
METROFOCUS: January 8, 2021
1/8/2021 | 28m 36sVideo has Closed Captions
INSIDE THE CAPITOL CHAOS; LAWMAKERS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF PRESIDENT TRUMP
Congressman Tom Suozzi was in the House Chamber when the pro-Trump mob broke into the Capitol. He shares his firsthand account of the mayhem that unfolded as he was evacuated to safety. Also, we bring you the latest on the unraveling of the Presidency and a divided nation pushed to the brink with Reverend Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the 2016 and 2008 Democratic National Convention Committees.
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MetroFocus is a local public television program presented by THIRTEEN PBS

METROFOCUS: January 8, 2021
1/8/2021 | 28m 36sVideo has Closed Captions
Congressman Tom Suozzi was in the House Chamber when the pro-Trump mob broke into the Capitol. He shares his firsthand account of the mayhem that unfolded as he was evacuated to safety. Also, we bring you the latest on the unraveling of the Presidency and a divided nation pushed to the brink with Reverend Leah D. Daughtry, CEO of the 2016 and 2008 Democratic National Convention Committees.
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Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship>>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANAGAN.
"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, SYLVIA A.
AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.
BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND BY JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.
>>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF "METROFOCUS."
I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.
IN THE DAYS SINCE PRO-TRUMP RIOTERS STORMED CAPITOL HILL, INTERRUPTING OUR DEMOCRACY IN PROGRESS, WE'VE GOTTEN A FIRSTHAND LOOK AT THE TERROR THAT UNFOLDED INSIDE THE BUILDING.
ONE OF THOSE VIDEO ACCOUNTS THAT'S BEEN WIDELY SHARED WAS SHARED BY A COMMON FROM RIGHT HERE IN NEW YORK.
TOM SUOZZI IS A DEMOCRAT REPRESENTING PARTS OF LONG ISLAND AND QUEENS.
HE WAS IN THE HOUSE CHAMBER AS EXTREMISTS FORCED THEIR WAY INSIDE THE HALLS OF CONGRESS.
IN JUST A MOMENT, THE CONGRESSMAN WILL JOIN US.
BUT FIRST HERE'S A LOOK AT THE VIDEO HE SHOT DURING WEDNESDAY'S CHAOS AND LATER PROVIDED TO "NEWSDAY."
>> THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DETAINED.
EVERYTHING'S OKAY.
WE'RE BEING EVACUATED.
THANK YOU.
THERE WERE SHOTS FIRED INSIDE THE CHAMBER EARLIER.
A STANDOFF AT THE DOORS.
BEING TAKEN DOWN.
>> EVERYBODY DOWN!
EVERYBODY DOWN!
>> WHICH WAY ARE WE GOING OUT?
WHICH WAY ARE WE GOING OUT?
>> NO PICTURES.
>> THOSE PEOPLE ARE BEING EVACUATED.
>> NO VIDEOS, PLEASE.
NO VIDEOS, PLEASE.
>> I'M IN THE CAPITOL CHAMBER.
WE'RE BEING EVACUATED.
PEOPLE ARE BEING ASKED TO PUT ON -- TO MAKE SURE.
WE'RE BEING EVACUATED, ASKED TO PUT ON MASKS.
CHECKING THE DOOR TO MAKE SURE IT'S LOCKED.
OKAY.
WE'RE BEING TOLD TO EVACUATE.
>> AND JOINING US NOW WITH MORE ON WHAT YOU JUST SAW AS WELL AS HIS THOUGHTS ON THIS EXTRAORDINARY WEEK IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY IS CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI.
CONGRESSMAN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US ON THE PROGRAM.
>> JENNA, THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME ON.
>> NO PROBLEM.
OF COURSE.
FIRST OFF, I WANT TO SAY THAT WE OF COURSE ARE THANKFUL TO HEAR AND SEE THAT YOU APPEAR TO BE OKAY.
BUT WATCHING THE VIDEO THAT YOU RECORDED, YOU COULDN'T HELP BUT NOTICE HOW CALM YOU SEEMED TO BE AS EXTREMISTS WERE STORMING THE CAPITOL.
WHAT WAS GOING THROUGH YOUR MIND, AND HOW WERE YOU ABLE TO STAY SO CALM?
>> I THINK THAT I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS GOING TO HAPPEN FOR MY FAMILY QUITE FRANKLY.
I WAS TEXTING MY WIFE AND KIDS AND TELLING THEM EVERYTHING WAS FINE.
I DIDN'T TELL THEM THE DETAILS OF WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
AND I WAS CONCERNED ABOUT SOME OF MY COLLEAGUES.
RIGHT BEFORE EVERYTHING ACTUALLY UNFOLDED, I HAD BEEN WRITING DOWN TO MYSELF SOME NOTES ON MY PHONE ABOUT THE IDEA OF WHAT WAS GOING ON INSIDE THE CHAMBER, WHICH IS THAT PEOPLE ARE DEBATING WITH EACH OTHER VERSUS WHAT WE KNEW WAS AN ESCALATING VIOLENT SITUATION OUTSIDE THE CHAMBER.
>> MM-HMM.
>> AND I WAS JUST THINKING THAT JUXTAPOSITION IN OUR COUNTRY AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S OKAY -- I DISAGREE WITH MY COLLEAGUES THAT OBJECTED TO THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.
I STRONGLY DISAGREE WITH THEM.
I THINK IT WAS COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE.
BUT WE WERE DEBATING IT, AND THAT'S OKAY IN AMERICA.
AND PROTEST IS OKAY.
THIS WAS NOT PROTEST.
THIS WAS NOT DEBATE.
THIS WAS VIOLENCE, RIOTING, INSURRECTION.
SO IT WAS COMPLETELY IRRESPONSIBLE.
SO I WAS THINKING A LOT ABOUT THAT, HOW IT WAS SAD FOR THE COUNTRY.
AND I WAS SURPRISED MYSELF THAT AS I WAS AS CALM AS I WAS.
I'VE TALKED TO OTHER PEOPLE.
THEY SAID WHEN YOU GET IN THOSE FIGHT OR FLIGHT SITUATIONS THAT YOUR ADRENALINE IS PUMPING, AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENS A LOT OF TIMES.
>> OF COURSE.
OF COURSE.
EVEN THOUGH THROUGH YOUR CALMNESS, I'M STILL WONDERING WHAT WAS THE MOST NERVE-RACKING PART OF THE WHOLE ORDEAL FOR YOU.
WE UNDERSTAND AT LEAST FROM THE VIDEO THAT THERE WAS A POINT WHEN YOU THOUGHT YOU AT LEAST HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE GUNSHOTS.
>> WELL, IN THE BEGINNING WE THOUGHT IT WAS GUNSHOTS.
THEY WERE ACTUALLY BREAKING DOWN THE -- BREAKING THE GLASS IN THE DOOR INTO THE CHAMBER.
YOU KNOW THAT DOOR THAT THE PRESIDENT WALKS THROUGH WHEN THEY SAY "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA" FOR THE STATE OF THE UNION.
THAT WAS METAL POPS BEING BANGED THROUGH THOSE GLASS DOORS.
IT WAS POP, POP, POP, POP.
THEN THERE WERE ACTUAL GUNSHOTS -- OR AT LEAST A GUNSHOT WHEN THE WOMAN WHO WAS KILLED, WHICH WAS RIGHT BEHIND THE CHAMBER, WHICH IS WHERE IT HAPPENED.
AND THEN THERE WAS A LOT OF RADIO CHATTER FROM THE CAPITOL POLICE SAYING, SHOTS FIRED IN THE CAPITOL, SHOTS FIRED IN THE CAPITOL.
SO THAT WAS REALLY THE MORE NERVE-RACKING OR UNSETTLING, I SHOULD SAY, OF THE WHOLE TIME.
YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAYING GET DOWN, GET DOWN, REALLY NOT SURE WHERE THE THREAT WAS COMING FROM.
YOU KNOW, I WAS ACTUALLY UP IN THE GALLERY.
THE FLOOR HAD ALREADY BEEN EVACUATED EXCEPT FOR SOME OFFICERS THAT WERE AT A STANDOFF AT THE BACK DOOR WHERE THEY HAD PUT UP A MAKESHIFT BARRICADE.
>> I BELIEVE THAT'S THE PICTURE THAT'S BEEN WIDELY CIRCULATED.
>> YES.
>> THAT WE'VE ALL SEEN, YEAH.
>> SO I WAS RIGHT ABOVE THAT.
AND I WAS IN THE GALLERY, AND WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE TO EXIT.
EVERYBODY HAD EXITED EXCEPT FOR ABOUT 30 PEOPLE.
I WAS ONE OF THE LAST PEOPLE TO LEAVE THE CHAMBER NOT FOR ANY CHOICE BUT WHERE I WAS SITTING WAS THE FURTHEST AWAY FROM THAT EXIT POINT.
WE WEREN'T SURE WHERE TO EXIT BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON OUTSIDE.
WHEN WE DID FINALLY EXIT, WHICH WAS LITERALLY TEN MINUTES AFTER EVERYBODY ELSE HAD LEFT, I GOT OUT IN THE HALLWAY, AND THERE ON THE GROUND WERE ABOUT TEN PROTESTERS FLAT ON THEIR STOMACHS WITH CAPITOL POLICE SURROUNDING THEM WITH GUNS TRAINED.
SO THERE WERE GUNS DRAWN EVERYWHERE.
SO IT'S JUST A SAD TIME FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND I'M VERY HOPEFUL, THOUGH, THAT THIS IS GOING TO BE A RECOGNITION THAT WE REALLY ALL NEED TO COME TOGETHER.
DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS, EVERYBODY ON THE LEFT AND THE RIGHT, WE NEED TO COME TOGETHER IN OUR COUNTRY AND START ADDRESSING THE VERY REAL PROBLEMS WE FACE AND ENOUGH OF THIS DIVISION AND DISUNITY.
I THINK WE'VE REALLY HIT THE BOTTOM BETWEEN EVERYTHING WE'VE BEEN THROUGH IN THE COUNTRY CERTAINLY OVER THE PAST YEAR WITH THE PANDEMIC AND THE MANY PROTESTS RELATED TO RACIAL INEQUITY AND SO MANY OTHER THINGS THAT WE'VE GONE THROUGH UNDER THIS PRESIDENT, THAT WE REALLY HIT BOTTOM.
AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO COME TOGETHER.
>> OF COURSE.
AND THAT SEEMS TO BE A QUESTION THAT YOU'RE NOW HEARING A LOT OF IS THAT WAS THIS OUR NATIONAL ROCK BOTTOM SO THAT WE CAN BEGIN TO GO BACK UP, IF YOU WILL?
BUT I ALSO WANT TO ASK WHAT WAS IT LIKE ONCE CONGRESS WAS BROUGHT BACK INTO THE CHAMBER?
BECAUSE I HAVE TO JUST IMAGINE THERE WAS JUST A SURREALNESS ABOUT EVERYTHING THAT TRANSPIRED THAT AFTERNOON, AND THEN OF COURSE WELL INTO THE EVENING.
>> WELL, I THINK EVERYBODY WAS EXHAUSTED.
WE HAD SPENT THE FULL DAY GOING THROUGH THIS.
WE'D GONE THROUGH THIS TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE.
I WAS VERY ADAMANT THAT WE HAD TO GET BACK TO THE CHAMBER.
WE HAD TO CERTIFY THE ELECTIONS, AS WERE MANY PEOPLE.
THAT WE HAD TO ACTUALLY DO OUR DUTY AND NOT LET ANOTHER TEN HOURS PASS BEFORE WE DID OUR DUTY CERTIFYING JOE BIDEN AS THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.
THERE WAS NO ACCESS TO FOOD FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE QUITE FRANKLY.
SO, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE WERE JUST TIRED AND HUNGRY AND EXHAUSTED.
BUT I WAS REALLY -- I WAS HAPPY THAT WE WERE JUST DOING OUR JOB AND GETTING IT DONE.
I WAS VERY DISCOURAGED WHEN I SAW MANY OF MY COLLEAGUES CONTINUE TO OBJECT TO THE ELECTION RESULTS.
YOU KNOW, MANY OF THE SENATORS WITHDREW THEIR EXCEPTIONS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF TED CRUZ AND JOSH HAWLEY.
BUT OVER 100 MEMBERS OF THE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS CONTINUED TO OBJECT TO THE CERTIFICATION OF THE ELECTION.
I WAS VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THAT.
BUT WE FWHENEED COME TOGETHER A MOVE FORWARD.
I'M A MEMBER OF THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS.
IT'S 25 DEMOCRATS, 25 REPUBLICANS.
WE MEET REGULARLY, TRY TO FIND COMMON GROUND.
NOT AN EASY THING TO DO OVER THE PAST FOUR YEARS.
WE NEED TO DO MORE OF THAT.
WE SEE SOME SENATORS MOVING IN THAT DIRECTION AS WELL THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING QUIETLY WITH OVER THE PAST YEAR.
A LOT OF THE RECENT PANDEMIC PACKAGE THAT WAS PASSED WAS A RESULT OF OUR BIPARTISAN MEETINGS AND TRUST-BUILDING.
I'M VERY DISCOURAGED THAT A FEW MEMBERS, REPUBLICANS, ACTUALLY VOTED FOR THE OBJECTIONS, FOLKS FROM PENNSYLVANIA.
AND I DO WANT TO POINT THOSE REPUBLICANS THAT VOTED AGAINST THE OBJECTIONS, THAT VOTED FOR THE CERTIFICATION.
YOU KNOW, IT TOOK A LOT OF GUTS FOR THEM TO DO THAT BECAUSE THE BASE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS SO RABID RIGHT NOW IN SUPPORT OF THIS IRRESPONSIBLE AND RECKLESS PRESIDENT THAT IT WAS NOT EASY FOR SOME OF THESE REPUBLICANS TO STAND UP AGAINST THE BASE, BUT THEY DID.
THEY DID THE RIGHT THING.
SO ANYWAY, I'M JUST GOING ON AND ON.
I HAVE A MILLION THINGS -- >> NO.
I WANT YOU TO DEFINITELY -- I WOULD IMAGINE YOU'RE STILL PROCESSING AS YOU'RE SPEAKING WITH ME.
ONE OF THE THINGS I ALSO THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE NOW STARTING TO UNPACK AND ADDRESS, AND THAT IS YOU SAID THAT WHEN YOU WERE ABLE TO FINALLY GET OUT OF THE HOUSE CHAMBER, YOU SAW SOME OF THE RIOTERS THAT WERE LYING DOWN ON THEIR BELLY WITH CAPITOL POLICE.
BUT THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF CRITICISM ABOUT THE WAY THAT POLICE DEPARTMENT HANDLED THIS ENTIRE EVENT, EITHER FROM A LACK OF PLANNING BEFOREHAND.
THERE'S BEEN SOME QUESTIONABLE ACTIONS THAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT AS TO WHETHER OR NOT THEY ALLOWED SOME OF THESE PEOPLE TO JUST COME IN.
THERE'S A VIDEO OF ONE OF THEM TAKING SELFIES WITH THE RIOTERS.
MY QUESTION TO YOU IS FIRST OF ALL, HOW DO YOU THINK THAT -- OR WHAT WAS IT THAT YOU AT LEAST SAW FROM THE CAPITOL POLICE, AND WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN IN TERMS OF A RECKONING WITH HOW THE CAPITOL WAS ABLE TO BE BREACHED SO SEEMINGLY EASILY?
>> WELL, LET ME FIRST SAY THAT I FELT MUCH SAFER WITH THE CAPITOL POLICE WHEN I WAS IN THE CHAMBER.
THEY WERE SURROUNDING US.
THEY HAD THEIR GUNS DRAWN.
THEY WERE PROTECTING US.
A LOT OF PEOPLE PUT THEMSELVES IN HARM'S WAY.
WE'VE SEEN ALL KINDS OF PICTURES OF PEOPLE GETTING HIT WITH METAL CLUBS, WITH CHEMICAL AGENTS BEING SPRAYED AT THEM.
I'M TALKING ABOUT THE OFFICERS.
THIS IS HAPPENING TO THEM.
SO I'M NOT GOING TO SECOND-GUESS THESE FOLKS, MAKE A QUICK JUDGMENT.
OBVIOUSLY SOMETHING WENT VERY WRONG.
I THINK THERE WAS A LACK OF PREPARATION.
WE SEE A SECURITY FENCE, A NON-SCALABLE SECURITY FENCE BEING PUT UP AROUND THE CAPITOL NOW.
YOU KNOW, THAT MAY HAVE BEEN SUGGESTED IN THE PAST, AND PEOPLE DIDN'T FOLLOW THROUGH ON THAT BECAUSE WE WANT TO TRY AND KEEP THE CAPITOL AS THE PEOPLE'S HOUSE.
IT'S ALWAYS BEEN A VERY FREE GOVERNMENT WE HAVE.
BUT THERE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BE A LOT OF ANAANALYSIS, BECAUSE W TALK ABOUT THE ONE PICTURE, AN IT'S ONE VIDEO OF PEOPLE COMING IN THROUGH THE GATE, YOU KNOW, WHERE THEY LET THEM THROUGH THE GATE.
I'M NOT SURE WHERE THAT LOCATION IS.
WE HAVE TO BE VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT OUR FOREIGN ADVERSARIES, THE CHINESE, THE RUSSIANS AND OTHERS, AS WELL AS EXTREMISTS FROM BOTH SIDES, WANT US TO ALL HATE EACH OTHER.
THEY WANT TO SEE CIVIL UNREST.
THEY WANT US TO DISTRUST EACH OTHER.
SO WE CAN'T GO JUDGING EVERYBODY RIGHT AWAY UNTIL WE ACTUALLY DO AN ANALYSIS AND FIGURE OUT WHAT THE FACTS ARE.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
THE PRESIDENT SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
THE PEOPLE THAT ORGANIZED THIS INSURRECTION, THE PEOPLE THAT PARTICIPATED IN THIS INSURRECTION SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.
BUT WE ALSO NEED TO SEE WHAT THE ROLE OF OUR FOREIGN ADVERSARIES WERE, ORGANIZED EXTREMIST GROUPS, AND THEIR INVOLVEMENT, WHETHER THEY'RE NEO-NAZIS OR ALT-RIGHT GROUPS OR OTHER CRAZY FOLKS, AND WE HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL THAT WE'RE NOT BEING MANIPULATED BY PEOPLE MISUSING SOCIAL MEDIA, MISUSING ANY KIND OF MEDIA TO TRY AND GET US JUST TO HATE EACH OTHER.
A LOT OF CIVIL UNREST THAT'S TAKING PLACE IN OUR COUNTRY AND THROUGHOUT THE WORLD IS ACTUALLY BEING FOMENTED BY ADVERSARIES WHO ARE TRYING TO SOW UNREST.
SO, YOU KNOW, OUR ADVERSARIES ARE LOVING THE FACT THAT WE'RE GOING THROUGH THIS IN THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW, IN AMERICA.
IT'S, YOU KNOW, UNIMAGINABLE TO YOU AND I HAVING GROWN UP HERE TO SEE WHAT WE'VE SEEN OVER THE PAST YEAR.
WE'RE LIKE, WHAT HAPPENED?
WHAT'S HAPPENING?
AND WE DON'T REALLY KNOW WHAT'S HAPPENING YET.
WE HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT HOW SOCIAL MEDIA AND HOW OUR ADVERSARIES ARE USING INFORMATION AS WELL AS EXTREMIST GROUPS IN OUR COUNTRY ARE USING SOCIAL MEDIA AND CABLE NEWS, ET CETERA, TO MANIPULATE US.
SO WE'VE GAT A LOT TO LEARN AND A LOT TO FIGURE OUT, AND WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO RUSH TO JUDGMENT.
>> SPEAKING OF THAT, AS, YOU KNOW, SO MANY PEOPLE WHO, AS YOU SAID, YOU KNOW, SO MANY OF OUR FELLOW CITIZENS ARE SEEING WHAT HAPPENED AT LEAST AT THE CAPITOL WITH THE PRO-TRUMP EXTREMISTS RIOTING VERSUS WHAT WE SAW OVER THE SUMMER WITH THE POLICE RESPONSE TO BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTS.
AND I'M WONDERING ESPECIALLY AS A MEMBER OF -- I BELIEVE YOU SAID THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS, IS THAT SOMETHING THAT CONCERNS YOU AT ALL, OR IS THERE A DIFFERENCE THAT YOU THINK NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED OR PERHAPS IS THAT ANOTHER CASE OF PEOPLE UNDERSTANDABLY EMOTIONAL ONLINE, HYPING PEOPLE UP?
>> PEOPLE ARE FOMENTING UNREST, BUT THERE'S NO QUESTION THAT THERE ARE RACIAL INEQUITIES THAT EXIST IN OUR SOCIETY THAT ARE BEING EXACERBATED QUITE FRANKLY, AGAIN, TRYING TO GET ALL PEOPLE PUMPED UP.
BUT THEY'RE VERY REAL.
RACISM IS REAL IN OUR COUNTRY, AND THERE IS NO QUESTION THAT THE WAY THAT YOU SEE LAW ENFORCEMENT TREAT PEOPLE OF COLOR IS VERY DIFFERENT AND VERY UNFAIR WHEN COMPARED TO OTHERS.
AND A LOT OF TIMES IT HAS TO DO WITH JUST THE IDEA OF PEOPLE ARE AFRAID OF EACH OTHER BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW EACH OTHER.
THAT'S A BIG PROBLEM THAT EXISTS IN OUR SOCIETY.
WE DON'T KNOW HOW DIFFERENT IT IS FROM STATE TO STATE, FROM REGION TO REGION, FROM RACE TO RACE, FROM CULTURE TO CULTURE.
WE HAVE TO CONSTANTLY WORK ON UNDERSTANDING EACH OTHER AND WHERE WE'RE COMING FROM.
LISTEN, WHEN I WAS GOING TO THE CAPITOL ON THE DAY OF THE INSURRECTION, I COULDN'T GO TO MY OFFICE BECAUSE IT WAS BEING EVACUATED, AND I HAD TO GO THROUGH WHERE THERE WERE CROWDS.
AND WHEN I WALKED UP TO A CROWD OF PEOPLE THAT WERE ALL WEARING BLACK MOTORCYCLE OUTFITS AND WAVING TRUMP FLAGS, I WAS THINKING TO MYSELF I WAS AFRAID BECAUSE THEY LOOK VERY DIFFERENT FROM WHAT I'M ACCUSTOMED TO.
WHEN YOU SEE THOSE GUYS WALKING AROUND WITH THE FURS ON AND THE HORNS, IT'S COMICAL IF IT WASN'T SO SCARY.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S INTIMIDATING.
>> MM-HMM.
>> AND PEOPLE WHO SEE PEOPLE WHO LOOK DIFFERENT THAN THEMSELVES, JUST BASED ON WHAT THEY'RE WEARING, SOMETIMES WHAT THEIR SKIN COLOR IS, BUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY'RE WEARING AND HOW THEY'RE BEHAVING, IT'S INTIMIDATING.
IT'S SCARY.
AND A LOT OF TIMES, POLICE OFFICERS, LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE REACTING OUT OF FEAR.
THE WOMAN WHO WAS SHOT, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE SAY, OH, SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN SHOT.
YOU KNOW.
WHY WAS THERE A WEAPON?
PEOPLE WERE TERRIFIED, AND WE HAVE TO BE CONSCIOUS OF THAT.
THAT, YOU KNOW, FEAR IS A BIG FACTOR.
WE'RE ALL HUMAN BEINGS.
WE NEED BETTER TRAINING.
WE NEED BETTER UNDERSTANDING.
WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND DIFFERENT GROUPS.
BUT BACK TO YOUR ORIGINAL QUESTION, THERE'S A REAL PROBLEM IN OUR COUNTRY WITH RACIAL INEQUITIES WHEN IT COMES TO LAW ENFORCEMENT AS WELL AS HOUSING, EDUCATION, ECONOMICS.
AND I'M EXCITED FOR A BIDEN PRESIDENCY BECAUSE HE SAID THAT HE WANTS TO ADDRESS THE CORONAVIRUS.
HE WANTS TO ADDRESS THE JOBS.
HE WANTS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE.
AND HE WANTS TO ADDRESS THE RACIAL INEQUITIES THAT EXIST IN OUR SOCIETY.
I BELIEVE THAT HE'S GOING TO DO THAT.
HE'S GOING TO BRING US TOGETHER TO REALLY -- I THINK PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SHOCKED AT WHAT A GOOD JOB HE DOES BECAUSE EVERYBODY SAYS, OH, JOE BIDEN IS OLD, AND HE'S A POLITICIAN.
HE'S NOT THE GREATEST SPEECH MAKER IN THE WORLD.
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE SHOCKED AT HOW EFFECTIVE HE IS AT BRINGING PEOPLE TOGETHER AND INSPIRING PEOPLE THAT WE REALLY NEED TO WORK TOGETHER FOR OUR COUNTRY.
HE GREW UP, YOU KNOW, WATCHING KENNEDY, AND THAT'S PART OF, LIKE, YOU KNOW, HIS WHOLE THING THAT HE CAME UP IN POLITICS.
HE'S GOING TO CALL ON US TO DO MORE FOR EACH OTHER.
>> WELL, I DEFINITELY WOULD SAY THAT I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE HUNGRY FOR SOMEONE TO EASE SOME OF THE TENSION AND TO AGAIN CREATE THAT UNIFYING SENSE OF AMERICANNESS.
BEFORE I LET YOU GO, BECAUSE WE ARE COMING UP ON THE END OF OUR TIME TOGETHER, FOR VIEWERS WHO ARE WATCHING THIS AND WHO ARE ALSO, LIKE YOURSELF, PROCESSING WHAT IT WAS THEY SAW UNFOLD ON LIVE TELEVISION, WHAT IS IT THAT YOU WOULD WANT -- WHAT'S THE THOUGHT THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO LEAVE THEM WITH?
>> THE FIRST THOUGHT IS THAT WE HAVE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.
THIS IS A FAILURE OF LEADERSHIP.
THIS IS IRRESPONSIBLE BEHAVIOR, REPREHENSIBLE BEHAVIOR BY THE PRESIDENT, BY THE INSURRECTIONISTS AND BY EVERYBODY THAT PROMOTED THIS.
SECOND IS WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD AND COME TOGETHER, THAT THIS IS THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH.
OUR DEMOCRACY IS VERY FRAGILE AS WE'VE SEEN, AND LEADERSHIP REALLY MATTERS.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY -- AND I WOULD HAVE NEVER SAID THIS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, BUT NOW I REALLY FEEL THIS SO STRONGLY.
WHAT PEOPLE SAY, HOW THEY CONDUCT THEMSELVES, JUST THEIR WORDS, LEADERSHIP MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
AND WE NEED TO START TREATING EACH OTHER BETTER, ESPECIALLY OUR LEADERS, AND TALKING TO EACH OTHER.
WE NEED PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL TO COME TOGETHER AND SAY, LISTEN, I DISAGREE WITH YOU.
BY JUST BECAUSE I DISAGREE WITH YOU, I DON'T HOLD YOU IN CONTEMPT.
I DON'T WANT TO DESTROY YOU JUST BECAUSE I DISAGREE WITH YOU.
LET'S GET PEOPLE OF GOOD WILL WHO DISAGREE WITH EACH OTHER TO SIT DOWN, TRY AND FIND COMMON GROUND WITH EACH OTHER, NOT ABANDONING THEIR VALUES.
FIND COMMON GROUND AND MOVE FORWARD TO TRY AND MOVE OUR COUNTRY FORWARD, TO ADDRESS THE VERY REAL CHALLENGES WE FACE.
WE CAN DO IT.
WE'VE DONE IT THROUGHOUT OUR HISTORY.
I BELIEVE WE CAN DO IT AGAIN.
>> LISTEN, CONGRESSMAN TOM SUOZZI, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.
OF COURSE WE DEFINITELY LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING MORE ABOUT THE PROBLEM SOLVERS CAUCUS BECAUSE I CAN'T THINK OF ANYTHING THAT THIS COUNTRY NEEDS MORE OF.
SO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US.
>> THANKS, JENNA.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>>> HI.
I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.
AFTER MEMBERS OF CONGRESS CERTIFIED JOE BIDEN TO BE THE 46th PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, A NEW QUESTION IS BREWING.
HOW DO THEY HOLD THOSE WHO INCITED THE D.C. RIOT ACCOUNTABLE?
AS OF OUR TAPING, IT SEEMS ALL OPTIONS ARE BEING DISCUSSED.
INVOKING THE 25th AMENDMENT.
CENSURE OF THE PRESIDENT.
AND A POSSIBLE SECOND IMPEACHMENT.
BUT WHAT IS REALISTIC WHEN THERE ARE BARELY TWO WEEKS LEFT IN PRESIDENT TRUMP'S TERM IN OFFICE, AND WHAT MORAL RESPONSIBILITY DO LEADERS HAVE TO SHOW THAT BEHAVIOR LIKE WEDNESDAY'S MELEE IS UNACCEPTABLE IN A REPRESENTATIVE DEMOCRACY.
TO HELP PARSE THIS OUT, I'D LIKE TO WELCOME MY NEXT GUEST.
SHE'S A FAITH LEADER, A POLITICAL STRATEGIST, AND THE FORMER CHIEF OF STAFF FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.
WELCOME, REVEREND LEAH DAUGHTRY, TO THE PROGRAM.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> I THINK THE BIGGEST QUESTION THAT PEOPLE HAVE RIGHT NOW IS WHO NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE BECAUSE IT'S NOT -- EVEN THOUGH, OF COURSE, PRESIDENT TRUMP IS THE LEADER IN CHARGE, THERE SEEMS TO BE THAT THERE WERE SEVERAL PEOPLE WHO PLAYED A PART IN CREATING THE ENVIRONMENT THAT ALLOWED THIS TO TAKE PLACE.
>> YOU KNOW, I THINK -- AND I THINK WE ALL AGREE THE EVENTS OF WEDNESDAY WERE ABSOLUTELY STUNNING AND TRAGIC AND TROUBLING.
AND WE ARE, WE LIKE TO SAY, A NATION OF LAW AND ORDER.
WE ARE A NATION OF LAWS.
AND SO ANYONE WHO BROKE THE LAW, WHETHER THAT WAS THE PEOPLE WHO INCITED THE VIOLENCE THROUGH THEIR WORDS, WHETHER THAT WAS THE ACTUAL RIOTERS WHO WENT INTO OUR SACRED SPACE AT THE CAPITOL AND INTIMIDATED THE OFFICERS -- WE HAVE AN OFFICER WHO IS NOW DECEASED.
WE HAD VANDALISM.
ANY BREAKING OF THE LAW MUST BE PROSECUTED TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW NO MATTER WHO COMMITTED THE CRIME.
>> OF COURSE.
AND SO WITH THAT IN MIND, WHAT THEORETICALLY ARE GOING TO BE -- OR SHOULD BE, AT LEAST, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE -- I SHOULD SAY WHAT SHOULD BE THE NEXT STEPS BECAUSE OF COURSE, LIKE I SAID, IT SEEMS AS IF EVERYTHING IS STILL BEING FIGURED OUT.
>> YEAH.
WELL, I THINK WE'VE SEEN THE FBI NOW EMPLOY THE A.I., THE FACIAL RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY, AND NOW YOU ACTUALLY HAVE NAMES TO GO WITH FACES OF THE PEOPLE WHO WERE INSIDE OF THE CAPITOL.
YOU HAVE SOME PEOPLE INSIDE OF THE CAPITOL WHO ARE SELF-PROFESSED AND SELF-CONFESSED SHOWING THEIR TROPHIES.
SO I BELIEVE THE FBI IS DOING THEIR JOB.
THE HARDER QUESTION IS AROUND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN TO PRESIDENT TRUMP FOR HIS ROLE IN INCITING THE VIOLENCE AND SENDING THE PROTESTERS -- I DON'T EVEN WANT TO CALL THEM PROTESTERS -- SENDING THE INSURRECTIONISTS TO THE CAPITOL WITH THE CHARGE TO GO AND MAKE THEIR VOICES HEARD.
THAT IS THE HARDER QUESTION.
THE HOUSE, AS OF THIS TAPING, IS NOW SAYING THEY ARE CONSIDERING IMPEACHMENT CHARGES AND WILL BE READY FOR A VOTE AS EARLY AS MONDAY OR TUESDAY.
THEY'RE DRAWING UP THE ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT NOW.
WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SENATE.
IS THAT THE RIGHT COURSE OF ACTION?
I THINK FOR THE SAKE REALLY OF OUR NATION AND OUR CHILDREN, WE HAVE GOT TO SAY THAT WHEN YOU BREAK THE LAW, THERE ARE CONSEQUENCES.
EVERY ACTION THAT EACH OF US TAKES EVERY DAY HAS A CONSEQUENCE.
WHAT WE SAY AND WHAT WE DO.
AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES MUST LIVE BY THAT SAME STANDARD.
HE MUST HAVE CONSEQUENCES FOR HIS ACTIONS, AND THAT'S, I THINK, WHAT WE'LL SEE HAPPENING ON THE HILL.
>> WELL, OKAY.
SO THAT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT POINT THAT YOU MADE, AND THAT WAS ABOUT BREAKING THE LAW BECAUSE THERE HAS ALSO BEEN A LOT OF CRITICISM ABOUT THE WAY LAW ENFORCEMENT HANDLED, AGAIN, THE RIOTERS WHO STARTED OUT PROTESTING, BUT OF COURSE ONCE THEY WERE BREAKING INTO THE CAPITOL BUILDINGS, IT BECAME A RIOT, VERSUS THE WAY THEY HANDLED BLACK LIVES MATTER PROTESTERS OVER THE SUMMER.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY RIGHT.
WE'VE SEEN -- WE HAVE SEEN THE DOUBLE STANDARD ALL THROUGH THE SUMMER, STARTING REALLY WITH THE KILLING OF GEORGE FLOYD, BUT YOU CAN PRE-DATE ALL OF THAT.
LET'S GO BACK 10, 20 YEARS AROUND PROTESTERS TRYING TO ASSERT THEIR RIGHTS AND HOW THEY HAVE BEEN TREATED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS AND BY LAW ENFORCEMENT.
WE SAW IT THIS SUMMER IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WHERE THE PROTESTERS WERE FORCEFULLY MOVED WITH POLICE IN RIOT GEAR AWAY FROM LAFAYETTE PARK SO THAT THE PRESIDENT COULD COME OUT AND DO HIS PHOTO STUNT.
WE DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THAT THIS WEEK.
WE SAW THESE RIOTERS -- RIOTERS -- WITH FLAGPOLES WITH METAL TIPS BEING GINGERLY HANDLED, BEING ALLOWED TO GO THROUGH BARRICADES.
WE SAW EVEN PICTURES OF BARRICADES BEING OPENED FOR THEM.
WE SAW OFFICERS TAKING SELFIES.
I'VE BEEN AT THE CAPITOL FOR SOME OF THE MAJOR EVENTS, MERRICK GAUR LAND'S CONFIRMATION AND THE IMPEACHMENT VOTE.
HI TO GO THROUGH TWO METAL DETECTORS, LEAVE MY PURSE AT THE DOOR AND A THIRD METAL DETECTOR BEFORE I COULD EVEN GET TO THE GALLERY.
SO HOW WERE THESE PEOPLE ALLOWED TO GET THROUGH THESE MANY CHECKPOINTS IS REALLY SOMETHING THAT REQUIRES AN INVESTIGATION.
AND FROM MY SENSE OF IT, IT TELLS ME THERE WERE SOME AT THE DOORS WHO ALLOWED THEM, WHO WERE COMPLICIT IN ALLOWING THEM TO ENTER THE PREMISES.
THERE ARE TOO MANY WAYS TO STOP PEOPLE FROM GETTING IN WITH FLAGPOLES WITH METAL TIPS, WITH AMMUNITION, WITH EXPLOSIVES.
IT'S UNCONSCIONABLE AND TELLS ME THAT THERE WAS A COMPLETE BREAKDOWN IF NOT COMPLICIT IN THEIR ENTRY INTO THE CAPITOL BUILDING.
>> WELL, REVEREND, WE ONLY HAVE JUST A FEW MOMENTS LEFT.
BUT IF THERE WAS A THOUGHT OR SOMETHING THAT YOU WOULD WANT TO LEAVE OUR AUDIENCE WITH, WHAT WOULD THAT BE?
>> IF WE LOVE OUR COUNTRY, WE HAVE GOT TO LOOK AT THE ACTIVITIES OF THIS WEEK WITH CLEAR EYES AND WAKE UP AND SAY THERE IS A PROBLEM.
WE HAVE A PROBLEM WHEN A SEGMENT OF AMERICA DECIDES THAT THIS IS THE WAY THAT THEY NEED TO ADDRESS THEIR ACTIONS.
THERE ARE CLEAR DIFFERENTIATIONS ON HOW PEOPLE ARE TREATED, AND WE HAVE GOT TO, AS AMERICANS, CHOOSE TO DEAL WITH IT FORTHRIGHTLY, CLEAR-EYED, SO WE CAN MOVE INTO THE FUTURE AS ONE COUNTRY.
"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, SYLVIA A.
AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.
BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, AND BY JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.
♪
FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT INSIDE THE CAPITOL CHAOS
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 1/8/2021 | 19m 44s | FIRSTHAND ACCOUNT INSIDE THE CAPITOL CHAOS (19m 44s)
LAWMAKERS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF PRESIDENT TRUMP
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: 1/8/2021 | 6m 39s | LAWMAKERS CALL FOR IMMEDIATE REMOVAL OF PRESIDENT TRUMP (6m 39s)
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