Hundreds Converge At War Memorial Plaza In Baltimore; Duchess Kate And Prince William Have Baby Girl
FREDRICKA WHITFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: Hello again, everyone. Thanks for joining me. I'm Fredricka Whitfield, live in Baltimore. We are one hour away from a big youth rally right here in Baltimore. Although it sounds like it's under way. The stage is set. This will end up being the final destination here, city hall. Right now, there are hundreds of people, at least that's what it appears from our bird's-eye view, maybe even dozens of people, right now walking through the streets of Baltimore and they're walking about a three to four-mile path through the streets. And then making their way right here to the war memorial plaza outside of this city hall. They're all doing this, rally and support of Freddie Gray. The 25- year-old man who died in police custody last month. There is a feeling among many jubilation that there were charges imposed against six police officers but at the same time many people reserving comment because they say it's still early in the investigation. We have a teal of reporters around the city covering today's demonstrations. Right now you're looking at a shot of the six police officers. But we also have CNN correspondents Sara Sidner, Nick Valencia, Ryan Young, and Rene Marsh, all dispersed in various parts of the city right there. Let's first go to Sara Sidner who is right here in this park. Sara, while this is a final destination it already seems like a rally that is very much under way.</s>SARA SIDNER, CNN SENIOR INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Very much is. And what you're kind of feeling right now is not angry demonstrations. What you're feeling is more of a community coming together, trying to get to know one another, and dancing together. It feels more almost celebratory, happy of to be together, to be here. But here, certainly a very serious cause. A lot of here, I'm looking in the crowd, there was the leader of the crypts gang is here. We saw folks, the Black Panthers also here. I want to give you a look. You know, you can see, you know, some of the different folks that are here. But there are black folks. There are white folks. There are people from all different walks of life. Kids and grandparents as well. What is beautiful about this one, is you see people altogether from all these different ethnicities. They're all dancing together. The music are bringing them together here. We're expecting a lot of folks to come out and to demonstrate because there is a very serious issue that of course you know of and the world now knows of, what happened to Freddie Gray when he was in that van with police -- Fred.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Sara Sidner, thank you so much. We are also looking at that aerial view right there of a dozen of people now marching through downtown Baltimore walking through neighborhood streets, walking through business districts, as well, on their way here. And we understand our Nick Valencia is somewhere in the crush there with many demonstrators making their way. He's joining us live now. Nick?</s>NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good afternoon, Fred. I'm actually at the site where Freddie Gray was arrested and you see this crowd behind me has slowly been gathering over the course of probably the last 30 minutes to an hour. It's blossomed to just about a hundred people, I'd say. And among them is former Baltimore mayor, Sheila Dixon. Miss Dixon, thank you so much for being on CNN. You were, at one time, representing this as a city council. What it's like to be back? What brought you out here today?</s>SHEILA DIXON, FORMER BALTIMORE MAYOR: Well, I came out today because some of the young men who grew up in the community, who are friends of Freddie Gray have a message that they want to get across. They have a plan of action. They asked me to come out, to support their efforts, and I respect those young men. I want to be a part of their efforts. And I believe that we need to listen to them because I think they have what the next steps are in moving this process forward, as far as what happens in empower, continuing to empower this community.</s>VALENCIA: Just a handful of years ago, you were one time the head of the city in Baltimore. How have you, over the course of last several days, internalized what's happened in your city?</s>DIXON: Well, of course it brings much heart pain and distress about what's happened. Of course, first and foremost to Freddie Gray, and then, secondly, the injustice of what's happening to young African- American men all over the country. You know, people in this community who live here in Baltimore are frustrated. They have expressed it through their daily peaceful protesting and we have to continue to do that. Yesterday the decision that the state's attorney made is taking it to another step.</s>VALENCIA: What did you think of is that? It was very dynamic to be up there, what did you think?</s>DIXON: Not only dynamic but she had to bring forth truth and justice for injustice. And believe me, we have great officers in this city. But when you have individuals who are not following the laws and treating people right, it has to be dealt with. Not only going through the process. But in the meantime we have to continue to build on these communities that are in distress and this is one of them.</s>VALENCIA: And that's why people are out here to build on that message, to go forward and hopefully focus on a conversation of healing. People don't want Monday to represent the city. You saw the images, the infamous scene at the CVS, they don't want that to be a focus of the narrative here in this community. That's why you've seen people here from North Carolina, from Boston, from all across the country, to show up here, not just seek justice for Freddie Gray, they say, but also of litany of names who have been unarmed civilians who have been injured or killed at hands of police officers. This group making their way in a very short time on their way to city hall continuing on with their peaceful demonstrations -- Fredricka.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Nick Valencia, thank you so much. Let's move on to CNN's Rene Marsh. She is at North Avenue in Pennsylvania, another location where many demonstrators have been gathering. So, Rene, what's happening there?</s>RENE MARSH, CNN AVIATION AND GOVERNMENT REGULATION CORRESPONDENT: Well, Fred, when you look around here, really looks like an average Saturday, this is a barber shop behind me. Is it open for business. They're selling t-shirts outside. And right in this intersection, I happen to bump into the man who shot that video. You may not know his name, his name is Kevin Moore, but you undoubtedly know the video that he shot. He is the one who shot that cell phone video of Freddie Gray as he was being arrested. Well, this was Kevin Moore's first television interview since the charges were filed against those six officers. Here's what he had to say about playing a hand or playing a role in all of this.</s>KEVIN MOORE, VIDEOTAPED FREDDIE GRAY'S ARREST: My natural instinct was to cry. I couldn't believe it. It was surreal.</s>MARSH: Why did you cry?</s>MOORE: Because -- it's a shame, right, that it took so many people to come together and unify because my friend Freddie died. I wish we could have did it on another occasion. A black history month occasion, Martin Luther King's birthday, any other occasion, why it has to be a death of one of my friends?</s>MARSH: All right. You know, as he was walking around the neighborhood, you just would see he couldn't take a step before somebody else stopped him to say, thank you. That's all they wanted to say is thank you for being there and shooting that video. He's a part of a group called Cop Watch. He is with -- they essentially walk around with hand-held video cameras and when they see a situation between the police as well as someone in the community and they think that the procedure or process isn't quite right they start rolling. That's exactly what he did when he saw Freddie Gray and his interaction with police and says he will continue to do that. He also tells me that he was down here, he was protesting and that he was arrested at a certain point. He's made it out, obviously. But he said he wasn't quite sure why he was arrested and he's not quite sure if after shooting that video he will become a target of police but he said he doesn't care. He will continue to do what he has been doing, which is walking around town, and in his words, his camera will be fully locked and loaded and ready to shoot if he sees another incident. Fred?</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Rene Marsh, thank you so much. Impactful words coming from Kevin Moore there who captured those images. And out thanks to Nick Valencia and his interview with the former mayor, Sheila Dixon, as well as Sara Sidner in the crowd. We are going to check back with them. So we have heard from the former Baltimore mayor, Kurt Schmoke, we have heard the former mayor Dixon and we are anxious to hear more from the current mayor. Stephanie Rawlings-Blake has already came out. She already came out after that press conference from the state attorney saying that she was sickened to hear about the charges imposed on the six officers. But we still invite her to come on the program. I was scheduled interview her yesterday and of course because of the events yesterday that was canceled. We're still inviting ex tending our invitation from the mayor to hear her sentiment on what now for this case and for this city. All right, let's talk more about the case. And what about the relationship between police and the community here? I'm joined by Joey Jackson, he is HLN's legal analyst and criminal defense attorney. Also with me, Cheryl Dorsey, retired Los Angeles police sergeant and a member of the national coalition of law enforcement officers for justice. All right, good to see both of you again. So as we talk about dozens if not hundreds, maybe thousands of people, who will be walking through the city, neighborhoods, business districts and ending up here at city hall, they will be met by a very significant presence of Baltimore police, police from neighboring communities, I saw Howard county, which is a neighboring county here and they're also going to see National Guard. So Cheryl, what is the message that ends up being sent to demonstrators in the community here when you have six police officers who are charged in the death of a 25-year-old unarmed man and, at the same time, the police are here in place to help maintain peace?</s>CHERYL DORSEY, RETIRED LAPD POLICE SERGEANT: Well, I hope the message is that when we find wrong doers we're going to do right thing. And so, we'll honor those officers doing their job diligently, professionally, treating people with compassion and empathy, as I'm sure most of the officers on the Baltimore police department do. But when we run across those rare few that use excessive force and abuse people under the color of authority, then we'll deal with them appropriately. And so, I don't have any inclination to think that these officers here today are going to do anything except be professional in the discharge of their duties as they deal with protesters that are coming.</s>WHITFIELD: All right. Joey, I'm going to ask you a few questions in a moment, as well. Cheryl, thanks so much. I have to go to Sunlen Serfaty in Washington with more news -- Sunlen.</s>SUNLEN SERFATY, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Thanks, Fred. And we'll continue our coverage in Baltimore in just a moment. But first, breaking news out of London. We're seeing right now the first picture of the new royal family, an eight-pound, three-ounce baby girl was just born at 8:34 a.m. London time this morning. There you see the duchess of Cambridge and Prince William walking out of the wing of the hospital. Let's also get to CNN's Erin McLaughlin who is outside of Kensington palace. I have to say, this is a pretty stunning picture with the new baby girl. Let's listen in to the crowd right now. Crowds have been outside for a few days. They're waiting for birth of this baby girl. The duchess of Cambridge gave birth at 8:34 a.m. this morning London time and leaving the hospital, nine hours later. We know that earlier today they got a visit from prince George. The prince was brought by prince William into the hospital to meet his new, younger sister. A brief photo op with the new royal family. They will go from here back to Kensington palace. But this is the debut of their new baby girl. Much anticipated. And it will be interesting to see, you see the range rover pull up in front of the hospital. Last time in July of 2013, when Prince George was born, we saw Prince William, a likable moment, he got out and carried the car seat around, he kind of fumbled a little bit with the car seat. And put prince George in the back. It will be interesting to see if we see him do the same thing with the new baby girl. Now I want to go to CNN's Erin McLaughlin outside Kensington palace. Erin, tell me the mood there. OK. We're having problems connecting with Erin. But as you can see, this was moments ago. The duchess of Cambridge holding her new baby girl. We know that baby girl was eight pounds, three ounces, born I should say just nine hours ago. Pretty remarkable that we're seeing the duchess walk down those steps carrying her new baby girl. Once the announcement was made there was a formal announcement this morning. The formal announcement put out on easel in front of Kensington palace formally announcing the birth of this baby girl. We have, you know, that the baby girl was eight pounds three ounces, this is their second child. Prince George was born two years ago, July of 2013. And much has been said, of course, about the way prince William and the duchess of Cambridge have really become and grown into their role as a family. They've taken certain steps, of course, to define themselves as new parents and much anticipation, of course. There were fans and reporters lining up outside of the window wing in the Saint Mary's hospital outside of London waiting for the birth of this new baby. And it was a surprise today when it was announced that this is a new baby girl, the duchess and Prince William did not know the sex ahead of time. So they just learned it this morning when the duchess gave birth. There you are seeing, this happened just moments ago, coming out of the hospital. We do have CNN's Erin McLaughlin outside of the palace. Erin, what's the mood?</s>ERIN MCLAUGHLIN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi. Can I say -- can I just say what a beautiful, beautiful family. People here outside Buckingham palace could not be happier for Kate and William and their brand-new baby girl. And this is a day that is truly steeped in history as well. Joining me now is royal historian Kate Williams. Kate, what do you think of all of this? This is a truly historic moment.</s>KATE WILLIAMS, ROYAL HISTORIAN: Truly historic moment. That's part of the excitement of the crowds here, cueing up to see the birth announcement because they are seeing a part of history. This will be possibly a future queen, but certainly a very significant member of the royal family and they will be responsible for taking the royal family through into our new century.</s>MCLAUGHLIN: And talk to me, there has been so much speculation about potential name for the royal baby girl. We don't know the name yet.</s>WILLIAMS: We don't know the name yet. Huge amounts of money here in Britain. We are fond on betting on names, have been betting on names. The front-runner is now Charlotte, that is ahead, I believe, Allison Charlotte always been quite far forward. What the royals are looking for are very traditional names that was used before. So we probably won't see something completely out there, nothing invented but that's what Victoria's name was when she was christened. But actually, what we've got here is Elizabeth, the queen's name, Alice is the Prince Philip's mother, an also a child of Victoria, lovely name. Here they are.</s>MCLAUGHLIN: Here we go. They're leaving now. There's prince William with his brand-new baby girl. Let's make sure he gets the car seat right.</s>WILLIAMS: He did it so well with prince William, put in the car seat marvelously. There he goes. So they are, of course, most people would say, in the hospital for the night but want to go, they want to get back to Kensington and they will probably go to Norfolk tomorrow.</s>MCLAUGHLIN: I don't think -- was the duchess joining him? I may have missed that.</s>WILLIAMS: No I didn't see her get in.</s>MCLAUGHLIN: I didn't see her get into the car. And there they go. This is -- a royal baby girl, certainly something that Prince Charles said he wanted. Queen Elizabeth certainly wanted. It is a royal baby girl something that Princess Diana would have wanted as well.</s>WILLIAMS: Definitely. We know that Diana wanted a daughter. We know that Prince Charles has said he wants a granddaughter. We could see the joy on the queen's face today when she was wearing pink, smiling away. I think the family are completely delighted. Of course, they would have been pleased with a son. But a daughter is really delightful. And I know a lot of historians would rather hoping for it is a boy when it was Prince George, but it would have been a female monarch. But still, it's so marvelous to see a little princess. And I think so many little girls in Britain, they adore princesses, princess crazy, they're going to be the princess of Cambridge crazy.</s>MCLAUGHLIN: Kate Williams, thank you so much. Back to you. London is celebrating tonight the birth of a brand-new baby girl.</s>SERFATY: Thanks, Erin. And we will have more from our coverage live out of Baltimore coming up after the break.