cover everything. Only about 80 of your part b medicare costs. A Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan may help cover some of the rest. Learn how an aarp Medicare Supplement Insurance Plan, insured by Unitedhealthcare Insurance Company might be the right choice for you. A free decision guide is a great place to start. Call today to request yours. 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As calls grow to Defund Police forces across the country a key demand of many protesters, the Minneapolis City Council agreed sunday to dismantle the citys Police Department in its current form after the killing of george floyd. Minneapolis mayor jacob frey who i poses the move was booed as a protest for his opposition. All go home, jacob, go home go home, jacob, go home go home, jacob, go home go home, jacob, go home shame shame shame shame shame shame shame shame shame shame nbc news correspondent Gabe Gutierrez joins us now from minneapolis where hes been for all of this time. In practical terms what does this vote by city council mean, gabe, and for the mayor tos shouted down with shame, stunning in the part of a platform of reforming police . Reporter right, andrea. Certainly. The protesters were heard by the City Council Members, majority of which, you mentioned, agreed to Defund Police just yesterday. The question is, what would it actually look like . And Jeremiah Ellison one of the City Council Members said this is going to be a question City Council Members will ask for input from the public for up to the next year. Right now they dont have details about how this exactly will work, but some of the ideas tossed around perhaps hiring more Mental Health counselors instead of relying solely on police for 911 calls. Something not new, talked about for quite a while around the country. Given the death of george floyd its gotten traction here and in other parts of the country, for example, in new york where mayor bill de blasio said he is shifting some Police Resources away from the Police Department and investing more in youth and social services. Mayor Eric Garcetti in los angeles doing the same. Saying that hes shifting up to 150 million. Now, andrea, tell you where i am now. You see behind me, the public county safety facility. You can see heavy security presence is here. Actually boarded up because of the violent protests we saw maybe a week and a half ago. Havent seen it in the last days. In a short time, next hour and a half or so, we expect to see the First Court Appearance by officer Derek Chauvin, whos expected to go before a judge in a teleconference in just a little bit, andrea. I know youll be there covering that for msnbc. Gabe gutierrez, thank you for your reporting. Meanwhile, House Democrats are calling for a special prosecutor to investigate attorney general William Barrs role in clearing those Peaceful Protesters near the white house last monday. This weekend the attorney general pushed back. All i heard was consulmments peaceful they were. Not 150 Law Enforcement officers injured and many taken to the hospital with concussions. So it wasnt a peaceful protest. I gave the green light at 2 00 obviously i didnt know that the president was going to be speaking later that day. Joining me now is democratic congressman on the Judiciary Committee calling for a special prosecutor to investigate bill barr. Is there any possibility of that . Isnt that basically you know, impossible given the Current Situation at the Justice Department and in the senate . Congressman . Well, andrea, thanks for having me. Its not only something im calling for. 80 of my colleagues joined a letter in just a few hours calling on the attorney general for the appointment of a special prosecutor. This is really outrageous behavior that the attorney general of the United States directed members of the military to really turn on a peaceful protest. Protesting is central to our democracy. The right of people under our constitution to have their voices heard. These by all accounts were Peaceful Protesters cleared out of the way by the military so the president could have a photo op with a bible in front of a church. It was outrageous. There is precedence for this. Janet reno appointed a special prosecutor when her decision to engage in a siege at waco came into question and she apainted john danforth. The attorney general is the only one that can appoint an investigation. So people can be held accountable, particularly the attorney general. This is outrageous behaviors as general mccaffrey said. The military does not belong in this role in our nations capitol and outrageous for the attorney general to direct that they clear a space so the president could have a photo p. Photo op. Appreciate the symbolic value of making this call, but this is an attorney general who not only would not appoint someone to investigate himself, but is denying there is systemic racism in policing. Lets watch another thing, another one of the comments he made on cbs. I think theres racism in the United States still but i dont think that the Law Enforcement system is systemically racist. I understand the distrust, however, of the Africanamerican Community given the history in this country. So how do you get any kind of action from the Justice Department headed by bill barr . Again, andrea, its going to require a mounting public pressure. No question that as the president said he wanted his own roy cohen and he got it in william barr for mischaracterizing the mueller report, doing his bidding attempting to dismiss charges against friends and allies of the president. Weve seen this attorney general behave as if hes represents the president and interests of the Administration Rather than the interests of the American People. We understand that but need to continue to raise our voice and public pressure as it continues to mount and when public pressure rises to the level they sort of cant ignore it then the attorney general will be under sufficient pressure to appoint this. We need to call this out, demand a special counsel be appointed. In a very short period of time 80 of my colleagues joined me because i think people across the country can deeply disturbed to see and learn the attorney general of the United States directed that military troops clear a path for the president of the United States. Akin to a dictaies. So he could stand there with a bible and take a photograph. This is not what we expect in america, and people peacefully assemble have to right to do it under our constitution. He has responsible to uphold the law not undermine it. Thats the only way to hold people accountable. Well keep pressing the attorney general to appoint a special counsel until he eventually does. Thank you very much, congressman. Thanks for being with us today, and coming up next, open for business. 100 days after the first coronavirus case was diagnosed in new york city, up to 400,000 people are returning to work today as the city enters phase one of reopening. Youre watching Andrea Mitchell reports only on msnbc. 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Coronavirus pandemic is getting back to work today with as many as 400,000 permitteded to return to jobs in construction, manufacturing even some Retail Stores reopening. Moments ace Governor Andrew Cuomo riding a new york city subway, resuming normal weekday schedule first time in about a month. Joining me from new york city from times square, i think, nbc news correspondent rehema ellis. Great to see you as new york comes back to life. I dont know what youre seeing around you and whether new yorkers feel comfortable with this. Theres always a fear of do you go out . Do you go to a store . A side from the people i assume thrilled to be getting back to their jobs in construction and manufacturing . Reporter for sure. Here in the crossroads of the world, basically entertainment, tourism and office buildings, the question becomes one of, if you open, will they come . The answer seems to be, not so fast. Ill have ronny turn the cameras. A little clunky. Look up seventh avenue, andrea. Look what you see. Clear up the street, and normally on a monday, it would be bumpertobumper rubberneck traffic on this road. 400,000 people expected to come back this way and if ronny comes back, 32,000 construction jobs are back in, manufacturing jobs. But also retail with curbside service. Look what theyre up against. Ronny, pan one more time. Plywood put up on some of the businesses because they closed because of the pandemic, and then also some of it because of the protests. So curbside pickups are allowed today, to pick up, but youve got to bring down the plywood in some instances. Theyre doing their best here. Particularly in, the fact they have so many people coming, riding on the subway system, theyve done so much to try to increase the safety. Theyre requiring people to wear a mask. If you dont have one, theyll provide one for you. Encouraging social distancing with signs everywhere, in addition, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, saying the new york subway system has probably never been as clean as it is now. Still, people are coming back ever so slowly. Andrea . Thank you to, you rehema ellis and ronny for the great camara work. Coming up, some of your personal reporting how children are coping with images e protests theyre seeing on television and of course in their own streets at home. How to talk to your kids about whats happening in the country. Stay with us. Youre watching Andrea Mitchell reports on msnbc. The emotional impact of the disruption across the country and how to talk to children about racism are tough questions for parents of all races. Rehema ellis spoke to some kids across the country about how theyre coping and her own experience with her son. We brought together kids 8 to 14 years old from massachusetts to california to hear what theyre thinking about the death of george floyd and the protests that erupted. I cried, if im being honest. Understandably, theres heightened fear among black kids. I am afraid because im afraid of like if i go outside and something will happen to my family. But fear even if youre not black. Im afraid that these like e eye rots riots if they get too big and out of hand they could go into houses and stuff. They also expressed disappointment. People should know we have to treat people equally and not judge anybody just because theyre black r or white. Psychologists say parents should help ktalk to their kids. But its hard even for me. Ive struggled to find the right words to tell my black child about how to stay safe when hes not with me. Thanks. Joining me now is erica, the executive director of hortons kids, which helps kids growing up in one of washington, d. C. s underserved communities. Thanks for being with us. How to parents communicate with their children, not making them r more fearful, but preparing them and helping them cope with that theyre seeing . So weve been in the neighborhood of Wellington Park, one of d. C. s most underserved neighborhoods, for about 30 years and i would say this has been a continual con vversation. Trying to talk about the daily impact of racial injustice. Whether its from militarized policing, failing schools, but ipg overall, theres not too much you can sugar coat around this. I think parents are struggling and as we just heard, it really depends upon the age of the child. What do you say . How do you say it . Its hard to child proof a conversation this serious. And i think that you know parents are instilling a he waly dose of fear in their children because thats what keeps them safe and protected as they go out into the world. How do you feel about kids being with their parents at protests . Over this weekend, we saw that dwen. The protests were thankfully peaceful, but how important is it for them to see firsthand whats happening . I think you know kids are really trying to find ways to get involved. In the Wellington Park community, theres been mixed reactions. Some parents are fearful to have their children out there. Not sure whats going to happen. Whos theres in crowd. Most of the older kids are he t heartened to see everybody coming out. The racial Ethnic Diversity thats there. Primarily, the protests have been very peaceful but i think a real mixed feeling about being there and all this sort of framed in the backdrop of the pandemic and black communities in particular feeling fearful about the impact of that and being in large crowd us and so i think theres a lot that parents are weighing and considering in this very moment. And how does not having in classroom schooling play into this where kids have been home and theres a very different level of parental teaching based on wifi access and based on parents being able to cope with all that. Yeah, i think thats been our primary focus ever since schools were shut down. Weve been reaching out to families and schools fig yooring out u how theyre going to get technology into our households for every student that needs to learn and sign on. I think theres been a lot of very sayre ryued reaction to that and ability to acquire those things so its been difficult. As an organization, we vbt been able able to be there as often but were reaching out and having those touch points. Definitely theres going to be an impact. Already, studies are showing there will be up to 10 months of learning loss potentially from this. So were looking into the summer thinking about how were going to be able to support kids during that break and to try to sort of minimize some of this loss thats already occurred because of everything being shut down. Weve got kids preparing to go to college for the first time. Some of the first time people in their families to do that. And so wanting to celebrate but also be really prepared for whats to come in the fall. Doing a great job. Erica, thank you very much for being with us. And oaf the weekend, speaking of commencement, youtube hosted a star studded virtual tribute for 7 Million High School and College Graduates dear class of 2020 was a commencement with messages of hope and inspiration from more than 70 musicians, actors and even the former president and first lady in a year where the pomp and circumstance are all virtual. You are graduates in the most powerful time to be coming of age. Youve worked your whole life in pursuit of your dreams and nothing, not even a Global Pandemic is going to keep you from the futures youve imagined for yourself. You all have done something great. Hold your heads high and celebrate. And go ahead and do a little dance. Weve seen that our collective hearts, when put to positive action, could start the wheels of change. Real change has started with you. And that does it for this edition of andrAndrea Mitchell report reports. Congratulations, graduates. Follow the show on facebook and twitter. Chris jansing picks up our coverage after a break. Can my side be firm . And mine super soft . With the sleep number 360 smart bed, on sale now, you can both adjust your comfort with your sleep number setting. But can it help keep me asleep . Absolutely, it intelligently senses your movements and automatically adjusts to keep you both effortlessly comfortable. And snoring . No problem. And done. Will it help me keep up with him . Yep. So you can really promise better sleep . Not promise. Prove. Its our weekend special, save 1000 on our most popular smart bed and adjustable base. Plus 0 interest for 48 months on all beds. Ends monday. Your graduation may look different. But it does not change how far youve come. Or how far youll go. Congratulations, class of 2020 some Companies Still have hr stuck between employeesentering data. A. Changing data. More and more sensitive, personal data. And it doesnt just drag hr down. It drags the entire business down with inefficiency, errors and waste. Its ridiculous. So ridiculous. With paycom, employees enter and manage their own data in a single, easy to use software. Visit paycom. Com, and schedule your demo today. Good afternoon. Here are the latest headlines this hour. Right now, leaders at the federal and local level are rolling out sweeping new reforms to address racial despairties in criminal justice following demands for change by thousands upon thousands of protestors in the weeks following the death of george floyd. And now the Minneapolis City Council has pledged to disband its Police Department and the