TONIGHT ON METROFOCUS

> TONIGHT ON 'METROFOCUS,' CONCRETE POLITICAL CHANGE TO END GUN VIOLENCE.

THAT'S THE HOPE OF STUDENTS AND THEIR SUPPORTERS AT TOMORROW'S MARCH FOR OUR LIVES RALLY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. AND ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY.

ONE OF THE MOVEMENTS ORGANIZERS IS HERE WITH THE LATEST INFORMATION.

> SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE.

THE CITY COUNCIL AND ALLIED GROUP CALLS FOR CHANGE.

> TECH IS THE FASTEST GROWING ENTREPRENEURS.

> AND A STORY THAT CAUSED A NATIONAL OUTRAGE.

A PUPPY DIES IN AN OVERHEAD BIN IN A FLIGHT FROM HOUSTON TO NEW YORK, NOW A DEMAND, JUST FOR COCHITO.

> ALL THAT AND MORE AS 'METROFOCUS' STARTS RIGHT NOW.

THIS IS 'METROFOCUS,' WITH RAFAEL P. RAMON, JACK FORD, AND JENNA FLANNIGAN.

> FUNDING FOR THIS PROGRAM WAS PROVIDED BY --

> CORPORATE FUNDING FOR 'METROFOCUS' WAS PROVIDED BY MUTUAL OF AMERICA, YOUR RETIREMENT COMPANY.

AND BY PSE&G, STRENGTHENING THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AND INVESTING IN THE FUTURE.

FUNDING WAS ALSO PROVIDED BY THE J.P.B. ORGANIZATION.

> TOMORROW A MARCH WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE CAPITOL AND IN CITIES ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

STUDENTS ARE REACTING TO THE TRAGEDY AND IN MEMORY OF THE 17 WHO WERE MURDERED IN PARKLAND, FLORIDA.

THEIR GOAL, FIGHT BACK AND ENACT COMMON SENSE GUN SAFETY LAWS.

JACK DOHERTY, A STUDENT FROM HIGH SCHOOL NORTH IN NEW JERSEY AND WILL BE MARCHING IN THE PROTESTS LOCALLY AND IS HERE TO TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THE DETAILS.

THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THESE MARCHES?

THE MARCHES ARE TO SHOW THE COUNTRY THAT STUDENTS ALL OVER THE NATION ARE MARCHING AND SPEAKING OUT, BUT THEY'RE NOT SILENT ON THE ISSUE.

IT'S REALLY TO SHOW THAT STUDENTS WANT AN END TO SCHOOL SHOOTINGS IN AMERICA.

AS I MENTIONED IN THE BEGINNING, STUDENTS WILL BE MARCHING ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

AND YOU'RE PARTICIPATING IN A MARCH THAT'S CENTERED IN NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

WHY NEWARK?

I THINK WHEN THE STUDENTS ORGANIZERS WERE TALKING ABOUT WHERE TO MARCH IN NEW JERSEY, NEWARK IS A CITY THAT'S BEEN PLAGUED BY GUN VIOLENCE, PARTICULARLY FOR THEIR STUDENT.

THEY HAVE HAD GUN VIOLENCE.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S NOT A MASS SHOOTING, THEY'RE STILL LOSING A LOT OF KIDS TO GUN VIOLENCE.

WHAT ARE YOU SEEING FROM THE PEOPLE IN NEWARK ITSELF?

IT'S BEEN PHENOMENAL, THE MAYOR, THE LOCAL HIGH SCHOOLS, HAVE BEEN HELPING TO ORGANIZE THE MARCH, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF STUDENTS ACROSS THE STATE.

NEWARK IS A GREAT CITY FOR THIS MARCH, WORKING TOGETHER WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, TO ALLOW THIS ALL TO FUNCTION REALLY WELL.

WHAT ARE YOUR EXPECTATIONS FOR THIS MARCH IN TERMS OF HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE GOING TO SHOW UP AND WHAT WILL COME FROM IT?

I ALWAYS SAY SHOWING UP IS HALF THE BATTLE.

SO AS MANY PEOPLE CAN SHOW UP, THE MORE PEOPLE THE BETTER.

AS LONG AS THERE'S A GOOD SHOWING, THAT SHOWS HOW MANY PEOPLE CARE.

IN NEW JERSEY, WE'RE LOOKED AT AS A STATE THAT ALREADY HAS TOUGH GUN LAWS.

SO WHY GO OUT AND MARCH?

SO THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS TO SPEAK OUT FOR OTHER STATES THAT DON'T HAVE LAWS LIKE US.

YOU HAVE BECOME VERY ACTIVELY INVOLVED IN THIS, YOU'VE BECOME ONE OF THE LEADERS AND THE ORGANIZERS CERTAINLY IN YOUR OWN HIGH SCHOOL IN NEW JERSEY AND INVOLVED NATIONALLY.

ARE YOU SURPRISED AT THE REACTION THAT YOU HAVE SEEN, NOT JUST THAT YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED YOURSELF, BUT THAT YOU HAVE SEEN ACROSS THE COUNTRY, FROM YOUNG PEOPLE LIKE YOURSELF?

I THINK TO SEE HOW QUICK IT HAPPENED, HOW THIS MOVEMENT HAS JUST EXPLODED.

AND I THINK YOU LOOK AT SOCIAL MEDIA, I THINK IT'S NO SURPRISE TO SEE HOW MANY STUDENTS JUST LIKE THAT ARE GETTING INVOLVED AND REALLY TAKING THIS TO HEART.

WE HAD THE WALKOUT, THE NATIONAL WALKOUT BY STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, TELL ME HOW IT PLAYED OUT IN YOUR SCHOOL?

ABOUT TWO WITDAYS BEFORE THE WALKOUT, WE HAD A STUDENT POST ON INSTAGRAM WITH A GUN AND MAKING A THREATENING REMARK, SO FOR SAFETY REASONS, WE THOUGHT WE SHOULD STEP BACK AND NOT WALK OUT.

BUT THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT WE CAN'T REPRESENT THE MOVEMENT.

TO INSTEAD OF WALKING OUT, WE HAD ASSEMBLIES, WHERE STUDENTS GOT TO REPRESENT THEIR OPINIONS AND BE ABLE TO TALK ABOUT HOW THEY FEEL ON THE ISSUE.

DID YOU HAVE A LARGE PERCENTAGE OF STUDENTS PARTICIPATING HERE?

YEAH I WOULD SAY ABOUT THREE-QUARTERS OF THE SCHOOL SHOWED UP IN MY SCHOOL, AT THE ASSEMBLY.

WHEN WE HAVE HAD PEOPLE TAKING A LOOK AT THIS MOVEMENT, ESPECIALLY HISTORIANS WHO HAVE LOOKED BACK ON SIMILAR MOVEMENTS, ESPECIALLY THOSE THAT HAVE BEEN DRIVEN BY YOUNG PEOPLE AND THEY HAVE OFTEN SAID, THIS IS SIGNIFICANT, IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT THERE HAS TO BE SOME FOLLOWTHROUGH, AND ONE OF THE FOLLOWTHROUGHS YOU OFTEN HEAR PEOPLE SAY, IS VOTING, YOUNG PEOPLE NOT JUST REGISTERING TO VOTE, BUT ACTUALLY SHOWING UP AND CASTING A BALLOT.

ARE YOU HAVING CONVERSATIONS -- YOU'RE JUST A JUNIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL, SO YOU'RE A COUPLE YEARS AWAY.

ARE YOU HAVING THESE CONVERSATIONS SO THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO ARE PARTICIPATING WILL UNDERSTAND, IT'S WONDERFUL TO BE DOING THIS, AND IT'S SIGNIFICANT AND IT'S COMPELLING AND IT'S IMPORTANT, BUT THERE HAS TO BE FOLLOWTHROUGH AFTERWARDS?

DEFINITELY.

THE BIG THING WE HAVE BEEN TRYING TO PUT AN EMPHASIS ON, ALTHOUGH WALKOUTS AND PROTESTS AND SIT INS ARE A POWERFUL COMPONENT OF DEMOCRACY, THE MOST POWERFUL TOOL IS TO VOTE, TRY TO HAVE STUDENTS REGISTER AND LEARN WHERE THEIR VOTING LOCATIONS ARE.

AND BY CARRYING THROUGH, YES, WE CAN MARCH IN THE STREETS, BUT IF WE DON'T GO TO THE BALLOT BOX AND MAKE A CHANGE, NOTHING WILL HAPPEN.

YOU KNOW THERE ARE STUDENTS ACROSS THE COUNTRY WHO SAY, I WANT TO BE A PART OF THIS.

STUDENTS IN NEWARK, ARE ASKING HOW CAN I PARTICIPATE IN THIS?

I THINK OUR BIGGEST ASSET RIGHT NOW IS INSTAGRAM, TWITTER, FACEBOOK, ONLINE WEBSITES AND SEARCH IN MARCH FOR OUR LIVES AND IT WILL THESE DESIGNATE WHER NEAREST MARCH IS, NOT JUST IN BIG CITIES, BUT YOU CAN CONTACT YOUR REPRESENTATIVES AND BE PART OF OUR MOVEMENT.

YOU HAVE BEEN DOING SUCH MARVELOUS WORK HERE IN DRIVING THIS MOVEMENT AND MAKING SURE YOU'RE VOICES ARE HEARD.

WE'LL LOOK FORWARD TO TALKING TO YOU SOME MORE AS THIS MOVEMENT CONTINUES.

YOU BE WELL.

THANK YOU.

♪ I THINK IT ALL ♪ I SEE IT NOW ♪ YOU'RE GOING TO HEAR ME ROAR ♪

> AS THE NATION GRAPPLES WITH HOW TO CONFRONT SEXUAL MISCONDUCT, THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL HAS PRESENTED 11 BI BILLS -- WOULD BE REQUIRED TO PRESENT TRAINING TO PREVENT MISCONDUCT.

NEW YORK CITY WOULD JOIN STATES LIKE MAINE AND CALIFORNIA THAT MANDATE SEXUAL HARASSMENT TRAINING.

CAROL WASSEY WHO IS THE CEO OF THE WOMEN'S CITY CLUB AND IS PART OF OUR CONTINUING COVERAGE OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH HERE ON 'METROFOCUS.'

WE'RE PLEASED TO WELCOME HERE BACK TO THE PROGRAM.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

I SHOULD SAY YOU'RE NOT ONLY A PREVIOUS 'METROFOCUS' GUEST, BUT YOU ARE SLPT IN CHARGE OF OUR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT AND WE MISS YOU.

IT'S GOOD TO HAVE YOU BACK, AT LEAST FOR SIX MINUTES.

I MISS YOU AND EVERYBODY HERE AT WNET, YOU DO GREAT WORK AND I CONTINUE TO WHERE A FAN OF 'METROFOCUS.'

YOU RECENTLY APPEARED BEFORE THE NEW YORK CITY COUNCIL OFFERING A FIVE POINT STRATEGY TO DEAL WITH SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE.

IT'S REALLY AN IMPORTANT TOPIC THAT'S BEING ADDRESSED RIGHT NOW.

WHAT WE HAVE OUTLINED IS REALLY A VERY STRAIGHT FORWARD FIVE-PART POLICY, LOOKING AT EVERYTHING FROM THE IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC EDUCATION, THE STUFF YOU DO HERE 'METROFOCUS,' GETTINGE GETGE GETTING WORD OUT TO THE GENERAL 3 POPULATION, MAKING SURE KIDS GET EDUCATION ALL THE WAY THROUGH COLLEGE AND INTO THEIR CAREER.

AND MAKING SURE THAT VICTIMS HAVE PLACES TO GO, MAKING SURE PERPETRATORS ARE HELD ACCOUNTABLE.

AND ALSO FOR GENERAL EMPLOYERS, MAKING SURE THEY PUT MEASURES IN PLACE.

BASED ON YOUR EXPERIENCE BEFORE THE CITY COUNCIL AND YOUR INTERACTION WITH THE MEMBERS AFTER YOU HAVE TESTIFIED, DO YOU GET A SENSE THAT THE COUNCIL IS TAKING THIS SERIOUSLY, PERHAPS MORE SERIOUSLY THAN EVER BEFORE?

SUPER SERIOUSLY.

I THINK THIS IS A BIG ISSUE.

AND WHILE DISAPPOINTED THAT WE HAVEN'T COME SO FAR, VERY EXCITED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL LED BY HELEN ROSENTHAL WHO CHAIRS THE WOMEN'S COMMITTEE HAS REALLY LAID OUT A VERY AGGRESSIVE, VERY BROAD BASED AGENDA, REALLY TACKLING EVERYTHING FROM ANYONE WHO DEALS WITH THE CITY AS A CONTRACTOR, TO MAKING SURE CITY AGENCIES ADDRESS THESE ISSUES IN A COMPREHENSIVE WAY.

YOU KNOW AS WE ALL KNOW, OVER THE PAST YEAR, WE HAVE HEARD FROM MANY WOMEN, COMING FORWARD, TELLING THEIR STORIES AND NOT JUST ABOUT SEXUAL HARASSMENT IN THE WORKPLACE, THEY HAVE TOLD OF STORIES SURROUNDING ISSUES OF GENDER EQUALITY.

I WONDER, FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE, WHERE, ON ISSUES SURROUNDING J GENDER EQUALITY, WHERE HAVE WE MADE REAL PROGRESS IN THE COUNTRY AND WHERE ARE WE STILL FALLING SHORT?

JUST IN NEW YORK THIS PAST YEAR, THERE WAS A DECISION THAT YOU CANNOT ASK EMPLOYEES ABOUT PAST SALARY HISTORY.

THAT MAY NOT SOUND LIKE A BIG DEAL, IT IS A BIG DEAL.

BECAUSE SO OFTEN WOMEN AND MINORITIES IN PARTICULAR HAVE BEEN DISADVANTAGED SO TAKING THAT PIECE OF INFORMATION AWAY FROM EMPLOYERS JUST TO PUT EVERYONE ON A LEVEL PLAYING FIELD.

WE SHOULD ALL BE APPROACHED BY WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE BRING TO AN ORGANIZATION, THERE'S THINGS LIKE THAT, BUT THEN YOU LOOK AT SOMETHING LIKE THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT, WE HAVE BEEN FIGHTING FOR THAT FOR ALMOST 100 YEARS ESSENTIALLY.

I WENT WITH MY MOTHER ON A BUS BACK IN THE EARLY '80s FIGHTING FOR THE EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

THE GOOD NEWS IS IT'S ALL AT THE FOREFRONT NOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE TURN THIS HASH TAG, ME TOO AND OTHERS, INTO ACTION.

YOU SAID THAT EDUCATION IS A CRITICAL ELEMENT IN BRINGING ABOUT A CULTURE OF RESPECT.

WHAT KIND OF EDUCATION ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?

AND HOW DO WE GET IT?

FOR EXAMPLE HERE IN NEW YORK CITY, MAYOR BLOOMBERG ACTUALLY REQUIRED SEX ED IN SCHOOLS BACK IN 2011.

WE DID SOME, THERE WAS SOME ANALYSIS BY COMPTROLLER STRINGER AS WELL AS MAYOR DE BLASIO TO LOOK AT THAT AND THE CHALLENGING THING IS IT HASN'T REALLY BEEN PUT INTO EFFECT.

SO THERE'S A TASK FORCE NOW THAT'S IN PLAY, THERE'S A LOT OF THINGS HAPPENING AT THE CITY LEVEL TO ADDRESS THIS, AND I THINK ALL THESE ISSUES THAT ARE HAPPENING IN THE MEDIA AND OTHERWISE ARE ACTUALLY BRINGING IT TO THE FOREFRONT.

SO WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM AN EARLY AGE, LITTLE KIDS LEARNING ABOUT RESPECT AND CONTROL OVER YOUR BODY CERTAINLY, BUT JUST HOW WE TALK TO EACH OTHER, BOYS AND GIRLS ON THE PLAYGROUND TRANSLATES TO BOYS AND GIRLS IN THE BOARD ROOM.

AN ONLINE GUIDE THAT PROVIDES LOW INCOME WORKERS WITH HEALTH CARE, CHILD CARE, THINGS LIKE THAT.

TELL US ABOUT THAT IN IN THE SHORT TIME WE HAVE LEFT.

MAKING SURE YOUR CITIZENS HAVE ACCESS TO FREE AND LOW COST RESOURCES.

THIS GUIDE IS OUT THERE, WE HAVE UPDATED IT SINCE 2012, WE WORK ON IT CONSTANTLY.

COME, YOU CAN SEARCH IT, IT'S VERY SEARCHABLE, YOU CAN HAVE FEEDBACK, IF YOU WANT YOUR STUFF UP THERE.

WE ALSO HAVE A PRINT VERSION SO THOSE WHO DON'T HAVE COMPUTER ACCESS, WE'LL MAIL IT OUT.

CAROLYN, AGAIN, IT'S SO GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

♪ I CAN DO ANYTHING ♪ I AM STRONG ♪ I AM INVINCIBLE ♪ INVINCIBLE ♪ I AM WOMAN ♪

> IF I TOLD YOU BLACK WOMEN ARE THE FASTEST GROWING GROUP OF ENTREPRENEURS IN THE UNITED STATES, WOULD YOU BELIEVE ME?

WELL, GUESS WHAT?

IT'S TRUE.

THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES OWNED BY AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN HAS GROWN BY 322% SINCE 1997.

THIS YEAR, BETWEEN BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND THE BEGINNING OF WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH, WOMEN OF COLOR UNITED AT THE ANNUAL BLACK WOMEN TALK TECH CONFERENCE.

WITH THE SPOTLIGHT ON BLACK FEMALE FOUNDERS IN TECH, THE TWO-DAY CONFERENCE FOCUSED ON PROMOTING BLACK GIRL MAGIC IN AN INDUSTRY LED BY PREDOMINANTLY WHITE MALES.

THEIR GOAL?

TO HELP WOMEN BUILD THE NEXT BILLION DOLLAR COMPANY.

SO WAS IT A SUCCESS?

OUR ONGOING CHASING THE DREAM INITIATIVE, POVERTY IN AMERICA TAKES US TO THE CONFERENCE FOR A LOOK AT HOW WOMEN OF COLOR ARE SHAKING UP THE INDUSTRY ONE START UP AT A TIME.

JOINING ME NOW IS ONE OF THE FOUNDERS OF THE CONFERENCE AND FOUNDER OF JEANNIE BOTS.

WELCOME TO BOTH OF YOU.

THANK YOU.

FIRST TELL ME ABOUT THE CONFERENCE YOU WERE AT, WHAT MADE THIS SO UNIQUE AND SPECIAL?

I THINK THE BIGGEST THING ABOUT THE CONFERENCE IS THAT IT WAS REALLY THE SECOND TIME EVER AND THE FIRST TIME WAS FLASHIER WHEN WE DID THIS, THAT WE EVER HAD BLACK WOMEN TECH FOUNDERS ALL IN ONE ROOM, THAT'S NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE, ARE IT?

AND JUST SO WE'RE CLEAR, HOW BIG OF A ROOM WAS THIS?

WAS THIS LIKE A FULL ROOM?

YEAH, YEAH ACTUALLY.

WE HAVE AN ACTUAL SCREENING PROCESS OF WHERE WE VET THE BEST ENTREPRENEURS AT THE RIGHT STAGE WHO ARE DOING THEIR BUSINESSES FULL-TIME TO JOIN US.

AND WE HAD OVER 300 PEOPLE IN THE ROOM AND OVER -- SO MANY PEOPLE WE COULDN'T FIT BECAUSE OF THE SPACE CAPACITY.

SO WE OUTGREW IT AGAIN, SO IT JUST GOES TO SHOW HOW MANY BLACK WOMEN ARE WORKING ON AMAZING GAME CHANGING COMPANIES THAT MOST PEOPLE DON'T EVEN HEAR ABOUT.

CHINA, TELL US ABOUT SOME OF THESE COMPANIES THAT WOMEN ARE STARTING AND I ASSUME BLACK WOMEN ARE SUPPORTING, BUT MAY NOT BE GETTING THE ATTENTION THAT OTHER COMPANIES DO.

BLACK WOMEN ARE STARTING SO MANY COMPANIES IN SO MANY DIFFERENT STAPACES, AR, TECH, S WE ARE STARTING COMPANIES ACROSS THE GLOBE IN ALL SPACES.

ONE THING THAT PEOPLE THINK THAT YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO DO IN ORDER TO START A TECH COMPANY IS KNOW HOW TO CODE, BUT MANY OF US ARE FOUNDERS WHO EITHER START TECH ENABLED COMPANIES OR WE ARE THE BUSINESS END AND BOTH OF US, WE'RE NOT CODERS, BUT WE BOTH HAVE TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES.

SO YOU CAN BE IN THE TECH SPACE IF YOU HAVE BUSINESS ACUMEN, IF YOU KNOW MARKETING.

YOU DON'T NECESSARILY HAVE TO KNOW HOW TO CODE IN ORDER TO BE IN THE SPACE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WANT TO LET YOU TOUCH ON THAT AS WELL.

BUT VERY QUICKLY ONE OF THE THINGS I DO WANT TO SORT OF GET TO IS WHAT IS IT THAT BLACK WOMEN BRING TO THE BUSINESS WORLD, TO THE TECH SPACE THAT OTHER GROUPS MIGHT NOT BE BRINGING TO, IS IT CERTAIN SERVICES OR WHAT IS IT THAT'S DIFFERENT AND UNIQUE?

THE.

IT'S AMAZING, BECAUSE BLACK WOMEN HAVE SUCH A UNIQUE LENS AND OPPORTUNITY OUT THERE TO KIND OF SOLVE OUR PROBLEMS AND ONE OF THE BIGGEST THING I THINK IS PEOPLE FORGET, WHEN YOU'RE A PERSON OF COLOR, THAT'S ONE PART OF IT, AND THEN YOU'RE ALSO FEMALE, THAT'S ANOTHER PART OF IT.

SO THE INTERSECTIONALITY OF BOTH IS VIEWING IT THROUGH A LENS.

AND TECHNOLOGY IS ONE OF THE WAYS TO ENABLE THAT.

SO WE HAVE TONS OF FOUNDERS CREATING AND SOLVING SOME OF THE BIGGEST PROBLEMS OUT THERE.

LIKE WE HAVE LAST YEAR, FOR OUR PITCH COMPETITION, ANGEL RICH SHOWED HOW SHE'S HELPING PEOPLE IMPROVE THEIR CREDIT SCORES THROUGH GAMING.

SO SHE HAS A GAME APP THAT ACTUALLY TEACHES US HOW TO IMPROVE OUR CREDIT SCORES.

SO PEOPLE ARE ACTUALLY GAINING CREDIT POLITERACY.

YOU MAY HAVE AN IDEA FOR A TECH BUSINESS, BUT YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO FROM THERE.

WHERE WOULD YOU GO FROM THERE?

GO TO WOMEN TALK TECH, IT REALLY IS A COMMUNITY.

SO YOUR QUESTION AROUND LIKE WHAT ARE THE TYPES OF BUSINESSES THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE CREATING?

SO NOT ONLY DO YOU GO AND YOU LEARN ABOUT DIFFERENT BUSINESSES THAT BLACK WOMEN ARE CREATING, BUT THEN WE'RE ON THE PANELS, RIGHT?

SO WE'RE A SPONSOR, SO IN OUR CASE, WE BOTH SPONSOR THE CONFERENCE AND ALSO IT'S ON A PANEL.

SO BLACK WOMEN TALK TECH IS REALLY DOING THE ECOSYSTEM SOME JUSTICE.

LIKE REALLY ENABLING US TO GROW AND LEARN.

IT'S VERY UNIQUE, BECAUSE BLACK WOMEN TALK TECH IS REALLY FOR FOUNDERS, IT'S BY FOUNDERS FOR FOUNDERS.

SO IT HAS A UNIQUE SET OF QUALIFICATIONS FOR THESE CONFERENCES, BUT OUTSIDE OF THE CONFERENCES, WE DO A GREAT DEAL OF COMMUNITY BUILDING FOR OUR DIFFERENT LISTENERS AND EVENTS OUTSIDE TO MAKE SURE WE CONNECT AND MAKE SURE OUR FOUNDERS ARE GETTING ACCACCESS.

THE MAJORITY OF BLACK WOMEN TECH FOUNDERS RAISE ONLY AN AVERAGE OF $36,000 COMPARED TO $1.5 MILLION, THAT AN AVERAGE WHITE FOUNDER WOULD RAISE.

SO IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW THESE NUMBERS AND FIGURE OUT HOW DO WE SUPPORT OUR COMMUNITIES TO REALLY INVEST IN BLACK WOMEN IN BUSINESS, AND NOT ONLY BLACK WOMEN IN BUSINESS, BUT BLACK WOMEN IN TECHNOLOGY BUSINESS.

BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT WE NEED IN TERMS OF BUILDING WHAT BLACK WOMEN IN TECH LOOK LIKE.

SO FOR YOU ENTREPRENEURS OUT THERE WHO MIGHT BE THINKING ABOUT STARTING A NEW BUSINESS, THIS IS YOUR VILLAGE.

AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US AND TELLING US ABOUT BLACK WOMEN TALK TECH.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

THANK YOU.

> ACCORDING TO THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION, IN 2017, 24 ANIMALS DIED WHILE BEING TRANSPORTED BY AIR, OF THOSE 189 O189 -- 18 OCCURRED ON UNITED ARMIES.

AFTER THE DEATH OF THE FRENCH BULLDOG COCHITO WHO WAS FORCED INTO AN OVERHEAD BIN JUST BEFORE A FLIGHT, UNITED AS TAKEN RESPONSIBILITY AND AS ANNOUNCED MEASURES TO KEEP SUCH DEATHS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

BUT WHATEVER UNITED DECIDES TO DO OR NOT DO REGARDING IT'S TREATMENT OF ANIMALS, PET LOVERS EVERYWHERE ARE ASKING, HOW COULD THIS EVER HAVE HAPPENED AND HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE THAT THIS NEVER HAPPENS AGAIN TO ANY ANIMAL ON ANY AIRLINE.

AND JOINING US NOW IS THE ATTORNEY OF THE FAMILY WHO OWNED COCHITO.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

LET'S GET TO THE PARTICULARS OF THE CASE.

WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR CLIENTS, WHEN THEY GOT ON BOARD THE UNITED FLIGHT FROM HOUSTON TO NEW YORK WITH COCHITO?

CATALINA, SOPHIA, A SMALL INFANT AND COCHITO IN A TSA APPROVED BAG BOARDED A FLIGHT FROM HOUSTON TO NEW YORK AND WERE SEATED.

AFTER THEY WERE SEATED, THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT CAME BY AND ORDERED CATALINA TO REMOVE THE BAG FROM THE SPACE IN FRONT OF HER AND PUT IT IN THE OVERHEAD BIN.

NOW, SEE, THAT'S A POINT OF DISPUTE, BECAUSE THE ATTENDANT SAYS THAT THE BAG THAT COCHITO WAS IN, WAS IMPEDING THE AISLE.

BUT ACCORDING TO UNITED AIRLINES GUIDELINES, YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT IT UNDERNEATH THE SEAT IN FRONT OF YOU.

ARE YOU SAYING THAT'S WHAT CAT L CATALINA DID?

THE BAG THAT COCHITO WAS IN, WAS NOT IMPEDING THE AISLE.

AND THE DOG WAS BARKING AND MOVING AROUND AND IT WAS VERY OBVIOUS THAT THERE WAS A DOG IN THE BAG.

WE'LL GET TO THAT IN A SECOND.

BUT ACCORDING TO THE PASSENGERS THAT WITNESSED THE INCIDENT, CATALINA ARGUED WITH THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

BUT SHE AND HER FAMILY WERE THREATENED BY THE ATTENDANT?

YOU KNOW THAT THERE'S A VERY SEVERE PENALTY FOR NOT FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF FLIGHT ATTENDANTS AND THERE COULD BE A $250 FINE AND 20 YEARS IN JAIL.

SHE WAS JUST FOLLOWING THE INSTRUCTIONS OF THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT, IN FACT SHE WAS BULLIED.

SHE WAS TOLD SHE WOULD BE PULLED OFF OF THE FLIGHT IF THEY DIDN'T DO THIS?

I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT, BUT I CAN TELL YOU SHE WAS BULLIED AND SHE WAS ORDERED TO MOVE.

UNITED AIRLINES HAS TAKEN FULL RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY HAVE AGREED TO REFUND THE TICKETS FOR CATALINA, SOPHIA AND THE FEE FOR COCHITO, AND THEY HAVE TAKEN OTHER MEASURES FOR STOPPING DOGS IN THE CARGO AREA, AND THEY'RE NOW INSTRUCTING ALL BAGS BE CLEARLY MARKED TO HAVE DOGS IN IT.

IS THAT SUFFICIENT TO MAKE YOUR FAMILY WHOLE?

I THINK THAT'S GREAT THAT UNITED IS TAKING ALL THESE MEASURES AFTER THE EXACT.

HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT REVEALED THE NAME OF THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT.

AND I DON'T KNOW WHY.

SO YOU DON'T KNOW IT EITHER?

WE DON'T KNOW IT, NOBODY KNOWS IT.

AND SHE HAS NOT EVEN APOLOGIZED.

I APPRECIATE UNITED COMING OUT AND APOLOGIZING AND ACCEPTING RESPONSIBILITY, WHICH THEY SHOULD DO.

BUT THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY HERE AND WE NEED ACCOUNTABILITY.

YOU SAID SHE SHOULD BE CRIMINALLY CHARGED.

CHARGED FOR WHAT?

FOR SURE THERE'S A CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION GOING ON.

THERE WAS A VERY EXTENSIVE INTERVIEW THAT WAS CONDUCTED YESTERDAY WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY, THEY'RE LOOKING AT ANIMAL CRUELTY AND OTHER CRIMINAL ISSUES.

I CAN'T GO INTO ANY MORE DETAIL ABOUT THAT, I DON'T WANT TO IMPEDE IN THEIR INVESTIGATION.

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING FOR YOUR CLIENTS?

WELL, FIRST, AND FOREMOST, WHAT WE'RE LOOKING FOR IS ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE FLIGHT ATTENDANT NEEDS TO COME FORWARD, WE NEED TO KNOW WHO SHE IS.

WE NEED TO HAVE THAT TAKEN CARE OF.

THEN THERE NEEDS TO BE JUSTICE FOR COCHITO.

AND I THINK SENATOR KENNEDY AND SENATOR ALCATERA HERE IN NEW YORK ARE WORKING ON SOME GREAT LEGISLATION, AND I APPLAUD THAT.

THEY HAVE BROUGHT UP COCHITO'S LAWS.

AND I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO CALL ON PRESIDENT TRUMP IN HIS HOMELAND TO COME OUT AND HELP OUT WITH THIS LEGISLATION.

THAT'S REALLY HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

SO TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THE FAMILY IS DOING.

SOPHIA IS AN 11-YEAR-OLD GIRL AND SHE WITNESSED ALL THIS.

AND THE MOTHER WAS DISTRAUGHT, SHE WAS THE ONE WHO TRIED TO REVIVE THE LITTLE DOG.

IT SOPHIA IS COMPLETELY DEVASTATED, SHE'S HAVING A HORRIBLE TIME.

SHE'S ABSOLUTELY DEVASTATED AND SHE KEEPS RELIVING THIS OVER AND OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

AND THE MOM THE SAME AND THE DAD.

EVERYBODY ON THAT FLIGHT WAS TRAUMATIZED, THIS WAS AN ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE THING THAT HAPPENED.

THIS WAS VERY UNBELIEVABLE TRAGEDY THAT HAPPENED TO THIS FAMILY.

AND WE'LL LIKE TO SEE HOW IT PROGRESSES.

WELL, THANK YOU.

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