>> Stephen: HEY.
THANK YOU.
YOU'RE VERY NICE.
>> I AM.
>> Stephen: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WELCOME TO A "LATE SHOW."
I'M YOUR HOST STEPHEN COLBERT.
WELL, WE'RE BACK AFTER TEN DAYS OFF, AND I NEVER IMAGINED THAT,
AFTER TEN DAYS, A GLOBAL PANDEMIC WOULD NOT BE THE LEAD
STORY.
REMEMBER WHEN WE WERE ALL AFRAID OF OUR GROCERIES?
I MISS THOSE DAYS.
NO, THE STORY THAT HAS PUSHED 100,000 COVID DEATHS BELOW THE
FOLD IS AMERICA'S PREEXISTING CONDITION: RACISM.
PROTESTS AGAINST POLICE TARGETING BLACK PEOPLE HAVE
BROKEN OUT IN DOZENS OF CITIES.
SO APRIL WAS GLOBAL PANDEMIC, MAY IS MASS CIVIL UNREST, I
ASSUME JUNE IS PLAGUE OF LOCUSTS, AND THEN IN JULY,
PLEATED PANTS ARE COMING BACK.
IT'S NOT JUST THE U.S. CITIZENS PROTESTING RACISM IN THE UNITED
STATES.
PROTESTERS GATHERED IN LONDON, TORONTO, EVEN BERLIN.
YOU KNOW IT'S BAD WHEN GERMANY THINKS YOUR COUNTRY'S RACIST.
THAT'S LIKE JAMAICA TELLING YOU TO PUT DOWN THE BONG.
THESE PROTESTS WERE SPARKED LAST MONDAY BY THE EXTRAJUDICIAL
EXECUTION OF A MAN NAMED GEORGE FLOYD FACE DOWN IN A STREET IN
MINNEAPOLIS.
FLOYD DIED AFTER A POLICE OFFICER KNELT ON HIS NECK FOR
NEARLY NINE MINUTES.
NOW, IN CIVILIZED COUNTRIES, THAT'S CALLED MURDER.
THE CULPRIT IS MINNEAPOLIS POLICE OFFICER AND COP WHO'S SO
DIRTY EVEN HIS BADGE IS CROOKED, DEREK CHAUVIN.
ADDING TO THE OUTRAGE IS THAT IT TOOK FOUR DAYS TO ARREST THE
OFFICER.
EVEN THOUGH THERE'S VIDEO OF HIM DOING IT!
IT WOULD BE THE SHORTEST EPISODE OF "LAW AND ORDER" EVER:
>> IN THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM THE PEOPLE ARE
REPRESENTED BY TWO SEPARATE BUT EQUALLY IMPORTANT GROUPS: THE
POLICE WHO INVESTIGATE CRIME AND THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS WHO
PROSECUTE THE OFFENDERS.
WHO IN THIS CASE ARE THE POLICE BECAUSE C'MON, WE ALL SAW THE
VIDEO!
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
THAT'S IT.
I'M GOING TO THE PROTEST.
DO THE DUN DUN.
(DUN DUN) >> STEPHEN: EVEN AFTER CHAUVIN
WAS ARRESTED, HE WAS CHARGED WITH THIRD-DEGREE MURDER.
THAT'S A PRETTY LIGHT CHARGE.
IT'S LIKE PROSECUTING JEFFREY DAHMER FOR A BAD CASE OF THE
MUNCHIES.
"WE FIND THE DEFENDANT HANGRY."
PLUS, THE OTHER THREE OFFICERS INVOLVED HAVE NOT BEEN CHARGED
WITH A CRIME.
SO IF YOU'RE WONDERING WHY PEOPLE ARE SO UPSET, IT'S
BECAUSE THIS IS SO UPSETTING.
ALSO, IT'S NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT.
ON THE VERY SAME DAY THAT FLOYD WAS KILLED, THERE WAS ANOTHER
VIRAL VIDEO OF A WHITE WOMAN NAMED AMY COOPER, WHO WAS
CONFRONTED BY A BLACK BIRDWATCHER WHO ASKED HER TO PUT
HER DOG ON A LEASH IN CENTRAL PARK, SO SHE RESPONDED BY DOING
THIS: >> I'M TAKING A PICTURE AND
CALLING THE COPS.
>> PLEASE CALL THE COPS.
PLEASE CALL THE COPS.
>> I'M GOING TO TELL THEM THERE'S AN AFRICAN AMERICAN
MAN THREATENING MY LIFE.
THERE IS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN MAN.
I AM IN CENTRAL PARK.
HE IS RECORDING ME AND THREATENING MYSELF AND MY DOG.
(DOG YELPS) I'M SORRY I CAN'T HEAR.
I'M BEING THREATENED BY A MAN-- PLEASE SEND THE COPS
IMMEDIATELY!
>> STEPHEN: SHE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT SHE'S DOING AND WHY THAT
MAN SHOULD BE AFRAID OF THE POLICE.
A BRILLIANT PERFORMANCE.
SHE SHOULD WIN THE WHITE LADY OSCAR.
ALSO KNOWN AS THE OSCAR.
FLOYD'S DEATH COMES ON THE HEELS OF BREONNA TAYLOR, AND AHMAUD
ARBERY, AND ALSO HAS AN EERIE SIMILARITY TO ERIC GARNER IN
2014.
IN THAT SAME YEAR, THERE WAS THE CASE OF MICHAEL BROWN IN
FERGUSON.
TAMIR RICE IN CLEVELAND.
ALL THOSE, ECHO EMMETT TILL AND THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, WHICH
HAPPENED IN THE CONTEXT OF JIM CROW; WHICH WAS A SOFT RELAUNCH
OF SLAVERY.
SO YOU REALLY GOT TO GO BACK TO THE TRIANGLE TRADE, WHICH STEMS
FROM MAN'S INHUMANITY TO MAN AND OUR ESSENTIAL FALLEN NATURE.
SO, MAYBE START WITH THE GARDEN OF EDEN.
ACTUALLY, IN THE BEGINNING, THERE WAS A SINGLE POINT OF ALL
MATTER AND ENERGY UNDER TREMENDOUS PRESSURE, BUT YOU
KNOW THERE'S ALWAYS A FEW "BAD ATOMS," AND THE WHOLE THING
EXPLODED.
NOW, IN TIMES LIKE THESE, WE NEED EMPATHETIC AND MORAL
LEADERSHIP.
UNFORTUNATELY, WE HAVE DONALD TRUMP.
NORMALLY, DURING NATIONAL UNREST, PRESIDENTS STEP UP AND
ADDRESS THE NATION'S PAIN.
FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF MICHAEL BROWN, PRESIDENT OBAMA MET WITH
ACTIVISTS IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
PRESIDENT CLINTON COMFORTED THE NATION WITH A MOVING ADDRESS
AFTER THE OKLAHOMA CITY BOMBING, EVEN RICHARD NIXON, IN 1970,
MADE A SURPRISE TRIP WHERE HE SPOKE TO STUDENTS PROTESTING THE
VIETNAM WAR.
WHO CAN FORGET HIS STIRRING WORDS:
>> WE'VE GOT TO COME TOGETHER AND DEFEAT OUR COMMON ENEMY: THE
JEWS I WROTE DOWN ON THIS LIST.
>> STEPHEN: TRUMP CAN'T EVEN MATCH THE COURAGE OF A NIXON.
BECAUSE AS THE PROTESTS RAGED ON, TRUMP'S ADVISERS DISCUSSED
THE PROSPECT OF AN OVAL OFFICE ADDRESS IN AN ATTEMPT TO EASE
TENSIONS, BUT THE IDEA WAS QUICKLY SCRAPPED FOR LACK OF
POLICY PROPOSALS AND THE PRESIDENT'S OWN SEEMING
DISINTEREST IN DELIVERING A MESSAGE OF UNITY.
(AS WHITE HOUSE AIDE) "OKAY, MR. PRESIDENT, WE WERE
THINKING A SHORT, POWERFUL SPEECH FROM THE RESOLUTE DESK
WHERE YOU CALL FOR RACIAL HEALING -- AND WHAT'S THAT, SIR?
YOU WANT TO ACT IT OUT WITH A BOX OF AUNT JEMIMA?
YOU KNOW WHAT, LET'S JUST SCRAP THIS."
TODAY, TRUMP GOT ON A CALL WITH THE NATION'S GOVERNORS TO
DISCUSS THE ONGOING PROTESTS, AND HE READ STRAIGHT FROM THE
AUTHORITARIAN PLAYBOOK: >> YOU HAVE TO DOMINATE.
IF YOU DON'T DOMINATE, YOU'RE WASTING YOUR TIME.
THEY'RE GOING TO RUN OVER YOU.
YOU'RE GOING TO LOOK LIKE A BUNCH OF JERKS.
>> STEPHEN: WISE AND COMFORTING WORDS.
IT REMINDS ME OF WHAT MR. ROGERS SAID ABOUT TIMES OF TRAGEDY:
"LOOK FOR THE DOMINATORS."
(AS MR. ROGERS) "OH, YOU WILL BE MY NEIGHBOR,
YOU JERK."
THAT WAS WILL ROGERS DOMINATING SOMEONE.
THEN TRUMP SAID SOMETHING REALLY SCARY --
>> YOU'VE GOT TO ARREST PEOPLE, YOU HAVE TO TRACK PEOPLE, YOU
HAVE TO PUT THEM IN JAIL FOR TEN YEARS AND YOU'LL NEVER SEE THIS
STUFF AGAIN.
>> STEPHEN: SO PEOPLE ARE UPSET ABOUT SYSTEMIC RACISM AND A
SOCIETY THAT OVER-POLICES AND IMPRISONS BLACK PEOPLE, AND
TRUMPS SOLUTION IS TO DO MORE OF THAT.
YOU KNOW WHAT THEY SAY, "THOSE WHO DON'T LEARN FROM HISTORY ARE
DONALD TRUMP."
SO DONALD TRUMP IS THE BIG TOUGH GUY GONNA DOMINATE THE
OPPOSITION.
PEW!
NATURALLY, ON FRIDAY, AS PROTESTS RAGED NEARBY, TRUMP
TOOK SHELTER IN THE WHITE HOUSE BUNKER.
WELL, IF HISTORY HAS TAUGHT US ANYTHING IT'S THAT THINGS ALWAYS
WORK WELL FOR STRONGMEN WHO RETREAT TO UNDERGROUND BUNKERS.
MR. PRESIDENT, THIS IS YOUR MOMENT!
YOU'RE ALWAYS CALLING TO BEAT UP PROTESTORS AT YOUR RALLIES!
YOU COULD SHUT THIS WHOLE THING DOWN!
JUST POP A COUPLE HYDROXIES AND COME OUT OF THE WHITE HOUSE
SWINGING A FIVE IRON WITH A CONFEDERATE FLAG TAPED TO IT.
INSTEAD, HE TWEETED, "GREAT JOB LAST NIGHT AT THE WHITE HOUSE BY
THE U.S. SECRET SERVICE.
THEY WERE NOT ONLY TOTALLY PROFESSIONAL, BUT VERY COOL.
I WAS INSIDE, WATCHED EVERY MOVE, AND COULDN'T HAVE FELT
MORE SAFE," ADDING, "NOBODY CAME CLOSE TO BREACHING THE FENCE.
IF THEY HAD, THEY WOULD -- DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT DOT --
BEEN GREETED WITH THE MOST VICIOUS
DOGS, AND MOST OMINOUS WEAPONS, I HAVE EVER SEEN.
THAT'S WHEN PEOPLE WOULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BADLY HURT, AT
LEAST.
MANY SECRET SERVICE AGENTS JUST WAITING FOR ACTION.
'WE PUT THE YOUNG ONES ON THE FRONT LINE, SIR, THEY LOVE IT.'"
I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY'RE NOT LETTING HIM GIVE THAT REASSURING
SPEECH FROM THE OVAL OFFICE: (AS TRUMP)
"MY FELLOW AMERICANS: LET ME SEND A CLEAR MESSAGE TO THE
PEOPLE PROTESTING POLICE BRUTALITY: LAW ENFORCEMENT IS
JUST A BUNCH OF COOL GUYS WHO CAN'T WAIT FOR THINGS TO GET
MESSY.
THEY SEE YOU AS TARGET PRACTICE AND I WOULD TRULY ENJOY WATCHING
YOU GET EATEN BY VICIOUS DOGS.
NOW LET'S ALL COME TOGETHER IN PEACE."
S COME BUY GUNS, MY LORD COME BUY GUNS S
THE PROTESTS AT THE WHITE HOUSE WERE SPECIFICALLY IN RESPONSE TO
THIS TWEET: "THESE THUGS ARE DISHONORING THE
MEMORY OF GEORGE FLOYD, AND I WON'T LET THAT HAPPEN.
JUST SPOKE TO GOVERNOR TIM WALZ AND TOLD HIM THAT THE MILITARY
IS WITH HIM ALL THE WAY.
ANY DIFFICULTY AND WE WILL ASSUME CONTROL BUT, WHEN THE
LOOTING STARTS, THE SHOOTING STARTS.
THANK YOU!" KIND OF AN UNNERVING WAY TO END
A THREAT.
IT'S LIKE THAT SCENE IN "TAKEN" >> I WILL LOOK FOR YOU, I WILL
FIND YOU, AND I WILL KILL YOU.
THANK YOU, STAY SAFE EVERYONE!
>> STEPHEN: TRUMP ALSO HAD SOME MORE-SUCCINCT THOUGHTS,
TWEETING, "SO TERRIBLE!
WHERE ARE THE ARRESTS AND LONG TERM JAIL SENTENCES?"
WE TRIED, SIR, BUT SUSAN COLLINS VOTED TO ACQUIT YOU.
BUT WHILE TRUMP IS HIDING, IT'S GOOD TO SEE AVERAGE CITIZENS
STEPPING UP AND FILLING IN THE VOID.
YESTERDAY IN QUEENS, POLICE KNELT WITH PROTESTERS, WHILE IN
FLINT, MICHIGAN, THE SHERIFF JOINED THE MARCH.
IN BROOKLYN, PROTESTERS PROTECTED A TARGET FROM LOOTERS.
IN KENTUCKY, THIS GROUP OF WHITE WOMEN FORMED A LINE TO PROTECT
BLACK PROTESTERS FROM POLICE, IN LOUISVILLE, PROTESTERS FORMED A
HUMAN BARRIER TO PROTECT A COP WHO GOT SEPARATED FROM HIS
UNIT.
AND IN MINNEAPOLIS, A GROUP OF MENNONITES SHOWED UP TO SUPPORT
THE PROTEST.
MENNONITES THINK AMERICA'S TOO RACIST, AND THEY LIVE IN 1840!
WE MAKE A LOT OF JOKES ABOUT DONALD TRUMP BECAUSE HE IS A
DULL AND DARK CORRUPTING FORCE THAT IS UNDERMINING AMERICA'
MORAL LEADERSHIP AROUND THE WORLD AND SEWING HATRED AND FEAR
AMONG HIS OWN CITIZENS.
SO THAT'S FUN.
AND DURING THIS COVID CRISIS, THE PRESIDENT ABDICATED HIS
RESPONSIBILITY OF LEADING THE PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND THE NEED TO
DO THE RIGHT THING AND YET LARGELY PEOPLE DID THE RIGHT
THING FOR HIMSELF AND EACH OTHER.
MY HOPE IS THAT AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL DO THE SAME THING NOW.
BECAUSE THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE TO.
MY HOPE IS THE AMERICAN PEOPLE WILL DO THE SAME THING NOW.
THEY HAVE TO.
FOR TOO LONG, THOSE OF US WITH OPPORTUNITY AND PRIVILEGE HAVE
FAILED IN OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LOOK AT THE TRUTH SQUARELY
AND NAME THE SYSTEM OF RACIAL OPPRESSION THAT ARTIFICIALLY
DIVIDES US AND BENEFITS THOSE ALREADY IN POSITIONS OF RELATIVE
POWER.
IT'S PERFECTLY UNDERSTANDABL NOT TO WANT TO DO THIS.
IT'S HUMAN.
NO ONE WANTS TO LOSE PRIVILEGES OR POSITION, ESPECIALLY WHEN
FEAR OF THAT LOSS IS STOKED BY OUR POLITICAL LEADERS FOR THEIR
OWN SUPPOSED ADVANTAGE.
AND I SAY "SUPPOSED ADVANTAGE" BECAUSE, IF YOU DENY THE HUMAN
RIGHTS AND DIGNITY OF ANY PEOPLE, YOU WILL ULTIMATELY
DESTROY YOUR SOCIETY AND CIVILIZATION THAT YOU CLAIM TO
PROTECT.
58 YEARS AGO, JOHN KENNEDY SAID, "THOSE WHO MAKE PEACEFUL
REVOLUTION IMPOSSIBLE WILL MAKE VIOLENT REVOLUTION INEVITABLE."
NOT ONLY IS ADDRESSING SYSTEMIC RACIAL AND ECONOMIC INJUSTICE
THE RIGHT THING TO DO, IT'S THE SAFEST, MOST CONSERVATIVE, MOST
SELF-SERVING THING TO DO.
CONTENTS UNDER PRESSURE WILL EVENTUALLY EXPLODE.
THAT IS NOT A THREAT, THAT'S A LAW OF NATURE.
IT IS TIME TO ASK OURSELVES, AS IT'S ALWAYS THE TIME TO ASK
OURSELVES, WHAT KIND OF NATION DO WE WANT TO LIVE IN?
THAT REQUIRES MORAL LEADERSHIP.
SO TAKE IT UPON YOURSELF TO BE A LEADER AND SET AN EXAMPLE OF THE
KIND OF COUNTRY YOU WANT TO LIVE IN.
THAT MIGHT MEAN GOING TO A PROTEST OR MAKING A DONATION OR
HAVING A TENSE CONVERSATION ABOUT RACE.
BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET THAT FROM THE WHITE HOUSE, WE
NEED TO STEP UP AND PROVIDE IT OURSELVES.
AMERICA IS NOW B-Y-O-P: BE YOUR OWN PRESIDENT.
WE'VE GOT A SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.
I'LL BE TALKING TO KILLER MIKE AND CHRIS HAYES.
YOU MAY HAVE SEEN KILLER MIKE'S POWERFUL SPEECH HE MADE IN
ATLANTA FRIDAY AND ALSO NBC'S CHRIS HAYES.
FIRST, WE'LL TALK WITH OUR FRIEND JON BATISTE.
STICK AROUND.