a
serious moment. For our nation
Kamala Harris the president's
mismanagement of the pandemic.
One US into the worst at the.
Good evening and thank you for
staying with us I'm Byron Pitts
N. for my friend Lindsey Davis
night it wasn't historic scene
in Wilmington Delaware today a
BP rollout unlike any we've
ever seen because of the
pandemic no cheering crowds
just Joe Biden Kamala Harris
side by side but socially
distance for the first time as
the presumptive
 BOTH MAKING A FORCEFUL CASE 
AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP, AND HOW
HE'S RUN THE COUNTRY DURING AN 
UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL CRISIS.
HARRIS SPEAKING POWERFULLY ABOUT
HER OWN STORY, THAT OF THE MAN 
WHO SELECTED HER TO BE HIS 
RUNNING MATE. 
>> MARY BRUCE WAS THERE, AND 
LEADS US OFF TONIGHT.
>> Reporter: TONIGHT IN 
DELAWARE, HISTORY WAS MADE, IN A
NEAR EMPTY HIGH SCHOOL 
GYMNASIUM.
JOE BIDEN INTRODUCING HIS 
RUNNING MATE, NOTING SHE'S LIKE 
NONE WHO HAVE COME BEFORE HER. 
>> AS A CHILD OF IMMIGRANTS SHE 
KNOWS PERSONALLY HOW IMMIGRANT 
FAMILIES ENRICH OUR COUNTRY, AS 
WELL AS THE CHALLENGES OF WHAT 
IT MEANS TO GROW UP BLACK AND 
INDIAN-AMERICAN IN THE UNITED 
STATES OF AMERICA.
HER STORY'S AMERICA'S STORY. 
>> BIDEN PROMISING SENATOR 
KAMALA HARRIS WILL INSPIRE A NEW
GENE
GENERATION. 
>> THIS MORNING, ALL ACROSS THE 
NATION, LITTLE GIRLS WOKE UP, 
ESPECIALLY BLACK AND BROWN GIRLS
WHO SO OFTEN FEEL UNDERLOOKED 
AND UNDERVALUED IN THEIR 
COMMUNITIES BUT TODAY, TODAY 
JUST MAYBE THEY'RE SEEING 
THEMSELVES FOR THE FIRST TIME IN
A NEW WAY, AS THE STUFF OF 
PRESIDENT AND VICE PRESIDENTS. 
>> Reporter: BIDEN COMING TO 
HARRIS'S DEFENSE, SEIZING ON 
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S ATTACKS ON HIS
RUNNING MATE. 
>> DONALD TRUMP HAS ALREADY 
STARTED HIS ATTACKS.
CALLING KAMALA QUOTE, NASTY, 
WHINING ABOUT HOW SHE'S, QUOTE, 
MEAN TO HIS APPOINTEES.
IT'S NO SURPRISE.
BECAUSE WHINING IS WHAT DONALD 
TRUMP DOES BEST, BETTER THAN ANY
PRESIDENT IN AMERICAN HISTORY.
IS ANYONE SURPRISED DONALD TRUMP
HAS A PROBLEM WITH A STRONG OR 
STRONG WOMEN ACROSS THE BOARD?
>> Reporter: BIDEN PAINTED HIS 
ONE-TIME RIVAL AS A MEMBER OF 
THE FAMILY CITING HER FRIENDSHIP
WITH HIS LATE SON BO. 
>> KAMALA, YOU'VE BEEN AN 
HONORARY BIDEN FOR QUITE SOME 
TIME.
MY SON RESPECTED HER WORK, AND 
THAT MEANT A LOT TO ME AS I MADE
THIS DECISION. 
>> HARRIS ALSO PAYING TRIBUTE TO
HER LATE FRIEND. 
>> EVER SINCE I RECEIVEDIO JOE  
CALL I'VE BEEN THINKING, YES, 
ABOUT THE FIRST BIDEN THAT I 
REALLY CAME TO KNOW, AND THAT, 
OF COURSE, IS JOE'S BELOVED SON,
ONE OF HIS BELOVED SONS BO.
AND LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT BO 
BIDEN.
I LEARNED QUICKLY THAT BO WAS 
THE KIND OF GUY WHO INSPIRED 
PEOPLE TO BE A BETTER VERSION OF
THEMSELVES.
HE REALLY WAS THE BEST OF US.
AND WHEN I WOULD ASK HIM, WHERE 
DID YOU GET THAT?
WHERE DID THIS COME FROM?
HE'D ALWAYS TALK ABOUT HIS DAD.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THE LOVE 
THAT THEY SHARED WAS INCREDIBLE 
TO WATCH.
IT WAS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL 
DISPLAY.
OF THE LOVE BETWEEN A FATHER AND
A SON.
>> Reporter: HARRIS SAYS SHE'S 
BEEN INSPIRED BY THE ESSENTIAL 
WORKERS, FROM DOCTORS TO 
TRUCKERS WHO HAVE STEPPED UP 
DURING THE PANDEMIC. 
>> BUT WHENEVER I THINK THAT 
THERE IS A REASON FOR DOUBT, 
WHENEVER I'VE HAD MY OWN DOUBTS,
I THINK OF YOU, THE AMERICAN 
PEOPLE, THE DOCTORS AND NURSES 
AND FRONTLINE WORKERS WHO ARE 
RISKING YOUR LIVES TO SAVE 
OTHERS. 
>> THE FORMER PROSECUTOR THEN 
TAKING DIRECT AIM AT THE 
PRESIDENT. 
>> THE CASE AGAINST DONALD TRUMP
AND MIKE PENCE IS OPEN AND SHUT.
THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE 
ELECT A GUY WHO JUST ISN'T UP 
FOR THE JOB.
OUR COUNTRY ENDS UP IN TATTERS.
AND SO DOES OUR REPUTATION 
AROUND THE WORLD. 
>> MARY BRUCE JOINS ME NOW FROM 
WILMINGTON.
THIS WAS THE VP ROLLOUT UNLIKE 
ANY IN RECENT MEMORY.
WHAT WAS THE ATMOSPHERE LIKE 
THERE TODAY?
>> Reporter: BYRON, THIS WAS 
TRULY SURREAL, AND A LITTLE 
BIZARRE.
NORMALLY THIS IS THE KIND OF 
ROLLOUT, HISTORIC UNVEILING AT A
TICKET THAT WOULD HAPPEN AT A 
MASSIVE CAMPAIGN RALLY, INSTEAD 
IT HAPPENED IN A NEAR EMPTY HIGH
SCHOOL GYMNASIUM INFRONT OF TWO 
DOZEN REPORTERS AND STAFF.
NO APPLAUSE OR CHEERING.
IN CONTRAST TO INSIDE, OUTSIDE 
OF THE HIGH SCHOOL IT FELT LIKE 
A TRADITIONAL CAMPAIGN EVENT, 
200 SUPPORTERS SHOWING UP WITH 
SIGNS CHEERING ON THIS TICKET.
BUT JUST PROBABLY NOT EXACTLY 
WHAT JOE BIDEN OR KAMALA HARRIS 
HAD IN MIND.
AND A REALLY REMARKABLE SIGN OF 
THE TIMES. 
>> SURE.
THE PANDEMIC -- RACE WERE FRONT 
AND CENTER IN THEIR MESSAGE.
FAIR TO SAY THEIR MAKING THIS 
ELECTION ON THE PRESIDENT'S 
HANDLING OF THOSE TWO ISSUES?
>> Reporter: ABSOLUTELY.
THE NEXT THREE MONTHS ARE GOING 
TO 100% BE ALL ABOUT PRESIDENT 
TRUMP'S HANDLING OF THE 
PANDEMIC, THE NATIONAL RECKONING
ON RACISM AND ALSO THE ECONOMY.
AND YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
HEAR THE BIDEN/HARRIS TICKET HAM
I AWAY AT THOSE POINTS.
THEY ARE ARGUING THAT WHAT THIS 
ELECTION IS REALLY ABOUT IS A 
BATTLE FOR THE SOUL OF THIS 
COUNTRY GOING FORWARD.
THEY MADE THAT CASE TODAY.
THEY'RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO 
MAKE IT OVER THE NEXT 80 PLUS 
DAYS.
BYRON?
>> MARY BRUCE, OUR THANKS TO 
YOU. 
>>> AS A FORMER PRESIDENTIAL 
CANDIDATE HERSELF AND STANDOUT 
IN SEVERAL HIGH PROFILE SENATE 
HEARINGS, KAMALA HARRIS HAS 
ALREADY BEEN A NATIONAL FIGURE 
BUT HER PATH TO THE BIGGEST 
STAGE IN THE WORLD HAS BEEN 
QUITE DIFFERENT FROM RUNNING 
MATES WHO CAME BEFORE HER. 
>> I AM NOT PERFECT.
LORD KNOWS I AM NOT PERFECT.
BUT I WILL ALWAYS SPEAK WITH 
DECENCY AND MORAL CLARITY AND 
TREAT ALL PEOPLE WITH DIGNITY 
AND RESPECT. 
>> Reporter: SENATOR KAMALA 
HARRIS, THE 55-YEAR-OLD STEP 
MOTHER AND WIFE, THE DAUGHTER OF
IMMIGRANTS, A JAMAICAN FATHER 
AND AN INDIAN MOTHER, WHO WAS 
THE GUIDEN FORCE GROWING UP 
IN -- 
>> OUR MOTHER WAS FIERCE IN HER 
BELIEF THAT YOU WILL BE JUDGED 
BASED ON YOUR ACTIONS, NOT YOUR 
WORDS.
OUR MOTHER -- SHE WAS ALL OF 
5'0", BUT IF YOU EVER MET HER 
YOU'D PROBABLY THINK SHE WAS 
7'0" FEET TALL. 
>> Reporter: PROSECUTING GANG 
VIOLENCE, TRUCK TRAFFICKING AND 
SEXUAL ABUSE.
SHE BECAME THE FIRST WOMAN IN 
SAN FRANCISCO'S HISTORY TO 
BECOME DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THEN 
ATTORNEY GENERAL OF CALIFORNIA, 
THE FIRST WOMAN AND FIRST PERSON
OF COLOR TO HOLD THAT POST.
SHE WOULD FACE CHRIS CRITICISM 
OVER HER STANCE OR POLICE 
PROSECUTIONS BUT SHE CONTINUED 
TO RISE IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY,
EASILY WINNING HER RACE FOR U.S.
SENATE IN 2016 THE FORMER 
PROSECUTOR BECAME MORE WIDELY 
KNOWN WHEN HER NOTABLE MOMENTS 
IN SENATE HEARINGS WENT VIRAL, 
INCLUDING DURING THE 2018 
CONFIRMATION HEARINGS OF BRETT 
KAVANAUGH. 
>> CAN YOU THINK OF ANY LAWS 
THAT GIVE GOVERNMENT THE POWER 
TO MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE MALE
BODY?
>> I'M HAPPY TO ANSWER MORE 
SPECIFIC QUESTION. 
>> MALE VERSUS FEMALE. 
>> THERE ARE MEDICAL PROCEDURES.
>> Reporter: HER FIERCE GRILLING
DEPLOYED AGAIN DURING THE 
MUELLER INVESTIGATION. 
>> ATTORNEY GENERAL BARR HAS THE
PRESIDENT OR ANYONE AT THE WHITE
HOUSE EVER ASKED OR SUGGESTED 
THAT YOU OPEN AN INVESTIGATION 
OF ANYONE?
>> I WOULDN'T -- I WOULDN'T -- 
>> YES OR NO. 
>> COULD YOU REPEAT THAT 
QUESTION?
>> Reporter: AS A DEMOCRATIC 
CANDIDATE FOR PRESIDENT HERSELF 
LAST YEAR HER FIERY DEBATE STYLE
OFTEN FLATTENING HER 
COMPETITORS. 
>> AMERICA DOES NOT WANT TO 
WITNESS A FOOD FIGHT.
THEY WANT TO KNOW HOW WE'RE 
GOING TO PUT FOOD ON THEIR 
TABLE. 
>> Reporter: PRESERVING SOME OF 
HER HARSHEST CRITICISM FOR JOE 
BIDEN, CONFRONTING HIM FOR 
TOUTING HIS ABILITY TO WORK WITH
ANYONE, EVEN SEGREGATIONIST 
SENATORS. 
>> IT WAS PERSONAL, IT WAS 
ACTUALLY VERY -- IT WAS HURTFUL 
TO HEAR YOU TALK ABOUT THE 
REPUTATIONS OF TWO UNITED STATES
SENATORS WHO BUILT THEIR 
REPUTATIONS, AND CAREER ON THE 
SEGREGATION OF RACE IN THIS 
COUNTRY.
>> Reporter: SHE WENT ON TO 
ATTACK BIDEN'S PAST POSITION ON 
SCHOOL BUSSING. 
>> THERE WAS A LITTLE GIRL IN 
CALIFORNIA WHO WAS PART OF THE 
SECOND CLASS TO INTEGRATE HER 
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SHE WAS 
BUSSED TO SCHOOL EVERY DAY.
AND THAT LITTLE GIRL WAS ME.
>> Reporter: HER ABILITY TO GET 
TOUGH WITH BIDEN GUARDED 
HEADLINES THROUGHOUT THE STAKES 
PROCESS MAKING SOME WONDER IF 
THE TWO COULD GET PAST THEIR 
TENSE MOMENTS.
BIDEN WAS SEEN AT A PRESS 
CONFERENCE WITH NOTES SHOWING 
HARRIS'S NAME AND THE TALKING 
POINTS, DO NOT HOLD GRUDGES.
HARRIS'S RELATIONSHIP WITH THE 
BIDENS BEGAN WITH SON BO, THE 
TWO BOTH SERVED AS ATTORNEYS 
GENERAL AT THE SAME TIME BEFORE 
HE DIED FROM BRAIN CANCER. 
>> I WILL ALWAYS FEEL STRONGLY 
ABOUT THE GREATNESS OF WHO BO 
BIDEN WAS.
AND I GOT TO KNOW JOE IN LARGE 
PART THROUGH BO'S RELATIONSHIP 
WITH HIS FATHER. 
>> BIDEN ACKNOWLEDGING HIS SON'S
BOND WITH HIS VP PICK IN HIS 
ANOUNZMENT SAYING SHE WORKED 
CLOSELY WITH BO, I WAS PROUD 
THEN AND I AM PROUD NOW TO HAVE 
HER AS MY PARTNER IN THIS 
CAMPAIGN.
HARRIS THREW HER SUPPORT BEHIND 
BIDEN. 
>> I HAVE DECIDED THAT I AM, 
WITH GREAT ENTHUSIASM, GOING TO 
ENDORSE JOE BIDEN FOR PRESIDENT 
OF THE UNITED STATES. 
>> I INTRODUCE THE NEXT 
PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES. 
>> SHE BEGAN APPEARING AT 
FUNDRAISERS AND EVENTS WITH 
BIDEN, INCLUDING THE LAST FUND 
RAISING EVENT BEFORE THE 
OUTBREAK. 
>> THERE'S AN ENTIRE GENERATION 
OF LEADERS YOU SAW STAND BEHIND 
ME.
THEY ARE THE FUTURE OF THIS 
COUNTRY.
>> Reporter: ONE OF THOSE 
YOUNGER LEADERS NOW HIS RUNNING 
MATE, THE WOMEN REPORTED TO BE 
HER COMPETITION THROWING THEIR 
SUPPORT BEHIND HER.
SENATOR ELIZABETH WARREN 
TWEETING, THROUGHOUT HER CAREER 
SHE HAS BEEN UNAFRAID AND AN 
INSPIRATION TO MILLIONS OF WOMEN
WHO SEE THEMSELVES IN HER.
SUSAN RICE CALLING HARRIS, 
QUOTE, A TENACIOUS AND TRAIL 
BLAZING LEADER AND FROM 
CONGRESSWOMAN VAL DEMINGS, A 
POWERFUL REFLECTION SAYING TO 
SEE A BLACK WOMAN NOMINATED FOR 
THE FIRST TIME REAFFIRMS MY 
FAITH THAT IN AMERICA THERE IS A
PLACE FOR EVERY PERSON TO 
SUCCEED, NO MATTER WHO THEY ARE 
OR WHERE THEY COME FROM.
PRESIDENT TRUMP'S CAMPAIGN HAS 
REACTED TO THE CHOICE OF KAMALA 
HARRIS WITH A BIT OF MIXED 
MESSAGING, CALLING HER BOTH THE 
MOST LIBERAL MEMBER OF THE 
SENATE WHILE ALSO CLAIMING SHE'S
NOT PROGRESSIVE ENOUGH FOR SOME 
DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.
AND THE PRESIDENT HAS LABELED 
HARRIS, QUOTE, NASTY AND MEAN, 
MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST 24 
HOURS, WHILE DOUBLING DOWN ON A 
RACIAL APPEAL FOR WHITE SUBURBAN
VOTERS.
ABC'S CHIEF WHITE HOUSE 
CORRESPON
CORRESPONDENT JONATHAN KARL IS 
TRACKING IT ALL. 
>> Reporter: TWO WEEKS DONALD 
TRUMP SAID KAMALA HARRIS WOULD 
BE A QUOTE FINE CHOICE TO BE JOE
BIDEN'S RUNNING MATE.
TODAY HE CALLED HER A DISASTER. 
>> SHE IS A DISASTER, SHE IS 
GOING TO BE A DISASTER FOR THEIR
PARTY. 
>> Reporter: AN INDICATION OF 
HOW HE'S LIKE I TO TAKE ON BIDEN
AND HARRIS AS THE CAMPAIGN GOES 
FORWARD HE CALLED BOTH OF THEM 
SOCIALISTS. 
>> I HEARD, ACTUALLY, SHE'S THE 
MOST LIBERAL PERSON IN ALL OF 
CONGRESS.
THAT'S WHAT I'VE HEARD.
MORE LIBERAL THANBER SNEE 
SANDERS, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. 
>> Reporter: SO FAR TEAM TRUMP 
HAS BEEN ALL OVER THE MAP IN 
THEIR ATTACKS ON HARRIS.
A REPUBLICAN PARTY SPOKESWOMAN, 
FOR EXAMPLE, TWEETED HARRIS IS, 
QUOTE, COMPLETELY CONTROLLED BY 
THE RADICAL LEFT, BUT AN RNC 
PRESS RELEASE DECLARED LIBERALS 
ARE IN REVOLT OVER BIDEN'S 
CHOICE.
TRUMP'S SURROGATES CALLED 
HARRIS, A FORMER DISTRICT 
ATTORNEY, BOTH TOO SOFT ON 
CRIMINALS AND ALSO TOO TOUGH. 
>> I DON'T WANT SOMEONE WHO SAYS
THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING TO BE 
TOUGH ON HARDENED CRIMINALS.
>> Reporter: MINUTES LATER -- 
>> SHE FOUGHT TO KEEP INMATES 
LOCKED UP, THEY'VE OVERCROWDED 
PRISONS. 
>> Reporter: AS BIDEN WELCOMED 
THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN TO A 
PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE -- 
CONGRESS FROM GEORGIA WITH A 
HISTORY OF MAKING RACIST, ANTI 
SEMITIC AND ANTI MUSLIM 
STATEMENTS.
MARGIE TAYLOR GREEN IS ALSO AN 
OUTSPOKEN SUPPORTER OF THE QANON
CONSPIRACY, WHAT SHE CALLS A 
GLOBAL -- SATAN WORSHIPPING 
PEDOPHILES.
GREEN DECLARED VICTORY LAST 
NIGHT WITH THESE WORDS ABOUT 
HOUSE SPEAKER NANCY PELOSI. 
>> ANTI-AMERICAN, AND WE'RE 
GOING TO KICK THAT [ BLEEP ] OUT
OF CONGRESS.
>> Reporter: AND TODAY THE 
PRESIDENT TWEETED THAT GREEN 
WAS, QUOTE, A FUTURE REPUBLICAN 
STAR, AND A REAL WINNER. 
>> JOHN CARL JOINS ME NOW.
YOU COVERED THE MIXED MESSAGING 
FROM THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN ON 
HARRIS SO FAR.
ARE YOU SURPRISED THEY DIDN'T 
HAVE A MORE CLEAR LINE OF ATTACK
GIVEN HARRIS HAS LONG BEEN 
CONSIDERED A FRONT RUNNER FOR 
THE VP PICK. 
>> WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT IT, 
BYRON, YOU AND WERE TALKING 
ABOUT KAMALA HARRIS AS THE 
LIKELY CHOICE TO BE BIDEN'S 
RUNNING MATE BACK IN MARCH, 
BEFORE HE EVEN ACTUALLY WON THE 
NOMINATION, WHEN HE TOOK THE 
LEAD.
WE STARTED TALKING ABOUT 
POSSIBLE RUNNING MATES, KAMALA 
HARRIS SEEMED TO BE AT THE VERY 
TOP OF THE LIST SO IT WAS HARDLY
A SHOCK THAT SHE WAS CHOSEN.
THEY'VE HAD MONTHS AND MONTHS TO
PREPARE.
AND YET YOU'VE SEEN THEM COME 
OUT, YOU KNOW ON ONE HAND, YOU 
KNOW, DESCRIBING HER AS SOMEBODY
THAT IS TOTALLY TAKEN OVER BY 
THE FAR LEFT OF THE PARTY.
AND ON THE OTHER HAND TALKING 
ABOUT HOW LIBERALS ARE IN REVOLT
AGAINST HER, TOO TOUGH ON CRIME,
TOO SOFT ON CRIME, ALL OVER THE 
MAP THEY REALLY HAVEN'T SETTLED 
ON A LINE OF ATTACK BUT I EXPECT
THAT ULTIMATELY THE LINE YOU'RE 
GOING TO HEAR IS WHAT YOU HEARD 
TONIGHT FROM THE PRESIDENT, HE 
IS GOING TO TRY TO PORTRAY JOE 
BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS AS 
EXTREME, AS EXTREME MEMBERS OF 
THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY TO THE FAR 
LEFT.
THAT'S A PRETTY TOUGH CASE TO 
MAKE, CONSIDERING THAT THE 
EXTREME LEFT OF THE DEMOCRATIC 
PARTY CERTAINLY DOESN'T LOOK AT 
BIDEN OR HARRIS AND SAY THEY'RE 
ONE OF US. 
>> SURE. 
>> AND JOHN AS YOU'VE BEEN 
REPORTING THE PRESIDENT HAS ALSO
DOUBLED DOWN ON THOSE RACIAL 
APPEALS TO VOTERS AFTER HARRIS'S
SELECTION.
DOES THE CAMPAIGN THINK THAT 
MESSAGE WILL ATTRACT VOTERS 
BEYOND THE PRESIDENT'S BASE?
>> LOOK, BYRON, I'VE COVERED 
THIS PRESIDENT, AS YOU KNOW, 
SINCE DAY ONE, I HAVE SEEN VERY 
LITTLE THAT HE HAS DONE TO TRY 
TO APPEAL TO VOTERS OUTSIDE OF 
HIS BASE, HIS ENTIRE REELECTION 
STRATEGY SEEMS TO BE BASED ON 
FIRING UP HIS BASE, GETTING HIS 
BASE TO VOTE -- TO VOTE, THEY 
BELIEVE THEY HOPE IN NUMBERS 
MORE THAN THOSE THAT WILL BE 
VOTING FOR BIDEN AND HARRIS, BUT
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING IN WHAT 
THEY'RE DOING TO APPEAL TO 
UNDECIDED, INDEPENDENT VOTERS. 
>> JOHN KARL, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU, BYRON.
>>> I'M JOINED NOW BY BIDEN'S 
SURROGATE STEPHANIE RAWLINGS 
BLAKE, FORMER SECRETARY OF THE 
DNC, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING 
US. 
>> MY PLEASURE. 
>> WE'VE JUST SEEN THE FIRST 
JOINT APPEARANCE BY THE NEW 
DEMOCRATIC TICKET.
I JUST WANT TO GET YOUR 
REFLECTIONS ON THEIR MESSAGE AND
WHAT HARRIS'S SELECTION MEANS 
FOR YOUR PARTY. 
>> IT IS VERY HARD FOR ME TO 
CONTAIN MY EXCITEMENT.
I'VE BEEN LIVING WITH GOOSE 
BUMPS ON MY ARMS SINCE THE 
ANNOUNCEMENT WAS MADE.
THIS IS HISTORY MAKING.
AND IT'S HISTORY MAKING BECAUSE 
A PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE MADE THE 
BOLD CHOICE TO PICK THE MOST 
QUALIFIED PERSON WHO'S READY TO 
LEAD ON DAY ONE, AND SHE HAPPENS
TO BE AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN AND 
SOUTHWEST-ASIAN AS WELL, THAT 
DIVERSITY, HER ENERGY IS JUST 
WHAT WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THAT 
TRUMP IS A ONE-TERM PRESIDENT. 
>> THIS WASN'T YOUR TRADITIONAL 
VP LAUNCH EVENT BECAUSE OF THE 
PANDEMIC, SOCIALLY DISTANCED IN 
A VIRTUALLY HIGH SCHOOL GYM.
ANY CONCERN THAT IT WILL BE 
HARDER TO GENERATE ENTHUSIASM 
DESPITE THE CONNECTIONS FOR THIS
TICKET COME THE FALL, BECAUSE OF
THOSE TRADITIONAL CAMPAIGN 
EVENTS AND RALLIES THAT WE'RE 
USED TO SEEING WE LIKELY WON'T 
SEE THIS TIME. 
>> WE WON'T SEE THE RALLIES BUT 
WHAT I DO KNOW IS THAT THERE ARE
PROS AND CONS TO HAVING THE 
RALLIES.
SOMETIMES THERE CAN BE A LOT OF 
ENERGY AND THEN THERE'S NOT 
ENOUGH FOLLOW-THROUGH.
NOW, IN THE SEASON OF COVID-19 
ALL WE HAVE IS FOLLOW-THROUGH.
ALL WE HAVE IS ORGANIZING.
AND I WILL TELL YOU THE 
DEMOCRATS ARE ORGANIZED.
BLACK WOMEN ARE ORGANIZED.
WE ARE DETERMINED TO DO 
EVERYTHING THAT WE CAN TO MAKE 
SURE THAT THERE IS A CLEAR 
MANDATE.
BECAUSE OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT IS
ALSO TRYING TO HEM AND HA AND 
SAY WHETHER HE FEELS LIKE HE 
MIGHT NEVER LEAVE THE WHITE 
HOUSE BUT WE WANT TO MAKE SURE 
THAT HE WILL BE GETTING HIS 
PACKING -- HIS PACKING PAPERS, 
HIS PINK SLIP IN NOVEMBER. 
>> TO THAT POINT, AS YOU KNOW IN
THE PAST 24 HOURS THE TRUMP 
CAMPAIGN HAS TRIED TO TAG THE 
NEW BIDEN/HARRIS TICKET AS THE 
QUOTE MOST EXTREME LEFTIST 
TICKET IN AMERICAN MAJOR PARTY 
HISTORY.
HOW WILL THE BIDEN CAMPAIGN 
COMBAT THAT CLAIM?
>> I DON'T THINK WE NEED TO CAM 
BAT IT.
IT'S JUST ANOTHER ONE OF HIS 
LIES.
THE POLLS ARE CLEAR THAT PEOPLE 
ARE VERY CLEARLY SEEING THROUGH 
THE UNFORTUNATE LIES THAT THE 
PRESIDENT WOULD LIKE TO TELL 
EVERY SINGLE DAY.
HE LIKES TO PIN NAMES ON PEOPLE,
PIN LABELS ON PEOPLE.
AND MORE TIMES THAN NOT, IF YOU 
LOOK, THE -- WHATEVER HE IS 
CALLING -- LISTEN, WE'RE BOTH 
FROM BALTIMORE.
WHEN I GREW UP, YOU KNOW, PEOPLE
WOULD SAY IF YOU POINT ONE 
FINGER, THREE ARE POINTED BACK 
AT YOU.
IT IS MORE A REFLECTION OF WHO 
HE IS THAN WHO THE BIDEN/HARRIS 
TICKET IS. 
>> THE PRESIDENT HAS BEEN PRETTY
EXPLICIT IN RECENT WEEKS IN 
MAKING APPEALS TO SUBURBAN 
VOTERS BASED ON RACIAL FEARS.
TAKE A LOOK AT A TWEET THIS 
MORNING.
THE SUBURBAN HOUSEWIVES WILL BE 
VOTING FOR ME, THEY WANT SAFETY 
AND ARE THRILLED THAT I ENDED 
THE LONG RUNNING PROGRAM WHERE 
LOW-INCOME HOUSING WOULD INVADE 
THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD.
BIDEN WOULD REINSTALL IT IN A 
BIGGER FORM, WITH CORY BOOKER IN
CHARGE.
HOW DO YOU RESPOND TO THAT?
ANY CONCERN THAT MESSAGE WILL 
RESONATE WITH SOME AMERICANS WHO
PUT TRUMP IN THE WHITE HOUSE IN 
2016?
>> I THINK THE PRESIDENT IS WAY 
OFF THE MARK.
I THINK THAT HE BELIEVES THAT 
AMERICA AND SUBURBAN VOTERS ARE 
AS RACIST AS HE IS.
AND I THINK THAT HE IS MISTAKEN.
I THINK THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS 
SHOWED THAT TO BE TRUE, THAT 
WOMEN VOTERS DO NOT WANT TO MAKE
THE SAME MISTAKE THAT THEY MADE 
IN 2016.
THEY ARE VERY CLEAR EYED ON THE 
CHOICES.
AND, YOU KNOW, THEY DON'T -- 
MANY WOMEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, 
PARTICULARLY, YOU KNOW, THE 
SUBURBAN, WHICH IS CODE FOR 
WHITE WOMEN THAT HE'S TRYING TO 
APPEAL TO, YOU KNOW, DON'T HOLD 
THE SAME ANIMUS IN THEIR HEART 
FOR BLACK AND BROWN PEOPLE AS 
THE PRESIDENT DOES. 
>> OUR THANKS TO STEPHANIE 
RAWLINGS BLAKE, I'LL SEE YOU 
DOWN THE ROAD. 
>> LOOKING FORWARD TO TALKING TO
YOU AGAIN. 
>>> IT'S THE HEADLINE THAT JUST 
WON'T GO AWAY.
TONIGHT ANOTHER NEW WARNING.
THERE ARE TROUBLING SIGNS OF A 
POSSIBLE COVID RESURGENCE IN 
SEVERAL MAJOR AMERICAN CITIES 
AND A GROWING RISK IN COLLEGE 
TOWNS, SOME DISTRICTS ARE HAVING
SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT HAVING 
STUDENTS RETURN TO IN-CLASS 
INSTRUCTION.
MATT GUTMAN HAS MORE. 
>> Reporter: IN ARIZONA A STATE 
BATTERED BY THE VIRUS PARENTS 
AND STUDENTS DEMANDING IN-PERSON
CLASSES. 
>> THIS IS THEIR JOB AND THIS IS
WHAT THEY NEED TO BE HERE TO DO.
>> Reporter: THE TEACHER BRAD 
CHARLES HAS DIABETES AND WORRIES
ABOUT THE RISKS OF GETTING 
COVID. 
>> I FEEL LIKE IN A WAY THEY'VE 
MADE US ENEMIES. 
>> Reporter: HE'S CALLING QUITS.
>> I HAVE RESIGNED AS OF 
YESTERDAY.
>> Reporter: IN TEXAS IT WAS THE
FIRST DAY BACK TO SCHOOL.
STUDENTS SEPARATED BY PLEXIGLASS
AND ALL TEACHERS AND STUDENTS 
REQUIRED TO WEAR MASKS.
BUT IN CHEROKEE COUNTY, GEORGIA 
NEARLY 1,200 STUDENTS AND STAFF 
ARE QUARANTINED AFTER DOZENS 
TESTED POSITIVE, TWO HIGH 
SCHOOLS NOW CLOSING FOR TWO 
WEEKS.
ANOTHER GEORGIA HIGH SCHOOL 
WHERE THESE IMAGES OF STUDENTS 
WITHOUT MASKS IGNITED A HEATED 
DEBATE, NOW HAS 35 PEOPLE 
TESTING POSITIVE, STUDENTS 
PROTESTING A SCHOOL BOARD 
DECISION TO SWITCH TO PARTIAL 
ONLINE LEARNING. 
>> WE SHOULDN'T BE FORCED TO GO 
ONLINE BECAUSE OTHERS ARE 
FEARFUL. 
>> Reporter: TONIGHT THE CDC 
DIRECTOR URGING EVERY AMERICAN 
TO WEAR A MASK. 
>> I'M NOT ASKING SOME OF 
AMERICA TO DO IT, WE'VE ALL GOT 
TO DO IT. 
>> WARNING OF CONSEQUENCES. 
>> IF WE DON'T DO THAT, AS I 
SAID LAST APRIL, THIS COULD BE 
THE WORST FALL FROM A PUBLIC 
HEALTH PERSPECTIVE WE'VE EVER 
HAD. 
>> Reporter: WHEN DAVID ASKED 
DR. FAUCI ABOUT THOSE IMAGES OF 
STUDENTS WITHOUT MASKS. 
>> THERE SHOULD BE UNIVERSAL 
WEARING OF MASKS.
WHEN I SEE SIGHTS LIKE THAT, IT 
IS DISTURBING TO ME. 
>> Reporter: IN CALIFORNIA ONE 
HOSPITAL SYSTEM TAKING MATTERS 
INTO ITS OWN HANDS.
BECAUSE SENDING TESTS TO OUTSIDE
LABS CAN TAKE SO LONG TO GET 
RESULTS.
HOSPITALS HAVE SPENT ENORMOUS 
RESOURCES TO OBTAIN -- PROCESS 
UP TO 900 COVID TESTS EVERY DAY,
ALL OF IT, IN HOUSE.
BUT TONIGHT A NEW MODEL 
PREDICTING PLACES LIKE CHICAGO, 
BALTIMORE AND BOSTON COULD BE 
EMERGING COVID HOT SPOTS. 
>> THIS VIRUS IS STILL HERE.
IT IS VERY MUCH PRESENT.
THAT'S OUR REALITY.
>> Reporter: IN NEW YORK POLICE 
NOW INVESTIGATING, AFTER THIS 
VIDEO EMERGED.
OF A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE 
TAKING OVER A CITY BUS, TURNING 
IT INTO A PARTY.
NO MASKS IN SIGHT.
ACROSS THE RIVER IN NEW JERSEY 
WHERE THE GOVERNOR CALLED FOR 
SCHOOLS TO REOPEN, BUT HUNDREDS 
OF TEACHERS REFUSED TO RETURN TO
THE CLASSROOM.
TONIGHT THE GOVERNOR RELENTING, 
ALLOWING SCHOOLS THE OPTION OF 
GOING ALL VIRTUAL. 
>> THERE IS NO ONE SIZE FITS ALL
PLAN TO THIS VERY DIFFICULT 
SITUATION. 
>> AND BACK OUT TO THE WEST 
COAST NOW WHERE MATT GUTMAN 
JOINS US FROM LOS ANGELES.
A MATT, WE HEARD FROM 
CALIFORNIA'S GOVERNOR NEWSOM 
TODAY, WHAT DID HE SAY ABOUT HOW
THE STATE IS HANDLING CASES, AND
WHAT THE PLAN IS FOR SCHOOLS?
>> Reporter: YOU KNOW, IT'S 
INTERESTING, BYRON, WE'RE IN 
THIS SOUP OF STATISTICS RIGHT 
NOW, SO MANY NUMBERS FLYING AT 
US.
SO ON THE ONE HAND THE GOVERNOR 
REALLY SAYING THE FIRST POSITIVE
THING THAT I'VE HEARD HIM UTTER 
IN AT LEAST A COUPLE OF MONTHS.
HE SAID THAT THE STATE HAS 
TURNED THE CORNER ON THE 
PANDEMIC.
THAT IS BIG NEWS IN CALIFORNIA.
HOSPITALIZATIONS ARE DOWN 20%, 
RIGHT, THAT'S ALL GOOD.
BUT THERE ARE ALSO SOME VERY 
NEGATIVE STATISTICS THAT HAVE 
COME OUT THAT HAVE HINDERED THE 
STATE FROM OPENING UP ALL THE 
SCHOOLS AND ALL THE COUNTIES 
LIKE THE ONE BEHIND ME HERE 
OUTSIDE OF LOS ANGELES.
THAT IS THAT THERE HAVE BEEN -- 
THERE HAS BEEN 150% INCREASE IN 
COVID CASES AMONG CHILDREN AND 
TEENS JUST OVER THE LAST MONTH.
SO AS THAT STATISTIC CONTINUES 
TO GROW, THEY CONTINUE TO 
MONITOR IT AND AT SOME POINT, 
WHEN CHILD INFECTIONS AND 
OVERALL INFECTIONS DECREASE 
BELOW A CERTAIN THRESHOLD THEN 
THEY'LL OPEN ALL THE SCHOOLS.
AGAIN, EVERYBODY HERE IN THIS 
STATE, AS THEY ARE ACROSS MOST 
OF THE COUNTRY, VERY MUCH IN A 
WAIT AND SEE MODE, BYRON. 
>> MATT GUTMAN IN L.A., THANK 
YOU SO MUCH. 
>>> WITH SO MANY SCHOOLS ACROSS 
THE COUNTRY BEGINNING THE 
ACADEMIC YEAR WITH REMOTE 
LEARNING EDUCATORS ARE 
INCREASINGLY WORRIED SOME 
STUDENTS COULD SLIP THROUGH THE 
CRACKS AND FALL FURTHER BEHIND, 
PARTICULARLY THOSE LEARNING 
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE.
HERE'S A LOOK AT THE CHALLENGES 
THEY MAY FACE THIS FALL. 
>> Reporter: THE COVID-19 CRISIS
FORCING SCHOOLS NATIONWIDE TO 
GRAPPLE WITH HOW OR IF THEY CAN 
OPEN SAFELY.
THIS PHOTO OF MOSTLY MASKLESS 
KIDS JAM PACKED INTO A HIGH 
SCHOOL HALLWAY IN GEORGIA 
STOKING ALARM, NINE STUDENTS AND
STAFF THERE TESTING POSITIVE.
THE SCHOOL MOVING ALL CLASSES 
ONLINE.
SOME PARENTS EMOTIONALLY 
DEBATING WHAT SHOULD COME NEXT. 
>> WHAT IF WORSE COMES TO WORSE?
WILL BOARD MEMBERS COMMIT TO 
CONTRIBUTING TO THE GOFUNDME 
CAMPAIGN OF A COUPLE FACING 
MEDICAL BILLS AFTER THEIR SON OR
DAUGHTER CONTRACTS COVID-19?
>> EMBLEMATIC OF THE HIGH STAKES
CONUNDRUM IN EDUCATION WITH 
VULNERABLE STUDENTS CLASSIFIED 
AS ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS OR 
ELLs FACING EFFECTS.
SCHOOL HERE IN THE U.S. IN THE 
BEST OF TIMES HAS BEEN A 
CHALLENGE FOR THIS STUDENT. 
>> SCIENCE AND ART CLASSES WERE 
DIFFICULT TO TEACH BECAUSE OF MY
LANGUAGE BARRIER.
I ENDED UP TELLING THE TEACHER 
THAT MY SON WILL ONLY TAKE 
ENGLISH AND MATH CLASSES. 
>> Reporter: BUT NOW HIS MOM 
SAYS THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IS 
POSING UNPARALLELED OBSTACLES. 
>> IT MAKES IT HARDER FOR MY SON
TO ASK QUESTIONS, ESPECIALLY 
WHEN HE HAS TO TAKE CLASSES 
VIRTUALLY WITH THE REST OF THE 
CLASSMATES. 
>> Reporter: WITH VIRTUAL 
LEARNING BECOMING A NEW NORM, 
THE SWITCH TO THE SCREEN IS JUST
ONE MORE BARRIER FOR CHILDREN OF
NON-NATIVE ENGLISH SPEAKERS 
ALREADY FACING AN UPHILL BATTLE.
>> WHEN HE LEARNS MATH AND 
DOESN'T UNDERSTAND HE IS UNABLE 
TO ASK QUESTIONS.
WHEN I TRY TO TEACH HIM I TEACH 
HIM THE WAY I WAS TAUGHT IN 
KOREA.
THEN MY SON WOULD TELL ME THIS 
ISN'T THE WAY HIS TEACHER TAUGHT
HIM. 
>> Reporter: AND THE PROBLEMS 
MAGNIFIED FOR STUDENTS WITH 
SPECIAL NEEDS.
JARED HAS AUTISM AND HIS MOM 
SAYS THE MAJOR ADJUSTMENT HAS 
RATTLED HER SON. 
>> HOW DO YOU FEEL?
>> SAD. 
>> HOW SAD?
>> I DON'T KNOW. 
>> WHAT DID YOU DO AFTER -- WHAT
DID YOU DO?
JUMPING AND CRYING, WHINING FOR 
AN HOUR.
YOU DON'T REMEMBER?
>> Reporter: JARED FAMILY IS NOT
ALONE, CONCERNS ARE MOUNTING 
THAT THE 10% OF PUBLIC SCHOOL 
STUDENTS IN THE U.S. WHO ARE 
IDENTIFIED AS ELLs, ABOUT 5 
MILLION, ARE CONSIDERED AT RISK 
OF BEING DISPROPORTIONATELY 
AFFECTED.
NO IN-PERSON INTERACTION OR 
VALIDATION, NO IN-PERSON ONE ON 
ONE MENTORING, NO PEERS TO LEAN 
ON FOR MODELING AND SUPPORT. 
>> AT THE END OF THE SCHOOL YEAR
WE WERE ACTUALLY SHUT DOWN, AT 
LEAST THE TEACHERS KNEW THE 
PARENTS, KNEW THE CHILDREN.
THE CHILDREN KNEW THE TEACHERS.
NOW, CAN YOU IMAGINE, OUR 
KINDERGARTEN, BRAND NEW, NEVER 
BEEN AT SCHOOL.
WITH A TEACHER THAT THEY -- 
ANOTHER ADULT THAT THEY DON'T 
KNOW.
SO THAT IS GOING TO BE A REALLY 
BIG CHALLENGE FOR EVERYONE, 
TEACHERS, PARENTS AND ESPECIALLY
OUR STUDENTS.
AND OUR ENGLISH LEARNERS. 
>> Reporter: IT'S A REALITY 
EDUCATORS LIKE CHICAGO PRINCIPAL
JUDY SARI SAYS IS WIDENING GAPS 
IN EDUCATION. 
>> DO YOU FEEL STUDENTS CAN GET 
A COMPARABLE EDUCATION WHILE 
LEARNING?
>> SADLY, THEY WERE MARGINALIZED
BEFORE, NOW THE GAP IS EVEN 
LARGER, THESE CHILDREN HAVE NOT 
ONLY THE CHALLENGE OF LEARNING 
ANOTHER LANGUAGE COMING TO 
ANOTHER CULTURE, NOW IT'S EVEN 
WORSE FOR THEM.
>> Reporter: EVEN BEFORE COVID 
AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL ELL 
STUDENTS HAD A HIGH SCHOOL 
GRADUATION RATE OF 67%.
COMPARED TO 84% FOR THEIR NATIVE
ENGLISH SPEAKING PEERS.
AND THE MOST RECENT DATA 
ESTIMATES THAT ROUGHLY 60% OF 
ELLs COME FROM LOW-INCOME 
FAMILIES. 
>> WE KNOW THAT NOW WITH COVID, 
FOR EXAMPLE, IT HAS 
DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTED 
LATINOS.
YOU KNOW, IN CERTAIN AREAS MORE 
THAN OTHERS, PARTICULARLY IN 
PLACES LIKE CALIFORNIA.
KNOWING THAT ALSO IT'S 
AFFECTING, YOU KNOW, ESSENTIAL 
WORKERS, WHICH MOST OF OUR 
PARENTS ARE IN.
WHAT DOES THAT ROLE AT HOME MEAN
WHEN, YOU KNOW, MOM OR DAD MAY 
NOT BE HOME TO SUPPORT THAT 
LEARNING?
>> ADD TO THAT A MAJOR SHORT 
FALL IN ESSENTIAL RESOURCES LIKE
COMPUTERS AND INTERNET WITH ELL 
STUDENTS LESS LIKELY TO HAVE 
ACCESS TO THESE VITAL TOOLS. 
>> WE NOTICED A LOT OF THE 
SCHOOL CLOSINGS WERE ABRUPT, 
RIGHT, AND SO THAT TURNED TO A 
LOT OF ONLINE LEARNING AND WHAT 
THAT LOOKED LIKE.
AND CONNECTIVITY WAS THE BIGGEST
ISSUE AS WE SAW THAT PLAYING 
OUT, AND ALSO ACCESS TO DEVICES.
>> 6-YEAR-OLD KINDERGARTNER TONY
RODRIGUEZ DOESN'T HAVE A 
COMPUTER AT HOME AND HE AND HIS 
PARENTS STRUGGLE WITH ENGLISH 
LANGUAGE INSTRUCTION. 
>> DIFFICULT BECAUSE HE -- WE 
DON'T SPEAK A LOT OF ENGLISH.
WE DON'T KNOW ENGLISH.
AND FOR HIM HE ONLY KNOWS 
SPANISH.
WHEN HE STARTS SCHOOL, IT'S 
DIFFICULT FOR HIM.
>> Reporter: THROUGH THE 
PANDEMIC HIS FAMILY HAS TURNED 
TO A LOCAL NONPROFIT SO TONY 
WOULDN'T FALL BEHIND.
MENTOR MARY BETH SMITH 
CONDUCTING LESSONS OVER THE 
PHONE. 
>> WE'VE REALLY PRACTICED 
VOCABULARY.
AND THEN ALSO JUST KNOWING 
NUMBERS, YOU KNOW, JUST BASIC 
THINGS THAT HE'LL NEED TO KNOW 
GOING INTO FIRST GRADE. 
>> THEY HAVE HELPED HIM IN 
LANGUAGE, AND ENGLISH BECAUSE HE
DIDN'T KNOW A LOT OF ENGLISH.
BUT NOW HE KNOWS A LOT.
>> Reporter: TONY'S MOM SAYS THE
PERSONAL ATTENTION HAS MADE ALL 
THE DIFFERENCE.
AND IT'S NOT JUST VOLUNTEERS 
LIKE MARY BETH GOING THE EXTRA 
MILE.
SARI SAYS MANY ELL TEACHERS IN 
HER DISTRICT ARE NOW WORKING IN 
OVERDRIVE, SOME EVEN SPENDING 
OUT OF POCKET TO MEET THE NEEDS 
OF THEIR CLASSES. 
>> I KNOW TEACHERS THAT ARE 
GOING OUT AND BUYING WHITE 
BOARDS.
HOW MUCH -- I MEAN, THAT'S OUT 
OF THEIR CHECK.
THEY WANT TO BE READY.
YOU KNOW, THIS IS A PROFESSION.
AND THEY KNOW THAT THE ONLY WAY 
THAT THEY CAN BE ABLE TO BE THE 
BEST, AND TEACHERS ARE REALLY, 
REALLY PROUD OF WHO THEY ARE AND
THEIR PROFESSION.
AND THEY'RE GOING OUT AND 
THEY'RE SPENDING ALL THIS MONEY 
ON INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS, ON 
GETTING READY TO PREPARE THESE 
STUDENTS, EVEN SIGNING ONLINE 
COURSES. 
>> Reporter: WITH THE ENORMOUS 
BURDEN EXPERTS SAY COMES A NEW 
OPPORTUNITY TO BRIGHTEN THE 
FUTURE FOR THESE KIDS. 
>> I REALLY DO HOPE THAT, YOU 
KNOW, OUR SYSTEM COMPLETELY 
RETHINKS THIS.
THIS WHOLE, YOU KNOW, HOW WE 
SERVE OUR COMMUNITIES, THINKING 
ABOUT VERY INTENTIONALLY.
I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST KEY 
IN ALL OF THIS IS REALLY KNOWING
YOUR STUDENTS.
WE HAVE TO KNOW THE STUDENTS IN 
FRONT OF US, AND WE'VE REALLY, I
THINK, COME -- WE'VE GOT TO 
BRING THIS FULL CIRCLE TO 
MEETING, YOU KNOW, THEM AS HUMAN
BEINGS AND THEIR FAMILIES AND 
REALLY, REALLY TRY TO GET THEM 
THE BEST SUPPORT THAT WE CAN 
DURING THIS TIME. 
>> Reporter: AND CREATE NEW HOPE
FOR FAMILIES LIKE TONY'S AND 
JARED'S THAT EVEN IN THESE 
UNCERTAIN TIMES THEY WON'T SLIP 
THROUGH THE CRACKS.
THIS IS A NEWS, NEW YORK.
>>> YOU'VE HEARD THE WARNINGS 
ABOUT WHY WEARING A MASK IS SO 
IMPORTANT.
TONIGHT THE NEW RESEARCH THAT 
SHOWS YOU WHY.
AS WE'RE LEARNING ABOUT A 
FLORIDA SHERIFF WHO BANNED HIS 
DEPUTIES FROM WEARING MASKS, IN 
MANY CASES, AT WORK.
MARCUS MOORE HAS MORE. 
>> Reporter: TONIGHT AS MORE 
BUSINESSES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
ARE REQUIRING MASKS, ONE FLORIDA
SHERIFF IS BANNING THEM.
MARION COUNTY SHERIFF BILLY 
WOODS IS PROHIBITING HIS 
DEPUTIES FROM WEARING MASKS AT 
WORK.
AND VISITORS, THERE ARE 
EXCEPTIONS INCLUDING JAILS OR 
HOSPITALS SUSPECTED OF DEALING 
WITH COVID PATIENTS.
IT'S TO ENSURE CLEAR 
COMMUNICATION AND IDENTIFICATION
PURPOSES.
IT COMES AFTER THE TOWN OF OCALA
RECENTLY PASSED A MANDATE.
SAYING THE MASKS ARE FRONTLINE 
DEFENSE TO COVID-19.
RESEARCHERS USE LASERS TO SEE 
HOW THE MASKS STOP THE DROPLETS.
>> SURGICAL MASKS, TRIAL ONE, 
GO. 
>> STAY HEALTHY, PEOPLE. 
>> Reporter: THE MORE PARTICLES 
VISIBLE IN THE LIGHT THE LESS 
EFFECTIVE THE MASK.
THOUGH THEY ONLY RAN THE TEST 
ONCE, THEIR STUDY FOUND THE 
FITTED N 95 MASK THE SURGICAL 
MASK AND THE POLYCOTTON MASK DID
BEST. 
>> THIS ONE HERE IS FLEECE.
YOU SEE LOTS OF LITTLE 
PARTICLES.
>> Reporter: RESEARCHERS SAID 
THE FLEECE GATOR THAT TESTED 
ACTUALLY RESULTED IN TINIER 
PARTICLES BEING RELEASED THAN 
SPEAKING WITHOUT A MASK. 
>> THESE LITTLE DROPLETS CAN BE 
WORSE BECAUSE THEY HAVE AN 
EASIER TIME BEING CARRIED BY THE
AIR.
>> Reporter: IT IS IMPORTANT TO 
STRESS TONIGHT THIS WAS A 
LIMITED STUDY AND RESEARCHERS 
STILL DON'T KNOW WHAT SIZE OR 
HOW MANY PARTICLES IT TAKES TO 
MAKE SOMEONE SICK.
HEALTH EXPERTS AGREE, ANY MASK 
IS BETTER THAN NO MASK.
BYRON?
>> OUR THANKS TO MARCUS. 
>>> THE PROTEST AND VIOLENCE 
ESCALATING IN BELARUS.
DEMANDING CHANGEs U.S. AND 
EURO
EUROPEAN OFFICIALS REACT. 
>>> THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE 
UNDER FIRE FOR ANTI SEMITIC 
REMARKS.
WE'LL HAVE MORE ON SOME OF THE 
OTHER WINNERS FROM LAST NIGHT'S 
RACES. 
>>> PLUS, THE MAJOR RECALL 
TONIGHT OVER BREAKS THAT MAY NOT
BE WORKING. ON ABC NEWS 
LIVE, AND THIS MONDAY ON ABC.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO 
WEIGHING IN TODAY ON THAT 
CONTROVER DENY THE RECENT 
ELECTIONS CALLING NOT FREE AND 
FAIR, AND OUTRAGE IS BUILDING 
AGAINST THE LEADER WHO ONCE 
CLAIMED VODKA MAY CURE COVID.
PATRICK REVEL HAS MORE. 
>> Reporter: THIS IS WHAT 
PROTESTERS HAVE FACED SINCE 
SUNDAY'S ELECTION, A WALL OF 
STEEL, BRUTAL, INDISCRIMINATE 
VIOLENCE FROM POLICE.
SECURITY FORCES USING STUN 
GRENADES, WATER CANNONS.
RUBBER BULLETS.
THE RESPONSE FROM BELARUS'S 
AUTHORITARIAN LEADER ALEXANDER 
LUKE SHEN CO TO THEIR DEMANDS 
THAT HE STEP DOWN.
POLICE ATTACKING PEOPLE AT 
RANDOM, HUNDREDS INJURED, AT 
LEAST ONE DEAD, AUTHORITIES SAY 
THEY'VE DETAINED 6,000 PEOPLE 
OVER THE LAST THREE DAYS.
OUTSIDE JAILS IN MINSK, DOZENS 
OF PEOPLE WAITING ON NEWS ON 
FRIENDS AND RELATIVES. 
>> YESTERDAY IN THE EVENING MY 
FATHER WAS KIDNAPPED.
THEY WERE WALKING ON THE STREETS
WHEN RIOT POLICE RAN TO THEM AND
TOOK HIM TO THE POLICE VEHICLE.
POLICE DO NOT GIVE ANY 
INFORMATION.
24 HOURS HAVE ALREADY PASSED 
SINCE HE WAS KIDNAPPED BUT WE 
HAVE NO INFORMATION ABOUT HIS 
WHEREABOUTS. 
>> Reporter: AUTHORITIES HAVE 
TRIED TO CONCEAL THE CRACKDOWN.
THEY'VE SHUT DOWN THE INTERNET, 
MOST FOREIGN MEDIA 
ORGANIZATIONS, INCLUDING ABC 
NEWS, HAVE BEEN PREVENTED FROM 
ENTERING.
WE WERE ABLE TO SPEAK TO A 
JOURNALIST ON THE GROUND. 
>> SO THIS MOBILIZATION, THIS 
SELF-ORGANIZATION, AND THIS KIND
OF DESIRE OF PEOPLE TO -- THEIR 
DEMANDS FOR CHANGE ARE 
UNPRECEDENTED.
AND THAT'S WHY THE AUTHORITIES 
ARE SO SCARED.
AND THEY DON'T HAVE ANY LIMITS 
ANYMORE.
THERE IS NO -- THERE ARE 
BASICALLY NO RULES. 
>> Reporter: LUKASHENKO OFTEN 
REFERRED TO AS EUROPE'S LAST 
DICTATOR HAS BEEN IN POWER FOR 
26 YEARS, FACING PROTESTS 
BEFORE, BUT NOT LIKE THIS. 
>> THE MAIN DIFFERENCE NOW IS 
THAT, AGAIN, PEOPLE PROTEST 
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, EVERYWHERE, 
BECAUSE EVERYBODY FEELS FED UP.
PEOPLE WANT JUSTICE.
PEOPLE WANT FAIR AND FREE 
ELECTION.
THEY WANT THEIR RIGHTS TO BE 
RESPECTED.
THEIR VOTES TO BE COUNTED.
AND THEY DON'T SEE, THEY DON'T 
HAVE IT. 
>> Reporter: THE PROTESTS HAD 
BEEN BUILDING BEFORE SUNDAY'S 
ELECTION, THAT GAVE LUKASHENKO 
80% OF THE VOTE, THE RESULT MOST
OBSERVERS SAY ARE FLAGRANT 
BALLOT RIGGING, HIS KEY OPPONENT
ONLY ENTERED THE RACE OF HER 
HUSBAND, A POPULAR BLOGGER, WAS 
JAILED.
UNTIL RECENTLY SHE WAS A STAY AT
HOME MOM BUT HER CHALLENGE 
ATRAKTDED UNPRECEDENTED SUPPORT.
AFTER THE ELECTION SHE DEMANDED 
HE HAND OVER POWER PEACEFULLY TO
HER SO THAT NEW ELECTIONS CAN BE
HELD BUT SHE LEFT THE COUNTRY.
IMPLYING HER FAMILY HAD BEEN 
THREATENED. 
>> GOD FORBID THAT YOU MAY FACE 
SUCH A CHOICE THAT I FACED.
PEOPLE, PLEASE BE CAREFUL.
NO LIFE IS A GOOD PRICE FOR WHAT
IS HAPPENING NOW.
>> Reporter: THE PROTESTS, 
THOUGH, ARE CONTINUING, 
DEMANDING THAT LUKASHENKO LEAVE 
AND SEEMING STILL TO GROW.
TODAY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE 
PEACEFULLY DEMONSTRATED ACROSS 
BELARUS.
KICKED OFF BY HUNDREDS OF WOMEN 
WEARING WHITE IN MINSK.
AN INTERNATIONAL OUTCRY 
BEGINNING TO BUILD.
POLLS WITHIN THE EUROPEAN UNION 
FOR SANCTIONS, THE U.S. SAYING 
IT'S CONSIDERING ITS OPTIONS. 
>> WE WANT GOOD OUTCOMES FOR THE
BELARUSIAN PEOPLE AND WE'LL TAKE
ACTIONS CONSISTENT WITH THAT, 
WHETHER THAT TURNS OUT TO BE 
SANCTIONS OR MAKING DECISIONS 
ABOUT PRODUCT DELIVERIES.
THOSE ARE ALL THINGS YET TO BE 
DETERMINED. 
>> Reporter: IN BELARUS THE 
QUESTION NOW WHAT HAPPENS, WILL 
THE PROTESTS GROW, WITHSTANDING 
THE CRACKDOWN OR WILL THE REGIME
MANAGE TO BLUDGEON THEM AWAY. 
>> IF HE DOESN'T STOP TREATING 
PROTESTERS THIS WAY THERE WILL 
BE MORE VICTIMS.
HESTERFIED AND HE WILL DO 
ANYTHING TO STAY IN POWER.
HE HAS ALREADY SHOWN THIS.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME PEOPLE ARE 
SO ANGRY.
THEY HAVE SO MANY REASONS FOR 
DISCONTENT AND THIS WILL NOT 
DISAPPEAR. 
>> Reporter: PATRICK REVEL FOR 
ABC NEWS LIVE. 
>>> STILL TO COME HERE ON PRIME,
THE PARTY TAKING OVER A NEW YORK
CITY BUS, THE DRIVER UNABLE TO 
STOP THEM.
THE LATEST ON THE INVESTIGATION 
INTO THAT INCIDENT.
>>> A MAJOR CHANGE IS COMING ON 
HOW YOU CAN REPLY TO TWEETS.
WE'LL EXPLAIN.
>>> AND WITH THE TICKETS SET FOR
BOTH PARTIES IN A CLOSER LOOK 
HOW MILLIONS WILL VOTE.
BUT FIRST, OUR TWEET OF THE DAY.
THE MOMENT KAMALA FOUND OUT SHE 
WAS THE PICK. ABC NEWS 
LIVE, AND THIS MONDAY ON ABC.
>>> WELCOME BACK.
WITH KAMALA HARRIS SELECTED AS 
JOE BIDEN'S VP PICK WE KNOW WHO 
WILL BE ON THE BALLOT ON EACH 
SIDE IN NOVEMBER.
A NEW ANALYSIS SHOWS HOW MANY 
AMERICANS WILL BE ABLE TO CAST 
THE PAL LOTS BY MAIL.
BY THE NUMBERS, ACCORDING TO THE
TIMES ANALYSIS A RECORD 75% OF 
AMERICANS WILL BE ABLE TO 
RECEIVE A BALLOT TO VOTE BY MAIL
IN 2020.
OVERALL, 24 STATES AND D.C. HAVE
EXPANDED ACCESS TO MAIL BALLOTS 
FOR 2020 DUE TO THE PANDEMIC.
NINE STATES PLUS D.C. WILL MAIL 
BALLOTS DIRECTLY TO 43 MILLION 
REGISTERED VOTERS, INCLUDING 
CALIFORNIA FOR THE FIRST TIME.
ANOTHER EIGHT STATES WILL SEND 
AN APPLICATION TO REQUEST AN 
ABSENTEE BALLOT TO ALL VOTERS.
AND 33 STATES WITH SOME 108 
MILLION VOTERS WILL ALLOW VOTING
BY MAIL WITHOUT AN EXCUSE.
JUST EIGHT STATES WILL STILL 
REQUIRE AN EXCUSE TO REQUEST AN 
ABSENTEE BALLOT BEYOND 
CORONAVIRUS CONCERNS.
AND BASED ON THE PRIMARIES, MORE
MAIL-IN VOTING WILL LIKELY MEAN 
HIGHER TURNOUT, EXPERTS PREDICT 
SOME 80 MILLION BALLOTS WILL BE 
MAILED THIS FALL, MORE THAN 
DOUBLE THE NUMBER IN 2016.
HOW QUICKLY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO 
COUNT MAYBE THE BIGGER CONCERN 
COME NOVEMBER. 
>>> WE STILL HAVE A TON TO GET 
TO HERE ON PRIME.
OUR CONVERSATION WITH THE BLACK 
LIVES MATTER PROTESTER WHOSE 
NAME HAS BEEN TRENDING AFTER SHE
WAS RECENTLY ARRESTED.
>>> WITH SO MANY PARENTS 
CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT TO DO WITH 
THEIR CHILDREN AND SCHOOL, WE'LL
TAKE A LOOK AT PANDEMIC PODS, DO
THEY POSE A DIFFERENT RISK?
>>> BUT FIRST, HERE'S A LOOK AT 
SOME OF OUR TRENDING STORIES ON 
ABCNEWS.CO
>> WATCH ABC NEWS ON LOCATION 
FOR FACEBOOK WATCH. 
>>> RIVALS TURNED RUNNING MATES,
FOR THE FIRST TIME YOUR NEXT 
VICE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED 
STATES, KAMALA HARRIS. 
>> AFTER CALIFORNIA SENATOR 
KAMALA HARRIS OFFICIALLY JOINED 
JOE BIDEN IN THE RACE FOR 2020, 
THE NEWLY MINTED DEMOCRATIC 
TICKET TAKING THE FIGHT TO 
PRESIDENT TRUMP. 
>> THIS ELECTION ISN'T JUST 
ABOUT DEFEATING DONALD TRUMP OR 
MIKE PENCE.
IT'S ABOUT BUILDING THIS COUNTRY
BACK BETTER. 
>> AS JOE BIDEN'S VICE PRESIDENT
PICK HARRIS MAKES HISTORY, SHE'S
THE FIRST BLACK WOMAN ON A MAJOR
PARTY BALLOT AND THE FIRST ASIAN
AMERICAN TO GET THE VP NOD. 
>> SHE WAS VERY, VERY NASTY 
TO -- ONE OF THE REASONS THAT 
SURPRISED ME, SHE WAS VERY 
DISRESPECTFUL TO JOE BIDEN. 
>> VIRTUAL IS NOT AS GOOD AS 
BEING THERE.
VIRTUAL IS JUST NOT THE SAME 
THING. 
>> ACROSS THE COUNTRY SCHOOL 
DISTRICTS AND PARENTS ARE LOCKED
IN A HEATED STRUGGLE OVER 
RETURNING TO IN-PERSON LEARNING 
AND WHETHER THAT CAN BE DONE 
SAFELY. 
>> SO MANY OF US WERE 
DESPERATELY WANTING OUR KIDS TO 
BE FACE TO FACE. 
>> SCHOOLS IN CHEROKEE COUNTY, 
GEORGIA WENT BACK TO CLASS LAST 
MONDAY AND AS OF THIS MORNING 
MORE THAN A THOUSAND STUDENTS 
AND 32 STAFF MEMBERS ARE IN 
QUARANTINE AT HOME.
THE SUPERINTENDENT SAYS 59 STAFF
MEMBERS AND STUDENTS, INCLUDING 
ONE KINDERGARTNER HAVE TESTED 
POSITIVE FOR COVID-19 ACROSS 19 
OF THE SCHOOLS SO FAR. 
>> CONGRESSWOMAN ILHAN OMAR, ONE
OF THE DEMOCRATIC PROGRESSIVE 
WOMEN KNOWN AS THE SQUAD HAS WON
HER PRIMARY IN MINNEAPOLIS. 
>> IT FEELS GOOD.
I DON'T THINK WE WOULD HAVE HAD 
AS MUCH CHALLENGE IF WE WERE NOT
BEING COMPLETELY EFFECTIVE. 
>> SHE HELD OFF OF CHALLENGE OF 
AN ATTORNEY WHO RAISED MILLIONS 
OF DOLLARS TO DEFEAT THE 
PROGRESSIVE INCUMBENT. 
>> PRESIDENT TRUMP OFFERED 
PRAISE FOR A CONTROVERSIAL 
CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE. 
>> A PATRIOT, FOR SURE. 
>> FACING BACKLASH FOR ESPOUSING
RACIST -- PRESIDENT TRUMP 
CONGRATULATED MARGE RE-TAYLOR 
GREEN -- HE CALLED HER A FUTURE 
REPUBLICAN STAR WHO IS STRONG ON
EVERYTHING AND NEVER GIVES UP.
MANY REPUBLICANS HAVE CONDEMNED 
HER COMMENTS. 
>> RECALLING MORE THAN 558,000 
MIDSURVIVE SUVs IN AMERICA 
BECAUSE THE BRAKES MAY NOT WORK 
PROPERLY.
THE AFFECTED SUVs MAY EXPERIENCE
LEAKS IN BRAKE FLUID.
THAT CAN MAKE IT DIFFICULT TO 
STOP.
FORD SAYS IT DOESN'T KNOW OF ANY
CRASHES OR INJURIES FROM THE 
PROBLEM.
>>> THIS UNSETTLING CELL PHONE 
VIDEO SHOWS DOZENS OF PEOPLE 
STORMING AN MTA BUS IN QUEENS 
NEW YORK, TURNING IT INTO A 
PARTY BUS, NOT ONE PERSON 
WEARING A MASK.
THE NYPD IS REVIEWING THE 
FOOTAGE AS PART OF AN 
INVESTIGATION INTO THE INCIDENT.
THE BUS OPERATOR SAYS WHEN HE 
TRIED INITIALLY TO PULL THE 
EMPTY BUS OFF FROM HIS SCHEDULED
STOP SEVERAL DOUBLE PARKED CARS 
WERE BLOCKING HIM IN.
WHEN HE WENT OUT TO CLEAR HIS 
PATH PEOPLE BEGAN PILING INSIDE.
>> TWITTER USERS CAN NOW CHOOSE 
WHO CAN REPLY TO THEIR TWEETS.
BEFORE SENDING A TWEET USERS 
WILL SELECT FROM THREE OPTIONS, 
EVERYONE, ONLY PEOPLE THEY 
FOLLOW, OR ONLY PEOPLE THEY 
MENTION.
EVERYONE IS THE STANDARD DEFAULT
SETTING.
BUT EVEN IF YOU CAN'T REPLY TO A
TWEET YOU CAN STILL RETWEET, 
SHARE, COMMENT OR LIKE IT.
TWITTER SAYS THE CHANGE IS MEANT
TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF 
MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS.
>>> NOW TO THE POTENTIAL DANGERS
OF PANDEMIC PODS, WITH MILLIONS 
OF CHILDREN EXPECTED TO STAY 
HOME FROM SCHOOL THIS FALL SOME 
PARENTS ARE FORMING THEIR OWN 
IN-PERSON LEARNING GROUPS.
BUT HEALTH AND SAFETY EXPERTS 
ARE NOW SOUNDING THE ALARM, 
PARTICULARLY IF YOU MISS SOME 
KEY PRECAUTIONS.
DIANE MACEDO HAS MORE. 
>> THIS IS AN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 
LEVEL SCIENCE CLASS.
DAVID BENETTI IS HOLDING IN HIS 
BACKYARD, PART OF A PANDEMIC 
LEARNING POD HE'S FORMED WITH 
OTHER PARENTS IN HIS SAN CARLOS,
CALIFORNIA NEIGHBORHOOD. 
>> OUR CHILDREN WEREN'T 
ABSORBING THE SAME DEGREE OF 
EDUCATION THEY WERE ACCUSTOMED 
TO AND THAT WE WANTED THEM TO 
HAVE, THAT'S WHEN WE FORMED THE 
PODS. 
>> HE'S AN ADVOCATE FOR 
IN-PERSON LEARNING AND LINKS 
PARENTS AND TEACHERS TO FORM 
THEIR OWN PANDEMIC PODS, THROUGH
HIS FREE WEBSITE, START NORMAL. 
>> THINGS ARE EXPLODING. 
>> IN-PERSON LEARNING PODS CAN 
BE EXPENSIVE. 
>> THERE IS A CONCERN WITH THE 
PODS IN THAT THEY ARE CREATING 
EDUCATIONAL INEQUITY. 
>> AND EXPERTS WARN PODS CAN 
INCREASE RISKS THAT PARENTS MAY 
OVERLOOK, STARTING WITH THE SIZE
OF THE POD. 
>> I WOULD NOT EXPAND IT BEYOND,
YOU KNOW, THREE TO FIVE OTHER 
CHILDREN.
REALISTICALLY WE WANT TO KEEP 
THIS AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE.
EVERY OTHER CHILD MEANS 
INCREASED RISK. 
>> ALL FAMILIES NEED TO AGREE ON
SAFE PRACTICES. 
>> MAKING SURE EVERYBODY IS 
WEARING THEIR MASK, HAND 
HYGIENE, ENVIRONMENT CLEANING 
AND DISINFECTION, HAVING SPACE 
TO CHILDREN CAN STAY APART OR 
ARE SOCIALLY DISTANCED AS MUCH 
AS POSSIBLE. 
>> ALSO, WHO'S TEACHING?
A BACKGROUND CHECK IS A MUST. 
>> ARE THEY CERTIFIED TO BE A 
TEACHER OR THEY JUST AN ADULT 
YOU'RE HIRING TO BRING IN.
IF THERE IS SOMETHING THAT 
HAPPENS TO A CHILD BECAUSE OF 
PREDATORS IN THE HOME THOSE 
PARENTS WOULD BE LIABLE FOR 
THAT. 
>> HOST PARENTS PREPARE FOR 
ADDITIONAL MEDICAL 
RESPONSIBILITIES. 
>> YOU MAY HAVE A CHILD WHO HAS 
ASTHMA.
WHO HAS TO TAKE ALBUTEROL.
YOU MAY HAVE A CHILD WHO HAS AN 
EPI PEN IN CASE OF AN ALLERGY 
ATTACK.
SOMEONE'S GOT TO BE RESPONSIBLE 
FOR THAT. 
>> HE SAYS IT'S UP TO THE 
FAMILIES HE CONNECTS TO, HE 
ADVISES THERE IS ONLY FOR 
LOW-RISK GROUPS. 
>> EVERYBODY HAS TO MAKE THEIR 
OWN CHOICE.
AND WE BASICALLY LEAVE IT UP TO 
THE PARENTS TO DECIDE FOR 
THEMSELVES. 
>> YOU HAVE TO DO A CROSS AND 
DOWN. 
>> COLORADO'S ATTORNEY GENERAL 
IS INVESTIGATING WHETHER THE 
AURORA POLICE DEPARTMENT ALLOWS 
PRACTICES THAT DEPRIVE PEOPLE OF
THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS.
THIS IN RESPONSE TO THE DEATH OF
ELIJAH McCLAIN.
23-YEAR-OLD WHO WAS PLACED IN A 
CHOKE HOLD, AND INJECTED WITH 
KETAMINE BEFORE HE DIED IN 
AUGUST OF LAST YEAR.
THE ANNOUNCEMENT COMES AS HIS 
FAMILY HAS FILED A FEDERAL 
LAWSUIT ALLEGING THAT McCLAIN'S 
CIVIL RIGHTS WERE VIOLATED. 
>> AND NOW WE BRING YOU THE 
STORY OF BLACK LIVES MATTER 
ORGANIZER TIANNA -- THE BACKLASH
BIND HER JULY ARREST.
THE 20-YEAR-OLD WAS TAKEN INTO 
CUSTODY AFTER POLICE SAY A 
PROTEST SHE ORGANIZED TOOK A 
TURN FOR THE WORSE.
IT ENDED WITH CARS BEING DAMAGED
AND THE SAFETY OF MULTIPLE 
PEOPLE, INCLUDING A 4-YEAR-OLD, 
PUT AT RISK.
POLICE RECOMMENDED A NUMBER OF 
CHARGES THAT PROMPTED FEARS THAT
TIANA COULD FACE SERIOUS TIME.
HER SUPPORTERS HAVE CREATED THE 
FREE TIANA HASHTAG, AND 
CHANG.ORG PETITION CALLING FOR 
THE CHARGES TO BE DROPPED, HAS 
OVER 300,000 SIGNATURES.
WITH ME NOW IS TIANA -- AND HER 
ATTORNEY.
WE'LL START WITH YOU, TELL US 
WHAT HAPPENED THAT DAY AND DID 
THE PROTESTS GO FROM BEING 
PEACEFUL TO DANGEROUS AS THE 
POLICE ALLEGE?
>> THE PROTESTS THAT HAPPENED ON
JULY 21st WAS ACTUALLY 
INCREDIBLY PEACEFUL AND SUPER 
FILLED WITH JOY.
THERE IS A NARRATIVE BEING 
PUSHED, BUT THAT'S NOT THE 
ACCURACY OF WHAT ACTUALLY 
HAPPENED THAT DAY. 
>> THE POLICE DEPARTMENT 
INITIALLY RECOMMENDED CHARGES 
THAT COULD MEANTIME BEHIND BARS 
FOR TIANA.
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY IS NOW 
CONSIDERING WHAT CHARGES WILL 
ACTUALLY BE BROUGHT FORTH.
A QUESTION FOR YOU, IN YOUR 
OPINION WHY WOULD ANY CHARGES BE
UNFAIR?
>> THE APPROPRIATE CHARGES HERE 
SHOULDN'T BE DIRECTED AT TIANA.
AS SHE JUST EXPLAINED HER 
INVOLVEMENT IN THE PROTEST WAS 
FROM A COLLEGE STUDENT 
PERSPECTIVE, A CONCERNED CITIZEN
LEADING A GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE 
TO EXERCISE THEIR FIRST 
AMENDMENT RIGHT.
TO SPEAK OUT ABOUT INJUSTICE IN 
THE COUNTRY SHE WAS NOT INVOLVED
IN ANY CRIMINAL ACTIVITY.
AND IT'S CLEAR THAT THIS WAS A 
MOVE ON BEHALF OF LAW 
ENFORCEMENT DESIGNED TO 
DISCOURAGE PROTESTS IN THAT 
COMMUNITY. 
>> THE SAN LUIS OBISPO SAYS -- 
SUPPORT PEACEFUL PROTESTS BUT WE
WILL NOT SUPPORT VIOLENT ACTS.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
DO YOU FEEL PROTECTED BY THE 
POLICE IN YOUR COMMUNITY?
>> MY REACTION TO THAT IS EVERY 
SINGLE PROTEST THAT WE'VE HAD 
THAT I'VE BEEN A PART OF IN SAN 
LUIS OBISPO HAS BEEN PEACEFUL.
THEY'VE BEEN COMPLETELY JOYOUS.
AND I'VE ALSO URGED TO EVERYBODY
AT THE PROTESTS NUMEROUS TIMES 
WE ARE HERE TO BE PEACEFUL, TO 
BE CALM.
WHEN THERE'S ANTI-PROTESTERS AND
AGITATORS, THE BEST THING TO DO 
FOR US IS TO IGNORE THEM AND NOT
GIVE AWAY OUR ENERGY.
WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, 
ESPECIALLY AFTER MY ARREST, I 
DON'T FEEL SAFE.
BUT ALSO I HAVE A BACKGROUND 
WHERE I'VE SEEN POLICE MISTREAT 
MY CLOSEST FAMILY SINCE THE AGE 
OF LIKE SINCE GRADE SCHOOL.
SO THERE'S ALWAYS BEEN A 
DISTRUST, NOT ONLY WITH ME, BUT 
ALSO WITH MARGINALIZED 
COMMUNITIES AND THE POLICE. 
>> LEE, YOU HAVE STRONG WORDS ON
INSTAGRAM FOR THE DISTRICT 
ATTORNEY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO.
IN YOUR POST YOU TOLD HIM HE 
SHOULD DROP THE CHARGES, QUOTE, 
BEFORE YOUR COUNTY, CITY AND 
HOME ARE BOMBARDED BY ACTIVISTS 
FROM ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.
FIND OUT IF THIS IS AN IDLE 
THREAT IF YOU WANT TO.
ARE YOU WORRIED AT ALL THAT SOME
BAD ACTORS MAY TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
THIS MOMENT AND YOUR MESSAGE.
DO YOU FEEL POSSIBLY THAT YOU 
PUT THE DA AT RISK?
>> I THINK THAT THE BAD ACTORS 
HAVE ALREADY GONE TO WORK 
CRIMINALIZING TIANA.
SHE'S THE VOICE THAT WE NEED FOR
THIS MOMENT, THE VOICE THAT THAT
COMMUNITY NEEDS.
IT NEEDS TO BE HEARD.
IT NEEDS TO BE RESPECTED.
AND THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO 
ADJUST AROUND THAT MESSAGE OF 
THOSE YOUNG PEOPLE.
THAT IS THE MESSAGE THAT'S 
INVADING THE COUNTRY RIGHT NOW 
AND IT'S RECEIVING A BACKLASH 
FROM THE STATE THAT'S 
UNPRECEDENTED IN AMERICAN 
HISTORY WHERE OUR STATE AND OUR 
RESOURCES ARE BEING USED TO 
CRIMINALIZE AND TARGET 
PROTESTERS, WITH A CLEAR MESSAGE
ABOUT VIOLENCE THAT COMES FROM 
LAW ENFORCEMENT.
AS YOU KNOW WE LIVE IN THE 
DEADLIEST POLICE CULTURE ON THE 
PLANET EARTH.
SO WE NEED VOICES LIKE TIANA'S 
TO STAND UP AND SAY THAT THIS 
WILL NO LONGER CONTINUE IN OUR 
COMMUNITY.
IF THEY DON'T PROPERLY RESPOND 
TO MY MESSAGE TOTS DA THAT WAS 
CLEAR, OUR COMMUNITY WILL STAND 
AND SUPPORT BLACK WOMEN, WE WILL
STAND AND SUPPORT PROTESTERS AND
WE WILL SHOW UP TO THAT REGION 
OF THE COUNTRY AND DEMAND 
JUSTICE. 
>> BUT ISN'T THERE A NEED, YOU 
THINK, FOR ALL SIDES TO EASE UP 
ON THE RHETORIC JUST A BIT?
>> WELL, IT'S NOT -- I WANT TO 
BE CLEAR, IT'S NOT RHETORIC FOR 
US.
WHAT TIANA IS FIGHTING FOR IS 
LIFE AND DEATH, THAT IN THIS 
COUNTRY, UNLIKE ANY OTHER 
COUNTRY ON EARTH, WE KILL MORE 
OF OUR CITIZENS, INCARCERATE 
MORE OF OUR CITIZENS THAN ANY 
NATION IN WORLD HISTORY.
IT'S NOT A RHETORICAL -- IT'S NO
LONGER RHETORICAL BANTER.
THE REASON YOU'RE SEEING 
PROTESTS IN ALL 50 STATES IS 
BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FINALLY 
STANDING UP AND DEMANDING EQUAL 
PROTECTION UNDER THE LAW AND 
EQUALITY WHEN IT COMES TO 
POLICING AND PUBLIC SAFETY. 
>> AND A FINAL QUESTION TO YOU, 
YOU'RE A YOUNG WOMAN, A STUDENT.
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO ALL THE 
SUPPORT YOU'RE GETTING IN SOCIAL
MEDIA PEOPLE DONATING MONEY IN 
SUPPORT OF YOU?
>> IT'S INCREDIBLY OVERWHELMING 
TO ME.
I'M SUPER EXCITED TO BE 
RECEIVING ALL THIS SUPPORT.
BUT THIS SUPPORT, FOR ME, I WANT
TO CHANNEL IT NOT ONLY TO HELP 
MY CASE AND THIS INSTANCE OF 
INJUSTICE AGAINST ME, BUT ALSO 
TO USE THAT TO BE ABLE TO 
AMPLIFY OTHER PEOPLE'S STORIES 
WHO MAYBE DON'T HAVE THE SAME 
PLATFORM I'M BEING GIVEN AT THIS
TIME. 
>> TIANA, LEE, THANK YOU BOTH SO
MUCH, WE WILL SEEHAT EASY
TO GO THERE.
>>> A PASSING TO NOTE TONIGHT, 
MEDIA MOGUL SUMMER REDSTONE HAS 
DIED.
IN 1954 HE TOOK OVER HIS 
FAMILY'S DRIVE-IN MOVIE BIEZ AND
THROUGH MAJOR DEALS HE BUILT THE
COMPANY INTO AN EMPIRE THAT 
INCLUDED CBS AND VIACOM, HE WAS 
97. 
>>> BEFORE WE GO TONIGHT THE 
IMAGE OF THE DAY, TAKE A LOOK AT
THIS BEAUTIFUL BABY BOY NAMED 
GEORGE AND HIS 28-YEAR-OLD 
MOTHER INSIDE THEIR HOME IN 
LEBANON.
BOTH JUST DAYS AGO WERE IN A 
HOSPITAL IN BEIRUT WHERE THEIR 
ROOM WAS HIT BY THAT FIRST 
BLAST.
THE BOY'S MOTHER SAYS SHE SAW 
DEATH IN HER EYES.
HOSPITAL STAFF BROUGHT HER INTO 
A CORRIDOR JUST BEFORE THE 
SECOND CATASTROPHIC EXPLOSION.
THE MOTHER SAID DURING THE 
PROCESS SHE JUST THOUGHT GEORGE 
HAS TO COME TO LIFE, AND I HAVE 
TO BE STRONG.
>>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS 
HOUR.
STAY TUNED TO ABC NEWS LIVE FOR 
MORE CONTEXT AND ANALYSIS OF THE
TOP STORIES OF THE DAY.
I'M BYRON PITTS IN FOR LINSEY 
DAVIS.
THANKS FOR THE COMPANY.
THANK YOU FOR STREAMING WITH US.
GOOD NIGHT.
♪
>>> 
