>>> THIS IS "METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL P. 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.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, AND THE DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION.

>>> GOOD EVENING.

WELCOME TO THE "METROFOCUS" FRONT PAGE FORECAST.

I'M JENNA FLANAGAN.

WE BEGIN OUR WEEKLY LOOK AHEAD AT THE LOCAL AND NATIONAL HEADLINES AND THE POTENTIAL IMPACT ON THE TRI-STATE AREA WITH THE MURDER TRIAL SO MANY IN THE NATION ARE WATCHING CLOSELY RIGHT NOW.

NOW, IT DID NOT TAKE LONG FOR JURORS TO SEE THE VIDEO OF THEN-POLICE OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN PRESSING HIS KNEE ON THE NECK OF THE LATE GEORGE FLOYD.

PROSECUTORS PLAYED THAT DRAMATIC ENCOUNTER, WHICH SPARKED NATIONAL PROTESTS FOR RACIAL JUSTICE, DURING THEIR OPENING STATEMENTS EARLIER TODAY IN THEIR CASE AGAINST CHAUVIN, WHO'S CHARGED WITH MURDER AND MANSLAUGHTER.

THE DEFENSE COUNTERED THAT THE CASE IS ABOUT FAR MORE THAN JUST THE VIDEO AND CHAUVIN IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR FLOYD'S DEATH.

JOINING US TONIGHT TO DISCUSS THE TRIAL, THE NATION'S REACTION AND OTHER HEADLINES THAT COULD DRIVE NEWS THIS WEEK IN THE TRI-STATE ARE L. JOY WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT OF THE BROOKLYN NCAA.

WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

>> WE ALSO HAVE BACK JOSEPH PINION.

JOE HOST OF SATURDAY AGENDA.

WELCOME BACK TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR HAVING ME.

>> AND WE'D LIKE TO WELCOME OUR NEW GUEST, THE HOST OF THE SENTITA JACKSON SHOW AND DAUGHTER OF THE REVEREND JESSE JACKSON AND MRS. JESSE JACKSON.

I DO WANT TO START WITH WHAT IS BECOMING AN INCREDIBLY CONTROVERSIAL TRIAL ALREADY, THE OPENING STATEMENTS IN THE TRIAL OF FORMER OFFICER DEREK CHAUVIN.

NOW, SO FAR WE'VE HEARD FROM BOTH SIDES THAT THE DEFENSE IS LAYING OUT WHY THEY'RE GOING TO INSIST FORMER OFFICER CHAUVIN IS NOT RESPONSIBLE.

AND THE PROSECUTION, OF COURSE IS GOING TO LAYOUT THEIR CASE FOR HOW THERE'S ABSOLUTELY NO OTHER WAY MR. FLOYD COULD HAVE PASSED AWAY WITHOUT THIS ENCOUNTER WITH THIS PARTICULAR OFFICER.

WHAT ARE YOU THOUGHTS THAT THOSE SEEM TO BE THE TWO SIDES AND THE LINE IN THE SAND THAT'S DRAWN IS WHO'S REALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS MAN'S DEATH?

>> THIS IS HOW DUE PROCESS PLAYS OUT, RIGHT.

THIS IS FOR QUITE OFTEN WE GET TO THESE POINTS AND A TRIAL DOESN'T HAPPEN.

THE PROSECUTORS EITHER DECLINE TO PROSECUTE THE CASE OR IT NEVER GOES TO TRIAL OR IT ENDS AT THE GRAND JURY STAGE.

SO WE'RE AT THE SPACE NOW WHERE WE ARE EVEN GETTING THE PROCESS TO BE ABLE TO LAYOUT THE FACTS AND HAVE A JURY ACTUALLY CONSIDER WHAT HAS HAPPENED AND WHO IS RESPONSIBLE.

SO IT IS A STEP.

YOU KNOW, ON THE ONE HAND WHILE YOU WANT TO CELEBRATE THAT, THAT WE EVEN GET TO THIS POINT, THE OTHER PART IS TO FEEL DESPONDENT, TO FEEL DESPAIR THAT WE HAVE TO CELEBRATE GETTING TO THAT PROCESS THAT A TRIAL WOULD ACTUALLY HAPPEN.

I HAVE BEEN WATCHING MOST OF THE DAY TODAY IN BETWEEN MEETINGS AND OTHERS AND JUST TO REVISIT, TO SEE I WATCHED THE OPENING STATEMENTS.

TO SEE THE VIDEO TOO SORT OF RE-SEE THAT DEVASTATING VIDEO TO SEE A MAN LOSE HIS LIFE ON CAMERA.

MY HEART JUST FEELS FOR HIS FAMILY MEMBERS, WHO WILL HAVE TO SEE THAT OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

THEY DID SO AND THEY HAD TO DO SO.

IT WAS PLAYING AD NAUSEAM DURING THE PRO TESTS AND EVERYTHING OVER THE SUMMER.

THEN AS THIS TRIAL PROLONGS, I'M SURE IT WILL BE PLAYED MULTIPLE TIMES AS WELL.

IT'S A BITTERSWEET ONE IN CELEBRATING WE'RE ACTUALLY GETTING TO THE PROCESS WHERE PEOPLE WILL BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE IN THAT A JURY IS SEATED IN ORDER TO MOVE THE PROCESS THROUGH.

BUT AT THE SAME TIME THAT IS THE VERY BARE MINIMUM OF WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN, WE DON'T WANT TO BE IN THE POSITION WHERE A TRIAL HAS TO HAPPEN TO HOLD SOMEONE ACCOUNTABLE.

WE ACTUALLY WANT TO PREVENT THE DEATH OVERALL.

IT'S JUST A MIXED FEELING AS THIS PROCESS PLAYS OUT.

>> THIS SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING WHERE AMERICANS ARE ALMOST BRACING THEMSELVES FOR THIS TRIAL, BECAUSE THERE'S SUCH PASSION AND I HATE TO SAY IT BUT ON BOTH SIDES.

>> IT'S INTERESTING, BECAUSE IN ADDITION TO COVERING CHICAGO I DO MORNING DRIVE IN MINNEAPOLIS ST. PAUL.

I'VE GOTTEN A CHANCE TO TALK TO PEOPLE THERE.

THERE'S SEVERAL THINGS WE NEED TO KEEP IN OUR MINDS.

THE TRAIL DID NOT BEGIN TODAY.

IT REALLY BEGAN A YEAR AGO WHEN WE SAW 8 MINUTES AND 46 SECONDS OF THIS MAN BEING KILLED.

WE FOUND OUT ABOUT GEORGE FLOYD'S HEIGHT, HIS WEIGHT, HIS WORK HISTORY, HIS HEALTH CHALLENGES, HIS EMOTIONAL CHALLENGES.

WE'VE HEARD PRECIOUS LITTLE ABOUT DEREK CHAUVIN.

WE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THE 18 COMPLAINTS LODGED AGAINST HIM IN 19 YEARS ON THE FORCE, 16 OF WHICH WERE RESOLVED WITHOUT DISCIPLINE.

WE DIDN'T HEAR ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP THAT HE AND GEORGE FLOYD HAD AT THE NIGHTCLUB.

WE DIDN'T HEAR THAT THE NIGHTCLUB OWNER FELT THAT DEREK CHAUVIN WAS EXCESSIVELY COMBATIVE AND VIOLENT.

WE HAVEN'T HEARD THAT.

SO I'M HOPING THAT WE WILL HEAR A BALANCED STORY THIS TIME BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT GEORGE FLOYD, WHO HAS BEEN ON TRIAL, IS NOT ACTUALLY ON TRIAL HERE.

DEREK CHAUVIN IS ON TRIAL.

AND WE HAVE SEVERAL OTHER POLICE OFFICERS WHO WILL GO ON TRIAL FOR THE MURDER OF THIS MAN.

I'M HOPING THIS WILL BE A FAIR TRIAL, BECAUSE I THINK THAT EVERY AMERICAN DESERVES THAT.

I DO BELIEVE IN INNOCENCE UNTIL GUILTY PROVEN.

WE DID SEE THIS MAN FOR 8 MINUTES AND 46 SECONDS HAVE HIS KNEE PRESSED ON HIS NECK.

AND IT IS ALMOST INSULTING, INSULTING FOR ME TO TELL ME THAT I DO NOT BELIEVE MY LYING I.CI.

EYES, FOR YOU TO TELL ME IT WAS ABOUT A SUBSTANCE IN GEORGE FLOYD'S SYSTEM, THAT IT WAS ABOUT A PRIOR HEALTH CONDITION.

NO, THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED HERE.

WE SAW THIS MAN HAVE THE LIFE CHOKED OUT OF HIM.

I THINK OF DARNELLA FRAZIER, THIS YOUNG BLACK GIRL.

SHE WAS 17 YEARS OF AGE AND SHE WAS HOLDING THE HAND OF SOMEONE SIGNIFICANTLY YOUNGER, ANOTHER CHILD.

SHE HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND.

PERHAPS SHE HAD THE BLACK TALK.

SHE HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO PULL OUT HER CAMERA AND RISK TRAUMA TO HERSELF.

SHE STOPPED AND SAID, OH NO, I NEED TO CATCH THIS BECAUSE SHE FELT THIS WAS NOT GOING TO END WELL AND IT DID NOT.

THESE TWO BLACK CHILDREN AND THEY COULD HAVE BEEN WHITE, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN BROWN, THEY COULD HAVE BEEN YELLOW.

THESE TWO CHILDREN SAW THE LIGHT SNUFFED OUT OF A MAN AS HE CALLED FOR HIS MOTHER.

SO I'M BRACING MYSELF FOR JUSTICE BECAUSE I DO BELIEVE IN OUR BETTER ANGELS.

BUT I'M ALSO BRACED FOR ALL OF THE POLICE ALL OVER MINNEAPOLIS/ST.

PAUL, THE POLICE ALL AROUND THE COURTS, BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE WONDERING IF JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED.

WE'RE ALL WONDERING ABOUT THAT.

I'M HOPING THAT WILL BE THE CASE BECAUSE THAT IS SOMETHING NOT ONLY AMERICA NEEDS TO SEE, BUT THE WORLD NEEDS TO SEE IT, BECAUSE THIS WAS NOT JUST A NATIONAL CASE, THIS IS AN INTERNATIONAL CASE.

THIS SPARKED PROTESTS, MARCHES OF SOLIDARITY ALL AROUND THE WORLD, BECAUSE EVEN WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE INTRARACIAL DIFFICULTIES IN DIFFERENT SOCIETIES, YOU DO HAVE PROBLEMS WITH POWER.

OFTENTIMES POLICE AND GOVERNMENTS OVERPLAY THEIR HANDS.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT WE SAW HERE.

BUT I CERTAINLY WANT TO HEAR MORE ABOUT DEREK CHAUVIN AND HIS LIFE HISTORY, HIS WORK HISTORY.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT LED UP TO THIS MOMENT, WHAT LED UP TO OTHER POLICE OFFICERS SAYING DON'T YOU THINK IT'S ENOUGH AND HE SAID NO, AS HE FELT THE LIFE DRIP OUT OF THIS MAN.

>> JOSEPH, YOUR REACTION TO THESE OPENING STATEMENTS?

>> I MEAN, IT'S A NIGHTMARE.

IT'S AN INTERNATIONAL NIGHTMARE.

THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE ON MINNESOTA.

I THINK IT'S FITTING THAT WE HAVE SENTITA ON TODAY BECAUSE WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE LEGACY OF HER FAMILY TO CAST LIGHT INTO DARK PLACES TO SET THE CAPTIVE FREE, I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO FEEL AS IF WE ARE BEING HELD PRISONER BY A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT WORK AND HAS NOT WORKED FOR FAR TOO LONG.

I LISTEN TO THE PRESS CONFERENCE THAT WAS HELD BY THE FAMILY PRECEDING THE OPENING STATEMENTS WHERE THE BROTHER CAME OUT AND SAID, YOU WANT US TO TRUST THE SYSTEM, WELL, HERE'S YOUR CHANCE.

SO WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS CONVERSATION ABOUT TRYING TO SUPPORT LAW ENFORCEMENT IF THERE ARE BAD APPLES IN EVERY BUNCH THE SAME WAY WE HAVE BAD DOCTORS, THE SAME WAY WE HAVE BAD ATTORNEYS.

BAD ATTORNEYS ARE DISBARRED, BAD DOCTORS LOSE THEIR MEDICAL LICENSE.

TOO OFTEN THE INSTITUTION OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PROTECTS THOSE BAD APPLES AND AS SUCH ALLOWS THOSE BAD APPLES TO CORRUPT THE BUNCH.

SO REALLY WE'RE IN A DESPERATE AND DANGEROUS PLACE RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE THE QUESTION BECOMES FOR ALL AMERICANS OF GOOD CONSCIENCE, IF THE SYSTEM DECLARES THAT WHAT THIS MAN DID FOR 8 MINUTES AND 46 SECONDS IS PAR FOR THE COURSE, THEN WHAT IS LEFT FOR US TO DO?

IF THE ONLY PEOPLE THAT WERE EMPOWERED TO INTERVENE ON GEORGE FLOYD'S BEHALF WERE PEOPLE WHO WERE WEARING UNIFORMS AND THEY DID NOT.

SO IN MANY WAYS THIS IS BIGGER THAN DEREK CHAUVIN, BECAUSE ON SOME BASIC LEVEL, IF THE OUTCOME IS THAT THERE'S NOTHING THAT CAN BE DONE HERE, THAT THIS WAS WITHIN THE BOUNDS OF THE LAW, WELL, NOW YOU HAVE PEOPLE OF GOOD CONSCIENCE SAYING WHAT IS MY RESPONSIBILITY TO START INTERVENING?

AND WHEN EVERYDAY PEOPLE FEEL AS IF THEY HAVE A MORAL RESPONSIBILITY TO ENGAGE IN THESE QUESTIONS, THAT IS NOT THE TYPE OF DIALOGUE THAT WE NEED TO BE HAVING IN THIS COUNTRY, BECAUSE NOW WE HAVE LAWLESSNESS.

THAT'S JUST WE JUST HAVE TO MAKE SURE AND PRAY THAT WE HAVE A JURY OF PEOPLE WITH CONSCIENCE SO THEY CAN SEE WHAT'S UNDENIABLE, THAT THIS MAN HAD A DEPRAVED INDIFFERENCE FOR THE LIFE BENEATH HIS KNEE.

THERE'S REALLY NOTHING MORE THAT CAN BE SAID ABOUT THAT.

>> TO SORT OF BUILD ON WHAT WERE SAYING, JOSEPH, WE SORT OF TOUCHED ON THIS ISSUE WITHIN THE SHOW, IS THAT WHILE THERE IS CLEARLY AN EMOTIONAL REACTION AND PEOPLE FEEL SOMETHING IS SO CLEARLY RIGHT AND WRONG, THERE IS A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MORALITY AND LEGALITY.

SOMETIMES THE LAW ALLOWS FOR THINGS THAT THE PUBLIC MIGHT CONSIDER TO BE MORALLY REPUGNANT TO BE CONSIDERED LEGALLY DONE.

I'M JUST WONDERING WHAT YOUR THOUGHTS ARE.

IS THAT SOMETHING ELSE THE PUBLIC NEEDS RECONSIDER, IS READDRESSING SOME OF THE LAWS THAT WE HAVE THAT ALLOWED THIS TO HAPPEN.

>> WHAT HAPPENED TO GEORGE FLOYD IS WHAT BLACK PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT HAPPENING IN COMMUNITIES FOR A VERY LONG TIME.

WE NOW JUST HAVE iPHONES TO PROVE IT.

IT'S TELLING BECAUSE WHEN YOU GO TO THE OPENING STATEMENTS, YOU HAVE THE PROSECUTION SAYING THAT IN THE EYES OF THE CHIEF, IN THE EYES OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, WHAT DEREK CHAUVIN DID WAS OUTSIDE THE BOUNDS OF ACCEPTABLE POLICE WORK.

AND YOU HAVE THE DEFENSE SAYING THAT EVERYTHING THAT HE DID WAS IN KEEPING WITH THEIR TRAINING.

IF THAT IS IN FACT THE CASE -- AND AGAIN, WE'RE SITTING HERE SAYING THAT DEREK CHAUVIN, WHAT HE DID IS ACCEPTABLE, THAT IT'S LEGAL.

THEN THE LAW IS CORRUPT.

THEN THE LAW IS BROKEN.

YOU KNOW, I REMEMBER I WAS A CHILD.

I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHY IT CAME TO ME TODAY WHERE BROTHER WAS TALKING ABOUT IN THE AFTERMATH OF THE DEATH OF MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., AND HE SAID SOMETHING THAT HAUNTS ME TO THIS DAY.

HE SAID I WANTED TO TAKE PROON THE PROTONS AND NEUTRONS OUT OF THE AIR.

I COULDN'T UNDERSTAND HOW A MAN SO DEDICATED TO PEACE COULD BE FILLED WITH SO MUCH RAGE.

BUT WHEN YOU WATCH A MAN LOSE HIS LIFE, THE 8 MINUTES AND 46 SECONDS, THAT TYPE OF CALLOUS DISREGARD AND THEN YOU WATCH SOMEBODY WALK INTO A COURTROOM AND SAY THAT THIS WAS OKAY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT TYPE OF WORLD.

>> I THINK BUILDING ON YOUR POINT AND THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS THAT YOU MENTIONED ABOUT MY FAMILY.

THAT'S VERY, VERY GENEROUS OF YOU.

BUT IT'S A SHARED HISTORY THAT WE HAVE BECAUSE WE'RE ALL IN THE STRUGGLE TOGETHER WHETHER WE'RE CONSERVATIVE, LIBERAL, PROGRESSIVE, WHATEVER IT IS.

I THINK THAT WE ALL HAVE SKIN IN THE GAME, IF YOU WILL.

AT THE END OF THE DAY, MY FATHER WAS TALKING TO REVEREND DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING WHEN A MISSILE FLEW ACROSS A BALCONY AND BLEW HIS NECK OFF.

PEOPLE DON'T REALIZE JUST HOW VIOLENT HIS MURDER WAS.

I FEEL YOU, JOSEPH, I FEEL THE PAIN.

WATCHING THE LIFE CHOKED OUT OF THIS MAN, IT WAS A SNUFF FILM.

IT'S DEVASTATING ON SO MANY LEVELS TO ALL OF US.

YET DR. KING'S LIEUTENANT, HIS SOLDIERED WALKED OUT OF IT AND BLACK PEOPLE AND THE WORLD WALKED OUT OF THAT NONVIOLENT AND PUSHING TO MAKE AMERICA WHAT AMERICA IS SUPPOSED TO BE.

DR. KING JUST BEFORE HE WAS KILLED, FIGHTING THE DESEGREGATION FIGHT WAS THE RIGHT FIGHT TO DO, BUT I FEAR THAT I HAVE PULLED OUR PEOPLE INTO A HOUSE ON FIRE.

DR. KING ALSO MUSED WHETHER WE'RE GOING TO PUT THE FIRE OUT OR STEP INTO THE HOUSE AND BURN UP.

AMERICA CAN BE NOT JUST BETTER THAN WHAT IT IS, IT CAN BE RIGHT.

WE HAVE TO LOOK AT THE HISTORY OF POLICING IN THIS COUNTRY.

THEY USED TO CHASE OUR ANCESTORS DOWN.

AND WE HAVE TO GO ON AND CORRECT THE FLAWS.

WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION TODAY IN THIS INFLECTION POINT.

WE'VE GOT A COVID-19 PANDEMIC THAT HAS LOCKED US ALL IN, THAT HAS CHANGED OUR LIVES FOREVER.

WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION, AS DR. KING WROTE IN HIS BOOK, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE, CHAOS OR COMMUNITY?

WE HAVE A COMMUNITY OF GOOD WILL IN WHICH WE SEEK TO HAVE JUSTICE FOR EVERY HUMAN BEING IN WHICH WE VALUE ALL LIVES IN WHICH WE'RE ALL FULLY HUMAN.

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO?

WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION.

I WANT DEREK CHAUVIN TO HAVE A F FAIR TRIAL, BUT A FAIR TRIAL AS I'M WATCHING THIS MAN CHOKED TO DEATH FOR 8 MINUTES AND 46 SECONDS, SOMEBODY HAS TO TELL ME WHAT POLICING IN AMERICA IS ABOUT.

I THINK WE HAVE GOT TO MAKE SOME DECISIONS AND ASK SOME REAL QUESTIONS AS WE MARCH, AS WE LIFT OUR VOICES IN PROTEST, AS WE FIGHT FOR LEGISLATION.

WE HAVE TO ASK OUR POLICE OFFICERS, ARE YOU HERE TO PROTECT AND SERVE, ARE YOU HERE TO SERVE ME UP AND HURT ME?

YOU DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THIS.

$27 MILLION IS NOT GOING TO PAY TO BRING GEORGE FLOYD BACK TO HIS DAUGHTERS, TO HIS FAMILY, TO HIS COMMUNITY.

HE HAD PEOPLE WHO LOVED HIM.

LET US NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE HUMAN SIDE OF THIS STORY.

THIS WAS A HUMAN BEING WHO WAS CHOKED TO DEATH IN FRONT OF ALL OF US AND WE HAD TO WITNESS IT AGAIN TODAY.

I COULD FEEL YOUR EMOTION.

I FEEL MY OWN.

I HAVE BROTHERS.

I HAVE A FATHER WHOSE LIFE I WORRY FOR EVERY SINGLE DAY OF MY LIFE.

AS MY BROTHERS AND AS MY NEPHEWS AND MY GOD CHILDREN GO OUT, I AM SCARED TO DEATH FOR THEM TODAY.

I DON'T CARE HOW MUCH MONEY YOU MAKE OR DON'T MAKE.

I'M SCARED FOR THEM ALL.

I'M SCARED THEY WILL ENCOUNTER A DEREK CHAUVIN, WHO WILL HAVE NO MERCY UPON THEM AS YOU SCREAM FOR YOUR MOTHER, HELP ME.

>> YOU KNOW, THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS THAT WE ARE NOT JUST HAVING IN FRONT OF CAMERAS FOR PEOPLE TO WATCH AND THEN TURN THE CHANNEL ONTO SOMETHING ELSE.

THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS WE ARE HAVING WITH OUR FAMILY.

THESE ARE CONVERSATIONS WE ARE HAVING WITH OUR CHILDREN, OUR GOD CHILDREN AND THE VERY REAL EMOTIONS THAT WE FEEL THAT EVEN NOT BEING BY BLOOD CONNECTED TO OR WITHIN THE IMMEDIATE FAMILY OF A GEORGE FLOYD THAT YOU CAN IDENTIFY AND THAT NO MATTER WHETHER YOU'RE BLACK OR NOT, TO SEE SOMEONE'S LIFE TAKEN FROM THEM IN SUCH A VIOLENT WAY BY, YES, AN INDIVIDUAL, AN OFFICER.

BUT AS JOSEPH MENTIONED, THIS IS PART OF A SYSTEM THAT IS OFTEN PROPPED UP AND OFTEN PROTECTS THOSE WHO ARE OFFICER CHAUVIN.

AND IT'S OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO NOT THINK ABOUT, YOU KNOW, IN TALKING TO WHETHER IT'S BROOKLYN NCAA MEMBERS, LARGEST BROOKLYN MEMBERS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE'S ALWAYS THIS IMMEDIATE PUSHBACK OF ACTION WHEN YOU WANT TO REFORM OR CHANGE HOW LAW ENFORCEMENT ARE ACTING.

I WILL START WITH THE PREMISE, LIKE WHO ELSE THEN IS IN CHARGE OF SETTING LAW, OF SETTING WHAT OUR STANDARDS AND OUR MORAL ZA STANDARDS ARE GOING TO BE IF IT IS NOT US.

IF THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO BE SERVING THE COMMUNITY, IT'S SIMILAR TO WHETHER WE'RE VOTING FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS OR OTHERS, THEY ARE DOING SO IN OUR NAME.

SO WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT TO SAY WE DO NOT WANT OFFICERS TO BEHAVE THIS WAY.

WE DON'T WANT LAW ENFORCEMENT TO ACT THIS WAY.

IN FACT, WE'RE GOING TO PASS LAWS, STRICTER LAWS AND PUT THEM IN PLACE TO HOLD THIS INSTITUTION ACCOUNTABLE.

SO WE HAVE TO BREAK THAT MINDSET IN OUR MINDS THAT WE ARE SUPPOSED TO ACCEPT THE BRUTALITY, WE ARE SUPPOSED TO ACCEPT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT BEHAVED THIS WAY AND FLANKING TO PROTECT THEIR OWN WHEN THEY COMMIT THESE ACTS.

WE DON'T HAVE TO ACCEPT THAT.

AND WE HAVE EVERY RIGHT AND EVERY ABILITY TO ACTUALLY CHANGE WHAT LAW ENFORCEMENT MEANS IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND IN OUR COUNTRY.

WE WERE ABLE TO COME TOGETHER AND CREATE THE LAWS AND THE CONSTITUTION THAT CREATED THE COUNTRY TO BEGIN WITH.

THERE IS NOTHING STANDING IN OUR WAY FROM COMING TOGETHER AND SAYING WE WANT TO REIMAGINE WHAT PUBLIC SAFETY MEANS IN OUR COMMUNITIES THAT CENTERS THE PEOPLE AND NOT JUST CENTERS LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE WAY IN WHICH THEY OPERATE NOW.

>> THAT IS MORALITY, RIGHT?

>> YES.

>> MORALITY AND LEGALITY HAVE TO MATCH UP.

IN FACT, LEGALITY OUGHT TO BE RUNNING AFTER MORALITY, NOT THE REVERSE.

WE'VE GOT THE REVERSE RIGHT NOW.

NOW WE'VE GOT AN ANTI-PROTEST BILL THAT HAS PASSED IN FLORIDA.

WE'RE WATCHING THE WHOLE CONCEPT OF DISSENT FOR REGULAR BLACK, BROWN AND WHITE AMERICANS BE SHUT DOWN.

SO EVERYBODY HERE IS ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, BUT COMING OUT OF THE MOVEMENT, THE MISSION STATEMENT OF THE SOUTHERN CHRISTIAN LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE, WHICH IS THE ORGANIZATION OUT OF WHICH WE WERE BIRTHED, TO SAVE THE SOUL OF AMERICA, THIS IS REALLY A MORAL ISSUE.

OUR LAWS HAVE TO BE GUIDED BY OUR HIGHEST MORALITY.

TOO OFTEN WE HAVE THE LEGALITY OUT FIRST AND THE MORALITY IS PLAYING CATCH UP AND SAYING, NO, DON'T FORGET ABOUT ME.

WE CAN'T DO THAT.

YOU'RE ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.

THERE'S NOTHING STANDING IN OUR WAY BUT OUR OWN, WHAT WE HAVE TO BE WILLING TO FIGHT.

THAT'S WHY I'M SO GRATEFUL FOR THE WORK THAT YOU DO WITH THE NCAA AND THE WORK YOU DO IN YOUR SPACE, JOSEPH, AND YOU, JENNA, BECAUSE I THINK WE ALL MUST COME TOGETHER AND FIGHT TO MAKE THIS WORLD WHAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE, THIS BELOVED COMMUNITY.

WE CAN MAKE IT REAL.

WE SAY THAT IRONICALLY IN HOLY WEEK WHEN WE ARE CELEBRATING THE LIFE OF A MAN, WHATEVER YOUR FAITH COMMITMENT, JESUS CHRIST, WHO FEELS FALSELY ACCUSED BY THE STATE AND HE WAS KILLED AT THE END OF THE WEEK.

DIDN'T TAKE LONG.

HE WAS LYNCHED TOO.

I JUST HOPE THAT WE'LL BE MINDFUL OF THAT AS WE LOOK AT THIS TRIAL.

>> WELL, WE ARE COMING UP ON THE END OF OUR TIME TOGETHER.

WE HAVE JUST ABOUT THREE MINUTES.

CONSIDERING BEING MINDFUL, INSTEAD OF ASKING ALL OF YOU WHO STORIES YOU'RE GOING TO BE FOLLOWING, I'D LIKE TO CHANGE IT PERHAPS TO A CRITIQUE AND WHAT ARE SOME OF THE STORY TROPES YOU'LL BE LOOKING AT AND CONCERNED ABOUT PERHAPS YOURSELF ABOUT THE WAY THE NEWS MEDIA COVERS THIS STORY?

BECAUSE FREQUENTLY THERE'S A LOT OF CRITICISM ABOUT THE WAY THAT REPORTERS OR OPINION WRITERS, ET CETERA, COVER EVENTS LIKE THIS AND HOW THAT TRICKLES OUT INTO THE PUBLIC.

JOSEPH, I'LL GO TO YOU.

WHAT IS IT THAT YOU'RE GOING TO BE LOOKING FOR IN TERMS OF HOW THIS TRIAL IS COVERED?

>> THE UNFORTUNATE REALITY IS WE'RE ALREADY SEEING THE MISCHIEF IN THE MEDIA, THE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT ANTIFA, THE CONVERSATIONS EVEN ABOUT THE CROWD, DID THE CROWD INFLUENCE THIS MAN TO SIT WITH HIS KNEE ON ANOTHER MAN'S NECK FOR 8 MINUTES AND 46 SECONDS WHILE HE DEFECATED ON HIMSELF CALLING FOR HIS MOTHER.

THIS IS A SITUATION THAT SEEMS SO CLEAR TO THIS POINT, IT'S INSULTING, INFURIATING TO THINK THAT THERE IS ANY DEFENSE.

THE FACT THAT WE'RE EVEN GOING TO TRIAL IS BAFFLING TO ME, THAT DEREK CHAUVIN AND HIS ATTORNEYS BELIEVE THERE IS A CHANCE HE CAN ACTUALLY BE ACQUITTED SPEAKS VOLUMES FOR WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

THE FACT THAT SOMEONE CAN SIT THERE LITERAL LY LITERALLY, IT CONSCIENCE TO THINK THAT PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT THAT VIDEO AND 1 OUT OF 12 PEOPLE YOU BELIEVE WILL SAY, YOU KNOW WHAT, THAT'S OKAY.

WHERE ARE WE AS A COUNTRY IF THAT IS IN FACT THE CASE?

THAT 1 OUT OF 12 PEOPLE ANYWHERE COULD LOOK AT THAT AND THINK THIS IS ACCEPTABLE, THIS IS WHO WE ARE.

I GUESS IT'S IN GOD'S HANDS NOW.

>> JUST A LITTLE OVER A MINUTE LEFT.

>> I'M HONORED TO HAVE BEEN WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY.

I FEEL EVERYONE'S PAIN, I FEEL EVERYONE'S PASSION.

AT THE END OF THE DAY LET US REMEMBER THAT DEREK CHAUVIN IS THE ONE THAT SHOULD BE ON TRIAL HERE, ALTHOUGH IT FEELS LIKE GEORGE FLOYD IS ON TRIAL HERE.

BUT DEREK CHAUVIN IS ON TRIAL HERE AND A SYSTEM IS ON TRIAL.

AND WE HAVE TO MAKE A DECISION, CHAOS OR COMMUNITY, WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE?

ARE WE GOING TO HAVE A SYSTEM THAT IS FAIR, THAT IS JUST, THAT METES OUT JUSTICE AND DOES NOT EXACT REVENGE?

ARE WE GOING TO ARRIVE AT CONCLUSIONS OR CREATE THEM.

ARE WE GOING TO ARRIVE AT LYNCH MOBS OR ARE WE GOING TO HAVE GATHERINGS OF PEOPLE WHO SEEK JUSTICE?

HOWEVER THE TRIAL TURNS OUT, THOSE ARE THE QUESTIONS WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER AS AMERICANS AND AS HUMAN BEINGS.

>> UNFORTUNATELY WE'VE RUN OUT OF THE OF TIME.

I'D LIKE TO THANK ALL OF MY GUESTS.

L. JOY WILLIAMS, PRESIDENT OF THE BROOKLYN NCAA.

JOSEPH PINION, CHAIR OF THE CONSERVATIVE COLOR COALITION AND HOST OF SATURDAY AGENDA.

OF COURSE OUR NEW GUEST SENTITA JACKSON, HOST OF THE SENTITA JACKSON SHOW.

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR JOINING ME.

>>"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- SUE AND EDGAR WACHENHEIM III, SYLVIA A.

AND SIMON B. POYTA PROGRAMING ENDOWMENT TO FIGHT ANTI-SEMITISM.

THE PETER G. PETERSON AND JOAN GANZ COONEY FUND.

BERNARD AND DENISE SCHWARTZ, BARBARA HOPE ZUCKERBERG, THE AMBROSE MONELL FOUNDATION AND BY -- JANET PRINDLE SEIDLER, JODY AND JOHN ARNHOLD, CHERYL AND PHILIP MILSTEIN FAMILY, JUDY AND JOSH WESTON, AND THE DR. ROBERT C. AND TINA SOHN FOUNDATION, THE