Escaped Prisoner Richard Matt Is Dead; Re-Air of Obama Eulogy of Clementa Pinckney
DON LEMON, CNN HOST: It is 11pm here in Charleston on a day for the history books. This is CNN Tonight, I'm Don Lemon. Our breaking news tonight: manhunt escaped prisoner Richard Matt is dead.</s>LEMON: Now officers are pursuing fugitive David Sweat. We're going to go live to the scene for you. This is on a day that gay Americans are celebrating the Supreme Court ruling making it legal for same sex couples to get married in all 50 states. And on the day that President Barack Obama turned his eulogy for Reverend Clementa Pinckney into a rousing sermon on race and the power of faith.</s>LEMON: We're going to play that in its entirety for you in this broadcast tonight. But I want to begin on our very latest on the breaking news on the manhunt in upstate New York. Let's go right to CNN's Alexandra Field in Malone, New York with the very latest for us on that. So Alex, with David Sweat still on the loose how does nightfall affect this search?</s>ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: They're going to continue to search through the night because they are as close to him as they believe they may have ever been. They believe that he was with Richard Matt at the time that officers closed in on Matt, a tactful unit taking him down. So certainly they would not retreat at this point. In fact you've got 1200 law enforcement officers who are in this county today involved in this search.</s>FIELD: You might be able to see some of the cruisers that are behind me. We have seen nothing but officers rushing in toward Titus Mountain today.</s>FIELD: We've been told by law enforcement sources that they've got a tight perimeter around the area that they're trying to contain David Sweat within it.</s>FIELD: However the governors are saying there have been no definitive sightings, no reported sightings of Sweat tonight. Law enforcement officers did not see him with Matt when they closed in on Matt but again they have every reason to believe that the pair remain together. Here's what they are learning though from the encounter with Matt. They know that Matt had a shotgun, they fired at him when he refused to put his hands up at their command. He did not fire on police officers. But now police are certainly operating under the assumption that they have been operating under almost from the start that when they encounter David Sweat they expect he would be armed as well.</s>LEMON: Tell us about the tips that led investigators to this point Alex.</s>FIELD: This was sort of a confluence of events that brought them into Richard Matt.</s>FIELD: We know that this hunt has lasted three weeks to the day now. Richard Matt killed the day after his 49th birthday. Within the last two days Don on the ground we've seen this search shift into the Malone area and that was because of a burglary at a cabin, that's why police initially came to the area. They found evidence that the men had been here, they concentrated their resources here and then it all came together this afternoon. Shots being fired, a bullet striking a camper that a man was driving. He continued to drive for a few miles, found that a bullet had struck his camper, he phoned police, they backtracked and in that area they fanned out, they did a sweep, that's when they encountered Richard Matt with that shotgun and quickly moved in on him.</s>FIELD: Tonight they're hoping for the same luck finding David Sweat. And not only do they have these units on the ground but they are also keeping a close eye on this from above. We know that infrared cameras and heat sensing technologies are both a key part of this search in the overnight hours, Don.</s>LEMON: Alexandra Field, thank you very much for that.</s>LEMON: I want to turn now to the Supreme Court's landmark decision to legalize same sex marriage across America. Crowds outside the White House just moments ago celebrating that decision and CNN's Rosa Flores live for us in New York City's historic stonewall and the birthplace of the gay rights movement. Hello to you Rosa, people wanted to come out tonight to be you know to that place where the struggle for gay rights began. So tell us what it's like down there.</s>ROSA FLORES, CNN CORRESPONDENT: You know Don I've got to say that the emotion is bouncing off the walls here. There's been a lot of crying, a lot of hugging, a lot of kissing, a lot of celebrating quite frankly. And of course this is not only happening here in New York City but it's happening around the country.</s>FLORES: And I've got to tell you something a little earlier today I was at City Hall and Mayor Bill de Blasio married two couples and I can just tell you that that place was euphoric. There was so much emotion, there was no dry eye there because of the significance. And I actually talked to one of the couples Don and they told me that for them it was so important to get married on this day and in this city because of the significance because this is where the fight began. Now I've got to say that a lot of people do say that they can't forget that the fight is not over (inaudible).</s>FLORES: The fight is definitely not over, they're still fighting for rights when it comes to housing, education, credit, there's a lot of fights that still have to be fought. And then Don one very important thing that they told me is that in their minds and in their hearts they're thinking of their gay friends who didn't live this day. Didn't live today when they learned that it was OK for them to be themselves. And so a very, very important day and of course lots of emotion, lots of people here celebrating. And they actually just opened the street because until a little while ago, until 30 minutes ago, this entire street was packed with people. Don?</s>LEMON: Yes, and you are - that on - you're on Christopher Street, downtown. Listen, put down that microphone Rosa and go and enjoy yourself, it's going to be a great night and a lot of fun. Thank you Rosa Flores and its pride this weekend as well in New York City. Thank you very much Rosa. But back here in Charleston you know mourners gather today to say farewell to Reverend Clementa Pinckney, the pastor of Emanuel AME Church which is right behind me. He was gunned down last week along with eight others. President Barack Obama delivered the Eulogy. It was powerful, it was personal, and it ended with an emotional moment nobody expected. We're going to play the whole thing for you now. Here now, the President of the United States, Barack Obama.</s>BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Giving all praise and honor to God.</s>LEMON: Well the doors of the church are open, right. What do you guys think?</s>SUNNY HOSTIN, SENIOR LEGAL ANALYST AND FORMER FEDERAL PROSECUTOR: I'm still as speechless now as I was in the sanctuary in the church. I mean it was an arena but it became a church for so many of us and I think what makes the most sense for me is I was so shocked at the victim's families response to the shooter of forgiveness and I realize that they hold their faith to deal with the grief. And it just was -- I mean I almost feel like crying again.</s>LEMON: I know. They set the bar really high for the President today, right.</s>BAKARI SELLERS, FORMER SOUTH CAROLINE STATE REPRESENTATIVE: We did.</s>LEMON: To come in here and do that.</s>SELLERS: We did, African Americans throughout this country, those people who wanted to see him give this speech for so long, we set that bar high and not only did he hit that bar he exceeded it. It did my heart so much joy. Actually I had dinner in town and was able to talk to the proprietor of the restaurant who is a staunch Republican. He said I'm not a fan of our President too much, he said ...</s>LEMON: ... too much.</s>SELLERS: But today it made me proud to be an American. And I just thought that spoke so highly of the moment that we were in.</s>LEMON: Yes. I mean you know we talked earlier about being guarded, the President is so guarded. You there was fear you were like oh my God how's this going to be received. So let's not be guarded. This is his church. I thought I was waiting for somebody to shout or run up and down the aisle -- (applause) -- or start speaking in (inaudible). (</s>CROSS-TALK) LEMON: More, right after the break don't go anywhere.</s>LEMON: Back now in Charleston. Joining me know is Van Jones a political contributor, Sunny Hostin, Senior Legal Analyst former Federal Prosecutor, Bakari Sellers, former South Carolina State Representative, and also a friend of the Reverend Clementa Pinckney who was eulogized by the President and honored today. And you're a political contributor now, right.</s>VAN JONES, POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR:: : Am I yes, thank you.</s>LEMON: All right, good. Well welcome abroad.</s>HOSTIN: Welcome, welcome.</s>JONES: A great family to be a part of, thank you.</s>LEMON: I got a text from a friend not long ago, just like an hour ago and he said what a great day to be black and gay Don, how often can you say that?</s>HOSTIN: Not very often.</s>LEMON: Not very often.</s>JONES: One in about (inaudible). (CROSS-TALK)</s>SELLERS: One day.</s>LEMON: It was -- it was a very -- it's been a very -- it's been a busy week but today was unbelievable when it came to rights, civil rights, equal rights, and really for the President.</s>HOSTIN: Equality.</s>LEMON: Equality, go on.</s>HOSTIN: I mean I think it's so important and it can't be underscored enough that we are talking about equality for everyone and communities coming together. I mean how historic is it that the President gave that eulogy which I think is probably his most important speech on race so far of his administration. And the Supreme Court does the right thing to give all people the right to love who they want to love and get married.</s>VAN JONES: And can I say something about that. And this is not a victory for gays and lesbians. They have always wanted everyone to get married. It's heterosexuals who have been standing in the way of us having that. So it's a breakthrough. We get to be out of the oppression business. We get to be out of the holding other people back business.</s>HOSTIN: Absolutely.</s>JONES: It was a breakthrough as - listen, the gay and lesbian community have been clear.</s>LEMON: You're saying we and us, people are going to say is Van trying to tell us something hey, hey, I know you're happily married.</s>SELLERS: But what I want to be very clear about though is heterosexual folks like myself, we have been the problem, people say it's a victory for gays. No it's a victory for everybody especially heterosexuals who can now be out of the oppression business.</s>LEMON: And it's a victory for America.</s>SELLERS: It's a victory for America. Let's look at the week, let's look at how far we've come just through this week. I mean everyone has a right to access to healthcare and quality healthcare that was reaffirmed by our supreme court again so hopefully we'll stop fighting those battles every single day in the United States Congress. The flags are coming down throughout the South. We still have a battle here yet to go in South Carolina. We had this amazing speech today. My brother Clementa was lifted up and praise was given in his name and we were challenged to move forward. So I just think ...</s>SELLERS: And now marriage.</s>UNIDENTFIIED MALE: And now marriage. I mean you look at this week, this is a week where we've all come together literally gay, straight, black, white, tall, short, handsome, otherwise.</s>HOSTIN: I like you.</s>HOSTIN: I like you.</s>LEMON: Welcome to the family, wow, and we're done here. So it was good for you to join us thank you. Sunny is going to stay and (inaudible). Go on, what were you saying?</s>HOSTIN: Well I think the other thing that's important and it was said today that Pastor Pinckney opened up his doors to people that someone ...</s>JONES: He was welcoming right.</s>HOSTIN: He was welcoming someone that he didn't know, someone that he didn't understand and we should now learn from that and open up our minds and open up the doors not only you know.</s>LEMON: And he said remember we should talk to each other and not at each other.</s>HOSTIN: Exactly, exactly and move forward.</s>LEMON: And here's what I want people to know like Van and I go at it like here on television.</s>JONES: Absolutely.</s>LEMON: Sunny and I go at it here on television.</s>HOSTIN: Sometimes, Don.</s>LEMON: You and I will go at it here on television.</s>SELLERS: Looking forward to it.</s>LEMON: But we, I mean we love each other. Sunny and I hang out.</s>HOSTIN: Sure.</s>LEMON: We go - we're kind of the same person (inaudible) woman I'm a man ...</s>HOSTIN: We are.</s>LEMON: ... because you know we like things a certain way. So - but we talk, even though we disagree we can still like each other, we can still talk to each other.</s>JONES: And the good thing about being in a Democracy is we don't have to agree.</s>SELLERS: We're not supposed to.</s>JONES: In a dictatorship you have to agree on everything. In a Democracy you can disagree and yet you can still be as one country and (inaudible)...</s>HOSTIN: But let's hope that people want to speak truth to injustice now.</s>LEMON: Amen.</s>HOSTIN: And people aren't afraid to do that. Everyone knows I'm not afraid to do that.</s>LEMON: Well we know that.</s>SELLERS: Quickly, but we also need to know that this is not the culmination of anything. This is just the beginning, tonight in Jackson, Mississippi in Birmingham, Alabama, in Hampton, kids are going to sleep hungry, women are working two jobs back breaking just to support these people. There's poverty, back breaking generational poverty and we have to do everything we can to move forward.</s>LEMON: I've got to move on. I've got to move on. Thank you so much.</s>SELLERS: Thank you so much.</s>LEMON: I've really enjoyed it, this was an amazing day wasn't it. All right (inaudible) update on you - update you on what's happening in upstate New York where CNN's Alexandra Field is live for us with the very latest on the manhunt. So Alex, Richard Matt has been killed, David Sweat's still on the loose. What do you know about the current search?</s>FIELD: We know that they're sticking with this well into the night now Don. I'm actually seeing behind me a helicopter overhead over Titus Mountain. That's because infrared technology, heat sensing technology is a key part of this search in the overnight hours they're hoping to detect some kind of heat in those deep woods that could lead them to David Sweat.</s>FIELD: We've seen so many units posted around this mountain. Richard Matt shot dead around 3:45 this afternoon. Investigators are saying there is every reason to believe that David Sweat was with him, that the two had been travelling together since breaking out of that prison three weeks ago that they were at a cabin together as recently as yesterday or the day before.</s>FIELD: And in fact when they closed in on Richard Matt, a tactical team taking him down a second set of tracks was discovered. That has led authorities to believe that David Sweat remained close to him till the very end and it's what's led them to establish this very tight perimeter tonight --</s>FIELD: -- in the Titus mountain area in Franklin County where they have very closely focused their search over the last few days. Don, they are hoping to close in and they are preparing for the possibility that David Sweat could be armed just as Richard Matt was.</s>LEMON: Alexandra Field, thank you very much we'll be right back.