Transcripts For CNNW At This Hour With Berman And Michaela 2

Joins us now. Victor, good to have you. You have some new information from police about this . Yes, michaela, john, good morning. Theyve not released the name but we are learning more about this man. Hes described as a 50yearold white man who lives in austin, texas, and it was a really dramatic scene just after 2 20 local time there in texas. Heres how they described this happening. They say the first calls came in at about 2 22 this morning of a man shooting at the new federal courthouse in downtown austin. They say there were also shots fired at the Mexican Consulate building. Also at the Austin Police Department Headquarters which were told has suffered extensive damage. Were expecting to see pictures of that. Also the shooting went on for 10 minutes until, were told, there was an Austin Police sergeant who was securing the horses from the mounted unit who, with one hand was holding on to the reins of the horses and with the other hand fired a single shot in the direction of this suspect. Now, the police chief says that it will take the work of the medical examiner to determine if that single shot took this man down or if it was a selfinflicted gun wound, but we know that that man, the 50yearold white man who began shooting hundreds of rounds there described at these three buildings is dead at this hour. Victor, this was all developing this morning. I was here covering it live when it was breaking or becoming known to us. Its developed even more since then. Not just a shooting. Authorities say there may have been some kinds of explosive devices in and around this man . Yes. They say when the officers approached this man they noticed two things, this is what were hearing from the chief. First they noticed he was wearing some type of vest. They dont know if this was a bulletproof vest or if this was a vest thats used as a suicide device or an ied so they immediately backed away but before backing away they also recognized several cylinders inside the mans van. They did not know if those were explosion i devices. Both the vest and the cylinders inside the van have been cleared by the bomb squad there in austin as not being bombs. But they do say that in this environment as they continue this investigation they are approaching the different sites theyre searching with the potential there could be booby traps and the fbi is now involved john and michaela. So obviously theyll be looking into motive, what caused this to happen, who this man is. Any details at all about the shooter . Well, the police chief says that although they have not yet confirmed or theyre not theyve not been able to confirm that there is any connection to any radicalism, but they say with the targets that thats not a far stretch. They do say that this is a man with a criminal history, although they would not go into details of what those crimes are. Victor blackwell, quite a situation unfolding there. Thank you for bringing us up to date in that story and, of course, cnn will stay with the story throughout the day so make sure to keep it here. It does seem like theres more we need to learn. A bunch of interesting details there. Any minute now the first lady will welcome the White House Christmas tree right there at the north portico of the white house. These are live pictures of an inanimate building but we are awaiting for that tree to arrive shortly. Its a very special tree. This douglas fir, 18 and a half feet, grown in pennsylvania by the botech family. They are a Christmas Tree farming family. So they know what theyre doing. This is good. They know what theyre doing. Our athena jones is there right now. We put away the turkey and pumpkin pie, its now officially christmas season, athena. Are you seeing the change there . Well, certainly its feeling a lot like christmas. Weve seen snow flurries earlier and soon it will look a lot more like christmas inside the white house. You cant see the tree, its right behind me, i should tell you, on a horsedrawn carriage and any minute as you mentioned it should be pulling up closer to the north portico and well see the first lady come out. Shes not out batting the black friday shoppers like so many other people, instead shes got this much cooler gig, if you ask me. Last year we saw the girls, sasha and malia, also come out for this event. So were keeping our eye out. Some facts for the tree itself. I think you have a graphic you can throw up on the screen. Its 18. 5 feet tall, its a douglas fir and it arrives any minute now. It comes from a farm in pennsylvania. Chris botec who is a Second Generation Christmas Free farmer from northeast pennsylvania near allentown will be presenting this tree to the first lady. And i should tell you that the u. S. Sold 33 million farm grown Christmas Trees last year. The first tree was presented to the white house back in 1856 during the presidency of Franklin Pierce. This is a longstanding tradition, guys. The state of New Hampshire thanks you for the Franklin Pierce reference. This tree is a douglas fir. Frasier fir is also a type of pine tree. Are you going to wax poetic . Those are the only trees that i know. Athena, this is part of all the White House Christmas parries because were entering the White House Christmas party season. Exactly we are. People can come in and tour the white house, see all the christmas decorations. This tree will be in the blue room. And, of course, this is a room with a very high ceiling because 18. 5 feet tall is pretty tall. So it will be put up in the blue room and i can tell you next week, next wednesday military families will be the first to get to come in and see the decoration this is year in the white house, they will be coming in for a tour next wednesday. And just like in years past, many of the decorations on the first floor of the white house here will be honoring military families so its the beginning of the exciting Holiday Season here and this is the launch well be witnessing in a few minutes. Guys . I think we were just seeing was that the president peeking out the window . Who could blame him if it was him. We saw somebody. We saw somebody upstairs looking out the window wondering about the arrival. Theres a whole team of people that put this decoration together. I mean, it takes a team of people to set up the white house for, as you say, christmas season, all of the holiday parties that will be there. Any idea of what their theme will be this year, athena . Well, apart from honoring military families, i expect well see the decorations weve seen here over the years. Theres often a big White Chocolate version of the white house, like a miniature version of the white house made out of chocolate and i think theres at some point in one of these recent years bo the dog made out of marzipan i think it was. So you get to see a few fun flourishes to go with the normal decorations, giant trees and sometimes photos of military families and people in the military. So i expect well see that. I forone want to know if the president s daughters sasha and malia will be here, if theyve recovered from the turkey thing the other day, the pardoning of the turkeys where they were there near those giant, giant turkeys. They just looked shocked the whole time. It is shocking and its not their first time with the turkeys. Athena, thank you so much. This is a really nice part of the Holiday Season and nice time there at the white house, a bit of a change from what the other stories that you have to report. Maybe when you see it arrive we can pop back and look at that with you if time allows. Great, thanks. Athena, thanks. Ahead, raj tragedy, thats the United Nations committee on torture is calling the events surrounding Michael Browns death. Today we have a very, very special guest coming up on our show, civil rights activist mirly everswilliams. Its just past 11 00 p. M. On the east coast, 8 00 a. M. On the west coast which means stores have been open for black friday since wednesday at this point. Well tell you about the sales, where the best deals are, if everyones survived this rush. Stay with us. Ugh. Heartburn. Did someone say burn . Try alka seltzer reliefchews. 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Its a beyonderful tradition to see it arrive on a horsedrawn wagon complete with clydesdales and, yeah, they brought the dog. The dogs made it. That is fantastic they look much happier to be part of the tree arrival than the turkey arrival on wednesday. We can understand that. Its probably a bit more of the kind of thing were used to, getting the family tree is a different situation than having to pardon the turkey. Athena jones is there. Its wonderful to see this happening on a beautiful day. Its cool there in d. C. But i think i can see somebody there just in the suit jacket so its not that cold. Is it quite a process to get it inside . Will we see them do it or do they just sort of inspect it first . Well, i believe theyre going to stand there for a few minutes. Last year, at least, the first lady gave a few remarks. But its nice to see those girls looking a lot happier. You remember a couple days ago all of the eye rolling and sighing and clear embarrassment at that earlier turkey pardoning event. But this looks like a lot more fun. I dont know how much of the nittygritty were going to see in terms of them trying to wres that will through the door. This is the moment theyre highlighting. I dont know if you heard just now they were playing o, Christmas Tree, o, Christmas Tree. So an apt song selection for this event right here. An 18. 5 version of that tree. Lets listen in for a second. Were taking the tree. Thank you. This is beautiful. She looks like you. Yeah, theyve changed a little bit. All right, you guys, happy holiday, thanks so much. And you can hear the first lady there, it was really kind of a were taking the tree, its official. I was worried. Whatfy f th what if they said were not taking the tree . Or was this a far mollty . Its a lovely site to see and it kicks off the Holiday Season and its nice to see the the ones daughters with the dogs. And they said our work here is done, they can go back inside and the team of people will make sure they can get inside. And were join by athena jones at the white house. Whats wonderful is that it is our troops that will enjoy this tree once its set up inside the white house. Thats right. Of course the first lady has made military families a priority. You know about her program joining forces so on wednesday next wednesday military families will get to come in, see the decorations first and, of course, as in many recent years we see a lot of these decorations that will be honoring military families so thats a nice part of all of this. But you guys were talking about how short the first lady only spoke for a few minutes. I think that maybe thats one reason reason the first daughters didnt have much to get embarrassed ant. This is a fun event today. As you mentioned, it launches a whole month of events, tours and parties, not just recognizing military families but celebrating the season. Guys . And likely going to be this White House Christmas tree, one of the mostphotographed Christmas Trees around the united states. Maybe up against Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree but there you go. A momentous occasion we got to witness today. Athena, thanks for joining us. We appreciate. Thanks. Ahead at this hour, we turn what the United Nations committee on torture is calling a tragedy, the events surrounding Michael Browns death. Were speaking with civil rights activist mirlly everswilliams, shell joins us after a break. holiday mhey is playing i guess were going to need a new santa the music builds to a climax. more people are coming to audi than ever before. See why now is the best time. Audi will cover your first months payment on select models at the season of audi sales event. Visit audioffers. Com today. The United Nations committee against torture has just weighed in on the events in ferguson. A member called the events that unfolded a tragedy but said the u. N. Has to respect the decision of u. S. Authorities not to prosecute officer Darren Wilson son for fatally shooting Michael Brown. The committee criticizes racial profiling and excessive use of force by police in the united states. I want to talk about this, if i want to talk about everything thats happened in the last week and get perspective from someone who spent more than half a century on the fright civil rights. Myrlie everswilliam is the former chairwoman of the naacp, thank you so much for being with us, such an honor to talk to you. Thank you. As we look back on this week, its been such an emotional week and so much has happened. I want to you ask you to begin with it as you look at it. What are your general impress n impressions of whats going on . My general impression 1 that we are filled with sadness but also with hope. For the future, that we will learn from what has happened. Of course my history goes back year and years ago 50 years ago when my husband medgar evers was shot down at his home with my children and i there watching and rushing out to him. What has happened over this period of time . There have been many changes that have been positive but if we go back to what has happened with the young brown man, how much does that say to us about the spirit, the hope, the belief in america and where we are today. We are all saddened, most of us are terribly saddened but its a challenge of who we are today and what we do. Particularly when it comes to the health and welfare of young black africanamerican men. Its a tragedy that we are still dealing with this hatred, actual actually that we have been dealing with over the years. I have found in my life that i had to have a purpose. I had many purposes, but one was to see that medgars killer was tried and convicted. It took 30 years for that to happen. But you dont give up on these things. You dont give up on the american dream. You dont give up on the benefit that we as africanamericans have and should have freely in this country and to see our young people taken down as they are says something to not only the Africanamerican Community but the community as a whole. Where are our values . What do we do . What can we do to help keep this from happening again . Michael brown was lost to us what about all of the other young men that are out there . What do we do to preserve their lives, their future . And thats where im focused. My heart goes out to all of in this loss and in the tragedy of this destroying the environment around this. But it says to us that we must keep our eyes on the prize. That we can not recognize that all is well. All is not well. The question is, what do we do about that. Miss meryrlie, i want to ask you because i think youre the perfect person as we watch the brown family struggle through their first thanksgiving without their son. We the tau image and how poignant that was you have been in that scenario of having to pick up the pieces after losing a loved one what would be your words of encouragement to that mother . To the mother of Trayvon Martin . To the mothers that have lost their you lost your husband but they lost their sons. How do they begin to pick up the pieces . Sometimes you pick up the pieces slowly. Other times it comes fast because theres anger. Theres also, i believe, a degree of hatred. How do you overcome that . You find something positive. I had children to take care of. I had to go back to school. I had to work. I had to develop careers i had to be a Community Activist of which was a little difficult for me. So how do you balance the hatred along with the hope for the future . Thats a tremendous job in unde