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@THISHOUR WITH BERMAN AND MICHAELA

Ravens Fans Defend Ray Rice; Hillary Clinton Speaks at Maya Angelou Memorial; Bill Clinton, Obama Celebrate AmeriCorps at White House

Aired September 12, 2014 - 11:30   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


L.Z. GRANDERSON, CNN COMMENTATOR: Ricky used to slap Lucille Ball on the bottom when she misbehaved. Remember, "I'll punch you to the moon." That's domestic violence and that was part of our comedic bits of two of the most iconic comedies of all time. That should tell you where we are and how far we've come in terms of domestic violence being seen as a serious crime in this country.

I wrote a piece about Chris Brown about five or six years ago talking about how it was difficult for me to listen to his music. More women came after me defending Chris Brown than men. "He made a mistake. Rihanna for gave him, you should too, mind your own business." These are the conversations we hear surrounding Ray Rice, and surround Miles Davis and his legacy and history of domestic violence, with Chris Brown and many, many, many more.

So we need to continue to use this as a springboard to talk about the seriousness of domestic violence and that the World Health Organization said 40 percent of all women who are killed are killed by their intimate lovers, husbands, boyfriends. 40 percent on the globe. That is global issue. It's a society issue. And until we take it seriously, we're not going to have any true progress.

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: Wendy, L.Z., forgiveness is important but we first have to take a look and be honest about what's happening and take responsibility. As a nation we've got to do that.

Thank you so much for joining us. A really important conversation. The two of you have a good weekend.

GRANDERSON: Thank you.

PEREIRA: Folks at home, let us know what you think. I know you're probably talking to your TV right now. Tweet us, send us a message on Facebook. Get in touch.

We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton just finished speaking at a memorial service to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Maya Angelou, the revered writer, poet, actress and civil rights activist who died in May at age 86. The service continues. I want to play you a little bit of what the former secretary of state had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

HILLARY CLINTON, FORMER SECRETARY OF STATE: This is the day that the lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. For so many reasons, but most of all, in this sacred space to celebrate and remember the life of a phenomenal woman. A woman who's --

(APPLAUSE)

HILLARY CLINTON: -- whose words and actions changed lives, transformed the ways people thought about themselves and others. It is especially appropriate that that hymn would be sung today because Maya Angelou cast a bright light everywhere she went. Any of us could talk for longer than we should, but there's a full program with stories and poetry and music, all things that she cherished.

To Guy and Colin and Elliot and other members of the family, to friends one and all, to Reverend Butler and Dr. Forbes, to this marvelous choir, it is such an honor for me to share just a few thoughts with you.

I went back to the scripture because there are so many verses that could be used to describe this remarkable woman. I especially liked the book of Isaiah reminding us that the Lord is our father and we are the clay, he is the potter and we are the work of his hand. Well, God surely outdid himself the day he molded Maya Angelou.

(APPLAUSE)

HILLARY CLINTON: She was --

(APPLAUSE)

HILLARY CLINTON: She was a walking, talking, work of art. Being in a room with her was like being in a room with the Mona Lisa. No matter who else was there -- kings, queens, presidents, movie stars -- all eyes went to her and stayed on her. Elegant, arresting, six feet tall, but somehow she seemed even taller to me.

And that voice? That extraordinary voice that would pour fourth rich, enthralling made her seem even larger than life. She chose her words with care. She spoke with forcefulness. And everything she told us went right to our hearts. Now, it wasn't just her voice or her presence that transfixed you. It was her wisdom, her mind, her soul.

I first heard of her like so many others when I read shortly after its publication "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings." I was so struck by her story and how she conveyed what happened to that little girl. But it also reminded me of my own mother's story. Like Maya, my mother was sent away with her younger sibling when she was just a younger girl, put on a train in Chicago, all by themselves, those two little girls after her very young parents got divorced and couldn't or wouldn't take care of them anymore. So she was she was sent -- like Maya was sent -- to live with her grandmother. Their stories are different. Maya's life defies comparison. (END VIDEO CLIP)

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, that is Secretary of State Hillary Clinton speaking at a memorial service this morning, a little bit earlier from Maya Angelou who passed away in May.

We'll take you shortly to the White House where someone that the former secretary of state knows is speaking. Former President Bill Clinton is speaking at the White House along with President Obama. They are celebrating the 20th anniversary of AmeriCorps, the program launched during Bill Clinton's presidency. Also got some help from George H.W. Bush, George W. Bush, President Obama. The last four presidents all involved with this service program. 20th anniversary today.

We'll take a short break. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: We're about to show you some live pictures from the White House where you see President Obama there holding a ceremony along with a different president, former President Bill Clinton, to commemorate 20 years of the founding of AmeriCorps.

PEREIRA: Yeah. President Bill Clinton was in office when AmeriCorps started. He's speaking now. Why don't we listen in?

BILL CLINTON, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: It's hard to find any program anywhere with those kind of numbers. Unbelievably enough, it may be the impact on people like our other speakers, not the president and me, that is most important. 66 percent of AmeriCorps volunteers, 66 percent chose public service as a career. And virtually three-quarters of them continue to be regular weekly volunteers. What a difference you have made.

I know this is a difficult time. I know all Americans pray for our president and our men and women in uniform and the missions they are now undertaking. But this is no time to be pessimistic about America's future. Look at you. Look at the rainbow of diversity united to advance our common humanity. That is the secret of our future. It is more important than our energy resources. It is more important even than solar and wind resources. It is more important than anything else. It is what is in your heart and your ability to advance the common good.

Until my last day on earth, I will be grateful that I had a chance to start AmeriCorps.

Thank you and God bless you.

(CHEERING)

(APPLAUSE)

PEREIRA: An important statement about volunteerism. I was listening to the numbers we got earlier. 900,000 people spent more than 1.2 billion volunteer hours in AmeriCorps doing work in communities to build a strong environment and a strong world and a strong nation.

BERMAN: You've seen them around the country. It's a wonderful people. A lot of people have gone through that.

PEREIRA: A lot of them in the audience.

BERMAN: We are waiting on President Obama to speak. We'll take a short break and be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: I want to introduce you to this week's "CNN's Hero," Arthur Bloom, who uses his musical talent to help disabled troops.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

(MUSIC)

ARTHUR BLOOM, CNN HERO: Music is my earliest memory. I never decided to be a professional musician. It's just what I've always done.

(MUSIC)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It feels great to play music but it's also a mechanism for healing.

(MUSIC)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're on morning patrol walking down the road. I had never been hit by an IED before. I felt like I was hit by a wrecking ball. I sat up, my legs were completely gone. What happens if it you don't quite get killed and don't quite survive? You're somewhere in the middle. I was a shell of the man. Who I was is gone.

BLOOM: Let's take it right before the melody.

(MUSIC)

BLOOM: Our organization helps wounded warriors play music and recover their lives.

(MUSIC)

BLOOM: We match troops with professional musicians and come visit at Walter Reed Medical Center and work with them on music projects, learning music, writing and performing.

(SINGING)

(END VIDEOTAPE)

PEREIRA: Power of music. Isn't it beautiful? Something else.

If you know someone or an organization that goes above and beyond to help others, nominate them at CNNheroes.com. BERMAN: You know this whole new Apple watch thing?

PEREIRA: Yes.

BERMAN: there's a technical name for it. It's called wearable technology. Is it becoming a new trend? We will show you how technology and fashion are teaming up on the runway.

(CROSSTALK)

BERMAN: It's all week with our "Fashion Backstage Pass," next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

PEREIRA: Imagine this, tweet, charge your phone, or get Facebook notifications from your clothing?

BERMAN: In our "Fashion Week Backstage Pass" finale, high tech goes high fashion.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALISON KOSIK, CNN BUSINESS CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Fashion week is no longer just about the fashion.

(on camera): Can you make the bag say hello to me?

REBECCA MINKOFF, CASE-MATE: Oh, yeah.

RYAN GENZ, CO-FOUNDER, CUTECIRCUIT: Yes.

KOSIK (voice-over): The idea? Take wearable technology from geek to chic.

GENZ: We have an app on the phone that is currently connected with this and you can choose any pattern you want.

MINKOFF: This is notification bracelet. You can set it for certain contacts and it will vibrate if certain people are calling so you know if it's your mom, husband or baby sitter.

You can do your charging.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We designed it to be a communication accessory. In other words, your e-mails and messages and social feeds.

KOSIK (on camera): A few miles from the runway, other designers are showing off what they've got.

(voice-over): Bags, bracelets, even connected rings.

LOGAN MUNRO, CO-FOUNDER, RINGLY: You can customize which notifications you want to come through.

KOSIK: So if I only want my boss to contact me, I can just do that, right? MUNRO: Exactly.

KOSIK: It's vibrating.

(voice-over): 19 million wearable tech pieces will be shipped this year. In four years as expected to surge to nearly 112 million and become a $20 billion industry.

MINKOFF: Our customers can transition between fashion and technology.

GENZ: We started dreaming of the things that they need. It would always run out of charge. We thought, could we incorporate that into a bracelet?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're ready.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Let's go.

KOSIK: But some say this market is young.

RACHEL ARTHUR, SENIOR EDITOR, WGSN: I would say at one point in times of the development of design it's a massive step forward compared to the very clunky developments from the past.

KOSIK (voice-over): Does it still have a way to go?

ARTHUR: I believe so.

KOSIK: Why?

ARTHUR: How do I put this politely? You can see that there is a piece of technology.

KOSIK (voice-over): Another hurdle, will people wear it?

(on camera): This is a solar-powered dress that will actually charge your phone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With the right shoes to go with it and I would just be ready to go.

KOSIK: Would you wear it?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: No.

KOSIK: Why wouldn't you wear it? It charges your phone.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: So will my phone.

(LAUGHTER)

KOSIK (voice-over): Alison Kosik, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: If I could get it in stripes or polka dots. (CROSSTALK)

PEREIRA: You would be quite a figure in that. You could charge every device you own.

I think that wraps it up for us. What do you think?

BERMAN: I think it better.

PEREIRA: It better.

I'm Michaela Pereira. Thanks so much for joining us @THISHOUR. Have a great weekend.

BERMAN: I'm John Berman.

"Legal View" with Ashleigh Banfield starts right now.

ASHLEIGH BANFIELD, CNN ANCHOR: He is on video punching his fiancee in an elevator, and yet, fans, especially women, have no problem wearing his jersey. Why all the love for Ray Rice, you ask? That's coming up.