HOT TOPICS | EXCLUSIVE: Attorney Benjamin Crump Speaks Out On Nolan Wells Case!

Hello, everyone.Welcome to Hot Topics.I'm glad that you're here.Boy, it is, I mean, the heat of summer, and we have a story that obviously happened in the heat of summer.Two of them, well, one of them, as a matter of fact, the other one happened a little bit earlier, but that we must tell you that not a lot of people are covering.So hello, let me know where you're streaming from.

Hit the like and the thumbs up.It is really important because this is an important story.So make sure you please do that because I want as many people to hear it as possible.This story is about a young man, a handsome young man.By the way, before we go into that, there is an update.We have new information and an exclusive.

for the man who is investigating this and also representing the family.I'm talking about 18 -year -old Nolan Wells.He went missing on Horn Island in Mississippi over the 4th of July weekend.It's not getting a lot of coverage, if any, in mainstream media, and so that's why we are here in independent media to bring information for stories that are under -told or not told at all.Okay.And so I'm going to give you the report and then the exclusive with the attorney that you're going to get new information.

If you're not caring about this story, if you haven't heard about this story, you should, because we all know young people and we know what young people are capable of.They don't always act in their own best interest because they're young people.There's also the element of race in this story.He's the only black young man among,sea of white people.There are reports that there was an argument that has not been verified.

Um, and, but people have put it on social media.So I want you to take this story, the link to this show and send it to everybody, you know, because this is what we should be talking about.Okay.Here's the report.And then you're going to hear from the attorney who is famed civil rights attorney, Benjamin Crump report.

We're developing a timeline of events after 18 -year -old Nolan Wells disappeared off the coast of Mississippi.Authorities say Wells traveled to Horn Island with a group of friends to celebrate the Fourth of July.Jackson County Sheriff John Ledbetter says that Wells decided to stay on the island even though his friends left on a boat.He was last seen at 3 PM.The Coast Guard says it got a call to help with a search at 1226 Sunday afternoon.It was an effort that involved multiple agencies lasting until the next morning around 845 AM is when the sheriff says a body was found near the island.

Wells family confirmed it was wells a few hours later.The coroner still needs to officially identify the body and Sheriff Ledbetter says he has a request for the public number one.

give the family space and time.They are still processing this tragic event and all of Nolan's close friends.I'll assure you that the Jackson County Sheriff's Office, we're looking at this whole case just like we would any other case, and we're gonna be as thorough as we can.

Wells played football at Ocean Springs High and Southwest Mississippi Community College.Anyone with information about his disappearance is asked to call the Jackson County Sheriff's Office.

So sad story, that's the report.And again, an important story.Race is involved.There are also reports that the young men, or the young people he was with, some of their families, mostly young men, some of their family members are prominent people in the community.And so, Benjamin Crump, who's representing the family in this case, he wants an independent investigation, is also asking for an independent autopsy.They're moving along on that.

We got that exclusive information and we spoke to Benjamin Crump just moments before we went live with this live stream.

So here it is and then we're back after it and we can analyze.

Famed civil rights attorney Benjamin Crump joins us now.Ben, thank you so much.First of all, the most important thing.important things.

How is are still in disbelief d still have so many questi on monday to have his try a division two college a to be his year.He was ha was doing training and so was very focused on movin program.And so they're j in 48 hours of one of the days of his life, this wo And the reason that's so relevant, Don Lemon, is, you know, there was an alleged argument and people say that was over things about he was being very clear to not have anything to do with anything that might get in his system because heknew he had his big workout coming on Monday.And so that's why they're like just not accepting any of this, Don.They are not accepting that their son just died by coincidence or accident.

Ben, do we know what that argument was?Do we know specifically if it was Nolan and people with him?

Well, you know, we have investigated talking to some of their friends and we're gathering information as we get that information.We will share it because we want to be transparent.We don't want to speculate, but we want to investigate.And that's very critical here.That's why Don Lemon, we are having an independent autopsy done on top of whatever autopsy was done by the state of Mississippi.We're going to have him flown to a medical examiner in Washington, D .

C., where his body will be preserved to do an autopsy to study every aspect of his if he had any physical injuries to his body beyond drowning.

And where are you in that process now?

The body is going to be flown today.We expect to have the results of that independent autopsy on Friday.

Ben, what does the autopsy show?Have they given you any information from the autopsy they did?

What is that showing?They haven't given us any information.Obviously, they are saying it's an investigation going on and, you know, at this point.I believe the sheriff said that they believe that he was left on something.We don't know what the story is, but they're saying it was an unfortunate accident there.They're not.

telling the family anything about whether it was foul play or not and so that's why the family is so desperate for answers because they're saying we don't want you to just wrap this investigation and say oh well it was just an accident and sweep it under the rug.

Are they saying anything?Are they declaring it a homicide?Are they declaring it accidental?What's the official cause now?And I know that can change, and that's why you're having your own independent autopsy and investigation.

As far as we know, his mother, Christine, and his father, Elmo, say they haven't gotten any answers.They, you know, have been asked to turn over his cell phone to the Mississippi law enforcement authorities.But even that is troubling to them because they're saying messages that were deleted from his cell phone.So they want to try to dot every i and cross every t and investigate everything.They said it's very improbable that Nolan would not have wanted his cell phone with him if he was going to stay on the island.

Deleted text messages on his phone?His parents found that?Who found that out?

Well, they got his phone so they're trying to figure out there's deletions on the phone and they're trying to look at what is that about.There are so many inconsistentgoing on.And so we're going to have with our investigators and our associates, we're going to list all the inconsistencies, Don.We just got onto the case yesterday.So we have been staying up late with the family, talking to friends, talking to people who were there.

on that 4th of July trying to piece together what really happened to Nolan Wales.What caused him to be a healthy, young college athlete and then to end up dead, washed up on the shore on Monday morning after 4th of July weekend.

Just to clarify, you said you're doing your own independent autopsy.And Ben, you know, you and I have been through, sadly, similar situations like this.But you have your own independent investigators, too.You're independently investigating this, I am sure.

Absolutely, Don.We are leading this investigation from the parents' perspective.The parents want to know objectively They don't want to rely on the state of Mississippi investigation to be the end of the story here.And so, as you.There's so many cases that we worked on that it was our independent autopsies, our independent investigations that got us to where we were able to get some measure of justice, whether that was Breonna Taylor, whether that was Ahmaud Arbery, you know, whether that was George Floyd and all these number of tragedies where young black lives were taken from this earth far too soon.And now here we are, young black people,

And I know it's challenging because when we look at the history of the state of Mississippi, it has not been what we call equal justice for black people in America.When you look at the history of Mississippi, you know, this is the state where Emmett Till was lynched.

Look, I'm from one state over in Louisiana.So trust me, I know.And that said, Ben, there have been people who have been pointing out on the Internet, some prominent people saying, imagine if the situation was reversed, if it was three black boys or young men who went out with a white young man and the white young man ended up dead.Imagine the outrage and the news coverage and the demands of investigations as well.

Yeah.And that's the crux of the matter, Don Lemon.That's why I'm so grateful to you.and your network for at the very beginning covering this matter.So often when black lives are taken, it is the media of people who have compassion and care for our community that make mainstream media pay attention.And I think this is one of those situations.

And if the crux of the matter, if these were three black kids, with a white kid.And that white kid ends up dead after they claim they left him.They can't remember anything, but they have their cell phone.You have to ponder whether they would be treating this as a murder investigation, or if this was what they call just investigation into accidental death.You have to ponder that.You can't Be being honest with yourself if you can.

they would not was he a strong swimmer?H father said he was a stro to be a division one wide receiver, Don.You know, athletes have to maintain their physical proudness.Their bodies are in extraordinary shape.And that's what they believe.Nolan Wells was an extraordinary athlete.

Yeah.I mean, look, the evidence is there.Um, we can see his record.We can see who he looks a good looking, healthy young man.Um, Ben, anything else?If, if something comes out of this autopsy, you said you expect to get the results by Friday, correct?

Yes, sir.Friday morning, we plan to have them.

And depending on what comes out of this, the, this autopsy, then you'll figure out where to go next.Now I know that they've been saying, go ahead.I'm sorry.Go on.

No, you're absolutely rig talked about these cases and you use your platform to give a voice to these victims.Oftentimes we would turn to the Department of Justice.But here I think we're going to have to work with the local authorities and the state of Mississippi if we find any instances of foul play to get some criminal culpability.But we are still in the inference stages of the investigation now.And this independent autopsy is going to be very important for many, many reasons, Don Lemon, many, many reasons.And so as soon as we get that, we

will come back on and talk to you about the findings and what they mean.

Yeah, I know that you look we have a time crunch here and I understand that because you're very busy and you're working on this case.I just need to know they were they said that these were childhood friends a longtime friends or have you have you been able to investigate that is that true?

Apparently they all went to high school together down lemon and You know, these young men come from prominent families in the Ocean Springs community.And so we are trying to get to the bottom of this one way or the other.We know that they have attorneys, so they are not speaking at this time.But we intend at some point to hear from them as to what happened.on that horn island off the gulf coast of Mississippi on July 4th weekend and so that's where We're waiting for him.We have to keep pushing, Don.

And thank you.And thank you to your audience.Thank you to everybody on social media.Thank you to everybody who gave on GoFundMe so they can afford investigators and independent autopsies.Because it is very difficult when you're trying to get the truth to be revealed when it seems like people are not trying to be transparent.

Yeah.We spoke to Ben, a member of the Cajun Navy who was looking for part of the search.And he said the mother at the time that we were recording it yesterday, that the mother had not had an opportunity to view the body the yesterday or the day before.Has the mother had an opportunity to view the body yet?

Not at this time.

And why is that?Is that because is that is that normal, Ben?Is that procedural?

I think they just got the body back.yesterday.And so they are preparing the body for the independent autopsy.And I will say this, Don, we don't know the condition of his body.And so obviously that's going to be a hard decision, I think, for his father, if his wife, Christine, will be able to look at you know his body if it's uh disfigured in any way we don't know we're going to find that out just keep them in prayer um because this is every parent's worst worst nightmare Look, don't I know it.

Look, as you know, my sister died of a drowning back in 2018.My other sister died in May of last year.And my mother has not been the same in my family.It's just not the way it's supposed to happen.We think our parents, we don't like it, but they will go before us.But for a parent to lose a child is one of the worst things, if not the worst thing that can happen.

Services are they waiting until after the autopsy or are they going to do wait until after the autopsy?

Okay.And you know that I know they're planning memorials at his college as well as his old high school.I mean young people, you know, you don't expect.18 and 19 year old friends to die.And so it's always devastating, not only to his family, but to all those in his community, all those young people who consider him a friend that they thought they were going to spend their life together, you know, on this journey.And now he's gone.

And it's so painful to everybody in that community.

Ben Crump.Thank you so much.Please keep us updated and our regards to the family and come back and let us know what's going on.And if the mom wants.to come on or any of the family members, let us know.Thank you.

I'm sure Miss Christine is going to come on because she's very grateful to you, Don.Thank you.Ben Crump, we appreciate it.

And Miss Christine also follows me on social media.So if she's watching this, our thoughts are with you.Andy, if we have the GoFundMe, we can put it up again, the GoFundMe for Nolan Wells.And that's his family is trying to find some answers, trying to find some answers.This is not being covered.I believe it's not being covered enough, especially in the mainstream media, and that's why we need independent journalists and independent media.

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Uh what's Maine gonna do?What are Democrats gonna do?What is he gonna do?He still has not dropped out and we talk about the story ofNolan Wells as well.And another story that there is a new update with is the Carmelo Anthony story, if you know what I'm talking about.

So we're going to get that, an update on that, and more information on this story involving Nolan Wells in just moments from another famed attorney, and that's Monique Presley.But first, a word from the people who keep us powered, and that's our sponsors.

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This is a very important story.So let's continue to discuss now.Attorney, legal analyst, and host of the Monique Presley Show joins us.Monique, thank you so much for this.I don't know if you got to see or hear the interview with Benjamin Crump.I know you know all the details surrounding this story.

I'm sure in that interview, you are a legal professional.I am not.Perhaps there were some things that I did not ask and that you need answers for or you have answers for.

Good morning.Good morning.No, I don't.And I think that that is the most important thing right now.The family is doing what is their right, which, frankly, many families, you know, hundreds of thousands of families do not get the opportunity to do.They've got able counsel and Attorney Crump, who has assisted so many families in his work in the past.

They now have independent investigators.They will now have an independent autopsy.So they will ultimately have answers.So many things happened on and they are swept under the rug or no one cares enough or no one can afford what it costs.costs in order to do this.So that's what's being done.

But where the facts are concerned, we we don't have enough.And so I am watching people just be who people are on social media and jump to conclusions and make their own theories of the case and make statements that frankly are based on the history of race and racism in this country, and all of those things are understandable.But at this point, we just don't know.

Agreed.And a couple of those things I want to talk to you about.That's why I have you here.Thank you, Monique.So there's a video going around that they say is an argument, and they believe that it is Nolan in the back, I don't know if you've seen this, arguing with his friends.Let's let Monique see it.

We'll run it a couple of times.Here it is.You heard that, right?

I heard noises, yes.

And then I heard some F -bombs, but I don't know if you can hear it or see.Let's run it one more time.It's towards the end.

Was the audio we were hearing even coming from those people?We don't know.Were those people having the argument that other reports are saying was happening?We don't know.We can't put it together based on that sliver of video.It does seem clear though that he is in the video, and I believe that they have some other pictures that have surfaced of him on the island.

So we at least know that he made it to the island, that he got off of the boat.We're showing pictures of the boat, and I think soon we'll know whether he left when they left or not, or whether it is true that he stayed behind.I think soon we'll know whether he was seen alive after the others in his party were already gone.And those facts will be what will clear up the timeline.And then obviously the independent autopsy, whatever the state autopsy says, and whether the independent autopsy says something different, whether they notice something different.

A couple things, Monique Presley.If you were in, if you were representing him, what would you do with this video that I just showed you?Would you get a forensic person?I don't know, like a, you know, audio person or video person or what, what would you do with this?You're going to do anything for you.

You're trying to get me in the crosshairs of Ben Crump right now.

I know, you know, Ben and your friends.So not at all.

Not at all.Dear, dear friends.No, I, I think Don, let me just say this though, before Ben stays winning.Yeah, yeah, and that's why I said, what I'm going to say to you is what I'm sure they are already doing.You know, I mean, any and every piece of evidence that comes, they're going to assess it.They're going to have investigators look at it.

They're going to have as many of the witnesses or the surrounding people in the videoidentified.They're going to run those people down and talk to them.They're going to do forensic analysis on the video, on the audio, see where it lines up.I mean, it will, listen, it will happen.So whatever can be done will be done.

with that and with anything else.I mean, they're obviously when these when the other people who were there got off of the boat, there are likely witnesses of that as well.There's going to be a very definitive timeline.At some point, what has made for frustration, I believe, and certainly on the part of of Nolan's mom was that these these young men would not Just step forward and speak and say everything that they know.Again, depending on who you are.you're going to get different advice about that.

So whatever it is that happened, if as you say, they are from influential families, then they were probably provided legal counsel, and they were probably told not to speak until such time as they had been properly interviewed in the presence of lawyers, if they were going to be accused of a crime, etc.It's the kind of advice I've given.So I can't poo -poo the advice and say that that's not something that maybe would happen if a friend called me and they were in a circumstance where somebody is now missing.I probably wouldn't be, as a defense attorney, saying, Oh, let's go into the police station right now and say everything we know.That's what we hope people will do.But that is not always the way that it goes.

That doesn't mean real quick.

That doesn't mean hold that thought hold that thought because you are 100 % right.We just sorry to cut you off.We just had that conversation.with my team members where they said, oh, I would be in the police station saying I'm innocent.And I was like, I know that sounds good, but it's not the smart thing to do.And usually attorneys say, whether you're innocent or guilty, the attorneys will tell you, don't do that, right?

I'm just saying.

It depends on the scenario.And it's not even an affluent versus non -affluent, like regular person type thing.People shut down and don't want to talk to police officers for all kinds of reasons in all kinds of different communities.But when there is an investigation and when every minute counts, that's when you're infuriated about something like that, because at the point that he was still missing, they needed every single possible fact.What I'll also say, though, is I don't know that they didn't make statements.I think what we know is that whatever they said was not released to the public.

And whatever they did or did not say to the police was not provided to the family.And that's two different things, because the way that the state runs an investigation and the information that they keep to themselves as they're formulating whatever their facts are of the case, sometimes involves a level of secrecy that is infuriating and heartbreaking to family members.And so you end up with your own counsel, and that's what they did.

Um, okay.So I cut you off.Do you remember what you were going to say?I'm sorry.

I think you know, we, we got, we got to the same point.You said what I was going to say, like people don't want to, they, they, they don't want to see it that way.You know, why would they not say everything they know?But I think when you make it more personal, it is easier to understand why you may get different advice than that, depending on whatever it was that went down.I hate,hypotheticals, but if they were drinking, if they were using drugs, if there was an argument, if any of those things were involved, if they were under the influence and being under the influence caused them to not have memory, whatever the case may be, those are all things that'll keep you from coming forward immediately.

But it doesn't mean that they did not speak to the police.It just means we don't know what happened.

Okay.Um, you heard the cell phone thing from Ben that the there's belief that there was some deleted things from the phone.That's suspicious.Again, we don't know.I didn't know if there was anything in his interview that you wanted to discuss it that gave you pause.Let me know now or I want to move on and talk about something else that you said.

Okay, no, I mean, we don't know there were things deleted, but we don't know if they were deleted by Nolan before he passed.We don't know at what point he ended up without his phone.But again, those are things that will be known because there's going to be a timeline even for the dilution for the deletions.

okay uh yeah people delete stuff all the time i have to delete because i'm out of memory because i take so many videos like all the man on the street stuff is on my phone i'm like oh the phone is like you're out of memory so you know you're deleting stuff um but we don't know there could be something maybe there's something there we do not know now you talking about you discussed the whole racial thing that's going around because he's the only black person that is seen in the video and is believed to be the only black person on this horn island with these folks and Ben Crump said he believes that they are high school friends and they had been friends you know for a minute I want to play some of this this one thing and I want to warn people the beginning Andy show the the the original video of him on the boat with his friends we just had it up okay so him on the boat with his friendsUm so, this is the real video, okay?So, that's him on the boat with his friends.And then, this is what's going around on social media and I have to warn everyone that this is AI or it begins with a doctored image.People who are trying to say, what what would this look like if it were a three black guys, or all black people, and then the only white person disappeared.And I want you to watch this, and then we'll discuss it.

Again, part of this is doctored, I'm just warning you.Part of it is AI.Go ahead.

I cut that part off.

Okay, you cut it out.Oh, good.I'm glad you cut it out.But it's basically this similar image, except I think the black kid is in the water, right?Right, they have the whoever is a black person in the image in the water.Okay, I'm glad you went past it.

Go ahead.Let's show it what we have though.Okay, and let me let me just say this.Sorry.This is from sorry, I want to make sure this is clear.This is from a different incident that reportedly that happened in Florida.

And you hear some racist remarks.This is a black kid in the water.And they're saying, you know, this is how black people people are treated in general and that the racism among young people has not diminished, that there's still racism going on because they learn it from the family, the whole thing.You've seen it on social media.So I want you to watch this and then here it is.The black kid is trying to catch up with a boat.

He's in the water.He's not a good swimmer.

Then there's some very helpful nice people who come along Yeah, okay, I was okay getting over here How'd you get over I'm never coming back with y 'all my life jacket the same day before a big kid this were a little kid You're welcome.

And that family saying his friends are effing a -holes.Yeah, but look, you warned us against equating this or any other thing to what happened, but it is out there and I want to discuss it because you find it important as well.

Yeah, I mean, that doesn't have anything to do with Nolan, right?Or with the Nolan Wills tragic tragic, whether accidental or intentional drowning, we don't have anything to support a belief that he was treated in a similar manner by his friends.The only evidence we have right now of the state of their friendship is the picture that they took on the way there together, because we can't even substantiate that it was them on the island having that argument.I think one thing that people sometimes miss when they say the state of racism is alive and well, that's obviously, you know, we, you and I talk about that at least once a week, it seems like we know that's true.What it is also true is that we have lived as minorities in this country since its inception, Don.And we have in many instances, especially those of us who are from the South, had circumstances where we are always the only one of something, the only Black person, the only woman, the only Black woman, the only Black man.

And if we've gone to schools, matriculated through schools, like private schools or anything like that, then you can live an entire life that way.I am from Texas.I can count easier the number of circumstances in school where I was not the only Black person in class or not the only Black person in the event.I went to a private undergraduate institution, St. Mary's University.And it needs to be said, I've had any number of countless hundreds of instances where I've been the only, and I am still here to tell the story about it.My white friends did not kill me.

And so it's not every time we see a lone Black person with white people that they are not safe, but it is not every time that they are.And so it really is necessary for us if we want to get to the facts in situations like this, to not inflame it.Because it seems weird for me to say, I know you have white friends.I have white friends.But sometimes you almost have to say it.Because I think that the reality of this country is that there are many black people who have only always been around black people.

And so being around any white person is a distrusted situation and unsafe.And the opposite is also true.also true.White people who grew up around no Black people, and so they're inherently suspicious of anybody Black and have no understanding of our culture or anything about us, and so assumptions are made on both sides.I think that reasonable minds have to come together and say, we're going to deal with this case.And we're not going to make this case any other case.

We're not going to put our brains off on the side, but we're going to we're going to wait for the facts.

Well, I'm glad you said that.And yes, I went to a high school that was desegregated likenot long before I got there.I'm not that old, but people think that this was a long, long time ago.I think it was maybe 10 years before I went to high school.And it was mainly majority white high school.

And then I went to LSU, which is a majority white college.And then I went into the journalism, which is a majority white.So, you know, I get it.I understand that.But I'm glad you said we don't put our brains to the side because people have different perceptions when they see things.They automatically they tend to show it off if it's, you know, a certain group of people and then they are suspicious about another.

Monique, I want you to hang on because I want you to update another story, but I want to bring in Suzanne Lambert.Suzanne Lambert is a social media personality, political commentator, also a comedian.And Suzanne, I just want to thank you for joining us.I want to play some of what you said on social media.And you know what?You urged me to go and check my social media.

And I found out that Nolan's mom also followed me and then delivered me a message through her through his attorney or her attorney now today.But you were the catalyst for that.And I just want to play this because I think it's important because you are asking people to open their minds.

Here it is. I want to talk to you all about Nolan Wells, but before I do that, I want to note that Nolan's mom does follow me, and in the event that she or other family members come across this video, please, please keep the comments respectful and in line with uplifting a family who just tragically lost their son.If there's any kind of nasty comments, racist comments, conspiracy theory type comments, My comment section is not the place for that.You will be blocked.This is someone's real life, okay?This is someone's son.This is not a fodder for content.

This should not have been Nolan Wells last summer.Nolan Wells was someone's baby.He was 18 years old, set to turn 19 next month, set to go back to playing football at his local community college.He was very well liked.He got along with everybody.He was radiant.

He was a leader.And he went out with three friends.They went out to an island.His three friends returned to the mainland without him.And all three of those friends are white.And I know.

and I know that when I say that, there are white people watching this who are immediately gonna say, well, we don't know what happened.And y 'all, this is the difference.If the situations were reversed, if the circumstances were reversed, and it was three black boys who took a white boy out, and the three black boys came back, and the white boy did not, it wouldn't matter that they didn't know what happened.Those three black boys would have been in handcuffs.Those three black boys would still be in questioning to this day.headline now, right?

They would have used it as proof.See?See?We told you black people were dangerous.We told you black people were bad.I've seen no such headline on Fox News about this.

Have you?Even though, you know, we know that white men are overwhelmingly responsible for situations of mass violence across the US, and I'm not saying every white guy, right?I'm not saying that.Here's the thing.Acknowledging that black people are in danger in this country, often at the hands of white people, often at the hands of white police officers.Acknowledging that reality, because it is a reality, right?

It's not a theory.It is evidenced by so much data and history and lived experience.Acknowledging that reality as a white person does not make you inherently dangerous, but refusing to acknowledge it does.We have to be able to recognize the double standard before we can do something about that, and genuinely, because I know there's people with all kinds of belief systems who follow me. I want you to sit with that.What would you think if you saw three black boys had taken a white boy out and the white boy didn't return?What would you honestly think?

Throughout history, our criminal justice system has never waited to wait and find out what happens when it comes to incarcerating black people or punishing black people for crimes they didn't commit, or even killing black people for crimes that they did not commit.That is just the truth, and that is all I'm trying to say here.I am not trying to insert my personal commentary.Because again, his mom does follow me, and I really do just want to be respectful and do what I can to support the family.And on that note, GoFundMe for his family is in my bio.It is the verified GoFundMe.

We put up the GoFundMe, and we'll do it again at the end.Suzanne, why'd you put that out there?

Yeah.Firstly, thank you for having me on.So good to see you too, Monique.It was weighing really heavy on my heart because when I was going online, even well -meaning white people, right?I kept seeing so much of, well, we don't know what happened yet.We don't know what happened yet.

And sure, that's true.But maybe let's take this moment to reflect because that has never stopped us.as I said, when when the roles are reversed, right?So why are we so willing to wait and see what happens when it's young, young white men, and we're not as willing to exercise that discretion, and that mindset of innocent until proven guilty when it comes to black men, right and people of color.So I wanted to not even tell people that they're wrong, right?Because you're right, we don't know what happens.

So given that, why?Why isn't that same?privilege exercised for everyone equally.Because I think that sometimes when you concede to people's point a little bit, it allows you to be a bit more persuasive.And I heard you guys talking about this a little bit before I joined.If I were to say, well, we actually do know what happened, then people might shut it out and not really want to listen to the message.

But I was just really disappointed in the general discourse that I was seeing from white people, honestly.

that happens with not just the story, as you know, Suzanne, yeah, no, that's afforded to to black people, the rules are different.As you know, the perception of violence and aggressive aggression or aggressive behavior, different and it has been proven with people just looking at photographs of you put up the, you know, the photograph of him with his friends and people did sort of the reverse thing and put it up.You know, people get a you know, you feel like you'rea different way, you know, and it has been proven that that happens, the unconscious or conscious bias.

Yeah, and I think that, you know, I raised the question of what would you what would you honestly think if you saw it was the reverse, right?And that stirring that uncomfortable feeling that a lot of white people feel when we're confronted with such questions.that's that's you may be starting to get it or at least open your mind and understand it.I think that we need to sit in that discomfort more often and also recognize that racism is systemic.It's embedded into this country's founding right there.We can't Oh, go ahead.

No, no, finish your thought because I want to ask you something.Yeah, go ahead.

It's systemic, right?I think that, like, I won't even have the argument whether or not it exists, because it does.It was embedded into the founding of this country.I didn't do that, right?And a lot of white people have been, well, I didn't do it.Yes, but we still benefit from those systems.

And the only way that we can begin to change those systems is by first acknowledging that they do exist.So that was really my goal is to I don't know, spark, get some thoughts moving in people's head, because for a lot of conservatives, I might be the only liberal voice that they follow.I have people all over the belief spectrum, political spectrum who follow me.So even though sometimes I'd rather get on the internet and cuss people out and ring someone out, which I still do from time to time, I try to think about how I can best use my privilege and the gifts that I do have to convey a message that black people shouldn't have to convey black people shouldn't have to convey these messages.So we got to do better.

So I'm sorry, because what yousaid, for cutting you off, you said touched me so much, because I had this conversation with my friend, Jen Welch, right?And Jen Welch and I, you know, we're people of a certain age, a certain generation.But people will say, well, you know, we just it's racism is going to end or this will change with the young people.But I don't You know, is that true?Is that real?

When we see the things, a video that was played and you see the young people who are in these Nazi chats, and you see the young people who are marching in Washington, who are part of the Patriot Stormfront or whatever it is, like, you know what I'm saying?

Yeah, especially because there was that study, I think it was by, I don't remember, it might have been Reuters, that Gen Z men are more conservative than boomer men.And we know that conservatism and racism They're good friends, right?You can't have one without the other.So I think that it's everybody's job.I don't think you're ever too old to change your mind, but I do agree that we have to have more voices appealing.We need to drown out the Nick Fuentes of the world, right?

We need to have more people talking about it.And I don't know if y 'all feel this way, but I am actually encouraged by the number of people I see discussing this case.I wish that they all got this much traction.And it was also really, you know, and Don, I know that you mentioned this too, when you saw that his mother followed you, that kind of threw me for a tailspin a little bit, a bit of a mental tailspin, because, and you know, Monique, I know you have a young son as well.It's like, Oh, these are real.These are real people.

And of course, we know they're real people.But then to know that they are also existing on the same internet as I am, where there are thousands ofvideos at this point, her life has now been turned into a storyline on social media.And that's, that's a whole other aspect of it that I'm trying to figure out how to navigate respectfully, right?Because it's like, oh, it never occurred to me that family members of who I'm talking about might actually come across my content.

All right.Yeah, right.Um, Wow, Suzanne.Thank you.And I'm so glad that we're doing this.I think the story is getting more traction in independent media and social media, independent journalism than it is in legacy corporate media, because I mean, they're focused on politics and Trump and whatever and they do, you know, they're still on that.

Oh, my gosh.Well, I don't know if you've been following this one.But Monique has an update for us about Carmelo Anthony, the case of a young man involved in an altercation that ended up with the person that he got into the altercation with died.But there's some appeals.What's the update, Monique?You give it, you give the viewers the update.

Okay, well, first, I just want to say that Suzanne Lambert is a top tier human.Oh, oh my gosh.

Coming from the top tier.

You know, I appreciate you, sister.I really do.But when I saw, I had seen your video before today.And thank you.Thank you.You know, we've been on a journey for a while together now, but I've also watched an arc in the way that you open yourself up to see the thing and then to say the thing that you see.

And it's it's one step at a time like that with us all using our bandwidth, our platforms, our exposure.So I appreciate you.Thank you for that.We need to bend that where Carmelo Anthony is concerned also, because weyear ago a little over a year ago at a track meet there was a stabbing and that is not that's not controversy at this point it was Carmelo Anthony immediately offered to the police that it was him that did the stabbing and that he was in fear for his safety.He said that at the time there was an altercation under a tent at a track meet in Collin County and a young man ended up dead.

Austin Metcalfe ended up dead.And so all of that is tragic, as far as I am concerned.What then happened in the trial compounded that tragedy.Carmelo was found guilty, and he was sentenced to 35 years.And he was 17 at the time that the stabbing took place.Normally, other places in this country, around this world, Texas is one of the rare places where it doesn't happen.

Normally, somebody who's 17 would be going through the juvenile system, would be processed through the juvenile system, assessed in the juvenile system, and then whether or not they're going to be tried as an adult would be subject to a hearing and determination.It's not that it doesn't happen, sometimes it does, but it would start in a track that acknowledges that the young person who is accused of committing a crime does not have a fully developed frontal lobe yet, is still considered a youth, a minor.That didn't happen.He was bound over for trial as an adult.And so the circumstances that unfolded from there, we are now frankly just in the appellate process getting to learn.There is a brand new appellate team

who is handling his case.It is led by Russell Wilson, who is a veteran criminal defense and appellate attorney in Texas.The second in command is Mike Young, excuse me, Mike Ware, and he is a Texas Criminal Defense Hall of Famer.Um, and they are leading a team of lawyers who have now filed a motion for new trial and a motion to recuse the judge, Judge John Roach.They are not, they did not file this based on the things that have been going around the internet, which is why I said we have to kind of deal with the facts that we have known, not deal with the stories.And one of the things that happened in this trial is that the press was shut out.

having conniption fits about it, that no cameras were allowed, press was limited in the amount of time they could be in there.There were like 10 -minute intervals where people had an opportunity to get into the courtroom.If they didn't make it in that 10 minutes, it was shut out for the rest of the day.And so the new trial motion is saying that there was interference with Carmelo's decision whether to testify, that improper jury instructions were given affecting self -defense claim, that there were violations of the right to a public trial and that there was a breach of an off -the -record agreement regarding character evidence.And so this doesn't have anything to do with the Batson Challenge.I'm sure that they'll get to the fact that there were no Black people on the jury at some point down the road, but this new trial motion is about that.

And the motion to recuse the judge is about the fact that the judge, Judge John Roach, chose to have a presser.at the end of the trial and invited all this media to come in after he's the one that kept the media out the whole time right sat down and gave some some comments that that are raising eyebrows even in conservativecircles about the trial, about why he did things the way he did them.And so these are violations that are being alleged of constitutional rights.The right to a public trial is the Sixth Amendment right, the constitutional right to testify, jury instructions on self -defense, whether there's prosecutorial misconduct, judicial impartiality.If you look at the things that he said in the presser, it speaks for itself.

So I am just encouraged that Carmelo Anthony, a young man now 19 years old, still just barely out of boyhood, he is in isolation in a prison system right now looking at the rest of his life, looking at 35 years, and the very least that he deserves is a fair trial.And so that is what they are asking for.A new trial motion is not about looking at the evidence again.It's not about re -arguing the facts.It is about whether the trial that he got the first time was conducted fairly.And so they are asking an independent judicial officer, a new judge, to determine whether Judge Roach should stay on as the judge for the rest of this case after he's made public comments about the case to the media.

And that's been referred over, I believe, to the head administrative judge, Judge Ray Willis, Willis or Willis, not sure, but middle of next week or thereafter, we should hear who's going to listen to and make those determinations.

Monique, these are all elected officials.Absolutely.And people who got to appoint judges or even elect them in some instances.This is why elections matter beyond the presidential election.

Well, listen, Don, thankfully I got to speak to you about this case earlier because I did a video on it and I didn't talk about any of the facts of the case.I talked about how when we want fair trials, when we're concerned about whether the jury looks like us, when we're concerned about a prosecutor that binds over a youth as an adult, the prosecutor's elected, the judge is elected, the appellate court that will review this case is elected.and the court above them is elected.So when you look at every part of the decision -making over this young black boy's life, it was all through the vote.So when you see us not showing up to vote or us voting top of ticket and not having any idea who our sheriff is or who the administrative law judge is or who the prosecutor is, this is what happens.And when you have - Yeah, and in a place like Collin County or in, well, God help my state of Texas, period, where, again, we're already the minority.

showing up in masses is what it takes for us to even have a percentage of the representation where the jury would end up looking like us, or where the prosecutor would come from someplace where he could have an idea what it would mean for a young man like Carmelo, for a boy at the time, to be in an environment, again, where he's the only one of two or three who are Black.surrounded by people who are white, who are Latino, who are Asian, because that was the circumstance.So we have to have people in these positions who can understand the framework, understand the mental thought process, understand what may be very real fear in these circumstances, whether we're talking about the Nolan Wells case, or Carmelo Anthony, or any of the other casesdare I say thousands of cases that are like this in our country every day.

Monique, thank you.I'm not sure if you want to weigh in on this, Suzanne, because this isn't why we invited you on, but if you want to, fine.If not, we certainly understand.

Yeah, I mean, Monique and I had a conversation very similar to what I'm about to say after the Texas Senate primary.But I, you know, I think in general, If our vote wasn't so important, they wouldn't be trying to take it away.That's to everything that Monique said.Like I also mentioned, so many of our issues are systemic.It's not just the police.I mentioned the police in my video, but it's also the court systems, jury selection, et cetera.

And Carmelo Anthony is a kid.And I'm really hoping that we get some good news out of it.

Thank you, Suzanne Lambert.Thank you, Monique Presley.What an interesting show.And as always with you guys, two really, not only beautiful, but extremely smart women, intelligent women professionals.Thank you so much.You want something done?

You want to learn?Hire a woman.That's what I always say.And look, we see what's coming out of Maine.Can we just get a woman to be president so that she can fix all the shit that these men have fucked up?I'm just saying.

We should tap in Belle Belichick's girlfriend, because we already know that she knows how to get old men to listen to what she has to say.So that's my pick.

We're cousins.

Fisherman, farmer, hey.

Did you say we're cousins?No, you didn't say that, did you?

No, no, no, no.

Oh, okay.

She knows how to get some old men in line, so something to think about.

Well, that's a good thing to end on.Thank you, guys.Thank you, Don.Bye, Suzanne.Bye, Monique.Bye, Suzanne.

Thank you.We'll see you soon.Man, again, two very smart, intelligent, and beautiful women.So now you're informed, and again, Think about what you've learned today.Think about what we have covered today and how long we went and we went dug into these things.Think about that.

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