[Cuomo:] All right. So the president and some of his supporters are doubling down on the defense of what was said about Charlottesville and what was not said and now turning to the issue, which is really a non-issue, about the statue in Charlottesville, because that's not why the hate groups went there. That was just a ruse. But in a series of tweets, the president has called these statues beautiful and said their removal was ripping the country apart. Meanwhile, cities across the U.S. are having to deal with these issue because it's often a local issue. So what are they going to do with these symbols? Joining us now is the mayor of Dallas, Mike Rawlings. He's called for creating a task force to weigh the issue. Mr. Mayor, thank you for joining us during a very important time.
[Mayor Mike Rawlings , Dallas:] Thank you, Chris, for being interested.
[Cuomo:] So, mayor, what did you learn coming out of your situation, the tragedy that you had to deal with in Dallas?
[Rawlings:] You know, race has been a big issue in the history of Dallas. I mean we were a bastion for the KKK decades ago and then a mad man took the lives of officers because he wanted to kill white men. And so as we look at how to kind of bridge that divide, I think the president, any leaders, must be uniters first, as opposed to playing to a political base. That's the measure. Can you unite people to find a third idea, a better way forward in this? You've got to be a clear communicator. You've got to make sure you speak the truth. And then you must listen to people and really understand that the process of coming to a new place is going to be as important as the decision you make. And that's the way you bring people together. They appreciate it. They may not always agree with you, but the real empathy towards their points of view is very important.
[Cuomo:] So what is the risk in what you see? I don't know if you were watching before you came on but we had a fire breather on who's supporting the president and saying that what this really is about is covering for the alt-left and that this is about the right versus the left. It's pretty clear what path the president is on. He is going to engender this movement. What's your concern about that?
[Rawlings:] Well, it's divisive. I mean if we start to play this tit for tat thing, the country continues to be divided. We become less strong internationally and nationally. Great leaders unite our country and that's what I wish the president would do. Stop with the dog whistles, stop with the innuendos. Let's say what it was. We had a terrible white supremacist group trying to take advantage of something to make a political statement. That's not going to help the country.
[Cuomo:] Right.
[Rawlings:] It's not going to help Dallas.
[Cuomo:] So what do you think about the statues? We know municipalities are dealing with it across the country.
[Rawlings:] Well
[Cuomo:] What do you think's the right way to do it?
[Rawlings:] I'm proud of the mayors and the cities that have taken action. We started this a couple of months ago and it's moved very, very fast. Now it's not just a question of statues. These have become totems for the the alt-right, the white supremacists and now we've we've got it into a new conversation. That's why I've supported that for the removal of these. But how we do it is critical. Our citizens have a lot of points of view and I want to make sure we gain it. I want to be stronger coming out this, not just solving one issue. Because this race issue is about listening to one another. It's about understanding one another. This is a gift that we are given to make sure we we do this in the right way. And so I'm pleased at how we're approaching it and hopefully we'll get over this and we'll be stronger as a country because of it.
[Cuomo:] Well, that is a procedure ideal. We'll see how it manifests itself in the current situation. Mayor Rawlings, thank you for joining us.
[Rawlings:] Thank you.
[Cuomo:] All right.
[Rawlings:] Thank you, Chris.
[Harlow:] The fact that he said I want us to be stronger after this, I think that's the message to leaf everyone with this Friday, it we can. Be stronger after this. Stronger together after this, if there can be any unity.
[Cuomo:] That's the goal. And when you see people working against that goal
[Harlow:] Yes.
[Cuomo:] That's our job. We call it out.
[Harlow:] And we do indeed. Chris, nice to be with you this week.
[Cuomo:] You were great all week. Thank you for being here.
[Harlow:] Now I'm off for two weeks. Getting on a plane.
[Cuomo:] You deserve it. That's how it is. You work with every day you work with me, you should get two off.
[Harlow:] I earned two days off, folks, by the way. Thank you for having me. It's been nice to be with you.
[Cuomo:] Absolutely. So, CNN "NEWSROOM" with John Berman is going to pick up right after the break. There's a lot of news. Please, stay with CNN.