Melissa Harris-Perry, Transcript 01/04/15 - new york times chinese restaurant review hot dish

MELISSA HARRIS-
MSNBC host Perry: My question this morning is, what role does white people play in the race Justice movement?
In addition, Nicki Minaj and Macklemore see artists as activists.
A year after the legalization, Colorado's cannabis country.
But first, what is the role of the police. Good morning.
This is Melissa Harris. Perry.
This morning, mourners gathered at the funeral of Detective Liu Wenjian at the New York police station, where he and his partner, Detective Rafael Ramos, were killed on duty on December 20.
Liu and Ramos were shot and killed in a cruiser near Brooklyn just because they were police officers.
Liu, 32, a Chinese
American immigrants and newlyweds
Just three months before he was killed, he married his wife and son.
Liu joined the New York police station seven years ago after serving as a auxiliary police officer.
According to the Daily News, Liu's father said his son was committed to becoming a police officer after the 9/11 terrorist attack claimed the lives of 22 members of the New York Police Department.
Detective Liu is going to rest today.
All funerals are emotional now, but this is especially true for police funerals.
Officers in uniform stood there and expressed their solidarity with those most of them had never seen before with their own vulnerability.
It can be original and deep sadness.
Of course, we know that this particular police funeral was held in the context of the ongoing national dialogue and, frankly, a criticism of the practices of local police forces across the country, including New York police station
As part of the conversation, I think it might be worth talking about the history of the American police.
Because it doesn't always look like it is today.
In the early days of American cities, law and order were made by parts-
The officer on duty that night was the time police.
In 1698, four night-watchers were hired to patrol the streets and arrest criminals in New York.
By 1834, hundreds of Watchmen were patrolling the streets of New York at night.
But they are not disciplined forces.
Their wages are low, they are not trained and often corrupt.
Now, in the South, early policing took the form of a slave patrol whose task was to prevent the uprising, to disperse the Assembly of the slaves and to hunt down the escapees.
White people in the South have little security, and they are usually allowed to settle disputes and even violence with each other.
In fact, it was not until the middle
In more than 1800 cities on the East Coast, the municipal police force that we know today was originally formed, in part to maintain order after the riots against immigrants-Catholics, the abolished slaves and the free blacks
Boston has created one of the most complete cities in the country.
At the urging of the mayor of Boston, the time police department reached 1837, and the mayor felt it necessary to do so after three riots.
On 1834, a mob burned a Catholic monastery and a girls' school, and riots took place outside the women's anti-church convention.
In the slavery society of 1835, thousands of people attacked William Lloyd Garrison, the abolished slave, and forced him to flee the city to make the vast light (ph)
At 1837, when volunteer firefighters fought with the attendants of the Irish Catholic funeral team, there was a quarrel, fire companies across the city joined the intervention that lasted several hours before the militia.
And many of New York's 1830 summer vacations, 1834, were the main advocates of the systematically plundered homes, burning churches, intimidating mixed ethnic communities, and beating black people.
When the police and the mayor came to disperse, the rioters drove them away.
When Calvary went bankrupt
There was a riot, and the mob in other places changed.
1,000 special police officers were represented to quell the violence.
The new city riot police were set up to deal with the riots.
For the first time, patrolmen were accused not only of dealing with crimes and arresting criminals, but also of preventing crimes.
Now, fast forward to 150.
The New York Police Department now has nearly 35,000 police officers in uniform.
There are more than 12,000 local police departments across the country, many of which are organized by trade unions.
Over the past few decades, they have been equipped with more and more military equipment.
Police work has undergone various reform waves and strategic changes,
Remember that local police departments that are positively related to the community are doing a good job, even during these stressful times.
Take the Nashville Police Department as an example.
During a protest on November, the police divided the hot chocolate and coffee, and the police chief decided not to arrest the protesters who marched onto the interstate, but to stop traffic when they held a death protest --in.
Now, not everyone in Nashville uses this method.
Last week, supervisor Steve Anderson made public an email he received from his critics and his response.
Critics wrote: "How long will we allow these people to disrupt our city?
I have a son and I raise him to respect the police and other authorities, but if he comes to me today, ask why the police allow it?
I wouldn't have a good answer.
In response, director Anderson made the assumption that the author was intercepted for speeding and released with a warning rather than a ticket from Nashville police in five of the six cases.
As you suggested, a question might be raised to you from the back seat, how can I respect the police if they don't enforce the law?
However, considering that the innocence of children can produce the most profound and exploratory problems.
They often look at the world in a very clear and precise way.
Their eyes are not blinded by the prejudices that life has given us.
If you think that the police should always enforce the law, this could create the next problem, why don't you insist that the police give you a ticket?
I have no suggestion on how to answer this question.
Join me now, Khalil Gibbran Muhammad, director of the black culture research center at Schomburg, Amy Goodman, and now the host and executive producer of democracy.
Thank you for coming.
Amy, I would like to point out that director Anderson of Nashville also symbolizes that there are good results that don't need to be tough on your citizens, and that crimes in Nashville have fallen sharply since the police chief took over, the only officer who died was in a traffic accident, not shot.
I wonder if there is anything in the history of policing, or at these moments that can help us think about a better way forward.
Amy Goodman, host/executive producer of Democracy Now: Well, I mean, I think he showed a good example of what it means to be a peace officer, because that's what the police are supposed to be.
If you want to maintain peace, first of all, you need good community police relations, people understand each other, people in the community are not afraid to turn to the police if there is a problem, because it often leads to terrible things.
Like Bill de Blasio was dealing with the protests here, I mean, the overwhelming peaceful protest, compared to Michael Bloomberg's eviscering, when Bill de Blasio visited, all police officers removed the occupied camp with weapons. HARRIS-
PERRY: You know, for me in recent months, the idea of this community of police relations and the need to build trust have always made me feel that the burden falls on the community.
The community should learn to trust the police.
Again, one thing I like about this Nashville chief is that he also wrote in the letter that it is commendable that you teach your son to respect the police and other authoritative figures.
A better lesson, however, may be that the government that serves the police should be respected.
The police are only representative of the government of the people, the people and all.
Respect for government means respect for all people regardless of their views.
But this idea of linking the state and suggesting that respect must be won, not because of authority.
KHALIL Giran MUHAMMAD, director of the center at SCHOMBURG: I think this is completely correct.
First, director Anderson, like the mayor of Minneapolis, was praised as a representative, and others.
So we want to keep people who are not only practicing what they preach, but are willing to do something on a larger scale than their local community.
It was a very comfortable person and he said I had something to share with the country.
Nevertheless, the issue of security is that the country is undergoing tremendous demographic changes.
What we have been missing in this conversation about the police is that they are also changing. HARRIS-PERRY: Yes.
Mohammed: Somehow, the disconnect between the community that the police serve and the police themselves is completely short-circuited.
For example, Patrick Lynch of the PBA represents an Irish man with a century-old history --
The authority of the United States in working-class groups, who rose through the civil service in the form of police.
Somehow, however, relations with Africa
Americans Against Asians
American to Latino
Americans, communities that deserve service and representation, do not represent such leadership.
This is Mr for me.
Anderson understood.
He told the citizens of Nashville that we serve these communities as government delegates.
I am not here as a 19th-century traditional white old representative of the United States, we are the gatekeepers of power and privilege, who leave aliens at the door, and barbarians at the door that does not belong here.
This is the model of government and policing practices that have not happened in this city.
Goodman: it goes back a long time ago.
I mean, of the 1992 police riots that went to the town hall, 10,000 police protested, some of them making trouble.
They called Mayor Dinkins the bathroom attendant.
They said his stomach was yellow.
Now, sometimes, I mean, it also happens to the Bloomberg and Giuliani governments.
It's about the police union contract.
But for Mayor Dinkins, he wants to support a civil complaints review committee.
This will not endanger the police.
It protects them.
Good police. good police.
Mohammed: it should be the same.
The idea of being watched when you are doing your job should be consistent with being a peace officer.
We will talk more about the police, including the 1992 questions raised as we move forward.
But before we arrive, I would like you to stay with us as mourners are currently gathering for the funeral of the murdered New York police Detective Liu Wenjian.
We will continue to bring you the latest information on the event.
But after the break, the challenge of race Justice's cross-race movement, New York Mayor Bill de Blasio changed the moment of the equation. (
Business break)HARRIS-
Perry: New York Police Chief Bill Bratton warned his officials that when he spoke at a funeral this morning for Detective Liu Wenjian who was killed, don't be like Mayor Bill de at a funeral last week for Liu Xiang's partner Rafael Ramos.
Now, some officials feel that the mayor is disrespectful, in part because of what DeBlasio said after the grand jury failed to sue an officer for Eric Garner's death. (
Start Video Editing)
Bill de BLASIO, mayor of New York: For years, Charlaine and I had to talk to Dante about the dangers he might face.
Good young people, law-abiding young people, who will never think that they have done something wrong, but since history is still hanging over us, he may be in danger and we have to train him, for decades, families in the city have been particularly careful about how he and the police who have protected him. (END VIDEO CLIP)HARRIS-
Perry: Now, he's talking about something we haven't heard before, but its optical system is very powerful.
Mayor, a white man, talking about his son, an African.
American youth, which makes me ask, what is the role of white people in the movement of the parade under the banner of black life?
It's a white man who joins my group now, Jamie Kirsten.
Citizen Radio host, Blair Kelly, associate professor of history at North Carolina State University.
So I think I'll start with you first, Jamie, in a campaign about black life, where can we see the role of white allies or ordinary people?
Jamie Kirsten
Citizen Radio Host: just to not be terrible, right?
As we do, don't be racist, listen, and sometimes shut up.
So I think what you're trying to say is unity, right?
But what you don't want to do is play that white guy at Eric Gardner's protest, and when people don't have justice, there's no peace, just like pixel eaters.
Like some of the things I care about, you know, it's time to show and support, to show solidarity, not to hijack it.
I 've seen white people trying to take hostages before, which is very different.
Like if you were called out, what would you fuck up if you messed up, you're a white guy, right?
If you mess up, someone calls you, a person of color, someone you claim to defend, and you have to listen.
I think this is the most important thing. HARRIS-
Perry: So I got all the right answers, right?
Especially like, you know, how to be a good ally, 101, listen.
But Blair, I think I also have some people who think, you know, some of the most refined history of Africa --
White historians wrote "Life and Leadership in America".
There are a lot of times when I want those white people to talk in Africa --
American students like-and that's right-the notion that identity itself is enough to play a leading role is not enough.
Blair Kelly, associate professor at North Carolina State University: Yes, because of the knowledge base, right?
There is experiential-I mean, there are some old white snit people who will be incredible in the middle. HARRIS-
Perry: snick is a student of non-violent coordination.
Kelly: who helped organize these innovative and brilliant protests in 1960, and they work with people like John Lewis (ph)and (INAUDIBLE).
They also know what it takes to do this sport because they have done it over time.
So all white people are not equal.
Perry: I mean, in their human nature, it's all like this. (CROSSTALK)
Kelly: they told the protest in a smart way that the ability was not equal.
So we want allies to be involved at all levels, right.
You want fewer professional allies to be involved.
You want those who are genuinely moved by the upcoming issues to put their lives at risk as well.
You want this participation, you are arguing with this country, you need different kinds of people to see different kinds of people arguing.
Goodman: It's not just a black problem in the United States.
You know, de Blasio said this in his speech, but this is a problem for the United States and a challenge for the United States.
If we see that too, it's a black problem when a black person is killed by a police officer.
If a Latino person is killed by an official, it is the problem of Latino.
We are all together.
There were even some good police officers who were shocked by what happened and they spoke out their voices.
Those cops who don't care about de Blasio, I don't know if they represent the majority of the police force.
They are at the front.
The camera is there.
But I have spoken to many police officers who have been shocked by this. HARRIS-
Perry: But the idea is for the benefit of white Americans and part of the race justice movement, and I think I'm sometimes curious about it.
So I understand that this is absolutely true, and to the extent that we improve our alliance, we want a more equal alliance.
However, to a certain extent, the leucorrhea has certain privileges.
If you operate entirely for your own economic benefit, wouldn't it be better not to join the movement? MUHAMMAD: Yes.
The history of this country is based on Disadvantages and structural disadvantages.
So this is not only because of the psychological benefits of feeling good as part of a civic culture with the euro at its core, but also because of who you are and who you represent.
I mean, you have kids, take your kids to the movies, except Annie, it's like, my God, everything in the world
Enforce what you have appropriate, what you belong.
For example, Walter Dean Meyers noted before his death last year that only 92 of the 3200 children's books were African --
American protagonist
So there's a lot to say about the way the color lines are still rearranged
Who is in this country?
So even if there is no conspiracy, even if there is no sinister or part of something, you will see these people in some way challenging the position of the country.
What Bill de Blasio did at the press conference was not just a re-
The experience of executing his child, which was echoed by black officials at the New York police station, but he was also surrounded by black people.
I mean, don't be too aggressive in this review, but there's something to say, maybe there's racial betrayal there, right?
This is the leader of the largest city in the largest police force, surrounded by black people, legalizing black people through the lens of his own children, and all of a sudden, this is not what most of us know about the United States. HARRIS-PERRY: (INAUDIBLE)
What I want to know is, Jamie, we pick it up when we come back, but, regardless of whether the privilege of personal experience is reduced or not, because one is close to the darkness, or because there's a cross-racial family, or a loved one, or a part of a movement, and all of a sudden, your white privilege is taken away, right, in the way we see it with de Blasio, there is an open experience. Hold on.
We will talk about all this and more when we come back. (
Business break)(
Start Video Editing)
Man: We did the same thing all night.
We marched together, sang together, ate together, and did the same thing all night.
But when the police came, I watched them tear Sean off, two of them, and then I offered to be arrested, as well as the police who caught me, who knocked me down.
I put my hand behind my back and said I was ready to be arrested and he just tilted forward and whispered in my ear and left here. HARRIS-
Perry: no one has offered you such an offer.
Unidentified male: I have no action. (END VIDEO CLIP)HARRIS-
That's Benjamin Perry (ph)
Sean Torres (ph)
Students at Union Seminary described how they were treated differently by the police during the same protest last month.
Blair, I want to play this.
I was thinking, I think part of the reason is that tonight we're going to see Selma, Pastor James Reid, Viola Roso, who also has no choice to leave there, they were killed as white allies in the civil rights movement. KELLEY: Ye.
But the film remembers their contributions.
Because of their body, they amplified the problem for the United States in a special way.
So their contact with sports is sincere, right?
They are long-term, lifelong activists, and you know, they risk their lives in order to give other Americans the same freedom.
Their sacrifices, you know, they become other people, they become able to kill people, they are contaminated with darkness in a special way and movement.
So when they die, American media think their death is different from the death of black activists in the same place in the same situation.
So the enlargement of the white body is an interesting phenomenon, but the activists know, right?
So snick has been in Mississippi since 1960.
I mean, they are setting up field offices, they are working, people are being killed and no one is paying attention.
Therefore, they actively attract white volunteers to participate in free summer activities. HARRIS-
Perry: because they know Kelly, just because they play a role in the media.
So consciousness exists, but it is a painful consciousness.
Goodman: look at the summer of freedom when they're looking for the body of Mickey schwona (ph)
During these 44 days, civil rights workers were killed by James Cheney and Andrew Goodman.
They dug up so many black bodies on their way to find their bodies, what does that say? HARRIS-PERRY: Right.
But the title, what brings us, is because of the value of the white body. KILSTEN: Yes.
I was thinking about what you said before the break.
I'm really happy that Amy mentioned occupy earlier as I thought a lot about it.
Sometimes white people are there, it's important that this is a sad reason.
Because you guys are just talking about abilities, I remember when my white reporter friend was arrested.
There are a lot of white people who are brutally treated in the occupation, they are like, my God, black people do this every day?
Just like if one day they can come to the Salon blog, they will come to the Democratic internship the next day.
Everyone was shocked.
Like, hey, this is what happens every day in many other communities.
So, I think when it comes back to being a good ally as a whole, I do think, unfortunately, it's important to be outside because, you know, we live in a country that values white life rather than black life, but that's why the protests took place. HARRIS-
Perry: in particular, I would also like to mention in particular the value of blue life, in the days when an innocent person should not be killed and killed just because of his identity, this is a very difficult thing to talk about.
But the differences around some of the discussions around it, so I just wanted to share that there was an officer from the Los Angeles Police Department here talking about the killings, and he said whether it's here or in Los Angeles, it doesn't matter. A.
In the state of Luis Anna, this barbaric act should be condemned by society.
So on the one hand, I agree with that.
Society should condemn it.
But the language is rarely used to talk about, for example, 12-year-old Tamir Rice is shot dead on the playground, and it's also something that should be condemned and we shouldn't kill 12-year-
The old man on the playground
Mohammed: But we also have a way to separate these moments, which are moments in tragedy when the police were killed innocently, because we know I believe, just last year, I have forgotten the date, but two policemen were killed by two policemen in Cici Pizza in Las Vegas
Government activists who don't insist (INAUDIBLE)
At the crime scene. HARRIS-
But isn't that racial?
Mohammed: It's not racial discrimination.
It's not a national review of what's wrong with white people and their hatred of the police.
This is not a reflection of the barbaric behavior at the core of society.
Apart from the fact that we already know, it really doesn't translate out, that is, there is more-
A government militia after Obama.
President's term.
However, this does not inspire any of our conversations about what is happening to white Americans, especially regarding the position of the authorities and the government.
Kirsten: I 'd like to see some pieces of thought, like what is the message behind country music, and these people are going, you know, it's one of the sad things that happened to these cops.
I'm glad someone is angry about it, but what I hear heartbreaking is that anger becomes insignificant compared to what happened to Eric Gardner, or that it's OK for the police to protest against de Blasio, but people are protesting that Rice is not enough for Tamir. (CROSSTALK)HARRIS-
Perry: Khalil will be back next hour and the rest of the group will stay.
Stay there.
At present, mourners are holding a funeral for the funeral of the murdered New York police Detective Liu Wenjian.
We will have a live report on the show later.
Next, artists Nicki Minaj and Macklemore, who are activists, tell about Kanye West's speeches and lessons. (
Business break)HARRIS-
Perry: Cleveland's LeBron James wore this shirt before the Brooklyn Nets game in December 8, showing his solidarity with protesters in New York City after a grand jury on Staten Island decided not to sue anyone who died in Irene Ghana
No one but Jay.
Z helped arrange the delivery of shirts to nets members for the same game.
On December 14, Andrew Hawkins, wearing this shirt, expressed support to the families of Tamir Rice and John Crawford III, who were killed by police in Ohio.
But the examples of these athlete activities have made some wonder how the recording artist is involved in the conversation. (INAUDIBLE)
Questlove spoke in an interview with billboard about the apparent lack of music participation in the current radicalism, referring to the rebound that Dixie chicks received in 2003, and they said they were speaking to President Bush from Texas.
I think a lot of it is not making a living because of fear of becoming a black ball, Quest said.
Nicki Minaj responded to this view in an interview with her "Rolling Stone" released on Friday, after verbally raising the question, why did black celebrities not make more comments, the artist quoted comments on the government's response to Hurricane Katrina in 2005 by Kanye West.
Minaj said look at what happened when Kanye said it?
People tell him to apologize to Bush, because how many times before you say it's not worth it, you will feel terrible because you care about your people.
In an interview with Radio hot 97 (INAUDIBLE)
In the morning, rapper Macklemore (INAUDIBLE)
Ask him about police misconduct and race. (
Start Video Editing)
Unidentified male: talk about what you see now and how Macklemore feels about it.
Rapper McLemore: That's a lot. It`s a lot. (END VIDEO CLIP)HARRIS-
Perry: but when he answered the question positively and answered his own, quote, white privilege, the other answers surprised some listeners. (
Start Video Editing)
MACKLEMORE: How do I get involved at the level of my non-cooperation
Choose sports, or I'm not talking about me, but realize the platform I have and the influence I have and do it in a real way.
Silence is my action.
It is my honor that I can remain silent on this issue.
I'm tired of being silent about it.
It's like I 've been silent for a long time because I don't want to mess up, I don't want to say the wrong thing, I don't want to offend anyone. (END VIDEO CLIP)HARRIS-
All of this makes me ask, can an artist be an effective activist?
More when we come back. (
Business break)HARRIS-
Perry: That's the problem.
What is the role of an artist in activism?
Now I'm joined by Toure, co-
The "cycle" host of MSNBC.
What do you say?
Can artists become effective activists?
MSNBC host Toure: Can artists be effective activists?
You had Harry Belafonte in the show before, so obviously, yes, they can be effective activists.
It's hard for many of them because, as Questlove says, many of them have business problems.
Now, in modern times, the record industry is crashing, we make money, or they make money through tourism, so the direct relationship with fans, I don't understand why they are afraid, I mean, the record industry is coming, but I mean, they-Harris-
Perry: It's interesting.
I want to pause.
So the idea of building a more direct relationship with people might actually create a bigger incentive for radicalism because you don't have a record company to worry about.
This is an interesting twist on business ideas by mainstream artists.
Toure: of course not.
I mean, travel is the main way you make money.
But with the collapse of the record company, it's harder for them to create a lot of artists, then yes, you have a one-on-one relationship with your fans, trying to get them to see you in smaller venues.
So why not take this big step?
Now, in general, artists, even if we look back, artists have popular positions, right?
They're against the war, right?
Now, who would say, well, actually, we need war sometimes, right?
You know, I remember Steve Wonder having a song with Richard Nixon.
Well, at that time, it was very controversial to make this position.
So you know, you know, what the public enemy is doing, you know, it's even funky --
Jumping is a great reaction.
AIDS information, right, condom, right?
Something very important.
However, is it really controversial to ask the artist to make a stand that divides the audience into two halves? This can be very difficult and does not happen very often.
Kelly: But I do think there's a history of hip hop.
Hop with incredible consciousness, right?
So all the hips
In my life, people who are 20 and 25 years old are still playing, which is a fashionable stylehop, right?
Be aware of the demands of a group of artists and speak out the substantive ability of what is happening around them.
But I mean, it's out of date.
Therefore, the way of the audience has changed.
Kelly: The change of the audience and the new fashion way
Dance folk with old school, now old school, hip-
Jumping is that they are no longer conscious.
So the new style becomes consumption, and then the new style becomes anything that is happening now.
KILSTEN: Yes, I like what you said against a wide range of topics, such as against war.
Because, when someone goes further, it's like when a child in one direction is holding a Palestinian flag, people are like, not that war.
No, Boo, about them.
But I think people are still in trouble.
One thing I think is very interesting is that Nicki Minaj talked about the people I checked when it comes to Kanye West to see if she is following me on twitter every day,
George Bush is not liked by everyone.
He is not welcome.
He made his statement and the story suddenly changed.
This is not a problem with the break of the dam.
This is a mean remark by Kanye West about George Bush.
This is the story.
Somehow, his words collapsed the dam. HARRIS-
Perry: but it was an interesting moment.
I mean, maybe just because we don't look at Kanye saying what he said let's remember and we're worth it back. (
Start Video Editing)
Singer Kanye West: you will see a black family saying they are robbing and a white family saying they are looking for food.
It's been five days since most people are black.
George Bush does not care about black people. (END VIDEO CLIP)HARRIS-
Perry: I mean, Toure, you can see a certain level-he's like, I'm going to say something that's going to happen.
It's not kenywester today.
This was Kanye ten years ago.
You can see his pressure on what he is going to say.
And he's actually calling on the media, right?
He is calling for George Bush and a media that represents the lives of black people in these disturbing ways. TOURE: Sure.
You know, I always see the moment people talk about him, he's stepping on it, right?
He said nothing.
As you and I know, he is looking at the word maker and saying that there are no words on the word maker. HARRIS-
Perry: There's no such thing on the mention.
Toure: It's hard.
So that's part of why he didn't say it as strongly as possible.
But, you know, that kind of telling the truth to power is at the heart of the funky --hop.
I have seen not enough disappointment in the past few years.
I don't see that vis-a-
Deal with the recession. Vis-a-
Inequality, as people know from a deep level, is intensifying.
They live in this world.
They live in an unequal world.
You know, why don't they talk about this more?
I think we have seen some of this in Eminem and he is not wearing jewelry for this ridiculous trend, but I would like to see more. HARRIS-
Perry: I was wondering, Amy, this is a very interesting point of view, this point of view about economic inequality, and we discussed the issue of personal success yesterday.
Another part of the hip
Jumping art is like a personal bluff, I can do it, I have done it.
I want to know that even in concepts like personal success, we don't have the ability to talk about structural inequality.
I mean, celebrities are important.
What is the responsibility of celebrities, because many people know you.
I was thinking of Bruce Springsteen. hop, right?
Remember the American skin, after 41 shots (INAUDIBLE)was killed.
He dared to sing the song on the grass.
I think the police said they wouldn't work overtime.
They wouldn't protect him if he sang the song.
He sang it anyway.
You know, today is another very sad day, the second officer was killed, but what can protect all life, what can protect the future of our Eric Garners, and Officer Liu, and police Officer Ramos, wherever they are, people speak out at all levels. Tom Morrello (ph)
Michael Forte (ph)does it.
They sang all these songs.
March to Ferguson and others because they can't.
It's their life, it's what they breathe. HARRIS-
Perry: So we have to rest.
So much more.
I want to say thank you to Toure.
I appreciate it when you come to hang out.
Also thanks to Jamie Kirsten.
Amy and Blair will be back next hour.
When we went out, I really wanted to hear about Harry bellafant, who was talking about the platform in our show.
After that, when we get back, I'll do a clip that I really want to HI with Harry, but they won't let me do that.
But when we get back, no matter what their name is, we talk about marijuana with Harry Smith.
But when we go out, listen to Harry bellafant. (
Start Video Editing)
Singer harry belafonte: I think there is a platform for artists.
They have power.
They have gifts.
By using this talent and strength and using it for those who have been eliminated by an unequal and unjust system, we are starting to put a light and a new impetus on what is happening to the poor, and for those who are oppressed by race, sexual abuse. (END VIDEO CLIP)(
Business break)HARRIS-
Perry: Colorado has been the first state to legalize recreational marijuana for more than a year.
They will soon be joined by Oregon, Washington state, Alaska and Colombia.
With sales of more than $2 nationwide, legal pot has become a big business.
Last year, 6 billion brave entrepreneurs profited from the need for marijuana among residents and tourists.
At 9: 00 tomorrow night in a new documentary premiered in CNBCm.
Harry Smith, NBC News reporter, took us into the booming Colorado cannabis industry. (Start Video)
Harry Smith, NBC Newsvoice-over)
: Colorado now has more than 500 cannabis shops, the largest of which is called "medical people ".
This is an industry that did not exist in Colorado five years ago.
Five years later, you have cloud technology-woman: state-of-the-art technology.
Smith: run your planting room.
Man: Yes.
Woman: Yes.
Unidentified male: It was a crazy trip.
I have to tell you.
Unidentified women: we are not a group of women wearing tie-dye t-
Shirts, you know, smoke marijuana.
This is a real American industry.
Smith: Andy Williams and his sister Sally Van der Villeph)
Run the company with their brother Pete. Their high-
Technical planting facilities produce 120 pounds of marijuana per week.
Man: How are you?
Welcome to the pharmaceutical company, brother.
Man: Thank you.
Unidentified male: We do more business in this place than anyone else.
We want to open a shop that is more suitable for business than this place.
We are drinking with fire pipes.
Smith: They are pioneers in the dazzling wilderness of legal weeds.
The federal government still thinks marijuana is a drug, so most banks won't be close to it.
Can you open an account?
Do you have anything to do?
This is a very good story.
We lost countless banks.
We lost a lot of banks.
Unidentified male: After we sent a tax check to the federal government this year, a bank drove us out.
Unidentified women: they closed on April 14.
They can't put drug money into the bank, but the country can.
This year, Colorado is expected to charge nearly $50 million in taxes on sales of more than half a billion dollars. (END VIDEOTAPE)HARRIS-
Harry Smith is with me now.
Harry, when we looked at this, you said that he was in a remote place in the warehouse area. if it was a Wal-Mart doing this kind of business, if it was McDonald's, right, the other store will also be sorted out, which will be the engine of economic growth.
But in the end, they can't even bank, the idea that they were shut down, as a country, we didn't become the federal government because of this, actually, in terms of economic development, we are on our own way.
Smith: economics is interesting, because between the legal pots they sell, the entertainment, what they call it, and the medical care, there is more than a billion dollars in sales in Colorado alone, but with taxes so high, there is still a thriving black market there.
All of this, Governor hikenroper called it a social experiment.
Colorado is the fungus.
So everything we watch there continues to evolve, evolve, and change.
So whatever you say today, tomorrow, the day after and the day after tomorrow will be different. HARRIS-
PERRY: You were there a year ago.
When you go back this time, does it feel so different from you?
Smith: The dust has settled a bit, but the regulatory environment continues to change when they find out what works and what doesn't work.
The doorposts are always moved.
The people who are truly successful are those who have a real business mind, those who fully follow the law, all the way to the best little ink point.
Those will succeed.
Others may be left behind. HARRIS-
PERRY: Well, the beginning of American capitalism is like this --
General President's ups
Smith: That's right. HARRIS-
Perry: One of the most interesting moments for me is when you talk to a veteran about the way veterans use marijuana to relieve post-traumatic stress syndrome. SMITH: Sure.
You'll meet someone in the documentary, and just over the past few weeks, there's a huge article in The Washington Post, veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan say, basically, I don't want opium.
I don't want to poison myself.
I don't want a bar witch. ph).
Let me smoke a little bit of marijuana, man, please.
As they say, this is a natural, organic substance.
Isn't that a better choice from their point of view?
The questions they ask, than what you told me, I should accept. HARRIS-
Perry: But you see, I was wondering if anyone was suspicious of this, because it's a ban, a long history of illegal drugs and substances, and people say, you know, if you take it, then we believe it will make you better, but you are trying to get higher.
It doesn't actually make you better.
Smith: There is no doubt that this is still a great shame.
This thing was made a few years ago when I was taking drugs.
Probably never should schedule my drug use.
I just want to say that as a person who does not use marijuana, I am not advocating by sitting here.
I'm just sitting here watching the scenery.
I said, every time I go out and come back and say, it's like watching an Elf come out of the bottle and it's never coming back again. HARRIS-
Perry: Let me ask you a question about race.
One of the groups of activists who are most interested in the crime of non-criminal cannabis is an advocate of racial justice, who said that due to the aspects of crime and criminal convictions, the impact on our community is more important than any kind with medicinal value and economic benefits.
Did you see this development in Colorado?
Smith: In terms of what's important on the street, marijuana, because it's legal, not so important.
I haven't been there since it was legalised a few years ago, but the interesting thing about legalisation is that marijuana was legalised in New York in its 1970 s.
One aspect of Stop and frisk use is to empty your pocket.
Just come out of your pocket, then it's in public.
So you're guilty, right?
However, you know there are a lot of people who want to play this game and that's the way you want to play this game.
You can rotate it, turn it upside down and take the empty man out.
Very interesting.
But I think in terms of demographics, what you see is that it's legal for you to use medical marijuana in 23 states right now.
The states you mentioned just now, they may take a vote in 16 years, even in California.
In demographics, same-sex marriage and legalization of marijuana are parallel.
50% is far below here ten years ago.
It's on it now. HARRIS-
Perry: It's so fascinating to see how this will appear, especially in the 2016 election, which is likely to legalise you as a Republican president and national cannabis.
Isn't that attractive?
Smith: imagine if the Republican president had told a state like Colorado that wasn't under my surveillance, would you be with him, which was scheduled. HARRIS-
Perry: or even if she told them that. (LAUGHTER)HARRIS-
Perry: Thank you very much, Harry Smith.
Don't miss the premiere of "cannabis country, cannabis boom" at 9: 00 on Monday, January 5. m.
East of CNBC.
Next, the funeral of the murdered New York police officer Liu Wenjian will begin soon.
We will have a live report on the ongoing complexity of policing in the United States.
There were more MHP shows an hour ago. (
Business break)HARRIS-
Perry: welcome back.
This is Melissa Harris. Perry.
The funeral of the murdered New York police officer Liu Wenjian will now be held at a funeral home in Dyck Heights, Brooklyn, New York. Both 32-year-
On December 20, Liu and his partner, Rafael Ramos, were ambushed in a patrol car in Bedford, Brooklyn.
Near Stuy.
Shortly after, gunmen committed suicide at a nearby subway station.
Detective Liu is the first Chinese in New York City.
American police were shot dead while on duty.
At today's funeral, it will combine the traditional service of the New York police with the ceremony hosted by Buddhist monks.
We will be waiting this hour for a speech by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio and Police Chief Bill Bratton.
Now, MSNBC reporter Adam Reiss joins us from outside the funeral of Dyker Heights.
Adam, can you tell us what you saw there this morning?
Adam Rice, MSNBC reporter: good morning, Melissa.
The ceremony is about to begin.
Thousands of police lined up from New York City, across the country, on streets far away in Canada to pay a final tribute to officer Liu Wenjian. Thirty two-
Served in the Army for seven years, married for two months.
Today, he was the first Chinese military officer to die.
Now, we look forward to hearing from the director of the FBI, the mayor, the chief of police, and the wife and father of officer Liu.
Now, when the mayor delivers a eulogy, we will look at the officials here and see if they will ignore him again.
Commissioner Bratton said it was a funeral for a hero.
It's for sadness, not for complaint. HARRIS-
Perry: Adam, if you know, we're looking at the people behind you right now, do you feel it?
Looks, I mean, obviously, the funeral is melancholy, but do you have a feeling of tension at this point, or is it really just gathering and mourning at this point?
Rice: mainly mourning.
The mayor just arrived.
The chief of police came first than him.
Just a lot of hugs, a lot of emotions, a lot of tears--Melissa. HARRIS-
Thank you, Adam Rice from MSNBC.
I want to bring my group to New York.
Khalil Mohammed, director of the black culture research center at Schomburg.
Amy Goodman, now the host and executive producer of democracy.
Ed Pawlowski is the mayor of Allen, Pennsylvania.
Blair Kelly, associate professor of history at North Carolina State University.
Marquez Claxton, from Columbia, South Carolina, also joined us as director of the Black Law Enforcement Union and a retired New York police detective.
Officer Clayton, I want to start with you because, you know, obviously, all the funerals are very personal, with loss and sadness, but in my opinion, maybe in the context of the funeral, we should know something about law enforcement.
What should we know?
Marquez Clayton, director of the Black Law Enforcement Union: Well, what you're going to see is a collective process of grief.
It's painful, and for the police, every duty death, every shooting, every assassination, makes them reflect on their personal lives and their families.
So they tend to internalize this a lot.
Interestingly, you will find that if in the private sector, if there is murder in your colleague's work, there will be sad counselors rushing into the place as usual, no one will expect the work to continue, but as a professional police officer, you still need to do the work while dealing with their own deaths, your own family-related weaknesses, so this is really a very sad and sad moment that has an impact on the coming weeks.
All police officers will be affected emotionally, whether or not they know these wonderful gentlemen, they will be affected and emotionally scarred. HARRIS-
Perry: So, for the city, for these officials, even outside the city, there is this obvious emotional trauma.
However, the same is true in the context of all this happening.
Part of what I want to ask is, you know, so this is the first Chinese-American New York police officer to be killed on duty.
His partner is Latino and he has been fired recently.
I want to know that all ethnic conversations are happening.
But the fact that these gentlemen are also from the community of color does not matter.
Some of them are also very nervous about the city police department in New York and elsewhere.
I wonder if this is a reasonable time to talk about this.
It feels like we should.
CLAXTON: I think it's a challenge for people who are really involved in this national discussion about reform, police reform, the role of race in law enforcement, and more specifically, policing.
This is a challenging moment because you really have to balance the sensitivity to the family, the sensitivity to the city, the police station, and the need to advance and participate in these conversations.
So it's a challenge, but my answer to you, the short answer is, I think it's necessary for us to have a discussion whenever and wherever we want to move the industry forward, this has promoted the development of law enforcement and judicial systems. HARRIS-
Perry: Wait for us.
You know, mayor, part of the reason I want you to be here is because of the tension between the police and the community.
But the other big part of this is the tension between the mayor and the police.
I am interested in your role as mayor, you know, you are a civilian, but you have surpassed the police force.
You are responsible for your constituents and voters, who are also responsible for these communities.
Have you ever felt where de Blasio might be now and where his mentality is?
Mayor ED Roski (D)
Allen, Pennsylvania: Listen.
It's a tough road.
And then you're the CEO of a big company, okay, in my case, more
Millions, in his case, manybillions.
You have employees you care about, and then you are elected by the people, right?
So you also have to be a leader in the community and be able to express yourself as a leader.
So, he took a very interesting route and it was very difficult.
I mean, I was in the same situation back in 2007.
We have had a call from an official, a white official.
Eventually hit another police officer's car during the response.
The car ran on the sidewalk and killed a young African. American child.
As a result, the community is very nervous.
But you know, in that particular case, you know, we found through the investigation that he was looking at his mobile computer and he didn't pay attention to the road.
We must take corrective measures.
So as a mayor, you will always feel nervous trying to play the role of CEO and also pay attention to what's going on within the community.
If that's the case, you know, we 've had almost an outbreak of rioting.
Before it really became an event, I was able to bring together the clergy and others in the community to help calm it down.
Thankfully, you know, it's never been on the national paper as it happened in Ferguson. HARRIS-
Perry: So this nervous idea.
Amy, it seems to me that, as an elected official, is responsible to the people and, nevertheless, it is really tense that the people have to coordinate and manage the police force, it is necessary in the context of democracy.
We do not manage the Army of the government because we believe that there should be a civilian in the army to control the government.
At home, you know, our mayor is not our chief of police.
Our mayor hired and fired our chief of police.
So I wonder, how cool should we be with this tension?
Like, is this a healthy democratic tension we see in New York? Or should we feel cold when the police turn their backs on elected officials who are destined to be their managers?
Goodman: Well, it would be interesting to see what's going to happen today.
But I want to say that when you see the diversity of the New York police force, there are 28% Africans.
26% Latinos and 6% Asians, how did it become so diverse?
I think part of the reason is the massive protests of the previous decades.
For example, after Amadou Diallo was killed and after Abner Louima was abused, he was abused at the police station.
There are so many protests and mass arrests at the police headquarters that have led to the kind of changes you are talking about in Allentown, and when we look at how we can change the department, de Blasio said, we must have a thorough retraining now.
I also think it is important that the police come from the community.
In this way, they will not understand the communities and themselves and the occupying forces. HARRIS-
Perry: Stay with us.
We will talk more about this, but also remember that the funeral of the murdered New York detective Liu Wenjian is expected to begin this hour.
New York City Mayor Bill Bratton and police chief are expected to speak.
According to the needs of the event, we will bring you the latest.
Then came the battle between the police union and the mayor 23 years ago.
Is history repeating itself? (
Business break)HARRIS-
Perry: The mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, may have to face the silent anger of those officers who flinch from the protests, but when the police want to send him a message, he is still easier than his predecessor.
On September 16, 1992, more than 10,000 off-duty police officers and their supporters came to City Hall in New York City to protest against Mayor David Dinkins.
The New York Times story describes what it saw that day.
Hundreds of people then broke through the barricades and flocked to the steps of the town hall.
From there, the protests evolved into a whirlpool of beer, and the traffic was chaotic, stretching from the Brooklyn Bridge to Murray Street, where several politicians helped ignite the emotional fire.
The protests are notable even if any rally gets too crazy, but the protesters are police.
The police protested his response to a number of police issues, including the proposal to set up a civil commission to investigate police misconduct and a visit to a Dominican immigrant family, the immigrant was killed by an official, sparking riots in the Washington Heights area of New York.
Khalil, these pictures, the reminder of 1992, are now much longer than I would like to remember and acknowledge, which makes us stop and look at history.
On the one hand, it was much safer to be a police officer in the past modern times.
If we look at the overall long-term decline in police deaths in 2014, despite an increase in 2001.
But most recently, police deaths did increase by 24% in 2014.
56% of deaths are caused by gun deaths, which makes me wonder if the number of guns here is really dangerous?
MUHAMMAD: Sure.
Our gun culture is the third round of American politics.
So, to some extent, the police should be the biggest
The gun lobby in the United States, accepting the NRA, in this conversation, the mayor of the city, directly rather than trying to manage everyone and trying to determine that everyone has the right to fear national violence, is an elephant.
However, I think the Dinkins situation also illustrates this, because part of the reason you see is a reflection of the white male privileged culture, and I don't want to get stuck on the issue of privilege, but I want to go back to this question, they represent the history of the working class in the United States. HARRIS-
Perry: that's not the case with the police.
I mean, as Amy pointed out last hour, the picture we're seeing now is 1992 from the New York Police Department.
As you said, this department is no longer the case because of the social movement in the process.
Mohammed: My point is that this is the point.
Over the past 20 years, we have been caught in the cycle of racial representation advocating fundamental change, so the fact that the forces are darker, darker or more yellow does not change the policing culture and the system of policing.
So the trade-offs between me and the officials can tell you this from personal experience.
I was lecturing at John Jay as a guest lecturer and I was standing in front of the room for graduate students and below students to shave
Graduates, current officials, and people who are about to become police, who say that the people in their police community are those who should be subject to excessive violence and those who should be guilty until proven innocent
In other words, these are young black and brown people who are specialized in college, but they have moved to the other side because of the price of admission, the ticket price for participating in the force is to accept that these people do not have the same right to live in these communities. HARRIS-
Perry: Officer Clayton, I feel like I have to get you involved.
CLAXTON: Yes, it's interesting because what happens a lot is that black or Latino people who integrate into the police department are included in the police culture, not their own culture or experience.
So you find that regardless of the color of the individual officers, if they follow some sort of procedure, you will have the same result if they follow some sort of law enforcement or law enforcement trend
It is important that people connect with those who serve as police officers.
It is also important for the police to sympathize with the people they serve.
It's just basic customer service.
But changing the situation in these sectors without the necessary reforms will disappoint many who are pushing for judicial reform. HARRIS-
Perry: I have to hold you because we want to take you to Brooklyn now, and Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York, speaks at the funeral of the murdered police officer Liu Wenjian.
Bill de Blasio, mayor of New York: Thank you, Lieutenant.
Thank you, Director Comey, for your touching words.
Thank you, Commissioner Bratton.
Thank you to all those who have gathered here to honor this good man and support this good family.
Our whole city is broken today.
We have seen it in the last two weeks.
We see the pain that people from all walks of life feel.
Grateful for the sacrifices of this family and the Ramos family, they understand people who have never worn uniforms, understand how dangerous our men and women are in front of uniforms and what it means for their families
All the cities are feeling pain now, all the cities want to lift the Liu family and the Ramos family and remember their sacrifices forever.
Detective Liu Wenjian is a good man.
He took a road of courage, a road of sacrifice.
A good road.
That's who he is.
It took it from us too soon.
Our hearts were open to his wife, Nguyen chachen, who married him a few months before the brutal loss.
His father, Wei Tang Liu, and his mother, Xiu Yan, suffered unimaginable pain in losing his only son.
Over the past seven years, all the men and women of the New York City Police Department have worked with Detective Liu, who is his second family.
The family lost a beloved brother.
For a mayor, there is no more solemn ceremony than this, mourning a man who fought for all the decency and beauty.
We met a family that lost a lot at a hospital, at home or at a funeral.
It reminds us of what good people do to protect the safety of others and to unite our society.
And how dangerous it is.
When I met Detective Liu's family and learned more about his brave and selfless journey, I sadly realized that we lost someone who embodied or the city's most precious values.
We lost Detective Liu, we lost Detective Ramos, the best of us, everything our New Yorkers wanted to be.
We lost two people who gave us directions.
Detective Liu's story is a very powerful American story, a very classic New York story.
A 12-year-old young man who came here with his parents from China.
To find the American dream, to find the dream that generations have come to New York to find.
Our city is proud of the Statue of Liberty, and we are proud that this great lady still holds the torch of freedom in the port.
We are proud of what this means.
A promise that no matter where people come from, no matter what troubles they leave behind, they can live a life of hope and possibility here.
Liu came to New York with this great promise.
Detective Liu's father worked in the clothing industry for a long time, while Detective Liu worked hard at our public school in New York.
He studied English and was ready to go to college.
Detective Liu's dream is clear, it is a lofty dream, wearing a blue uniform, pin a pin on the badge, dedicated to protecting and serving the city he loves.
Detective Liu's life revolves around his family, his born family and his second family, the New York Police Department.
He occasionally takes time off for something he likes and goes fishing with his friends.
He likes fishing. he likes fishing in the city, Long Island or north.
Brought him joy.
Every day of fishing is a beautiful day.
But it said some important things about Detective Liu, that is, his happiest day was that he caught a large group of fish and he could share it with his aunt, uncle and cousin.
He can do something for his wife and parents.
Fishing brings him happiness, we see how his life is close to him, his greatest meaning, his greatest happiness comes from sharing with others, from caring for others, helping, committed to something greater than yourself
Detective Liu is very loyal to his parents.
Quoting Confucius, Confucius strongly said that this dedication is "the root of one's character ".
In high school, Detective Liu always stopped playing basketball with his friends very early so that he could go home, buy groceries and cook dinner for his father and mother.
As his parents grow older, he helps more and more.
One of his proudest moments was that he bought a house for his father and mother and began to pay the mortgage.
So he knew they would be safe when they were old.
When he walked into his life in the morning, Detective Liu was full of joy.
They are happier when they get married.
He is looking forward to creating a good life with her.
When he joined the New York police station, he knew his family would be worried about him.
He wanted to make sure they knew he was thinking about them all the time, so he did a very typical act of caring for others, simple act.
At the end of his work every day, he calls his father and tells his family that he is safe and is on his way home.
Detective Liu is a brave and skilled police officer, but he is also a kind person, a kind police officer, a person who pays for himself.
His family, many of his friends, and many of his colleagues quickly used the word.
They said he was fine.
He wants to help others.
Everything he did
Detective Liu, one of his partners in the original magazine, recalled that he was always "more worried about others than himself ".
"He has shown this goodwill in many ways, large and small.
When Detective Liu sees someone getting lost in the street, he will go to them and he will ask them if they are hungry.
He will buy them dinner at McDonald's and send them home.
His partner recalled that one day our police called him a lift and he went out with Detective Liu.
A routine visit to help elderly people who fall and cannot get up.