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CNN LIVE AT DAYBREAK

Calm in Benton Harbor

Aired June 19, 2003 - 06:31   ET

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

CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: There is someone out there thanking God for all of the rain we've been having. The police chief in Benton Harbor, Michigan, was hoping for rain and peace. He got both with a lot of help.
Live to Benton Harbor now and Ed Lavandera.

Good morning -- Ed.

ED LAVANDERA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Carol.

Well, this is the area that was hardest hit by the riots on Monday and Tuesday nights. This is the intersection of Broadway and Empire, and as people started to make their way onto the streets here this morning, everything very quiet.

Last night here a completely different picture, about 300 officers, including Michigan state police and other surrounding jurisdictions, turned out to make sure that it was a peaceful night here in Benton Harbor, and that is exactly what they got. Only one person arrested for a concealed weapon, so to say the least, compared to what happened here Monday and Tuesday nights, a completely different story.

But throughout the day yesterday, we had the mayor, the police chief, and also the brother of the 28-year-old motorcyclist that was killed in the early hours of Monday morning after a high-speed police chase Monday morning, and the brother of that 28-year-old motorcycle crash victim urged people yesterday to remain calm and to stop rioting.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RAYNARD SHURN, VICTIM'S BROTHER: I cannot support the destruction of property because of the pain, frustration and anger that we all feel. So, I ask you and I beg you, please stop the violence.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LAVANDERA: So, again, here's the intersection. This was the area that was hardest hit on Monday and Tuesday nights. There are about five homes and about a dozen people that were injured, about five homes that were also destroyed with fire. In fact, up until yesterday evening, just over the area over here, you could still see one of those homes that was still smoldering into yesterday evening, but everything a completely different picture here this morning.

One gentleman just drove by and asked if everything had calmed down, and he drove away saying, "Thank God it's all over" -- Carol.

COSTELLO: I think many are echoing that sentiment. Ed Lavandera live in Benton Harbor, Michigan, this morning.

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