Skip to main content

tv   Politics Nation  MSNBC  February 6, 2022 2:00pm-3:00pm PST

2:00 pm
i'm yasmin vossoughian. i'm going to turn it over to reverend al sharpton and "politics nation". good evening, and welcome to "politics nation." tonight out of miami, florida. tonight's lead -- in the same boat. right now i'm thinking about solidarity, because while i watch the gop engineered campaign to suppress the voting rights of black americans and i respond to it from that perspective first, i acknowledge that whether it's black atlanta or brown arizona, the result has been the same for the minority voters that largely put joe biden back in the white house last year. republican lawmakers are
2:01 pm
tempting to restrict their access to the franchise in every state they live in, and even the ones that barely have any people of color in the first place. of course, that's not the case in arizona, where a quarter of the eligible voters is hispanic. many identifying as democrats. and so state republicans have been working overtime to legislate restrictions into law, to the extent that this weekend, one of the state's top republicans had to stop his own caucus in its latest bid to take over the state elections that this time went too far even for him. we've got another big show tonight, folks. plus, protests continue in minneapolis over the police killing of amir locke last week. i talked to locke's mother and father and their attorney, the
2:02 pm
attorney general of black america, ben crump tonight about the life, the loss, and the justice they are demanding from the city. that's in just a little bit. but first, voting rights and the new view from the southwest. joining me now, congressman reuben gallego, democrat of arizona. he is the chair of bold pac, the campaign arm of the hispanic caucus. congressman, thank you, first, for joining us tonight. i want to start by going back to that story i just mentioned out of your state, because you know it's bad in arizona. but the trump supporting republicans speak of your statehouse had to use a parliamentary maneuver to kill an elections bill that would have allowed state legislators to overturn election results.
2:03 pm
that was the news going into this weekend, and considering the multiple audits of your state's 2020 election results by trump loyalists and last year's supreme court decisions that allowed certain voter restrictions to stand in your state, how concerned are you as the chair of campaign arm of the congressional hispanic caucus? and time is running out to fix things ahead of the midterm elections in november. >> very much so. first of all i want to thank republican speaker of the house rusty bowers for doing this. he has been a stalwart defender of democracy, unlike other republicans in the statehouse, and he refused to go with the audit on the statehouse side. it was a small sub committee of senate that thisd this. i wish there was more republicans. but i tell you, it is dangerous. in arizona, we have more than 25 years of voting by mail.
2:04 pm
something that has been very secure, something started by the arizona republican legislature to make sure that older citizens had an easier time vote. it was actually to the detriment of latino voters on election day. what happened over the last ten years, you know, with a lot of work from organizations and congress and politicians, we signed up more than a million latinos to start voting by mail, and that's what you started seeing is latinos working within the system, the system that was designed essentially to help first older anglo voters and started voting overwhelmingly, turned the state blue. look what happens after that. as soon as the at democrats start turning blue and start voting by mail, all of a sudden republicans want to get rid of vote by mail -- they introduced bills to do that -- they're trying to make it that you have to put your social security number on front, something
2:05 pm
latinos would never do. they're asking we put copies of our driver's license. something we never had to do. who has copier machines at home? whatever advantage they needed in the past, anglo conservative voters had, they're going to try to get it back. without the voting rights act, they're dependent on courageous people like rusty bowers to stop these. we had section two, section five, we'd be able to have a real instrument to stop these type of suppression. >> yeah, that's true. but congressman, i'd love to get your response both to the republican national committee voting to censure two of its members, liz cheney and adam kinzinger for their
2:06 pm
participation in the investigation and national committee chair ronna mcdaniel calling that a democrat-led persecution of ordinary citizens who engage in the legitimate political discourse. to call this legitimate political discourse, people who stormed the capital, people lost lyes. as a marine combat vet, how do you respond to republican leadership casting those who violated the capitol and attacked police as ordinary citizens? >> well, look, it's a mark of a traitor where you start trying to cover up your crimes to your country, and those that actually perpetrated those crimes, versus trying to hold them accountable. the republican party, at least the leadership of the republican party, and not all republicans, but the leadership of the republican party is now a cult of personality. and they'd rather take care of the cult and the cult leader --
2:07 pm
that's trump, than to actually protect the constitution of the united states. adam kinzinger and liz cheney, i don't agree with them almost 99% of the time, but at the core they are patriots. they believe what happened was an attempted true resurrection and we need to hold people accountable. and the fact that you have members of congress -- you saw marco rubio today saying they wouldn't condemn the violence. what it tells you is they care more about their politics, their relationship with trump than with the constitution of the united states. i've seen in violence. unfortunately saw way too much combat back in my day. i don't need somebody to lay to me and tell me that was not someone trying to overthrow their government. i saw police officers that were bloodied, bruised. they were describing to me how they got beat one batons, with bear spray. it was something they had never
2:08 pm
seen. >> and this is -- this is on film. but congressman, before we lose you, as talks have swirled around a possible primary challenge to arizona senator kristen sinema over her voting record, do you think that congressional democrats who have impeded the biden agenda deserve to be primaried? and what about those that are asking you to consider giving her primary? >> look, the people that have to answer that are the voters of arizona. and i'm hearing from them every day. i will make a determination about that in 2023. but in the meantime, look, i think it's legitimate for all these volunteers, all these men and women that worked for hours, donated dollars every month, to make sure we had a majority to pass an american agenda -- not the biden agenda, not the democratic agenda, an american working agenda. and if you're standing in the way, then you should answer for. that when i say answer for that -- senator sinema doesn't
2:09 pm
go and talk to her district. she doesn't talk to the state. she doesn't give them reasons why she's voting the way she is. she's only letting us guess. so in the meantime i think that's the first thing we should all be asking is, why are you doing this? secondly, at the end of the day, the voters will tell me what to do, and i'll make that decision in 2023. >> all right, thank you for being with us, representative gallego. now, there's mounting scrutiny in minneapolis, in the minneapolis police department, to be specific, after city officials released body cam footage showing the deadly shooting of 22-year-old amir locke during a no-knock raid on wednesday. locke, who police say was not named as a suspect in the warrant, was apparently sleeping on a couch as police charged in. a warning, this next video is disturbing. the interim police chief of minneapolis said during a
2:10 pm
wednesday news conference that officers did announce themselves and said, locke pointed a loaded gun in their direction of the officers, prompting one of them to fire at him. family members say he had a license to carry. amir's death sparked a protest yesterday as a large crowd gathered in downtown minneapolis to voice their outrage. joining me now are amir's parents, karen wells and andre locke, with their attorney -- i call him the attorney general of black america, benjamin crump. let me first go to you, karen. as the mother, we've learned that your son was in an aspiring hip-hop artist and even designed a logo for his business. next week he was planning to move to dallas to be closer to you. what more can you tell us about him? what kind of man was he in. >> amir was very respectful. he was raised with morals and
2:11 pm
values. he loved all his friends and family. and he was my son. he was my baby. >> andre, you spoke at a protest yesterday and called for 22 days of peace in honor of your son who was 22 years old. peaceful protesters continue the take to the streets from new york to minneapolis. police confirmed that your son did not have a criminal record and you described him as a good kid who grew up respecting police. what other qualities did you instill in him? >> first, thank you for having us. and amir discipline, determination, were those qualities. respect, most of all. how to treat people to, treat
2:12 pm
people the way he wanted to be treated. >> attorney crump, here we go again. within the past few years we've lost george floyd, daunte wright, and now amir locke at the hands of minnesota police. just there in minnesota. not mention the countless who died from police involved shootings across the country, most notably breonna taylor whose death is eerily similar to amir's. the minneapolis mayor ordered an immediate halt to no-knock warrants, and the minnesota attorney general is reviewing the shooting death to see if charges need to be brought against the officer who fired the fatal shot. are you satisfied with how the elected officials are responding to this incident? what more needs to be done?
2:13 pm
>> first of all, reverend al, when we think of black history month be the importance of history, we thought if there was anything we learned from the tragic kill of breonna taylor in louisville, kentucky, was that no-knock warrants have deadly consequences for innocent black people. and i had to take my foot out my mouth, reverend al, because you and i have worked on many cases where you had law-abiding african american citizens who had gun permits, and we would say, well, where are the gun lobby when black people who are exercising their second amendment rights have a gun to defend themselves and their castle? well, the minnesota gun caucus came out after this video was released, reverend al, and they said that amir locke did what
2:14 pm
any reasonable law-abiding citizen would have done who had a licensed gun permit, and that is try to protect their family and protect their castle. so this is just heartbreaking because we should have learned from the history of breonna taylor so minneapolis police wouldn't have killed amir locke. >> ben, president joe biden plans to sign executive actions on police reform as early as this month. it seems that the tenor of the conversation among some democrats has moved from defund to police to refund the police. as lawmakers are focusing on reigning in crime in an aggressive way, you have been calling for systematic change and reform in policing for a while now. we've worked together on that. is the democrats' approach an effective tragedy to curb violence in the country? what should be include in the biden's executive order in your opinion? >> well, i think certainly now,
2:15 pm
karen and andre are part of the conversation, reverend al. for all these families we work with -- george floyd, breonna taylor -- to have policing reform. and when we say police reform, what we're really saying is, can we imagine how to administer public safety better? because that's what we want, safety for not just the police officers but the families. so hopefully the biden administration and the -- i know new york mayor is having a lot do with this. it's about balance. you have to say, we understand crime is more associated with people not having economic opportunities versus people just wanting to commit crime. and so how about we invest in community policing but also social service, things that national action network have advocated for decades, reverend
2:16 pm
al. we just need to work with the community and not ignore the community. that's why these people in minneapolis are marching, because they want to be heard. they want them to know that amir locke should have never been killed, if the leaders would have just listened to the people. >> let me go back to you, karen and andre. here's a young man, 22 years old, wanted to pursue a music career like his father. as you have called, andre, on these 22 day of peace, how do you want, in this time -- i talked to both of you on the phone yesterday. what do you want your son to stand for as we prepare to lay him to rest? what do you want him to be remembered for, and what do you want to see the country and those that are outraged by what happened, what do you want them to lift up as his legacy? >> well, first off i'm still
2:17 pm
taken back for words and exhausted and all of those things from everything that has taken place. before i answer that, i wanted to say, karen and i would be honored, reverend al sharpton, if you would do the eulogy for amir so that his silent voice can be heard and heard the right way, and to answer that question, the message that we're trying to get across for america in general is that amir came from a patriotic family. i come from a military background, family. my father is a vietnam veteran, p.o.w., who fought for this country. he's 80 years old now, and he's devastated. because we were taught the right way. doesn't get any more patriotic than that.
2:18 pm
amir should stand for peace. amir should stand for love. man. >> karen, as you feel the pain that only a mother could feel, i'm down in miami with mother of trayvon martin and many others, and as you try to go through this -- these feelings, your son now has become a cause, something you definitely didn't want. and i think the thing andre just raised -- coming from a military family, raised by his mother, wanted to move to dallas to be near his mother, and this could happen the him. what do you say to mothers across the country that you hope out of this -- and certainly, let me answer, andre, i'd be delighted to do the eulogy. thank you for the invitation. what do you think we need to do to make sure law enforcement understands that our kids are
2:19 pm
not criminals? our kids should not be treat in the this way? >> as amir's mother, i am going to stand and make sure that my son is the voice and spread across the united states where they're no longer going to be allowed to do no-knock warrants. it's unacceptable. he was executed by the mpd, and i want everybody to know that my son is going to make sure that everybody across the united states is going to be able to sleep on the couch without having to be worried about being executed by the police. >> yes, yes. >> wow. well, i think you couldn't have been stronger than that. andre as well. carrien and andre, thank you for coming on this evening, and thank you, attorney general ben
2:20 pm
crump for always being there and being ben crump. more "politics nation" ahead, but first, my colleague richard lui with today's other top stories. >> some of the stories we're watching this houring a u.s. official telling nbc news russia now has 70% of the forces needed for a full scale invasion of ukraine, and could reach 100% in a week's time. the white house national security adviser saying today russia could invade any day. at the same time, thousands of russian troops deploying to belarus, which borders ukraine. the navy said kyle mullen died after completing hell week. the actual cause of death is not known. mullen was 24 years old. more "politics nation", with reverend al sharpton right after this. l sharpton right after this
2:21 pm
>> woman: what's my safelite story? i see inspiration right through my glass. so when my windshield cracked, i chose safelite. they replaced the glass and recalibrated my safety system. that's service i can trust. >> singers: ♪ safelite repair, safelite replace. ♪ with hepatitis c i felt i couldn't be at my best for my family. in only 8 weeks with mavyret i was cured. i faced reminders of my hep c every day. i worried about my hep c. but in only 8 weeks with mavyret i was cured. mavyret is the only 8-week cure for all types of hep c. before starting mavyret your doctor will test if you've had hepatitis b which may flare up and cause serious liver problems
2:22 pm
during and after treatment. tell your doctor if you've had hepatitis b, a liver or kidney transplant, other liver problems, hiv-1,or other medical conditions, and all medicines you take. don't take mavyret with atazanavir or rifampin, or if you've had certain liver problems. if you've had or have serious liver problems other than hep c, there's a rare chance they may worsen. signs of serious liver problems may include yellowing of the skin, abdominal pain or swelling, confusion, and unexplained bleeding or bruising. tell your doctor if you develop symptoms of liver disease. common side effects include headache and tiredness. with hep c behind me, i feel free fearless because i am cured. talk to your doctor about mavyret. learn how abbvie could help you save. ♪ i see trees of green ♪ talk to your doctor about mavyret. ♪ red roses too ♪ ♪ i see them bloom for me and you ♪ (music) ♪ so i think to myself ♪
2:23 pm
♪ oh what a wonderful world ♪ age is just a number. and mine's unlisted. try boost® high protein with 20 grams of protein for muscle health. versus 16 grams in ensure high protein. boost® high protein also has key nutrients for immune support. boost® high protein.
2:24 pm
2:25 pm
coming up on "politics nation", our sisterhood ten years strong, dedicated to highlight women of color in the media industry. but first, contrary to popular belief, the right to vote is not guaranteed for all. but state by state, that could be changing. my next guest expert witness explains after the break. af explains after the break lains ae break. the majority of people taking rybelsus® lowered their blood sugar and reached an a1c of less than 7. rybelsus® isn't for people with type 1 diabetes. don't take rybelsus® if you or your family ever had medullary thyroid cancer break. or if allergic to it. stop rybelsus® and get medical help right away if you get a lump or swelling in your neck, severe stomach pain, or an allergic reaction. serious side effects may include pancreatitis. tell your provider about vision problems or changes.
2:26 pm
taking rybelsus® with a sulfonylurea or insulin increases low blood sugar risk. side effects like nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea may lead to dehydration, which may worsen kidney problems. wake up to the possibility of lower a1c with rybelsus®. you may pay as little as $10 for up to a 3-month prescription. ask your healthcare provider about rybelsus® today. what happens when we welcome change? we can transform our workforce overnight out of convenience, or necessity. we can explore uncharted waters, and not only make new discoveries, but get there faster, with better outcomes. with app, cloud and anywhere workspace solutions, vmware helps companies navigate change-- meeting them where they are, and getting them where they want to be. faster. vmware. welcome change.
2:27 pm
2:28 pm
2:29 pm
had. welcome back. we had another trying weekend of american race relations on this, the first week of black history month. a number of black colleges were again threatened as the number of black cultures in the nfl was again reduced. and as another black life was again ended in another police shooting at that.
2:30 pm
joining me now, janae nelson, associate director counsel for the naacp legal defense fund. ms. nelson, this week the fbi has identified six persons of interest who are suspected of making bomb threats to at least 14 historically black college and universities across the country. all of the persons of interest are said to be juveniles. some of these schools like howard university, where vice president kamala harris is an alumni, received bomb threats monday, tuesday, and early on january 5th. in one of the cases a caller threatened to blow up historically black university here in florida, described an elaborate plot involving seven bombs hidden in backpacks around the school perimeter and a gunman who would open fire on the campus around lunchtime.
2:31 pm
the caller also claimed to be affiliated with a neo-nazi group, according to local police. what do you make of this, and how do we make it stop? >> first of all, we must acknowledge the bravery of the students and faculty and administrators of hbcus who have long been the targets of vitriol and hate and discrimination but who continue to stand if you remember will i and courageously embracing the wonderful institutions that are in the name of black excellence and in the name of black opportunity. hbcus have been under attack. they date back to 1837, the very first historically black college out of p.a. as i said, they have been under attack before, but what we're seeing now is a result of a climate of black hatred that has
2:32 pm
been incited by the political climate and requires a very direct, very uncompromising response by law enforcement and by every elected official and anyone who has a leadership position to denounce this cyberterrorism, these hate crimes, and these deliberate acts to disrupt the educational opportunities and disrupt the peace and tranquility that these students deserve, especially during these trying times as they seek an education at a historically black college and university. and i must say, these universities -- because these educational opportunities aren't often open equally to black students, but also because black students want to be in these nurturing, supportive, rigorous educational environments and we need to protect them at all costs. >> now, we're all heard about the case in tennessee where
2:33 pm
memphis activist pamela moses was sentenced to six years and one day in prison this week. in prison. for attempting to vote after she was told she could following her felony convictions. however, while a comprehensive voting rights bill is stuck in the senate, in a positive note, the number of states automatically restoring voting rights for former felons has increased by 50% since after the 2018 election. and so now in 21 states, people convicted of fell nis automatically rebegin the right to vote after incarceration. is that a good sign? >> it's a very good sign, but it's just too slow in coming to fruition. these are some of the most an act ro nisic laws we see, period, full stop. laws that strip the right to
2:34 pm
vote from people simply because they have a criminal conviction have no place in a democracy. what we know is happening across the country is states are quickly coming to that realization. over time we have been fighting for this for decades. seems to be taking off now. there's a greater recognition that so many americans are disenfranchised because of these laws. 5.2 million, 1 in 44 adults. when it comes to black people, 1 in 16 cannot vote because of these laws. it's time they change, and the voting legislation at the federal level was an effort to change that for federal elections and we hope that will ultimately come to pass. in the meantime, we need states to act for swiftly and aggressively to make that so. >> now, in a matter of weeks you'll take over the helm as the number one person in the naacp legal defense fund, historic
2:35 pm
organization that has done so much, and you certainly more than qualify, succeeding one of the greatest freedom fighter i've known in the legal world, cherylyn eiffel. you heard our interview with the parents of amir locke who tragically died at the hands of police in minneapolis. your reaction to yet another police shooting of a black man? >> first i want to extend my deep interest most insear condolences to ms. wells and mr. locke for the loss of their son amir. i can only imagine the devastation they're experiencing and i want them to know on behalf of the staff of the legal defense fund that we are deeply sorry for your loss. i also am very sorry for the entire minneapolis community that has now had to witness the tragic killing of yet a third high pro file killing just in the past 24 months. we're talk gt about george floyd, daunte wright, now amir
2:36 pm
locke, and this is with a police department that is currently under federal investigation from the department of justice. you'll recall that last april, attorney general merrick garland announced a pattern of practice investigation to look into excessive uses of force by the minneapolis police department. we need to understand where this case sits within that investigation, the status of that investigation to ensure that this is moving as swiftly as possible to get this particular police department under scrutiny and to have changes and reforms implemented so that we do not witness yet another tragedy. but at the same time, we have to reimagine this entire concept of the public safety in this country women saw that minneapolis voters wanted to do that last year when they put in place a referendum to switch some of the obligations that currently reside with police to the department of public safety. that was a very bold move.
2:37 pm
it didn't pass at that time. but it shows that 44% of the minneapolis residents supported that idea. i imagine more people are going to want the revisit how we can rethink public safety in light of this recently alarming and tranlic killing. >> let me congratulate you on taking over the helm of the naacp legal defense fund, and a lot of strong women, black women in our civil rights community, like ebony rally of national action network and others say you're more than able. they don't have to tell me. i have been in the room with you for a few years. you can handle it. thank you, janai nelson. now i want to bring in alicia brooks. she's chief of staff and culture for the southern poverty law center. ms. brooks, i want to start with
2:38 pm
a topic that keeps me up at night. according to your website, we notice as early as 35 years ago, you were reporting your concern that due to recruiting shortages, the military is relaxing bans on extremists that are joining the armed forces. then last year you testified before the u.s. house armed services committee about how the military has long failed the adequately address far right extremism in the ranks. i know the current secretary of defense lloyd austin pledged to combat this exact problem. how would you advise him to proceed in doing so? >> thank you for having me, reverend al. the southern poverty law center and i personally have been excited about secretary of defense austin, who you'll recall, called for a 60-day standdown across all military
2:39 pm
branches to look at this issue of extremism in the military. they have since also convened a countering extremism activity working group, and they released their report in december and were very encouraged by it, but it falls a bit short. there's so much to do. as you know, over 80 individuals of the 700 that have been arrested for the january 6th insurrection -- over 80 of those individuals had some connection to the military. we need to military to take this seriously. we need the military to address the fact that at every stage of a service member's career in the military, they are being sought out by these extremist groups, and in particular, veterans. so, we know that. as you mentioned the southern poverty law center has been talking about this since 1986. it hasn't changed. we know neo-nazi groups like the
2:40 pm
group that is now associated with the bombings at hbcus, these violent association is affiliated -- has folks that are affiliated with the military. >> i want to ask you about that, about the bomb threats that were made to more than a dozen historically black colleges and universities in the last month. one of the young offenders admitted his connection to the add. wafen organization, that the southern poverty law center designated as a hate group and that you have been tracking for nearly half a decade. you say this group is particularly dangerous because its followers tend to trend younger. they share an apocalyptic ideology and fetishize violence. what do you want law enforcement
2:41 pm
to do about this? >> the southern poverty law center wants law enforcement to recognize that this is a very violent extremist group, and we need to maneuver away from the narrative these are just some young tech savvy minor who is made these threats on hbcus. we have to take this seriously. they're particularly violent. they have been responsible for five murders since 2017. they don't play, and law enforcement needs not to play with this either. it's particularly kind of -- it's important we pay attention to the fact that they are young, because developmentally, they don't think things through. and we need to remember that these neo-nazi groups, these white national groups are vying for chaos, pushing us towards a civil war, and we need to take this seriously. >> now, before we run out of time, your center just released a third report tracking
2:42 pm
confederate memorials and their removals across the u.s. give us the headline, please. >> oh, reverend al, thanks for asking about that. we're so excited about this. this is one of the things i can point to as a victory for the moment, the movement to remove memorials began gaining ground after the public murder of mr. floyd. it started in 2015 of course after the massacre in charleston. it got some more attention after the unite the right rally in charlottesville in 2017. but this year, our third edition is reporting that a continued number, over 200 removeles have taken place. the southern poverty law center does note there are over 2,000 icons in the public space, but this movement has taken hold and is not turning back. we are determined to remove these symbols of confederacy,
2:43 pm
these symbols of white supremacy. >> thank you for being with us. coming up, representation matters. my next guest shows and proves that. how she and other black women -- >> thank you, take care. >> -- in media are working to expand their reach. that's next. o expand their reach that's next. we discover exciting new technologies. redefine who we are and how we want to lead our lives. basically, choose what we want our future to look like. so what's yours going to be? i'm those fries you've been craving. i'm hot. i'm steamy. and oh man, do i smell delicious.
2:44 pm
i'm calling your name. doug... doug. and if you don't have the right auto insurance coverage, paying for these repairs may be tough to swallow. get allstate and be better protected from mayhem for a whole lot less. psoriasis really messes with you. try. hope. fail. i felt defeated. the pain, the stares. no one should suffer like that. i said, enough. i started cosentyx®. five years clear. four years clear. five years and counting. cosentyx works fast. for clear skin that can last. real people with psoriasis look and feel better with cosentyx. don't use if you're allergic to cosentyx. before starting, get checked for tuberculosis. an increased risk of infections some serious, and a lowered ability to fight them may occur. tell your doctor about an infection or symptoms, or if you've had a vaccine or plan to. tell your doctor if your crohn's disease symptoms develop or worsen.
2:45 pm
serious allergic reactions may occur. best move i ever made. i feel so much better. see me. ask your dermatologist about cosentyx. - [female narrator] five billion people lack access to safe surgery. ask your dermatologist thousands of children are suffering and dying from treatable causes. for 40 years, mercy ships has deployed floating hospitals to provide the free surgeries these children need. join us. together, we can give children the hope and healing they never thought possible.
2:46 pm
it's a mission powered by love, made possible by you. give today. among my patients, i often see them have teeth sensitivity as well as gum issues. does it worry me? absolutely. sensodyne sensitivity & gum gives us the dual action effect that really takes care of both our teeth sensitivity as well as our gum issues. there's no question it's something that i would recommend.
2:47 pm
welcome back. historically, black women have often been overlooked for their innovation and leadership. and as we say often on this show, representation matters, especially in the media we consume. my next guest is someone who has dedicated her career to making sure women of color are recognized for their impact in the media industry and celebrated for their exceptional work. joining me now is lauren wesley wilson, ceo and founder of color con, an organization dedicated to building a network of women in of color in communications. let me go right to it. for this black history month, you're celebrating 28 black women for 28 days who are taking sprieds in the communications world. tell us more about the goal of this campaign and about the importance of celebrating these
2:48 pm
women's successes. >> thank you so much for having me, reverend sharpton. it's so important to highlight to exhort extraordinary stories and accomplishments they have made over the last year. we focus on women who some are the first the hold their position that year who have made great strides in history. so often we talk about the barriers to advancement. we focus on the bleak statistics about women of color, but we wanted to highlight the positive impact and share the positive story of women already there. that's what this is about and what black history month is, sharing the positive impact of these women, because if you can't see it, you can't be it. i know these women are inspiring so many in their careers. >> we had you on last year about this. i think it's so important, because they do not get the credit they deserve. when i look at your list, i know many of them, my colleague, my
2:49 pm
little sister tiffany cross, and rachel nordlinger who's great at what she does, worked with us, and many of the cases we heard she was the media one behind it. the irreplaceable corporate queen, tonya lombard. i could look at this list, even though i had no input on what you decided and say, yeah, she's got the "a" list. we have seen companies increase their diverse and inclusion, however, many newsrooms and pr firms are still predominantly white. >> they are. >> in your perspective, can the media industry effectively ensure adequate representation? >> well, it's not -- you can't just talk about it, right? you need to put a plan and an action behind it, and then you need to set some realistic goals
2:50 pm
to see if you can be there and achieve that. the reason this solicit so important is whether we know these women or not, they're impact by the work they do on a daily basis, because they are in industries we are consumers for, and they are setting the message, setting the agenda of why we like products and brands. and that's why it's important to showcase these women's stories and i think companies who are serious can take a lack at this list as an example and say there are no more excuses, there are black women in communications in marketing. who are making great changes. we need to follow these companies example. promote internally. especially if you are doing great work. and we need to make a conscious effort behind it that's sustainable. access and power to report to the ceo that gives you budget. and real decision making power. sometimes companies just appoint somebody as a face because they're feeling pressure. from stake holders and consumers. we need companies to say look,
2:51 pm
not just a face. you have power. reporting to the ceo. you are the executive meetings. you are represented on the board. and that's what color come does. we focus on advancing women of color all yearlong. through our membership based community net work. we're an organization we have monthly programming, mentor ship, give back opportunities. and a real community that says we are here with you at every stage of your career. from ages 22 to 65. there's something for everyone to learn to grow, to answer. and get the resources, tools and skills you need to success. >> these are not just token appointments or token positions. when i look at the president of the msnbc. on the list. >> she was on last years list. >> she's a graduate of hbcu. she'll probably reprimand me for mentioning her on the show. examples of what black women can do. not as a token gesture, but if
2:52 pm
they're given the opportunity to perform, they can perform. and over perform in many ways. black women success sell prated year round. not just in february. >> not just in february. and i'm graduate of hbcu. i went to spellman. i have to shout out. these are women that have been working hard their whole careers. and we should just take note. and these are ways in which we can learn and succeed and advance by sharing stories. not just now but all yearlong. >> and these women that help to shape a lot of what the american public see, they know the difference between what is real and what is not. and they have done it in a professional way. and they have proven if they can break the glass ceiling, they can perform and bring others through. and i think that's why this list is so important. why we had you last year and we wanted you back this year.
2:53 pm
>> thank you so much for welcoming me back. and in this day and age they are setting -- examples for the next generation of leaders to follow. so i think we will see with time more black women entering a spaces and becoming the first and only in different person. to lead the charge in that executive role at the big consumer brands. i can't wait to see what happens next. >> all right. lauren westerly wilson. thank you. up next my final thoughts. stay with us. up next my final thoughts. up next my final thoughts. stay with us ♪takes everything you've got♪ ♪ ♪taking a break from all your worries ♪ ♪sure would help a lot ♪ ♪woult you like to get away? ♪ ♪ ♪ sometimes you want to go ♪ ♪where everybody knows your name ♪ ♪ ♪and they're always glad you came ♪
2:54 pm
why hide your skin if dupixent has your moderate-to-severe eczema or atopic dermatitis under control? hide my skin? not me. by hitting eczema where it counts, dupixent helps heal your skin from within keeping you one step ahead of eczema. hide my skin? not me. and that means long-lasting clearer skin... and fast itch relief for adults. with dupixent, you can show more skin with less eczema. hide my skin? not me. don't use if you're allergic to dupixent. serious allergic reactions can occur that can be severe. tell your doctor about new or worsening eye problems such as eye pain or vision changes, including blurred vision, joint aches and pain, or a parasitic infection. don't change or stop asthma medicines without talking to your doctor. when you help heal your skin from within, you can change how your skin looks and feels. and that's the kind of change you notice. talk to your eczema specialist about dupixent,
2:55 pm
a breakthrough eczema treatment. what are you recommending for muscle pain? based on clinical data, i recommend salonpas. agreed... my patients like these patches because they work for up to 12 hours, even on moderate pain. salonpas. it's good medicine [♪♪] if you have diabetes, it's important to have confidence in the nutritional drink you choose. try boost glucose control®. it's clinically shown to help manage blood sugar levels and contains high quality protein to help manage hunger and support muscle health. try boost® today. (vo) t-mobile for business wants to make this the best year for your business yet. when you switch and bring your own device, we'll pay off your phone up to $800. you can keep your phone. and keep your number. visit your local t-mobile store today.
2:56 pm
alright. y'all know when they say your home you can keep your phone. and keis a reflection of you? well helene found herself in a lamp. no joke. i got a fancy grown up lamp to make me feel like a fancy grown up. mhm. adulting ain't easy. ooh! check this one out. waffles loves her dog bed. we can hardly get her out of it. she's kind of a diva. yes, waffles! living your best life. [woof] i'm telling y'all there's no place like wayfair to make your home totally you. ooh! i want that.
2:57 pm
i'm in miami tonight to give words at the banquet for the trayvon martin foundation. ten years ago this month, he was killed. in florida. and he would have been 27 years old on yesterday. his parents were on the show
2:58 pm
last night. in the gathering tonight, others families that understand better than any of us the pain that they endure. and the pain that motivates the parents to keep going. and keep struggling for justice. they did not stop after it was their son. after the headlines. they're not trying to get attention. they're trying to get justice. the mother of eric gardener is here. the mother of the louisville, kentucky. breonna taylor. the father of jacob blake is here. and many many other families. because we can never replace their child. but we can give justice in the name of their child. just these last few months we saw mothers and fathers standing in courtrooms in georgia. and in brooklyn center,
2:59 pm
minnesota. and we see now as we prepare the federal charges against the officers that did george floyd. and we saw the conviction of derek chauvin. these are not things families ask for. they didn't join activism like i it at a young age. they became the victims. we must not stop until we not only change procedures but change the law. there must be equal protection under the law. and we can never let this country forget trayvon martins, george floyds. we must fight until we make it equal for everyone. and now as we deal tragedy in m. it reminds us we have work to do. and work we will do. that does it for me.
3:00 pm
thanks for watching. alicia menendez picks up our news coverage. now. >> thank you so much. and thank you for the powerful reminder. hello, everyone. i'm alicia menendez. first up this hour. fury. hundreds of protesters braving brutally cold temperatures and chanting the name of another black man shot to death by police in minnesota. not george floyd. this man's name amayor lock. remember it. aamir locke. he was sleeping on his couch in his cousins's apartment. police executed a no knock warrant in a homicide investigation. in which he was not named. what you are about to see is disturbing. >> the swat team quietly unlocked the door. and entered the room. shouting. they say amir locke who has been