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Trump's Protest Response Leaves Trudeau Speechless; Obama's Message of Hope; Police Ban Vigil Marking Tiananmen Square Protests; German Officials: New Suspect in Madeleine McCann Case; Brazil to Test Potential Vaccine Developed by Oxford; NFL's Brees: Never Agree with Disrespecting the Flag. Aired 1-2a ET

Aired June 4, 2020 - 01:00   ET

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


[01:00:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

NICK WATT, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, and welcome to our continuing coverage of the ninth straight night of protests against police brutality and racism in the U.S. I'm Nick Watt. And here's what's happening right now. The arrest of all four Minneapolis police officers involved in the death of George Floyd did not end the protests in cities across the U.S. The New York Police clashed with protesters violating the curfew. In Brooklyn, the city has seen some of the worst violence and looting over the past week, but rain kept things fairly quiet in Manhattan.

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The nation's capital has been more peaceful as well. Crowds in Washington held up their cell phones and sang along with Bill Withers' 1972 classic, "Lean on Me." President Trump now says he does not believe he'll need to use U.S. troops to end the protests. And in Minneapolis.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

(END VIDEO CLIP)

Demonstrators they're chanting, we got all four, after hearing all the police officers who arrested George Floyd last week will face charges. In Seattle, Washington, the mayor announced an immediate end to that city's curfew. She says people can continue to demonstrate peacefully and make their voices heard. Atlanta's curfew was extended through the weekend. Six officers there now face charges for using excessive force against two college students during protests on Saturday. After that incident, several suburban counties say they will no longer provide help to the City of Atlanta Police Department.

A closer look now at what's happening in Washington. Earlier in the day, a concert-like atmosphere, but as the curfew approached, tension rose. Active duty troops coming face-to-face with protesters. Let's get right to CNN's Alex Marquardt, who is live in Washington. Alex, what is the scene there now? The curfew is supposed to be in effect, am I right?

ALEX MARQUARDT, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Nik, it's almost like a guideline. In essence, the city of Washington has said the curfew is today was 11:00 p.m. But as far -- as long as the protests remain peaceful, they weren't really going to enforce it. Last night, it was at 7:00 p.m., people stayed out well past that, and there were very few arrests. What you're seeing here and keep in mind, Nick, it is 1:00 a.m. here on the East Coast, is you still have a number of protesters out here. It is certainly a dwindling number. But there are still people out here. It is very peaceful as it has been throughout the course of the day. You mentioned that concert-like atmosphere. There were singers, there was live music. There were people dancing. It was, in essence, a party at times.

And these things, as you know, Nick, they have a bit of an ebb and flow to them. They can get tense at times, but right now it is very peaceful. As these protesters are right in front of National Guard forces. They're not active duty troops. There are active duty troops in Washington but they have not been deployed. These are National Guard forces. And there have also been -- there have also been officers from the Bureau of Prisons. And Nick, we have been -- the protesters have been pushed back to this line. This is the farthest that they've ever been away from the White House. The White House has been the epicenter of these protests for essentially the past week.

At first the protesters were in that park, Lafayette Park, right north of the White House. Then, they installed a fence, pushing the protesters even farther back. And now, when protesters showed up today, they are here even farther away from the White House. Those trucks there blocking that line of sight. One other note, Nick, that church right there, that is St. John's Episcopal Church. That is the fame -- the now-famous church that the President walked to, after all the protesters were cleared out of here violently, so that he could have that photo opportunity and hold up that Bible. I spoke to the rector of St. John's today. He said the worshipers were not allowed to cross this line today. It was the first time that worshipers have not been allowed to go to that church since 9/11.

[01:05:06]

Now, there is a bit of a confrontation brewing between the federal government, these federal forces, perhaps overstepping their bounds, according to the mayor of Washington. The mayor of Washington is saying that she's looking into the legality of military forces being deployed on the streets of Washington, saying that that concept is unconscionable. But as you note, Nick, for the time being, it has past the curfew, but people are allowed to stay out here, as long as they remain peaceful. And so far, they have, Nick.

WATT: Alex in Washington, thanks very much and stay safe. And a curfew has also gone into effect in Los Angeles, but Mayor Eric Garcetti says it will be lifting starting Thursday, as long as there aren't any more bad nights. Los Angeles County has been under a curfew four nights in a row now after violence started last week. Police have announced hundreds of arrests over the past few days during these protests. CNN's Kyung Lah joins me now live for a sense of what's going on. Kyung, looking quieter now?

KYUNG LAH, CNN SENIOR U.S. CORRESPONDENT: Well, let me kind of walk you through the situation that we have here, right on the steps of City Hall. What you're looking at over my right shoulder, and I'm going to have cameraman, Jordan, push all the way in, you are looking at the formation of police officers. You can see what they're wearing, you can see that they're carrying zip ties. This is a familiar formation that we have seen just before they make arrests. So, I'm going to have you walk with me this way. Over here, the steps of City Hall. There's a small group of protesters sitting peacefully right in front of City Hall. They have their backs to the police officers.

About an hour and a half ago, those police officers were not wearing helmets; they are wearing helmets now. And then, I'm going to have you spin directly behind. This is going to be the focus of all those police officers you saw information. There was an announcement at 9:30 local time, that arrest would begin at 10:00 local time here in Los Angeles. And the people who are organizing these group of protesters, made sure to say, leave if you want, but if you're going to stay, you are going to be arrested.

And so, this is the group who has decided to stay and be arrested. It's a smaller group than what we saw last night, because they had warning; they were given a choice. Are you going to say, get arrested, make a point, and they are going to be -- one arrest is subject to a $1,000 fine and a ticket. It's a misdemeanor here in the City of Los Angeles if you violate your curfew, and this is who has decided to stay. And so, what we are seeing after a very big day here in Los Angeles. This entire square that you see around me was completely packed with people. Thousands of people, the largest crowds that I have seen since the Women's March after Donald Trump was elected, filling downtown Los Angeles. Most of them have left. This group here is all that remains. Nick?

WATT: Kyung and Jordan, behind the camera. Thanks, guys, stay safe. Now, at least 90 people have been arrested during Wednesday night's protests in New York. Two price tag -- two protesters were pulled to the ground after confronting a line of officers holding shields in Brooklyn. They were taken into custody and one officer was injured. And some peaceful protesters were arrested in Manhattan as police announced the curfew on loudspeakers. Not only have all four officers involved in George Floyd's death now have been charged, but prosecuters have also upgraded the murder charge against the former officer who knelt on Floyd's neck, killing him. The other three are expected in court on Thursday. CNN's Sara Sidner has the reaction from Minneapolis.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: All the world is watching.

SARA SIDNER, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Calls for justice met with an answer. Charges against former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin who kneeled on George Floyd's neck, killing him, will be increased to second degree murder. And the three other officers involved are also being charged.

KEITH ELLISON, ATTORNEY GENERAL, MINNESOTA: George Floyd mattered. He was loved. His family was important. His life had value, and we will seek justice for him and for you, and we will find it.

SIDNER: The announcement came just hours after George Floyd's family paid an emotional visit to the spot where Floyd took his last breaths.

QUINCY MASON FLOYD, SON OF GEORGE FLOYD: Trying to get justice for my father. And no man and woman should be without their fathers.

[01:10:04]

SIDNER: At the center of this a family's grief.

FLOYD: My father shouldn't have been killed like this. We want justice.

SIDNER: Plain and simple.

FLOYD: Plain and simple.

SIDNER: Justice.

The family and their attorney responded to the charges.

BENJAMIN CRUMP, FLOYD FAMILY ATTORNEY: I saw I believe what everybody in the world saw, a man being tortured to death while he asked for them to take the knee off the neck because I can't breathe.

SIDNER: Another a Floyd's young daughter said she is still struggling to explain to their child how he died.

ROXIE WASHINGTON, MOTHER OF FLOYD'S DAUGHTER: She wants to know how he died. And the only thing that I can tell her is he couldn't breathe.

SIDNER: Other signs of solidarity today.

GOV. TIM WALZ (DFL-MN): I have to personally and viscerally feel this.

SIDNER: Minnesota Governor Tim Walz paying his respects at Floyd's Memorial.

WALZ: I think the biggest thing were -- this just candidly means I don't think we get another chance to fix this in the country. I really don't.

SIDNER: And in New York City, Police Commissioner Dermot Shea meeting with Floyd's brother, Terrence.

DERMOT SHEA, COMMISSIONER, NEW YORK CITY POLICE: It should be a wake- up call for this entire country. For justice, to look in the mirror, to work together about what we can do together.

SIDNER: Sara Sidner, CNN, Minneapolis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATT: Now, for more on the charges against these officers, civil rights attorney and CNN legal analyst, Areva Martin, joins me now from here in Los Angeles. Areva, how unusual is it for a charge to be upgraded like this against this officer?

AREVA MARTIN, CNN LEGAL ANALYST: It's not that unusual, Nick. We knew from the beginning when the district attorney for that county first announced the charges, he said that those were preliminary charges, and that he anticipated further investigation, and that that further investigation could lead to additional charges. Not a lot of surprise that this is now being charged as second-degree murder, both from a tactical standpoint and when you look at the plethora of evidence, you know, the vast amount of evidence that we've been able to see.

So, what we've seen is sufficient to support a probable cause for that second-degree murder charge. And what we know from Attorney General Keith Ellison is that there was even additional evidence that he has been able and his team has been able to review. Keep in mind, we have not seen the body camera video, although we know that Attorney General Ellison has seen that video. So, when you look at the totality of the evidence, not that surprising that these charges have now been elevated to second-degree murder.

WATT: But is this going to be an easy case to prosecute?

MARTIN: I don't think it's going to be easy, and I think the attorney general has cautioned the public from jumping to conclusions because we have seen officers charged before and go -- you know, before a criminal trial and to be acquitted for the charges, even though from the public standpoint, it looked as if it was a very shut and closed case. Cases against police officers still are very difficult in this country. We shouldn't lose sight of that.

Jurors give police officers a presumption of innocence. They give them -- well, everyone is presumed innocent until they're proven guilty, but they get an extra presumption that non police officers don't get. So, I think everyone is elated that the charges were filed, that all four officers have now been charged. But yes, this is going to have to play itself out in the court system. Hopefully, we will see conviction of these four officers but it's going to -- it's going to be a journey, it's going to take a lot of, you know, outstanding legal work on the part of the Attorney General.

WATT: And do you have any idea on what the timeframe is going to be?

MARTIN: No indication at this point. We know these officers are supposed to be in court tomorrow. They will probably be arraigned. At some point, they'll be able to state their plea, whether they're going to enter a plea of guilty or not guilty, which we should expect them to enter a not guilty pleas. That's just a legal terminology that allows them to assert defenses at trial. But no real indication about the length of time that it will take to actually get to trial. These cases can take up to a year, if not, longer.

WATT: And what will this hinge on? I mean, obviously, that video that we have all seen is going to be central. What else is this case going to hang on?

MARTIN: Well, we should expect this case -- presumably, it does go forward to trial and the defendant is going to put forth some kind of defense. We've seen these cases before. Now, it may not be a strong case of self-defense or it may not be a strong defense that's put forth by these defendants, but we should expect them to say things like they were following training protocol. We already know that there's been allegations that Mr. Floyd was resisting arrest.

[01:15:01]

So, we should expect them to talk about the fact that he was resisting, and it's -- this was the only way that they could detain him. We should expect to see those kinds of arguments made by at least the main defendant. And then, with respect to those other three, they may enter into some kind of plea agreement and testify against a Derek Chauvin, the main officer that we saw kneeling for the eight minutes and 46 seconds on Mr. Floyd's neck. So, lots of legal -- motions will be filed. Lots of legal maneuvering will happen before we actually see this case tried before a court of law.

WATT: And obviously, one officer had his knee on George Floyd's neck, the other three the charges against them, any surprises there or pretty much what you were expecting?

MARTIN: No surprises. Everyone, I think in the legal community, expected that they -- those three officers that stood by cavalierly did nothing, offered no assistance to Mr. Floyd, didn't try to perform CPR, didn't know life-saving measures. When you think about what police are trained to do, what their obligation, what their mission in terms of protect and serve, we didn't see any protect and serve with respect to those officers. We saw them stand around, ignore the pleas of Mr. Floyd, when he, you know, cried out that he couldn't breathe. They ignored the pleas of the eyewitnesses standing there, and just watched the light be sucked out of him.

And so, they've been charged with aiding and abetting a second-degree murder, and they face the same serious penalty of up to 40 years in prison, just like Derek Chauvin, who was the actual x officer who kneeled on the neck of Mr. Floyd for eight minutes and 46 seconds. No surprise, I think those were completely appropriate charges for those other three officers.

WATT: Areva Martin, thanks very much for your time.

MARTIN: Thanks, Nick.

WATT: A stunning denunciation of President Trump from his own former defense secretary. What James Mattis said about the state of the country after three years of Mr. Trump's presidency. Plus, loss for words, President Trump's response to the protests left one world leader actually speechless. More on the Canadian Prime Minister's painful silence, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WATT: President Trump is lashing out at his former Defense Secretary

James Mattis, who earlier, issued a harsh rebuke of the man he once served. It read in part, "When I joined the military, some 50 years ago, I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution. Never did I dream the troops taking that same oath would be ordered under any circumstances to violate the Constitutional rights of their fellow citizens; much less to provide a bizarre photo op for the elected commander-in-chief, with military leadership standing alongside."

[01:20:]

He went on to say, "Donald Trump is the first president in my lifetime who does not try to unite the American people, does not even pretend to try. Instead, he tries to divide us. We are witnessing the consequences of three years of this deliberate effort. We are witnessing the consequences of three years without mature leadership." On the same day, President Trump's current Defense Secretary of -- Secretary of Defense said, he does not support the President's threat to send U.S. troops to quell violence on American streets. Kaitlan Collins has details from the White House.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

KAITLAN COLLINS, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, on the day that you saw the current Defense Secretary, his job security be cast into doubt after he came out at a press conference and contradicted the President, said he did not agree with him on his thought to invoke that 200-year-old law about putting current active duty military troops on U.S. streets. We also saw the former Defense Secretary under President Trump, James Mattis, come out with a withering statement, criticizing the President not only over the last few days and how he's handled the aftermath of George Floyd's death here in the United States and their response to it, but also criticizing him overall as president, saying that he has done nothing in the last three years to unite the country. Instead, he has only divided it.

And Mattis saying that he believed the President had abused his executive authority when those protesters were cleared from the street on Monday night, so he could make that photo op trip to St. John's Church where, of course, he posed with a Bible outside. Now, focusing on the current Defense Secretary Mark Esper, we saw him come out at this press conference, say he did not agree with the President's threat to invoke the insurrection act, but also he said he was aware that they were walking across the park when they left the White House on Monday, but he wasn't aware it was going to turn into a photo op.

He and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff faced heavy criticism for that, because, of course, the question was, are they politicizing the military? Esper says, No, they're not. But he broke with the President in a pretty remarkable way. And that followed a very lengthy meeting that he had at the White House, though right now, sources say he was on thin ice before this event happened. But currently, he still is expected to stay on the job. So, to be determined on that.

But, of course, just hours later, and something that may have helped Esper stay in his job was this lengthy statement that we saw coming from Mattis, where he skewers the President and his leadership, saying basically that the country and the military and the Pentagon have to rise above the President's leadership or lack thereof, he says. It is a blunt and brutal statement coming from someone who works for the president, and of course, later resigned in protest. The President pushed back but not in his normal characteristic way he criticized Mattis, talked about his nicknames that he had while he was in the military, but he did not respond to the primary criticism coming from that letter from Mattis. Kaitlin Collins, CNN, the White House.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

WATT: Joining me now is retired U.S. Army Lieutenant General Russel Honore from Baton Rouge. He is also the author of the book, "Leadership in the New Normal." General, I just want to ask you, what does it take for a man like Mattis, Semper Fi and all, a military man to come out and speak the way he did today?

LT. GEN. RUSSEL HONORE (RET.), U.S. ARMY: I think he's a man of honor. And he remembers his oath that he spent decades serving this nation and he knows the Constitution. So, he speak with authority because he knows and follows the Constitution. And I think the challenge he was giving to the President was that the President either doesn't know the power -- the Constitution or he doesn't give a damn, but Mattis does.

WATT: And do you think that what he wrote is going to make any difference?

HONORE: I think it will sort out and get the lawyers and the Congress and the Senate talking in Washington about the presidential powers to deploy armed forces inside the United States. They need to have that discussion. Because it's not like sending the army out in the Navy to go help during the pandemic, this is different. And the White House need to understand that. He does not have the authority to use the Insurrection Act at will based on his assessment of what kind of job the governors are doing. That is the reason we have another act called the Posse Comitatus, which prevent presidents from deploying federal troops to go interfere in state matters.

WATT: General Mattis, you know, served in the White House. He's been gone more than a year. Interesting that this was the moment that he chose to speak. This was what made him break his silence. What do we read into that, that this was the moment that did it for him?

[01:25:15]

HONORE: Well, I think you might seem to know those of us in uniform, the covenant for us is the Constitution. That's what it's all about people in military now, volunteers, and we support and defend that Constitution. And I think what scared Gerald Mattis and he had to speak up, I spoke up myself and many other general officers and admirals, that don't mess with this Constitution, don't break this constitution, don't give the governors -- threaten the governors with the use of federal troops. That's not going to happen. It's not going to happen. And we need to make sure that our troops understand that they had a rock steady, stay focused on your mission and follow the orders of the officers appointed over you. WATT: Lieutenant General Russel Honore, thank you very much for joining us.

HONORE: Have a good day.

WATT: Protesters filled London's Hyde Park and marched through the city on Wednesday, showing their solidarity with protesters in the United States, and also highlighting racism in the U.K. Star Wars actor John Boyega, one of many, making his voice heard.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BOYEGA, ACTOR: This is very important, this is very vital. Black lives have always mattered. We have always been important.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATT: The protests were met with a stark message from the British Prime Minister. Take a listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BORIS JOHNSON, PRIME MINISTER OF BRITAIN: We mourn George Floyd, and I was appalled and sickened to see what happened to him. And my message to President Trump, to everybody in the United States from the U.K. is that I don't think racism or race is an opinion, I'm sure is shared by the overwhelming majority of people around the world. With racism racist violence has no place in our society.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATT: Now, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also expressed horror at the events unfolding in the U.S., yet, like Boris Johnson, fell short of criticizing President Trump. However, as CNN's Paula Newton reports, Mr. Trump's call for military intervention did elicit a rather awkward reaction.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

PAULA NEWTON, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: For several days, Canadians have shown solidarity with American protesters, demanding justice for George Floyd and denouncing racism in Canada, too. And so, it was a fair question, one Canada's Prime Minister should have been expecting.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You've been reluctant to comment on words and actions of the U.S. President. But we do have Donald Trump now calling for military action against protesters. We saw protesters tear gassed yesterday to make way for a presidential photo op. I'd like to ask you what you think about that. And if you don't want to comment, what message do you think you're sending?

NEWTON: 21 excruciating, uncomfortable seconds. Then finally --

JUSTIN TRUDEAU, PRIME MINISTER OF CANADA: We all watch in horror and consternation what's going on in the United States. It is a time to pull people together. But it is the time to listen. It is the time to learn what injustices continue despite progress over years and decades. But it is a time for us as Canadians to recognize that we too, have our challenges, that black Canadians and racialized Canadians face discrimination as a lived reality every single day.

NEWTON: No direct answer, no rebuke of President Trump. Just an awkward equivocal silence that revealed so much. Trudeau has had a difficult relationship with Donald Trump. The President called him dishonest and weak during the G7 summit in 2018. And with tariffs and threats, President Trump has treated Canada like an economic rival, not an ally

[01:29:44]

In his silence, Trudeau seemed to squirm knowing one word, one slight could work against Canada's best interests and especially during these pivotal times, there is just too much to lose. One of the world's most lucrative and dependent trading relationships.

And Trudeau's ambivalence might owe much to this as well. Photos of him that surfaced last year showing him wearing black face at a party two decades.

Some opposition leaders said Trudeau should have had the courage to call out the President's actions with one saying he should grow a spine.

But in 21 seconds of silence, Trudeau seemed to reason with himself the stakes were just too high.

Paula Newton, CNN -- Ottawa.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

NICK WATT, CNN ANCHOR: And meanwhile, President Trump's predecessor is praising the protesters and says they have reason to be hopeful. We'll bring you Barack Obama's very pointed message.

Plus Hong Kong prepares to mourn the victims of the Tiananmen Square protests but this year's memorial will look a little different. We'll be live in Hong Kong with the latest.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WATT: Welcome back.

Nationwide demonstrations here in the U.S. over George Floyd's death at the knee of a police, show little sign of slowing. Tens of thousands of people have been out rallying against police brutality in all the cities you see marked in red and the yellow dots show some of the major cities with curfews in place which demonstrators keep defying.

Like here in Los Angeles, protesters have been moving through downtown. What will be the city's final curfew, started about 90 minutes ago. And those arrested for violating the order have been receiving 1,000 dollar fines.

Now these continued demonstrations come despite the arrest on Wednesday of the other three police officers involved in the death of George Floyd, who was pinned beneath the knee of their colleague in Minneapolis. These three officers are expected in court on Thursday.

Now former U.S. President Barack Obama has now made his first comments on camera about George Floyd's death. It was during a virtual town hall held by the My Brother's Keeper Alliance, which is part of his foundation.

Obama urged the protesters to keep going. He's hopeful that change could come from this moment in history.

[01:34:42]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: In some ways, as tragic as these past few weeks have been, as difficult and scary and uncertain as they've been, they've also been an incredible opportunity for people to be awakened to some of these underlying trends.

And they offer an opportunity for us to all work together to tackle them to bring about real change. We both have to highlight a problem and make people in power uncomfortable. But we also have to translate that into practical solutions and laws that can be implemented and monitor and make sure we are following up on.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATT: Now Michael Harriot is a senior writer at "The Root". He's joining me live, from Birmingham, Alabama.

Michael -- Barack Obama seems hopeful that some meaningful change will come from this. Are you?

MICHAEL HARRIOT, SENIOR WRITER, "THE ROOT": I think so. I think we've -- you know, we've seen the officers who were involved in the killing, first of all, the officer -- the primary officer who knelt on George Floyd's neck and the officers who were charged with protecting and serving the public who stood there and did nothing, they've all been charged. And so, you know, that is a little bit of change.

But I think it's also important to note that we won't solve this problem with police by simply focusing on police. The systemic problem that we have is embedded into the criminal justice system, is embedded into the political system and is embedded into the fabric of America.

And aside from addressing police, we have to address these things. We have to address the drug policy that causes black people to be arrested at three times the rate of whites even though whites and blacks use drugs at the same rate. We have to address the educational system that funds majority white schools at $2,226 a year versus majority black schools. So these are some of the things that we have to focus on aside from policing. But policing in this moment is a start in going towards the solution to all of these problems.

WATT: I mean that's kind of what I was driving at. This police brutality issue is almost just a symptom of a much deeper issue that is hundreds of years old. I mean what I'm concerned about is, you know, and the next week we all move on because frankly, to fix the problem in this country would be so complicated and so seismic that I just worry that there's not a will to actually make it happen.

HARRIOT: It's hard work, right. But, you know, the truth is we probably have to do to the American -- almost every American institution what we see being done to cities and buildings and windows around the country. We have to break all of them so that they can be refixed.

So again -- the policing is the last stop on the train of systemic inequality that we can fix, you know. The reason that policing is there and black neighborhoods are disproportionately policed is because of education, it's because of economics, it's because of politics. And so we have to fix -- we have to stop at those previous stops on the line.

And it is hard work but, you know, I think the people who are in charge of those systems and the people who can fix those systems see now that there is a popular will and there's enough concern to take that daunting task amongst themselves -- on themselves.

WATT: Michael Harriot -- I am heartened by your optimism. Thank you very much for joining us.

HARRIOT: Thank you for having me.

WATT: Next -- could a 13-year mystery finally be solved? Still ahead, a potential break in the Madeleine McCann Case. Authorities say they have a new suspect.

Plus Brazil's coronavirus outbreak is getting worse. But scientists say it could be the right place to study a vaccine.

[01:39:17]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WATT: In Hong Kong, the city has banned an annual vigil honoring victims of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protest set for today. Officials refused to authorize the vigil citing coronavirus concerns over mass gatherings. Still, some protesters say they plan to mark the anniversary in different ways.

For more on that, CNN's Will Ripley joins me now from Hong Kong -- Will.

WILL RIPLEY, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Nick -- existing coronavirus laws here in Hong Kong prevent more than eight people from gathering in a group which certainly is convenient for a government that it is trying to slow a protest movement.

But on the top of a lot of people's minds here is the looming China national security law and what implications that could have for the freedoms that people here in Hong Kong enjoy including their freedom to assemble.

But you can see this protest -- the first protest scheduled today -- come over here a little closer -- there is not even eight people protesting. There is far more cameras than there are protesters. There's four people marching through this mall in West Kowloon.

A protest like this last summer Nick -- could've easily drawn hundreds. Is this because of the coronavirus pandemic? Is this because of the chilling effect given the fact that when protesters turned out in Hong Kong last week, police were aggressive? They took proactive action. They arrested a lot of people before the event even began.

Bigger demonstrations are set for later today at Victoria Park and other places. We know that Hong Kong police are out, that they will be enforcing the eight-person rule.

So we'll have to see if this is a sign of how the day is going to go with such small groups or if demonstrations will grow despite the laws and of course the national security law looming -- Nick.

WATT: And Will -- there is also a law which I believe -- is it still on the table this proposal that would make it illegal to disrespect the Chinese national anthem?

RIPLEY: So that law -- they were in the process of voting in the Hong Kong legislature. It's now been suspended after a scuffle broke out between lawmakers. Pro democracy lawmakers started creating a scene, apparently one of them might have spit out some sort of unknown liquid, so it's suspended for the moment.

But yes, this law is expected to pass and it will make any desecration of the Chinese national anthem illegal here in Hong Kong. Last summer during the protests a lot of people would sing kind of slightly derogatory versions of the anthem.

This all boils down -- Nick, to respect from the Beijing point of view. The reason why they are cracking down, the reason why they have swooped in to impose the national security law that Hong Kong own government could not manage to pass for 23 years because of intense public opposition is because they are sick of the disrespect. They are sick of the images of the Chinese flag being burned on the streets here.

They say this being Hong Kong is a Chinese territory. And it is going to start being treated in many ways like other Chinese cities -- Nick.

WATT: Will -- fascinating stuff in Hong Kong. Thank you very much for your time.

Now, officials in Germany and the U.K. say a 43-year-old German citizen is now a suspect in the disappearance of Madeleine McCann 13 years ago. The three-year old British girl was last seen in Portugal in 2007. She disappeared during a family vacation. No one was ever charged.

CNN's Isa Soares is following this for us from London -- Isa.

ISA SOARES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning to you -- Nick.

[01:44:51]

SOARES: Yes. Police, German police and British police, the Met police telling us that after 13 years, they may be a step closer -- Nick, to really unraveling the mystery behind the disappearance of little Madeleine McCann who disappeared from Praia de Luz in Portugal.

We don't know the identity of the new suspect police are calling really a new line of inquiry, but we do know this. He is a 43 year old white man. At the time he would've been 30 years of age but would have looked around 25-30 when he was staying in the Algarve in southern Portugal.

He is a German citizen. And he's also sex offender, a convicted sex offender convicted for abusing children. He's currently in prison in Germany for an unrelated matter. This is a long jail sentence according to the Met police.

Now, we know he lived in Portugal from 1995 to 2007 -- that's the year that Maddy disappeared from that resort in Praia de Luz. We also know that he resided in southern Portugal and he held different jobs.

He also had other criminal activities. He burgled lots of homes -- holiday homes but he also was charged as per police doing a lot of drug dealing.

Now, police have come out and said that this is a new suspect. They had four suspects many, many years ago, and more than 600 or so people that they have questioned. But, they have their need, Nick -- for more information.

They want people to come forward. They have a new appeal, and they want their two -- (INAUDIBLE) they want to look again at two cars the suspect used while in Portugal. One a very distinctive camper van, the other a Jaguar. Now, the Jaguar itself -- the registration was in the suspect's name. The date after Maddy disappeared -- that changed.

Police are also wanting to speak to the person who called the suspect on the night that Maddy disappeared. They are putting out a series of phone numbers to see if it triggers any memories for those who perhaps made the call.

The person called the suspect for 30 minutes on that night, and police are basically saying that, look, more than 13 years have gone past. And perhaps loyalties may have changed. So they are calling on whoever made that call for 30 minutes would call the suspect to come forward.

In terms of Madeleine of the McCann -- Kate and Gerry McCann, the parents. Little Madeleine McCann would've been 17 years of age several months ago. They have come forward. They have a statement if I may read it out to you.

"All we have ever wanted is to find her, uncover the truth, and bring those responsible to justice. We will never give up hope of finding Madeleine alive. But whatever the outcome may be, we need to know as we need to find peace."

Now, German police may I add, are treating this as a murder inquiry. But the police haven't gone as far -- and you can just imagine what it's like for the parents of Madeleine McCann after all these years -- Nick?

WATT: And so, Isa -- they are being very tight with the details on exactly who this person is. But I suppose I'm -- I've covered this story for a long time and I never thought that they would ever get to this point. Particularly 13 years down the line. I mean, do we have any indication as to why it has taken quite so long to get to this person?

SOARES: Quite so long -- Nick, as well as an amount of money that has been spent. You covered it, I covered it. I was on the ground 13 years ago in Praia de Luz when Maddy disappeared with CNN. And I remember this clearly.

Look, the new suspect, he was a name the Met police said they had his name down as one of 600 people. His name cropped up when they made a new appeal after 10 years of Maddy's disappearance.

Germany -- they made a new appeal, fresh appeal after the 10-year anniversary of her disappearance and then calls from Germany came in regarding the suspect.

Now, Met Police have also said they are not revealing the identity of the suspect for now because they want people -- Nick, to focus perhaps on the details and not get caught up in the name.

So the cars, the camper van, the distinct camper van they keep (INAUDIBLE) he led kind of a transient lifestyle in the Algarve. They are hoping that these little details would trigger memories rather than people really getting caught up in a name.

[01:49:52]

SOARES: But you are right, he has taken so long and the McCann's really had never given up faith of really finding their daughter, and also unearthing the truth here -- Nick.

WATT: Isa Soares in London -- thanks very much.

As protesters continue to march by the thousands, U.S. leaders are urging them to protect themselves to keep the coronavirus from spreading.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GOVERNOR ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK: If you are going to protest, protest intelligently. Remember the COVID virus is still out there. MAYOR ERIC GARCETTI (D), LOS ANGELES: Please, please, please --

everybody who's been out there protesting so beautifully around Los Angeles. Make sure you get tested, and make sure you're maintaining your physical distance. That you're washing your hands and wearing a mask.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATT: While the U.S. is still struggling to contain its outbreak. Europe is seeing a steady decline in new infections. The World Health Organization says the continent has just reported its fewest cases since late March.

But officials also warned the outbreak is still getting worse in Latin America. Over the past few weeks there have been more infections reported in the Americas than the rest of the world combined.

Brazil remains the worst hit country in Latin America. On Wednesday, it reported the most virus-related deaths since the crisis began.

But because Brazil has so many cases, scientists believe it is an ideal place to test a potential vaccine.

Shasta Darlington explains.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SHASTA DARLINGTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Brazil == the first country outside the U.K. to test a vaccine against COVID-19 being developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca pharmaceutical. Starting this month, 2,000 Brazilians will or participate in the trial; 1,000 here in Sao Paulo, and 1,000 in Rio de Janeiro.

Brazil is now the country with the second highest number of coronavirus cases after the United States. And officials warn it still hasn't peaked.

Vaccine developers say they need to perform trials in places where the infection curve is still rising. And in Brazil that is certainly the case.

Nonetheless, many of Brazil's cities have actually already started to reopen. They are starting to relax some of the social isolation restrictions.

President Jair Bolsonaro has been one of the biggest critics of quarantine arguing that hunger and unemployment could end up killing more people than the virus itself. And on Wednesday, he officially confirmed an army general as his interim health minister. This comes almost three weeks after his second health minister resigned and the move suggests that Bolsonaro is in no hurry to name a permanent replacement.

Shasta Darlington, CNN -- Sao Paulo.

(END VIDEOTAPE) WATT: One of the most popular quarterbacks in NFL history is in trouble. What Drew Brees said about athletes kneeling during the national anthem, and the reaction next.

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WATT: One of the NFL's top quarterbacks is under fire for his comments about players kneeling to protest police brutality. Drew Brees said he will never agree with anybody disrespecting the U.S. flag or the country.

[01:54:59]

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DREW BREES, QUARTERBACK, NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: And is everything right with our country right now? No. It's not. We still have a long way to go.

But I think what you do by standing there and showing respect to the flag with your hand over your heart is it shows unity. It shows that we are all in this together. We can all do better, and that we are all part of the solution.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATT: The reaction? Swift and emotional.

Listen to Malcolm Jenkins, a teammate of Brees'.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MALCOLM JENKINS, NFL PLAYER: Drew, unfortunately -- Unfortunately as somebody who doesn't understand their privilege, you don't understand the potential that you have to actually be an advocate for the people that you call brothers. You don't understand the history and why people like me, people of my skin color whose grandfathers fought for this country, who served, and I still protested against it -- not against the national anthem, but against what was happening in America and what the founding country is for or stands for.

If you don't understand that other people experience something totally different than you -- then when you talk about being the brotherhood and all this other (EXPLETIVE DELETED), it's just lip service. Or it's only on the field.

Because when we step off this field, I take my helmet off, I'm a black man walking around America. And I'm telling you, I'm dealing with these things. I'm telling you my community is dealing with this things.

And your response to me is don't talk about that here? This is not the place? Drew -- where is the place, Drew? I'm disappointed. I'm hurt. Because while the world tells you that you're not worthy, that your life doesn't matter -- the last place you want to hear from are the guys that you go to war with, and that you consider to be allies and to be your friends.

Even though we are teammates, I can't let this fly.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WATT: Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers didn't mention Brees by name but said, "A few years ago we were criticized for locking arms in solidarity before the game. It has never been about an anthem or a flag. Not then, not now. Listen with an open heart. Let's educate ourselves, and then turn word and though into action."

And NBA superstar Lebron James tweeted, "You literally still don't understand why Colin Kaepernick was kneeling on one knee. It has absolute nothing to do with the disrespect of the flag and our soldiers who keep our land free."

Thanks for watching CNN NEWSROOM.

I'm Nick Watt.

Stay tuned because John Vause is next.

[01:58:07]

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