Harvard Professor Arrested--Gates Black in America

[shana]

Let's get up a LINK about this matter.

He opened his back door with his key and tried unsuccessfully from inside his home to open the front door. Eventually, Gates and his driver forced the door open from the outside, Ogletree said.
The professor was inside for several minutes when a police officer, Sgt. James Crowley, appeared at his steps and asked him to step outside, the lawyer said.

imo, racism is alive & well in this country.

ETA: I've revised my take on this matter now that far more information has been released. That said, my "imo" still stands even if not directly applicable to this particular incident.

 

[Openmind]

quote=Morag;3984670=. Later my husband said what if the cops had come- I said I would have told them who I was and they would have left once I proved who I was. No way in hell would they have been anything other that polite and apologetic to me- no way. And if they had been huffy with me, I would have been huffy with them....

Why would you expect the police to apologize to you for checking why you were throwing a flower pot through a window?

 

[Blue_Dolphin308]

I absolutly DESPISE people of any race who think they can do anything regardless whether it is against the law or not, and then expect not to be quesitoned about it, and if they are questioned about it then they place the race card! Thats ABSOLUTY DISPICABLE! imo

"your only questioning me because i am black/white etc" Yeah ok please

 

[robinparten]

...to deserve arrest? Did he threaten to harm the (much larger and younger)
police officer? Did he swing his cane at him?

From the police report; "With the Harvard University identification in hand, I radioed my findings...and prepared to leave. ...As I began walking through the foyer toward the front door, I could hear Gates again demanding my name."

So, the police officer knew that Gates was Gates, and he was walking out the door while Gates yelled. Why was Gates not permitted to be angry and yell- he wasn't threatening any harm to anyone? He was yelling in his own home, and eventually yelling on his own porch. I'll bet that if Gates was yellling at me or anyone else, the cops wouldn't have arrested him. Cops shouldn't be so dang sensitive.

About three or four years ago, I found myself locked out, no cell phone, no near neighbors at home. So I threw a flower pot through a window (soooo satisfying in a strange way- my son's friends thought it was a very cool thing to do). Later my husband said what if the cops had come- I said I would have told them who I was and they would have left once I proved who I was. No way in hell would they have been anything other that polite and apologetic to me- no way. And if they had been huffy with me, I would have been huffy with them.

Why were the charges dropped? Could it have anything to do with the fact that the arrest was unjustified? Would love to have seen this come to court...

He was being disorderly, yelling and attracting a crowd with his behavior. I think his behavior warranted an arrest.

FYI - I am a white woman. Years ago, I was pulled over for speeding, and during the course of my interaction with the police officer, I lied to him about my drivers license or insurance card being lost or something (it's been so long I can't remember, I just know I got caught in a lie). I was arrested. My husband was a few minutes behind me in his own car and he actually stopped and talked to the cop while I was being arrested. He came immediately to the station and bailed me out. He told me later the cop arrested me because I lied or wasn't being cooperative.

Now, that cop had the right to do what he did. I think it was a little over zealous, but my husband thinks I got what I deserved because I lied. And I can see his point. When I went to court the whole thing was dropped, but I can see why a cop would go ahead and arrest someone who is not cooperating.

Even if you think the police officer should not have arrested Gates, I do not see why anyone would think he was arrested because the cop was racist. If anything, I think Gates has a major chip on his shoulder and he was looking for trouble. He certainly found it.

 

[oh_gal]

Oh-gal,

The conflict escalated to the point that a "needless" arrest was made (charges immediately dropped). I don't care who started it or who was the worst behaved. It takes TWO or more opposing parties for a conflict to occur and escalate to this level. I have lots of experience with this in my constant mediation of my children's disputes.

This is what I care about - who is man enough to own their part? I'll keep holding my breath!

I guess that's where you and I disagree, 'mom (and that's ok!) -- I don't see that it was a needless arrest. An officer can arrest someone if their behavior is impeding an investigation. Gates was (impeding), and he was (arrested). The charges were most probably dropped not because he was not in the wrong, but because he raised such a stink (not unlike the one he raised at the scene), and either he a)knew someone; b) someone was trying to head off a media circus (too late); or c)the police decided to be gracious.

I have always enjoyed reading your posts, and hope our difference of opnion doesn't cause any hard feelings.

 

[Blue_Dolphin308]

Some black people use their color to their advantage. People treat them wrong because of their color, people owe them something because of their color. Or they use it as an excuse for their behavior.

KUDOS to you. This is EXACTLY what I am talking about! They use it to get a way with there behavior!

You just said it so much better then I could have!

 

[magnolia]

I laughed out loud at President Obama's comments this morning. With all the important issues such as health care, etc., he doesn't understand why there is so much controversy surrounding the incident. Helloooo Mr. President - Who was the main contributor?

This reminds me of the Cynthia McKinney 2006 Capitol Hill Police Incident.

 

[Blue_Dolphin308]

Once Gates handed over the driver's license with the same address as the location, for me, it is game over. It doesn't matter that he insulted the cops, got pissy-pie with them, or asked for a badge number. Once they ferreted out the fact that he was the owner they needed to leave.

Yes it DOES matter! You cannot act like an and disrespect police officials and get away with it! In my opinion, I think he should be thankful he didn't walk away with a more serious charge rather then a disorderly conducut charge!

The officer did not know if there was ANYONE else in the house, he didn't know whether the professor was alone or not. He was just doing his job! And I think haveing an officer come home safetly to his family is alot more improtant then a few ruffled feathers because he took the EXTRA time to ensure that this was in fact the professors home and it just so happened to be called racial profiling and upset the professor!

 

[oh_gal]

Yes it DOES matter! You cannot act like an and disrespect police officials and get away with it! In my opinion, I think he should be thankful he didn't walk away with a more serious charge rather then a disorderly conducut charge!

The officer did not know if there was ANYONE else in the house, he didn't know whether the professor was alone or not. He was just doing his job! And I think haveing an officer come home safetly to his family is alot more improtant then a few ruffled feathers because he took the EXTRA time to ensure that this was in fact the professors home and it just so happened to be called racial profiling and upset the professor!

(BBM)
I think what's happened to some in our society, Ladybass, is that they 've become so used to having the right to freedom of speech that they abuse it. Gates should probably be charged monetarily for the manpower hours this ate up.

 

[Blue_Dolphin308]

Oh-gal,

The conflict escalated to the point that a "needless" arrest was made (charges immediately dropped).

It was NOT a needless arrest, it was stated in the press confrence that , and if they could have changed anything, he STILL would have been charged because they gave him a break, and now he is playing the victim! If he still would have been charged it would NEVER have gotten to this point, because it would have gone to a court of law!

The officers were trying to give Gates a break, and drop charges because maybe they realized it was a situation that got out of hand on both ends. But now Gates is playing the poor pity me card, and imo he should still be charged!

 

[southcitymom]

I guess that's where you and I disagree, 'mom (and that's ok!) -- I don't see that it was a needless arrest. An officer can arrest someone if their behavior is impeding an investigation. Gates was (impeding), and he was (arrested). The charges were most probably dropped not because he was not in the wrong, but because he raised such a stink (not unlike the one he raised at the scene), and either he a)knew someone; b) someone was trying to head off a media circus (too late); or c)the police decided to be gracious.

I have always enjoyed reading your posts, and hope our difference of opnion doesn't cause any hard feelings.

No hard feelings at all, oh-gal - I enjoy your opinions a great deal as well and am happy to agreeably disagree with any respectful!

I do hear what you are saying! For me, when all is said and done, it takes two to tango.

FWIW, nothing I have read leads me to believe the officer is racist. I think he's a good officer who was who allowed an angry person accusing him of things he did not believe about himself to get his goat and, in his anger, the officer probably took his power to the limit. Police can and do do that (arrest people who are a$$holes) and - as many other posters have pointed out - it's always best to be polite as can be to someone who can handcuff you and out you in jail.

That said, once the officer HAD ascertained that this man indeed was the resident of this address would it not have been better to have ignored Gates's ranting and raving? The officer would have had a tale with which to regale his fellow officers and Gates would not have this very LARGE platform from which to express his feelings.

I don't think anyone expected it to blow up like this! I am still waiting for someone to step up and take some personal responsibility!

 

[Seamaid]

I laughed out loud at President Obama's comments this morning. With all the important issues such as health care, etc., he doesn't understand why there is so much controversy surrounding the incident. Helloooo Mr. President - Who was the main contributor?

This reminds me of the Cynthia McKinney 2006 Capitol Hill Police Incident.

So...does anyone else think that the question about this situation was "planted" in the press conference? If it was, I bet it's being regretted now!

 

[oh_gal]

...to deserve arrest? Did he threaten to harm the (much larger and younger)
police officer? Did he swing his cane at him?

From the police report; "With the Harvard University identification in hand, I radioed my findings...and prepared to leave. ...As I began walking through the foyer toward the front door, I could hear Gates again demanding my name."

So, the police officer knew that Gates was Gates, and he was walking out the door while Gates yelled. Why was Gates not permitted to be angry and yell- he wasn't threatening any harm to anyone? He was yelling in his own home, and eventually yelling on his own porch. I'll bet that if Gates was yellling at me or anyone else, the cops wouldn't have arrested him. Cops shouldn't be so dang sensitive.

About three or four years ago, I found myself locked out, no cell phone, no near neighbors at home. So I threw a flower pot through a window (soooo satisfying in a strange way- my son's friends thought it was a very cool thing to do). Later my husband said what if the cops had come- I said I would have told them who I was and they would have left once I proved who I was. No way in hell would they have been anything other that polite and apologetic to me- no way. And if they had been huffy with me, I would have been huffy with them.
Why were the charges dropped? Could it have anything to do with the fact that the arrest was unjustified? Would love to have seen this come to court...

(BBM)
God bless our policemen & women...

 

[elle1919]

Obama should have stayed out of it, of course, though I can imagine that's difficult when a friend is involved. But I am empathetic to our leader's missteps because I think it would be awful in about 1000 different ways to be President.

It's a shame that neither man wants to apologize for his part in the situation....that, my friends, is not a race thing, but a (male) ego thing!! I am a gender profiler! Both men are afraid to back down and appear weak or wrong when, in actuality, owning your part in any given conflict is the apex of strength of character.

I am coming in a little late to the conversation but I just wanted to comment on the part of your post that I bolded. I agree with you in part because I think Obama should have stayed out of this issue as well, however on the flip side I do not have empathy for any President's mis-steps whatsoever. If he wasn't prepared for difficult questions he should have thought about that before running for this office. This is a position that is held in high regard and many of his comments as of late are beginning to disturb me. I am a registered republican but was pleased when Obama was elected into office because I believed what he was shoveling me.....lol.

I am disturbed that Obama stated the police officer was over-reacting, that is just unAmerican for him to say....on any level. Police officers put their lives on the line when they pull up on any call, I can agree that there are some corrupt ones out there but for the most part we as Americans need to support these men and women who lay down their lives for citizens on a daily basis! For goodness sakes Obama does not even do that. He has swarms of protection around him at all times.

This professor pulled the race card, in my opinion there is no doubt about that. It is people like these that keep the race issue alive and well in our society. Our society of HUMAN BEINGS.....that is what we all are, not white, black, brown, olive....we are all human beings and made in one likeness and many beautiful shades.

 

[Mira]

In my version of a perfect world...

Gates could say... Jeesh, sorry. I was jetlagged... frustrated because something was up with my door...I lost it. Thanks for doing your job.

Connolly could say.... Yeah, I understand. Sorry it got out of control and we had a misunderstanding.

Maybe I saw too many lifesaver commercials as a kid???

and our president (who i like, btw) should remove his foot from his mouth as well.

stupid situation handled badly by all concerned

 

[Morrison]

Yep. It was a small meaningless incident. If Gates was white and the cop black, we'd never have known it happened. Some mayor to work for. Obama should stick to his job, not a proxy attorney for his Harvard buddy.

 

[RoseRed]

I guess that's where you and I disagree, 'mom (and that's ok!) -- I don't see that it was a needless arrest. An officer can arrest someone if their behavior is impeding an investigation. Gates was (impeding), and he was (arrested). The charges were most probably dropped not because he was not in the wrong, but because he raised such a stink (not unlike the one he raised at the scene), and either he a)knew someone; b) someone was trying to head off a media circus (too late); or c)the police decided to be gracious.

I have always enjoyed reading your posts, and hope our difference of opnion doesn't cause any hard feelings.

I believe the charges were dropped because of WHO he is and who he knows ( POTUS ). Lets face it , there has been a few months since the last big racial dispute . How else will Jackson and Sharpton get money without a few big differences of opinion or fake disputes every few months. People might forget who they are and stop donating money.

 

[angelmom]

Yep. It was a small meaningless incident. If Gates was white and the cop black, we'd never have known it happened. Some mayor to work for. Obama should stick to his job, not a proxy attorney for his Harvard buddy.

Well, that depends. If Gates was a white friend of GWB and the cop black, and Gates started calling the cop names, THEN I'll bet we'd have heard A LOT about it. Mostly about GWB being a racist and look who his friends are, etc.

Personally I think the door swings both ways.

 

[MCDRAW]

Racism doesn't go away because many people of more than one color won't let it, not just Blacks, McDraw. Other people use their color, their looks, their education whatever to their advantage. You cannot single out Blacks as the reason we still have racism.

Your right there are many people that continue to be racist. I never said that racism didn't exist. Sure people of all colors us their looks and education to their advantage. But you never hear a white man screaming that he was arrested because he is white. Gates was arrested because he wouldn't cooperate not because of the color of his skin. Yet he is claiming he was arrested soley because of the color of his skin. He won't admit that his actions had anything to do with it. That is why the issues of skin color will never die.

 

[Morag]

(BBM)
I think what's happened to some in our society, Ladybass, is that they 've become so used to having the right to freedom of speech that they abuse it. Gates should probably be charged monetarily for the manpower hours this ate up.

Darn right we are "so used to having the right to freedom of speech"- but I don't think it's particularly abusable. Sure, crying Fire! in a crowded theater- the classic example-is an abuse, but yelling at a cop from my front porch? If I'm not inciting a riot or advocating violence, then I have the right to say pretty much what I want.

Surely the police are well-versed in keeping their cool under worse conditions- they have a higher responsibility than to fly off the handle and arrest someone with no real reason. I believe that there was a Supreme Court case back in the day regarding whether calling police "pigs" was an arrestable offense. I think (don't know for sure) the outcome was that cops are supposed to let such comments roll off their backs. This cop proved that he has a thin skin- probably won't help his career.