[Blitzer:] An image that is now written forever in U.S. history, an American fighter who devoted his life to human equality in the iconic bridge where that fighter nearly died for the cause. This is the body of Congressman John Lewis crossing the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama for the last time earlier today. It's a place of deep meaning in the storied life of John Lewis, an important part of the journey to his final resting place. Right now, he is being honored by the State of Alabama and the City of Montgomery, where he will lie in state at the State Capitol until tomorrow, then he'll be transported to the Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol here in Washington to lie in state before being laid to rest in Atlanta. In just a few minutes, CNN will present the second installment of its series on systemic racism in America, Fredricka Whitfield is returning to host this one-hour special on implicit bias in our country. Fred, you'll be looking closely at bias in policing, for example, how are you approaching that issue?
[Fredricka Whitfield, Cnn Anchor:] Well, right. I mean, two months now after the killing the police involved killing of George Floyd and now police departments across the country are re-examining themselves. They're re-evaluating, introducing or perhaps re-introducing to their departments police bias training. They're also looking at new training to de-escalate. And then of course, there are the arguments that many departments are making. There is reticence to even have bias training because they fear what it might do and how it might impact police morale. But then there are others in the business of policing who say, it's great to have police bias training, but you have to have follow up and if you don't have follow up, you're just going to return to some of the old methods or some of the old problems that are not encouraging better police community relations.
[Blitzer:] You're also I understand, you're going to take a closer look at how some of those same biases translate to sports. Tell us a little bit more about that side of this issue.
[Whitfield:] Right. And for the most part, we really are illuminating how elite athletes are using their power to promote change. That's nothing new. We've seen that whether it be a Muhammad Ali and the Vietnam War and the stance that he took, John Carlos and Tommie Smith, with a fist up in the air in the 1968 Mexico City Olympic Games. But perhaps what is different today is an acknowledgement from many of today's athletes who are realizing that they actually can promote change within the organizations. I mean, Bubba Wallace, you know, for example, influencing NASCAR. And of course, everyone knows the story now of Colin Kaepernick, but we're going to have a spirited debate and discussion tonight about athletes recognizing the power that they have, the elevated influence they have, and how they are learning from some of their predecessors who made history.
[Blitzer:] We're grateful to you, Fred, for doing this. This is going to be a one-hour special coming up right at the top of the hour, "Unconscious Bias." That is next. Thanks very much for doing what you're doing.
[Whitfield:] Thanks, Wolf.
[Blitzer:] Appreciate it very much. Fredricka Whitfield. I'm Wolf Blitzer in Washington. I'll be back in one hour at 9:00 p.m. Eastern with another special edition of THE SITUATION ROOM. We're about to take a closer look at how the coronavirus pandemic could impact presidential politics as we are right now only 100 days away from Election Day here in the United States and just 54 days away from the first votes being cast for President. "UNCONSCIOUS BIAS" with Fredricka Whitfield starts right after a quick break.