[SOUNDS OF RIOTING] >> JUST AHEAD ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, UNREST AT THE U-S CAPITOL SENDS RIPPLES ACROSS NORTH CAROLINA'S POLITICAL LANDSCAPE.

>> TO SUPPORT VACCINE EFFORTS, I'VE MOBILIZED THE NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD.

GOVERNOR COOPER ACTIVATES THE NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP WITH VACCINE DISTRIBUTION AND, >> ONE OF THE THINGS I GREATLY HOPE TO SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS IS WE SEE MORE DIVERSITY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT AMONGST BLACK PEOPLE OF THIS NATION.

>> NORTH CAROLINA MAKES POLITICAL HISTORY.

A CONVERSTION WITH THE STATE'S NEWEST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR NEXT ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM.

♪ HELLO AND THANKS FOR JOINING US ON BLACK ISSUES FORUM, I'M JOSHUA SENEGAL, IN FOR DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.

WE HAVE A LOT WE WANT TO DIG INTO THIS WEEK - INCLUDING WHAT HAPPENED IN THE NATION'S CAPITOL.

BUT BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, WE'RE TALKING WITH A MAN WHO MADE NORTH CAROLINA HISTORY THIS WEEK.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR MARK ROBINSON JOINS US NOW.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE WITH US THIS MORNING.

THE FIRST THING I WANT TO REALLY GET YOUR YOUR TAKE ON IS REALLY JUST BEING THE STATE'S FIRST BLACK LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR OBVIOUSLY IS 2021 AND IT'S ALMOST KIND OF A SHOCKING TO HEAR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE TO KIND OF ARE YOU KNOW HIT THIS ACHIEVEMENT.

>> WELL, THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE FIRST OFF AND YOU KNOW IT'S AMAZING TO ME, YOU KNOW, I TELL PEOPLE ALL THE TIME I COUNT THE GREATNESS OF THIS NATION ALL THE TIME.

AND WHEN I THINK ABOUT THE FACT THAT HERE I AM A KID WHO GREW UP EAST SIDE OF GREENSBORO POOR, WITH ALL THE STRIKES AGAINST ME.

NOW AS A STUDENT OF HISTORY TO ACTUALLY MAKE HISTORY AND SET THE STANDARD NOT JUST FOR MY FAMILY, BUT SET THE STANDARD IN THIS STATE.

IT IS ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC.

IT'S A WONDERFUL FEELING AND AGAIN I THINK IT POINTS TO THE GREATNESS OF THIS STATE AND THE GREATNESS OF THIS NATION.

>> SO YOU KNOW, OF COURSE MAKING THIS ACHIEVEMENT IS JUST THE FIRST STEP.

HOW ELSE DO YOU PLAN ON ON REALLY MAKING YOUR MARK AS A LEADER IN NORTH CAROLINA?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW THERE WERE THINGS THAT WE TALKED ABOUT ALL THROUGHOUT THE CAMPAIGN, BUT THE VERY FIRST THINGS WE WANT TO FIGHT FOR.

THE NUMBER ONE THING IS TO FORCE ELECTION REFORM.

BUT THAT'S A YOU KNOW THAT'S AN ISSUE WE MAYBE COULD TALK ABOUT ON A DIFFERENT DAY, BUT ONE OF THE STANDARDS I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SAY IS TO MAKE NORTH CAROLINA'S VETERANS CARE THE GOLD STANDARD IN THIS NATION.

WE REAP A LOT OF BENEFITS FROM OUR MILITARY OUR MILITARY SERVES IN A GREAT CAPACITY IN THE STATE WE HAVE A LONG RICH MILITARY HISTORY HERE AND I THINK IT'S ONLY FITTING THAT NORTH CAROLINA BE THE BEST STATE IN THE NATION FOR OUR VETERANS TO RETIRE IN, SO WE WANT TO TRY TO SET OUR SIGHTS ON THAT.

AND OF COURSE WE'RE GOING TO TRY TO MAKE SOME STRIDES IN EDUCATION AS WELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY, YOU KNOW ONE OF THE THINGS THAT'S KIND OF MARKED THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS HAS BEEN THE BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN GOVERNOR ROY COOPER AND THE REPUBLICAN LED GENERAL ASSEMBLY.

HOW DO YOU PLAN TO BRIDGE THAT DIVIDE OR TRYING TO BE SOMETHING OF A MEDIATOR TO TRY AND HELP US, YOU KNOW GET A LITTLE BIT MORE UNITY IN THAT REGARD AMONG OUR STATE LEADERSHIP?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, I WELCOME THE CHALLENGE OF TRYING TO FIND COMMON GROUND WITH GOVERNOR COOPER TO TRY TO WORK HARD TOWARDS MAKING THE LIVES OF THE CITIZENS OF NORTH CAROLINA EVEN BETTER.

I BELIEVE THERE ARE MANY THINGS WE CAN FIND COMMON GROUND ON AND WELL I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN SIT DOWN TOGETHER TALK OUR DIFFERENCES AND I BELIEVE THAT WE CAN MOVE FORWARD AND FIND SOME UNITY.

OF COURSE IS GOING TO BE SOME THINGS WHERE WE'RE NOT GOING TO SEE EYE TO EYE ON AND PROBABLY NOT EVER SEE EYE TO EYE ON, BUT THE THINGS WE CAN I THINK WILL MAKE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN THIS IN THE STATE.

>> YOU KNOW, I MEAN YOU MENTIONED NOT SEEING EYE TO EYE IN TRYING TO RECONCILE WITH THAT ONE OF THE THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN A TOPIC OF CONVERSATION OVER THIS LAST ELECTION CYCLE IS THE SUPPORT THAT AFRICAN AMERICANS TEND TO SHOW OVERWHELMINGLY FOR DEMOCRATS.

DO YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO SAY TO AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN WHO APPROACHES THIS OF USE THIS LIKE WELL, YOU KNOW, HE'S BLACK BUT HE'S REPUBLICANS I DON'T KNOW THAT'S SOMETHING I CAN GET BEHIND SOMETHING THAT I CAN SUPPORT?

>> WELL ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I GREATLY HOPE TO SEE OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS HAPPENED OVER THE NEXT FEW YEARS IS THAT WE SEE MORE DIVERSITY OF POLITICAL THOUGHT AMONGST BLACK PEOPLE IN THIS NATION.

WE SEE BLACK PEOPLE BRANCHING OUT INTO ALL FORMS IN THE WORKFORCE.

IN ENTERTAINMENT, IN BUSINESS, IN ATHLETICS, WE SEE WE HAVE BRANCHED OUT.

WE ARE ACHIEVING AT THE HIGHEST LEVELS IN EVERY ASPECT OF THIS NATION AND I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE MORE DIVERSITY OF THOUGHT BECAUSE I KNOW WHAT'S OUT THERE AND I THINK PEOPLE SEE ME AS A CONSERVATIVE, REPUBLICAN.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO ENCOURAGE A LOT OF BLACK PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO THINK LIKE ME BELIEVE IN THE THINGS I BELIEVE IN TO STEP UP BECOME POLITICALLY AWARE POLITICALLY ACTIVE.

I THINK WE'LL START SEEING A LOT MORE DIVERSE THOUGHT AMONGST BLACK PEOPLE POLITICAL THOUGHT IN THIS NATION AND VOTING THAT WAY AS WELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND YOU KNOW, OF COURSE THIS WEEK THE THE BIG NEWS HAS BEEN WHAT TRANSPIRED IN WASHINGTON D C, HOW WOULD YOU CHARACTERIZE IT AND HOW WE YOU CAN REMEMBER AND REFLECT ON THAT DAY AS FAR AS ITS IMPACT ON US CULTURALLY AND POTENTIALLY POLITICALLY AS WELL?

>> WELL, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED A LOT ABOUT OF THE RIOTS THAT WE SAW THIS PAST SUMMER AND MY BELIEF THEN WAS THAT LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO DO WHAT IT NEEDED TO DO TO QUELL THAT VIOLENCE.

THE SAME IS TRUE WITH THE FOLKS WHO YOU COMMITTED THESE EGREGIOUS ACTS IN WASHINGTON DC THEY NEED TO BE DEALT WITH TO THE HIGHEST EXTENT OF THE LAW POSSIBLE.

IT IS HIGH TIME THAT ELECTED OFFICIALS GET BEHIND LAW ENFORCEMENT TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR CITIES NO MATTER WHETHER BE WASHINGTON DC, BALTIMORE, FERGUSON, WHEREVER IT MAY BE THAT THOSE CITIES ARE SAFE, THAT BUSINESSES ARE SAFE, AND TO THE CITIZENS THAT LIVE THERE ARE SAFE.

IS TIME FOR US TO REVIVE LAW AND ORDER IN THIS COUNTRY TO GET BEHIND OUR POLICE OFFICERS, OUR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TO MAKE SURE THEY HAVE THE TOOLS AND THE ABILITY TO BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR CITY SAFE AND I THINK THAT WHAT HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON DC HIGHLIGHTS THAT, AND I THINK THAT THOSE FOLKS SHOULD BE HELD TO THE HIGHEST EXTENT OF THE LAW AND BE PUNISHED.

>> LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR ROBINSON, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AS WE MOVE INTO THE NEW YEAR NORTH CAROLINAS FOCUS REMAINS ON WHAT MAY 2020 SO UNPRECEDENTED COVID-19 BUT THE PATH TOWARD GETTING EVERYONE VACCINATED WILL BE A LONG ONE.

>> IN THE WEEKS SINCE THE FDA'S APPROVAL OF 2 VACCINES ABOUT 110,000 PEOPLE HAVE RECEIVED THEIR FIRST DOSE.

>> REMEMBER IT WILL TAKE MANY MONTHS TO VACCINATE EVERYONE WHO WANTS IT UNTIL THEN I DON'T WANT TO LOSE ANY MORE NORTH CAROLINIANS TO THIS PANDEMIC.

>> NORTH CAROLINA IS 39 IN THE COUNTRY WHEN IT COMES TO THE PERCENTAGE OF A POPULATION THAT'S BEEN VACCINATED THAT'S ACCORDING TO NEW NUMBERS FROM THE CDC, BUT THE AGENCY ALSO NOTES THAT LESS THAN A 3RD OF THE NATION'S TOTAL SUPPLY HAS ACTUALLY GONE OUT TO THE STATES.

>> THE PROBLEM WITH RELYING ON VACCINES THOUGH IS THAT IT WILL BE MONTHS AND MONTHS BEFORE WE GET ENOUGH SUPPLY TO GET ENOUGH PEOPLE VACCINATED TO CREATE THE IMMUNITY THAT WE NEED.

>> GOVERNOR ROY COOPER IS LOOKING TO SPEED UP THE PROCESS CALLING IN NORTH CAROLINA NATIONAL GUARD TO HELP SUPPORT COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

>> WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE GET THESE VACCINES OUT AS EFFECTIVELY AND EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE AND TO DO IT QUICKLY.

>> THIS COMES AS NORTH CAROLINA'S COVID-19 NUMBERS CONTINUE THEIR UPWARD TRENDS WITH DHHS SECRETARY DOCTOR MANDY COHEN REVEALING THAT MOST NORTH CAROLINA COUNTIES NOW HAVE A CRITICAL OR SUBSTANTIAL LEVEL OF COMMUNITY SPREAD.

>> COVID-19 IS HIGHLY CONTAGIOUS AND MORE THAN HALF OF NORTH CAROLINIANS ARE AT HIGH RISK FOR SERIOUS ILLNESS.

GIVEN THE LEVEL OF HYPE RIVAL SPREAD THERE IS A HIGH RISK OF THAT YOU HAVE COVID RIGHT NOW AND DON'T KNOW IT.

>> DOCTOR COHEN IS ALSO ADDRESSING REPORTS THAT SOME HEALTH CARE AND LONG-TERM CARE WORKERS ARE OPTING OUT OF THE VACCINE.

IT'S IMPORTANT TO HEAR THEIR CONCERNS AND THEN SHARE ACCURATE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS VACCINE.

SEVERAL COUNTIES ALREADY MOVING ON TO THE NEXT PHASE OF THE PLAN WHICH INCLUDES ADULTS OVER 75 ALONG WITH HEALTHCARE AND FRONTLINE ESSENTIAL WORKERS OVER 50.

>> AND JOINING US NOW HAS BEN MONEY, HE'S THE DEPUTY SECRETARY FOR HEALTH SERVICES WITH THE STATE'S DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WHAT CAN YOU TELL ME AS FAR AS DHHS IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE EFFORTS TO GET THE VACCINATION PROCESS MOVING, I KNOW IT'S BEEN A LITTLE BIT SLOW TO START, BUT I KNOW YOU GUYS ARE WORKING TO KIND OF RAMP THAT UP AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.

>> ACTUALLY BEEN RAMPING IT UP VERY QUICKLY, IT'S BEEN AN ALL HANDS ON DECK EFFORT.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THE VACCINES DIDN'T ARRIVE UNTIL LIKE RIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS AND WE WERE WORKING THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS, WORKING WITH OUR HEALTHCARE PARTNERS, HOSPITALS AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS, NEW PROVIDERS TO BE ABLE TO ADMINISTER THE VACCINE ASSURING THAT OUR ALLOCATIONS WERE CORRECT TO BE SURE THAT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WAS DISTRIBUTING THE VACCINES APPROPRIATELY TO OUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS MAKING SURE THAT THEIR SYSTEMS WERE IN PLACE.

SO A LOT OF WORK HAS HAPPENED IN A SHORT PERIOD TIME AND WE'RE REALLY SEEING AN ACCELERATION IN THE NUMBER OF VACCINATIONS THAT ARE BEING DELIVERED AND RECEIVED BY PATIENTS.

>> OK AND ARE YOU ALL PLANNING, ARE YOU TAKING THIS ONE STEP AT A TIME AS YOU GET MORE DOSES OF THE VACCINE OR IS THERE A BROADER, ONE YEAR MAYBE 18 MONTH PLAN AS FAR AS GETTING EVERYONE VACCINATED?

>> IT'S A WEEK TO WEEK PLAN WE'RE ACTUALLY DEVELOPING NEW APPROACHES TO GETTING VACCINATIONS IN ARMS WORKING ON MASS VACCINATION CLINICS WITH OUR HEALTHCARE PARTNERS AND LOCAL HEALTH DEPARTMENTS.

GETTING OUR FEDERALLY QUALIFIED HEALTH CENTERS ON BOARD TO SERVE OUR HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS AND COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE STATE.

MAKING SURE THAT THE VACCINE SUPPLIES DISTRIBUTED IN AN EQUITABLE WAY.

SO A LOT OF WORK IS HAPPENING AND WE'RE VERY PLEASED, ALTHOUGH WE KNOW THAT THERE'S A LOT MORE THAT WE'RE GOING TO BE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN GET VACCINES IN ARMS AS SOON AS THE VACCINES ARRIVE IN OUR STATE.

>> YOU MENTION EQUITABLE DISTRIBUTION, I KNOW THE STATE HAS A FOUR PHASE PLAN THAT HAS DIFFERENT GROUPS LIKE PEOPLE OLDER THAN 75 AND FRONTLINE, ESSENTIAL WORKERS.

ARE THERE PROVISIONS IN THAT PLAN FOR EITHER MINORITY COMMUNITIES ARE OTHER MINORITIES THAT MAY BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE VIRUS TO KIND OF MAKE SURE THAT THEY GET A LITTLE SOONER.

>> THAT'S IT.

WE RECOGNIZE THE FACT THAT INDIVIDUALS ARE AT DIFFERENT RISKS FOR EXPOSURE TO THE VIRUS AS WELL AS AS SEVERE COMPLICATIONS IF THEY DO CONTRACT COVID-19.

WE FACTORED THAT INTO OUR PRIORITIZATION SO WHEN YOU LOOK AT THAT FIRST GROUP, IT INCLUDES ALL STAFF WORKING WITH COVID PATIENTS IN HOSPITALS AND STAFF IN LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES, AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE FIND IS AND THAT INCLUDES PEOPLE THAT ARE YOU KNOW DELIVERING FOOD, MAKING A BEDS, CLEANING ROOMS.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT VACCINATION GETS TO EVERYONE THAT HAS A HIGH RISK OF EXPOSURE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE FIND WITH OUR LONG-TERM CARE WORKFORCE IS THAT THEY ARE COMPRISED VERY MUCH OF PEOPLE FROM HISTORICALLY MARGINALIZED POPULATIONS, BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE THAT PROVIDE PATIENT CARE.

SO ASSURING THAT THEY GET VACCINATED EARLY ON AS WELL AS OUR FRONT-LINE AND ESSENTIAL WORKERS WHICH ARE ALSO DISPROPORTIONATELY HIGH HIGHLY REPRESENTED IN BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES.

>> AND YOU KNOW YOU MENTION ADDRESSING IT AS FOR FRONT LINE WORKERS AND SUCH.

DOCTOR COHEN THIS WEEK NOTED THAT THERE ARE REPORTS THAT SOME PEOPLE WORKING IN NURSING HOMES AND LONG-TERM CARE FACILITIES ARE ACTUALLY TURNING DOWN THE VIRUS.

ARE YOU ALL SEEING KIND OF WIDESPREAD PERCEPTION ISSUES AS FAR AS THE VACCINE IS CONCERNED AND DO YOU ALL HAVE PLANS TO ADDRESS THAT ESPECIALLY FOR AFRICAN AMERICANS IN PARTICULAR?

>> AND YOU KNOW, I WOULD SAY THERE WERE WIDESPREAD.

WHAT WE'RE HEARING FOLKS SAYING YOU KNOW, I'M MAY PASS ON THIS TIME BUT GET IT THE NEXT TIME WE WANT THEM TO GET IT THE FIRST TIME THAT THERE SPOT IS AVAILABLE AND SO WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH A VARIETY OF COMMUNITY GROUPS FAITH LEADERS TO GET CLEAR INFORMATION OUT ABOUT THE VACCINE TO ADDRESS ANY MISCONCEPTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT THE VACCINE TO LET THEM KNOW THAT THE VACCINE HAS BEEN TESTED VERY WIDELY IN CLINICAL TRIALS, UTILIZING MORE VOLUNTEERS THAN HAVE BEEN SEEN IN CLINICAL TRIALS FOR VACCINES IN YEARS, THIS IS AN EFFORT THAT HAS BEEN A WORLDWIDE EFFORT IT'S BEEN AN EFFORT THAT HAS UTILIZED SCIENCE THAT BEEN AVAILABLE ITS PUT TOGETHER TEAMS OF ORGANIZATIONS AND GROUPS AND ACADEMICS TO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN ADDRESS COVID-19 THROUGH THE BEST SCIENCE AVAILABLE AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE FOUND IN THESE CLINICAL TRIALS IS THE VACCINE IS SAFE, IT'S EFFECTIVE, OVER 95% OF EFFECTIVE, AND THAT WHEN PEOPLE DO GET THE VACCINE.

THEY HAVE VERY MINIMAL AND TEMPORARY SIDE EFFECTS.

>> WE GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL THE WORK THAT YOU ALL ARE DOING TO KEEP US SAFE AND PLEASE STAY SAFE YOURSELF AS WELL IN THE NEW YEAR.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

NORTH CAROLINA'S RAPIDLY RISING COVID-19 CASE LAW IS SHARING HEADLINES SPACE WITH THE U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING PROTEST DEMONSTRATORS TEMPORARILY INTERRUPTED CONGRESS'S CERTIFICATION OF JOE BIDEN'S PRESIDENTIAL VICTORY.

AND NOW SOME POLITICIANS ARE DEMANDING THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP BE REMOVED FROM OFFICE.

OTHERS ARE CALLING FOR REFLECTION AND A NEW TONE TO PARTISAN DEBATE.

>> A CROWD OF PRESUMABLY PRO-DONALD TRUMP SUPPORTERS STORMED THE U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING ON WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON AS LAWMAKERS DEBATED THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTORAL VOTES.

>> THE RHETORIC THAT I WAS SEEING ONLINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

I WAS WORRIED ABOUT THE OUTCOME OF THE RALLY ON WEDNESDAY.

I SEND MY CHILDREN, HOW ON THE FIRST FLIGHT MONDAY MORNING.

BECAUSE I WAS SO CONCERNED ABOUT IT AND THIS IS AN AMERICAN AND IT'S WRONG.

>> PROTESTERS WERE EVENTUALLY EXPELLED FROM THE HALLS OF CONGRESS WITH ONE FATALITY.

WASHINGTON DC ANNOUNCED A 06:00PM CURFEW.

PRESIDENT TRUMP RELEASED A VIDEO DENOUNCING THE ELECTION WITH TELLING PROTESTERS TO GO HOME.

>> THIS WAS A FRAUDULENT ELECTION.

BUT WE CAN'T PLAY INTO THE HANDS OF THESE PEOPLE.

WE HAVE TO HAVE PEACE.

SO GO HOME.

WE LOVE YOU YOU'RE VERY SPECIAL.

YOU'VE SEEN WHAT HAPPENS YOU SEE THE WAY OTHERS ARE TREATED THAT ARE SO BAD AND SO EVIL.

I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL.

>> TO THOSE WHO WREAKED HAVOC IN OUR CAPITAL TODAY.

YOU DID NOT WIN.

>> WITH CERTIFICATION, NOW CERTAIN DEMOCRATS ARE CALLING FOR PRESIDENT TRUMP'S IMMEDIATE REMOVAL FROM OFFICE.

>> ANY DAY CAN BE A HORROR SHOW FOR AMERICA, MY MEMBERS ARE VERY MUCH AND INTERESTED AS ON MY PHONE IS EXPLODING WITH IMPEACH IMPEACH IMPEACH.

THE PRESIDENT MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE AGAIN >> THE SHAME OF THIS DAY IS IT'S BEING AIDED AND ABETTED BY GOOD AMERICANS WHO ARE FALLING PREY FOR CHOOSING TRUMP OVER TRUTH.

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS PROMISING AN ORDERLY TRANSITION OF POWER AS ELECTION TWENTY-TWENTY OFFICIALLY CONCLUDES FOR BLACK ISSUES FOR I'M KELLY MCCULLEN >> JOINING US NOW IS US HOUSE REPRESENTATIVE ALMA ADAMS, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY, REPRESENTATIVE ADAMS.

HAVE A FEW QUESTIONS FOR YOU AS FAR AS COVID IS CONCERNED BECAUSE I KNOW THAT'S A BIG TOPIC OF CONVERSATION OF COURSE, BUT THIS WEEK THAT'S ALMOST BEEN OVERRIDDEN BY WHAT HAPPENED IN WASHINGTON.

OF COURSE YOU ARE AMONG THE LAWMAKERS WHO WERE THERE AT THE TIME.

CAN YOU JUST KIND OF TAKE ME THROUGH WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND WHEN YOU GUYS ALL KIND OF REALIZED WHAT EXACTLY WAS HAPPENING OUTSIDE.

>> WELL IN THE INTEREST OF ALL THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND TO SAY THAT I'M GLAD TO BE BACK IN NORTH CAROLINA AFTER SUCH A TURBULENT FEW DAYS IN WASHINGTON, IT WAS A VERY SCARY TIME TO SAY THE LEAST, VERY EMOTIONAL, WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON THEN ALL KINDS OF THINGS GO THROUGH YOUR MIND.

THERE WERE RIOTERS THERE AND PEOPLE WHO WE THOUGHT INITIALLY WE KNEW WERE COMING TO PROTEST AND THEY JUST TURNED INTO A REALLY AWFUL SCENE, PEOPLE GETTING HURT PEOPLE GETTING KILLED, AND SO WE WERE VERY CONCERNED NOT ONLY ABOUT MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, BUT OUR STAFF AND LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO WERE NOT IN THE AREA IN THE BUILDING AND TO SEE WHAT WE SAW PEOPLE CLIMBING THE WALLS AND JUST WRECKING THE BUILDING DISREGARDING THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE WAS REALLY AN AWFUL THING TO WITNESS.

>> I'D IMAGINE SO I'M GLAD THAT YOU'RE SAFE.

I WILL SAY.

SO WITH WHAT HAPPENED ON WEDNESDAY, WHAT DO YOU THINK THE TAKE AWAYS ARE FOR BOTH OUR MAIN POLITICAL PARTIES AND THEN ALSO FOR BLACK AMERICANS IN GENERAL REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY FALL ON THAT POLITICAL SPECTRUM?

>> WELL, I THINK WE HAVE TO FIRST OF ALL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO TO HAVE FURTHER DISCUSSIONS AND CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE STATE OF AFFAIRS IN AMERICA AS IT RELATES TO RACE, AS IT RELATES TO OUR INTERACTIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER.

THAT IS SO IMPORTANT AND I THINK WE JUST HAVE TO REALIZE THAT WE DO HAVE A PROBLEM, IT IS A SYSTEMIC PROBLEM AND THE CONGRESS NEEDS TO RECOGNIZE THAT, GET RID OF ALL OF THE CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT ARE GOING AROUND.

WE HAD AN ELECTION, IT WAS A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION.

AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE NOT COME TO GRIPS WITH THAT NEED TO DO THAT SO THAT WE CAN MOVE ON AND DEAL WITH SOME OF THE OTHER ISSUES THAT ARE REALLY PRESSING IN OUR COMMUNITY SUCH AS THE THE COVID VIRUS.

>> AND DO YOU THINK NOT JUST HAVING SOMETHING LIKE THIS HAPPEN, BUT IT BEING SO PUBLIC AND THE ENTIRE COUNTRY, THE WORLD SEEING IT, DO YOU THINK THAT'S GOING TO SERVE TO BRING AMERICANS TOGETHER TO KIND OF WORK TOWARDS ADDRESSING SOME OF THOSE THINGS YOU MENTIONED OR POTENTIALLY MAYBE DRIVE US FURTHER APART?

>> I THINK THE FACT THAT IT WAS NATIONAL AND OF COURSE WE HAD I CAN TELL YOU HOW MANY TEXTS AND CALLS I RECEIVED BECAUSE IT WAS VERY ALARMING TO SEE WHO WOULD EXPECT THIS KIND OF THING TO HAPPEN IN THE CAPITAL OF THE U.S. CAPITOL NOBODY DID AND SO THE FACT THAT PEOPLE WERE ABLE TO WITNESS IT JUST THIS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO WITNESS MANY OF THE KILLINGS ON THE STREETS OF SO MANY BLACK MEN AND WOMEN.

YOU KNOW WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT, BUT IT IS SOMETHING ABOUT THAT VISUAL IMAGE THAT I THINK GIVES PEOPLE A GREATER SENSE OF REALLY NOT ONLY WHAT'S GOING ON BUT THE FACT THAT WE NEED TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> AND AS WE MOVE INTO 2021 OF COURSE, WE KNOW CONGRESS IS GOING TO BE SQUARELY FOCUSED ON ADDRESSING COVID-19 AND ITS IMPACTS ARE THERE ANY OTHER BIG PICTURE BIG IDEAS YOU THINK CONGRESS NEEDS TO FOCUS ON AS WELL OR AT LEAST ATTEMPT TO IN THE COMING YEARS?

>> WELL, I THINK THE FIRST THING WE'VE GOT TO DO IS TO GET CONTROL OF COVID AND PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT THERE'S LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS SO I THINK THERE IS BUT WE'RE STILL IN THAT TUNNEL, AND WE'VE GOT TO MAKE SURE THAT PARTICULARLY FOR BLACK AND BROWN COMMUNITIES, COMMUNITIES THAT ARE MOST VULNERABLE THAT WE ADDRESS THOSE THOSE DISPARITIES, NOW WE HAD THEM BEFORE COVID AND COVID HAS JUST EXACERBATED IT AND HAS MADE THINGS A LOT CLEARER AND WE'RE ABLE TO SEE IT.

SO YES, WE WANT TO DO THAT WE NEED TO BE ADDRESSING HOW DO WE GET ALL OF OUR PEOPLE VACCINATED.

WE DO HAVE VACCINES AND I'M JUST DELIGHTED ABOUT THAT BUT I UNDERSTAND MANY OF THEM ARE JUST KIND OF SITTING ON THE SHELVES AND SO WE'VE GOT TO GET THEM OUT TO THE COMMUNITIES BECAUSE WE DON'T GET THEM IN INTO THE ARMS OF PEOPLE HAVING THEM ON THE SHELVES DOES NO GOOD.

SO I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE'VE GOT TO DEAL WITH AND ALSO WE'VE GOT TO LOOK AT THE MANY THINGS THAT WE'VE TALKED ABOUT DOING THIS CONGRESS, LIKE THE POLICING THAT THE GEORGE FLOYD POLICE POLICING ACT THE VOTING RIGHTS ACT THAT MANY THINGS THAT WE HAVE ONE THAT I THINK WILL BRINGING TOGETHER AMERICA IN A WAY THAT WE'VE NOT SEEN BEFORE.

>> I CERTAINLY HOPE WE'RE ABLE TO DO THAT.

REPRESENTATIVE ADAMS AGAIN THANK YOU FOR JOINING US SO MUCH AND I AM VERY GLAD TO SEE THAT YOU ARE A SAFE BACK HERE IN NORTH CAROLINA.

>> WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH AND THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME AND THANK YOU FOR SHARING WITH THE COMMUNITY IN THE WAY THAT YOU DO.

>> THE U.S. CAPITOL PROTESTS HAVE SPARKED LOCAL PROTESTS ACROSS THE UNITED STATES.

DEMONSTRATORS HAVE GATHERED IN CALIFORNIA, MICHIGAN, UTAH, COLORADO AND ARIZONA.

JOINING ME NOW IS SOCIAL ACTIVISTS AND BLACK ISSUES FOR ANALYST KERWIN PITTMAN.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY KERWIN.

THE FIRST THING I WANT TO REALLY PICK YOUR BRAIN ON IS THE CONTRAST BETWEEN SOME OF THE PROTESTS AND DEMONSTRATIONS THAT YOU'VE BEEN A PART OF OVER THE LAST YEAR AND EVEN BEFORE THAT WHEN YOU LOOK AT WHAT WE SAW HAPPEN IN WASHINGTON.

>> YES, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

SO THE CONTRAST IN PARTICULAR THE PROTESTS THAT I'VE BEEN A PART OF, WE'RE ACTUALLY FIGHTING FOR CALLS A SOCIAL JUSTICE CHANGE WITHIN THE CURRENT CLIMATE, NOT ONLY OF POLICE BRUTALITY WHICH IS A WHOLE HOST OF DIFFERENT SOCIAL JUSTICE INJUSTICES.

AND SO WHAT WE'VE BEEN SEEING IN POLAR CONTRAST AND POLAR OPPOSITE WITH THESE PARTICULARLY THE STOP THE STEAL, PRO TRUMP, SUPPORTER RALLIES IS INDIVIDUALS MOVEMENT, IN MY OPINION, WITHOUT A PURPOSE OR A CAUSE OR AN ENDGAME.

TO THINK THAT YOU COULD STOP THE PROCESS THE DEMOCRATIC PROCESS OF CERTIFYING THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE VOTES OF THE NEXT PRESIDENT THOMAS IS ABSURD.

>> SO YOU MENTIONED KIND OF MOVING WITH THE FOCUS AS YOU MOVE FORWARD AND CONTINUE TO KIND OF ORGANIZE AND RALLY TOWARDS SOME OF THE GOALS YOU'VE BEEN PUSHING FOR, DO YOU FORESEE WHAT TRANSPIRED MAY BE HAVING AN IMPACT ON HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT HANDLES OR ADDRESSES PROTEST IN OUR OWN AREA?

>> I HOPE WHAT WE HAVE SEEN HAS AN IMPACT ON HOW LOCAL OR LAW ENFORCEMENT KIND OF POLICE THE PROTESTERS, SO TO SPEAK, AND I HATE TO USE THAT TERMINOLOGY BUT THAT IS WHAT IT IS.

WHAT WE'VE SEEN THAT THESE PAST FEW DAYS, ESPECIALLY IN THE CAPITAL IS EXTREME RESTRAINT AND DISCIPLINE FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO IT FROM NOW ON IT SHOULDN'T BE NO REASON AS TO WHY THAT BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTERS SHOULDN'T RECEIVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF RESTRAINT AND SUBDUENESS WHEN IT COMES TO PARTICULARLY USING BRUTE FORCE AGAINST INDIVIDUALS ACTUALLY OUT THERE PROTESTING FOR INJUSTICES.

>> AND YOU KNOW YOU MENTION THE WAY WE'VE SEEN DIFFERENT PROTEST HANDLED.

WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR IDEAS OR SOME OF THE THINGS YOU'VE BEEN WORKING ON TO MAKE SURE THAT LEADERS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE WHEN THINGS DO POTENTIALLY GET OUT OF HAND ENSURE THAT THINGS LIKE THAT DON'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN THE FUTURE?

>> SO SOME OF THE THINGS WE'LL BE DOING IS FIRST IS HIGHLIGHTING THE DIFFERENT EVENTS.

THAT ARE TAKING PLACE AND WHEREACTIONS WENT WRONG ON BOTH PARTIES BUT PARTICULARLY THOSE WHO ARE TRAINED TO DO THESE TYPE OF JOBS.

FIRST WE MUST KNOW AND UNDERSTAND INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE PROTESTING OR EXERCISING THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT AND THEY'RE NOT TRAINED PROFESSIONALS SO ANYBODY ON THE OTHER SIDE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE TRAINED PROFESSIONALS AND SHOULD ACT AS SUCH AND WE'VE SEEN THAT RESTRAINT HAPPEN THE OTHER DAY AND SO WE'LL BE LOOKING FORWARD FOR THIS RESTRAINT TO HAPPEN.

SO POINTING OUT IS THE FIRST STEP.

AND THEN SITTING DOWN AT THE TABLE WITH DIFFERENT KEY PLAYERS TO COME UP WITH STRATEGIES AHEAD OF THE TIME TO SAY LOOK THIS IS WHAT WE EXPECT TO HAPPEN AND IF THIS HAPPENED WE EXPECT THIS AMOUNT OF RESTRAINT FROM LAW ENFORCEMENT.

>> AND WHEN YOU'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN DIFFERENT PROTESTS IN THE PAST HAVE YOU EVER HAD AN EXPERIENCE WHERE THINGS WERE ON THE BRINK OF THE VERGE OF OF GETTING OUT OF HAND AND YOU HAD TO QUELL THAT AND IF SO WHAT WERE SOME OF THE THINGS YOU DID OR TECHNIQUES USED TO MAYBE TO KEEP THINGS IN CHECK AND KEEP THEM FOCUSED ON WHAT THE GOAL WAS.

>> YES, I BEING OUT AND ORGANIZING NUMEROUS PROTESTS IT'S BEEN A LOT OF INSTANCES TO WHERE THINGS WAS ABOUT TO SPILL OUT OF HAND.

SO WE GOT TO ALWAYS RECENTER THE CROWD AND KIND OF CALL BACK TO THE ATTENTION OF WHAT IS THE PURPOSE THAT WE'RE OUT HERE AND SO TO NOT DIMINISH OR TAKE ATTENTION AWAY FROM THE REAL PURPOSE THAT WE'RE OUT HERE BUY SOMETHING ABSURD HAPPENING.

AND SO THAT'S ONE OF THE WAYS THAT YOU CAN CALL BACK AND HONE BACK IN AND BRING EVERYBODY'S ATTENTION BACK TO THE REASON AT HAND.

WE'RE OUT HERE TO FIGHT AGAINST INJUSTICES.

WERE HERE TO LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD THAT WE DO NOT LIKE FOR THESE INJUSTICE TO OCCUR PARTICULARLY TO US, AND SO WE DO NOT WANT TO GIVE ANYBODY A REASON TO JUSTIFY THEM DOING THIS TYPE OF BRUTE FORCE AND BRUTALITY AGAINST US.

SO IT'S BEEN PLENTY PLENTY OF INSTANCES WHERE I KIND OF HAD TO BRING IT BACK IN AND INSISTENCES WHERE I HAD TO NEGOTIATE THE ARREST, ARREST ESSENTIALLY, SO INDIVIDUALS WOULD NOT BE ARRESTED.

ONE PARTICULAR TIME THERE WAS ABOUT TO BE A 100 PEOPLE OR SO ARRESTED FOR BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND ALL AND THE INDIVIDUALS WANTED TO JUST LEAVE, BUT LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAPPED THESE INDIVIDUALS ON THE HIGHWAY SPECIFICALLY SO I HAD TO GO SPEAK WITH THOSE IN A HIGHER POSITION THAT WAS OUT AND SAY, "LISTEN THESE INDIVIDUAL TRYING TO LEAVE WHICH I TO LEAVE "PEACEFULLY.

I MEAN IF YOU ALLOW US TO LEAVE PEACEFULLY WITHOUT ANY ARRESTS WE'LL LEAVE RIGHT NOW."

AND THAT WAS GRANTED.

>> WELL HOPEFULLY WE CAN SEE SOME OF THOSE CHANGES IN 2021 AND MOVING FORWARD.

KERWIN THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

AND NOW WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU.

YOU CAN USE THE HASHTAG NCBLACKISSUES ON TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM TO REACH US AND YOU CAN WATCH ANY OF OUR EPISODES ANYTIME ONLINE AT UNC.TV/WATCHBIF.

I'M JOSHUA SENEGAL, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.