Transcripts For WPVI This Week With George Stephanopoulos 20

Transcripts For WPVI This Week With George Stephanopoulos 20140817

Where weve seen another night streets, despite authorities he imposing a fivehourlong curfew. Police firing tear gas. Making at least seven arrests. At least one person shot by an armed protesr and is in the hospital. Were tracking every angle this morning. Missouri governor jay nixon will be here shortly. But first, all the breaking news from abcs steve osunsami. Reporter as soon as the governors curfew began, so did the nights chaos. No justice no curfew reporter overnight, the s. W. A. T. Teams moved in, firing smoke canisters and tear gas at people in the streets. You must disperse the area immediately. Reporter someone was shot by an armed protester and had to be hospitalized. Now in critical condition. Police promised to be kinder and gentler, theyre now defending the use of tear gas. We got a report of a shooting victim. They did deploy tear gas in an effort to move back and get to the shooting victim. Reporter a of this after state of emergency was declared on saturday. No justice. All no peace reporter during the day, families protested loudly but peacefully. At night, thieves went to work, robbing and burning down businesses. Black families who met with the governor at a church were furious. And made sure to let him know it. You need to charge that police with murder. Reporter friday, police finally revealed the identity of the officer who shot 18yearold Michael Brown. 28yearold Darren Wilson is a sixyear veteran. He was moved from his home out of fears for his safety. Police then lit the fire by releasing this video of the shooting victim in the middle of what they said was a strongarm robbery 15 minutes before brown died. A video they asked not to be released. Demonstrators called it character assassination. I have two boys, 19 and 21. They could have been one of them. Steve is with me. You have been here all week. You have tracked this so closely. What do you think has to happen at this point to calm things down . I think tt de for t s fisentts dowts. Communication between the police and the public here. Information coming out a lot sooner. Thank you very much, steve. A good way to transition to missouri governor jay nixon. Governor nixon, ank yofor joining us. You heard what steve said just now. What do you think it will take . And how soon and will there be a prosecution of this officer, do you believe . First of all, we started out with a tough week. The loss of Michael Brown. Shot in the street. The young man, you know, touched a nerve. Not only here in ferguson in the st. Louis area, but across the nation and the world. These acts, unfortunately, bring a great deal of emotions. Over the last few days, as the department of justice has ramped up the investigation and the local prosecutors working, this is an opportunity for them to step up and get justice. These investigations need to be complete, thorough, and get justice. But you understand why people were angry all over again this week, you saw chief jackson go out and present that surveillance video. Did you want that presented . The Justice Department didnt. We were unaware they were going to release it. We were not happy with that. Especially in the way that it was released. It appeared to, you know, cast aspersions on a young man that was gunned down in the street. It made emotions raw. And one of the reasons why, after the first night of bringing in highway patrol, we had a calm night the first night. The second night, late, we saw folks get upset. Thats why we got the curfew last night. Im proud of everybodys effort last nigpecially from the community. With thousands of people out there, only seven arrests. E majority from outside the area. Not a single shot by a police officer. I thought that last night with the help of the community, a solid step forward was made. But, people are angry with you, personally, your press briefings have been town halls. People venting their anger. Wondering where you were early on. I know you issued statements after about 72 hours. But you didnt come to the scene for five days. What responsibility do you bear . Well, i mean, i have been here almost every day. The bottom line. Weve been focused on meeting with groups, meeting with parents, making sure we were set up. Taking the unprecedented action can ptai do security and and following up that, making sure we were continuing to provide security here. Ice officers. Lookeity. Otion ous unrs byese anth the mrappunted patrol. Tojomm community, has ben and to a much dnte on Law Enforcement there. I think it has paid off, while respecting and allowing the appropriate First Amendment rights for people to grieve and speak. More in a different training r iss e too. It really its very poan involved with the community if d theyre pointings at folks, thats impossible a ue there are times when force is necessary. But we really felt that that push at that time was a lile aggressive, obviou and thages were not what we were trying to get to. This is legitimately, people are legitimately upset. An 18yearold Michael Brown was shot . The street of his hometown. And, that scratches a nerve. And, opens old wounds. Thank you very much for joining us governor. Now to the eyewitness accounts of the dramatic protests and unrest here in this normally quiet suburb. Including this riveting story from a local leader who has watched it all from day one. When i walked through town with st. Louis Alderman Antonio french, everyone wanted to shake his hand. Antonio how are you . Reporter he became a folk hero after he drove into ferguson to take videos of police actions. And ended up in jail. Is there a reason . He said because i didnt listen. Reporter we walked the path from the makeshift memorial to the socalled ground zero of the unrest following the killing, the quick trip gas station on west florist avenue. 2zik i then he took us back to where it all started. Where it ended for 18yearold Michael Brown. Michael browns body lay there for two hours . Most of the day . Close to five hours. Reporter five hours. Yeah, close to five hours. Reporter and what really incited things . That night, this had become a memorial site. Which included rose petals and little candles. Right on the site where his body lay. ni ]fj over the course, a dumpster back behind the apartments, somebody put some barbecue charcoals in there and it caught on fire. The fire truck came down and they had officers with them. And they started putting out the fire. They had those officers statnerek. Some people started shouting at the officers. They called for backup. And all of a sudden, over a dozen more police cars came flying down here. It just lined up, flashing lights. Got out with the dogs to get the crowd back. It agitated them more. Joining us now, dr. Cedrick alexander from the National Organization for black Law Enforcement. Hes the Public Safety director of the Dekalb County Police Department in georgia and came to ferguson at the request of police chief jackson. What have you talked about with him . A lot of the controversy has centered around him. Yes, right. He and i have had an opportunity to have a number of indepth conversations about whats been occurring over the last week. And he certainly agrees there have been some missteps that he has made. But really, the thrust of the conversations we have had has been around how do his department begin to develop a relationship with the community . As they move forward. And it is clear, and i think from what is being evidenced continually, what is a lack of communication between police and community. I have to say. I saw something yesterday. Not only the lack of communication but the lack of diversity. I was at the site where Michael Brown was killed. Mmhmm. 11 police cars rolled in there yesterday. Right by that memorial. Uh huh. One black officer. They said they were answering a call. There was no communication with the community when they came in at a very sensitive time. How do you change that state of mind and the diversity . That is an observation clearly made. Everyone across the country clearly sees that. One of the things he and i talked about is that he has to find a way, along with his city leadership, is how do they begin to diversify that department that is more representative of that community as well. That will occur over time. Theyre going to have to develop a Strategic Plan in order to deal with that, because even when you talk with people in the community, that is one of the first things that comes to mind. It is a department that has 55 officers, only 3 only 3 are black. Thats what theyre saying. Communicate. You have to communicate that. You have to sit with the community. Come up with a strategy of how to recruit persons of color, to come into that organization as attrition takes place. It becomes increasingly important that they start to talk to each other, communicate with each other. That has not clearly been the case whatsoever. And again, we see that evidenced every day. It seems like they have a long way to go. It could take a lot of time. It will take time. It certainly is going to take some time. But it is doable. And it can be done. Thank you very much for joining us. Thank you for having me. Now another look at the growing memorial marking the spot where Michael Brown was shot and killed. The street is quiet this morning. There will be another rally here later today. Members of Michael Browns family will be there and so will our next guest, a brown family attorney, anthony gray. Mr. Gray, youre a local attorney. You know the family. What do you expect today . With the family . What do they want to do today . They want to reiterate their i urge for a fair and impartial nl no one was given the opportunity to authenticate it was mike brown jr. In the video. But they believe it is . They havent examined it for that purpose. Theres no reason not to believe that its him. Much like when you identify someone who is deceased, you have a Family Member that come in and make a positive i. D. They have not had the opportunity to do that. What do you think investigators should be doing that theyre not . I dont know. Because im not sure what theyre doing. Its hard to criticize when i dont know whats going on at the present moment. I can only hope theyre conducting a fair and impartial investigation. That theyre being thorough, that theyre being complete, unbiased. And that the results of the investigation would depict that. That is our hope. That is my hope for the investigators. And thats what the family hopes for. Okay. We thank you very much for your thoughts. And the family there at the rally this afternoon. I was at the memorial yesterday. It is a very moving spot indeed. Thank you. Now to a community literally caught in the cross fire and the residents desperately trying to bring back a sense of calm. Check out this photo that caught our eye in the washington post. Thats reverend willis johnson. His church is a couple of minutes from here. Hes counseling a young man in the middle of the mayhem. This weekend, we sat down with reverend johnson and two young men who have been right there as the pro tests unfolded. Alvin ransom, who went to the same high school as mike brown. And brendan hart, who attends johnsons church. You said you have had a hard time containing your own anger this week. Its just really hard. Especially especially on us. On the young people. On the young africanAmerican People. We know the struggle. Theres a lot of dirty cops out there. Its hard. Sometimes i dont get looked for my intelligence. I get looked at as my color sometimes. Its hard for me to show people who i am because they already think im this type of person. And when you say the cops are dirty, have row had expeer wednesday with that . Or just the mistrust is so high . I had experience. My skin color. They pull you over. Search through the car. Slam you on top of the hood. Say things to you. Put the handcuffs on your wrists very tight. When you heard this week that Michael Brown might have been involved in that robbery, what did you think . I think that was not the point. The point was why did he get shot . Several times with his hands up . Theyre supposed to protect and serve. They didnt protect and serve. Theyre destroying us. Do you behave in a way that will keep you safer . Um i feel like, in fear, i do. I react out of fear. So i have to tighten up a little bit. I have to i have to make sure im not sagging. Because they look for things like that. We have to put on a show that were perfect. So if you saw Police Officers coming at you, what would you do . Hope to god that they are not coming to me. I would hope that i dont know. Is this a real fear for you that you could get shot by police at any time . Yes. And at any age. And at any age. Doing anything. I feel that same, i mean, when i see blue lights in the Rearview Mirror its fear. Im hoping theyre going past. And not stopping me. I know i have nothing in the car. Reverend, i i want to go back to that picture. You were with joshua wilson. A young man, 18 years old, he was angry. At a protest. What was that moment like . Um, it was obviously real. It was a moment of helping each other. And it was a moment of trying to speak to a son, whether its my son, someones son, our son, so that we did not have to experience what mrs. Brown and so many others have had to experience previously. What did you say to him . I said we need you. I said i need you. If you need to get mad, get mad with me. Dont give them. Dont do what they want and expect us to do. I want all of you to tell me what you would want to tell people watching about the importance of what happened here and what you do about it. Its sad to say, this tragedy has brought us together. I have seen people who were enemies standing together hand in hand, all fighting for one cause. And thats to bring justice for mike brown. Look, look how everybody is coming together. Look how big we got. Like were standing strong. Were standing on our feet now. Mahatma gandhi said, we must become the change we wish to see. Its made me look at me and i think theres not a person who is experiencing this that has not had to go through that. Powerful thoughts. Coming up, the u. S. Launching another wave of air strikes in iraq. Plus the new fears about the prize jihadist fighters just captured. Then, the texas stunner. Governor rick perry indicted. His reaction. Plus a brandnew signal hes now sending about 2016. Back in two minutes. Back in 26 mitwo minutes. Now, our closer look. Breaking developments in the crisis in iraq. The u. S. Launching another round of air strikes. This morning, there are real fears that the isis Jihadist Army is gaining momentum. Chief Foreign Correspondent terry moran has the very latest from northern iraq. Good morning, terry. Reporter good morning, martha. The main battle in iraq is about 80 miles west from here. U. S. Air power supporting kurdish troops on the ground in an effort to retake the huge dam outside of mosul. Which, in isis hands, is a potential for mass destruction. U. S. And iraqi officials are deeply concerned that isis might blow up the dam that could release a wall of water 60 feet high through the city of mosul. And flood baghdad, 250 miles away. The new u. S. Strikes are aimed at breaking the isis juggernaut. Theyve got all the initiative right now. More than onethird of iraq is under isis control. Including major cities like mosul, fallujah and tel afar. Much of the border between iraq and syria is in their control, as well. Everywhere they go, they spread terror in the name of their god. On friday, another massacre of yazidis. Scores of men killed. Women and children kidnapped. We spoke with man from that same village. He fled with his family, ten children, this week. We showed him pictures of the atrocity. There is no place in iraq for us anymore, he told us. As they squat outside of the already full u. N. Refugee camp, there is no place for them to go. For this week, terry moran. Lets break down the strategy can colonel steve ganyard, abc contributor. Lets talk about the air strikes. This goes beyond moving people, it seems. Its been an incredible week for american air power. Think about what we have done in a few dozen strikes. We have held erbil. Presented a fall of kurdistan. Disaster on theop of mount sinjan. Openedscape routfor e refugees. Were conducting strikes around the mosul dam in an attempt to prevent disaster. President said these strikf tho. Will be ly used and only to protect u. Citizens. R powet an ideogy. Sll up to the iqi gove to beat isis. What happens gog rwd . Air por one cant do it. Yore ailot. You you know that, i think. Youre ght. Just this the only thing the u. S. Air power will be used for is things that will protect iz people in erbil or the consulate there or in baghd,r if problem. Other humanitarian the ite house has no stated strategy against isis itself it remains the resnsility e aqgt s a crut stand uptwo feet and push isis back across the border agn. Quickly. T read sothing saw a tweet ofours thiseek that caught my eye. The tweet said yestery, a 28 million americ reaper shot 600,000 mrap tt was given to iruraxol. Om we spent hundreds of millions and a decade training the iraqi arnly to watch them fail at the first test. And ls of u. S. Equipment fall back into isis hands. Unfortunately, the american taxpayer gets thbill coming and going. Thanks, steve. Now to w members of congress, both veterans of the iraq war. Democrat Tulsi Gabbard from hawaii, and adam kinzinger, the republican from illinois headed off to National Guard duty next week. I would like to art withou, congressman. Do you think the u. Sis doing enough . L, lk, i want to be very re to feel say, its good that we staed doi something. What were watching in iraq and lyis the cenario fo this cancer that is growing that is consuming all over the place. Back in january, i called for air strikes against isis, on this show, in fact. When they were just about 1,000 or,000 people. Today, we see them in the tens of thousands. Theyre only continuing to metastasize. I think what we have begun doing is very good. I think we have get enbigger aer crushing and the pushing back isis not just in iraq but in syria is of the utmost priority. Army, who w fds its e syrian surrounded by the regime and isis

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