Harvard’s Henry Louis Gates Jr. Arrested For Being “A Black Man in America”

Although you’re probably correct in assuming that police in a state like Massachusetts and a town like Cambridge would be club-wielding, fire hose spraying, Bull Conner-esqe racists, I believe the officer in this instance showed remarkable restraint.

Personally, had I been in Officer Wilson’s shoes that evening, the moment Gates started to shout things like “This is what happens to a black man in America” I would have tazered him while liberally beating him with my nightstick about the head and upper torso.

Had Mr. Gates persisted in his drunken racist outburst (and especially if he was wearing his hair the same way Cornell West does), I would have felt justified using my service revolver to subdue this throwback from the ‘60s.

But that’s just me. Maybe other people would handle the situation differently.

So in reaction to "60's" attitudes you have decided to react like a 1960's Alabama Sheriff. K, um I no longer think I am paying any attention to you anymore.

TheMagicalSkyFather (that moniker cracks me up, by the way :)) -- I don't think jwest would be able to pass the mental health test to get on the force, if he's willing to state his crazy racist rants so openly, so I don't think we have anything to worry about from him arresting brilliant black men just 'cause. Unfortunately, most racist people applying to police academies know that such a statement would immediately disqualify them for entrance, and don't show their bigotry so openly. Fortunately, it's also most likely just a few bad eggs that would arrest a black man trying to open his own door. I would hope.

The funny thing is I had intended on commenting about how this is probably just that. A few bad eggs combined with a national drug war that has changed the way the police view the citizens and in turn the way the citizens view the police that has allowed police to become or at least feel like untouchables. I highly suggest The Confederate States Of America to all that have not seen it. The north won the war but if you look at how we treat people, I think the confederates won the peace(note I did not say the south which is very different) we just no longer break it down along racial lines usually economic ones. When it is a racial issue its usually pretty isolated and dealt with swiftly in most areas. When it is an economic issue we never hear about it. To be honest though I am still a bit stunned by the reaction that this article got, I should be prepared for it but never really am I am.

You two should be on a poster for liberalism.

Has it occurred to you that this morality play takes place in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 2009 – not Selma, Alabama in 1964? Do you honestly think that this police officer is such a racist that he picked the opportunity of being called to this man’s house to exercise his black-hating proclivities in front of witnesses?

Let’s see if another scenario makes more sense.

How about a Black Studies professor sees the chance to raise his voice and talk down to policeman, knowing he can blow the story up at the next Harvard faculty dinner party to portray himself as the brave lone Negro standing up to The Man ala Martin and Malcolm?

Now doesn’t that sound a bit more feasible?

Would I like to beat this bloviating racist like it was my job? Yes, but rhetorically. Until the people of this country stand up to idiots like Gates, no one will be safe from debilitating false charges of racism.

Show you have a brain and denounce this ball of slime.

Addendum.

For good or ill, we have elected a black man the President of the United States. Personally, I don’t believe he had the proper experience to fill the job effectively and I disagree with his ideology, but I believe he is an intelligent person.

There is an abundance of intelligent black men and women in this country. We collectively owe them the respect they deserve for overcoming whatever hurdles there were in their lives to attain the wisdom they possess.

It is for this reason that I plead with everyone, liberals and conservatives alike, to stop pretending the Henry Gates, Cornell West or the head or faculty of any Black Studies department of any university is “brilliant” or even “marginally smart”. If someone is teaching Black Studies and also wears a beret, they should be classified as “mildly retarded”.

If these people had any real intelligence, they would be in real fields of science or the arts and not in some made-up, feel-good bullshit program like “Black Studies”. We have elected Barack Obama to be the world’s most powerful person; we can stop insulting the real black intelligencia by including these rejects.

That said, let the racist charges fly.

"To be honest though I am still a bit stunned by the reaction that this article got, I should be prepared for it but never really am I am."

As many times as I have seen some of the incredibly racist comments on this blog, of course also by only a few bad eggs, I would have to agree that sometimes it is still jarring. See the two most recent comments on this very thread for examples.

Good Grief. Clearly he was arrested because he couldn't keep his big arrogant mouth shut.

For being black? Give me a break. He needs to do 30 days in jail for not co-operating with police and possibly more for obstruction of justice.

roro - I am not a jwest defender, nor have I ever shown racist tendencies on this board or in my life.

However, jwest is correct this is a little too convenient. I have know Black (and many Hawaiian) academics, especially those in Ethnic Studies to be frank, who are always on the lookout for reasons to take offense, are the ones that blow incidents out of proportion, and when they get out of control, always but always claim they were provoked or unfairly targeted because of their ethnicity.

Let's call this the 'Maxine Waters' effect, to make the point clearer.

He is correct to point out that while it is certainly a possibility that this officer is an unrepentant racist, this would indeed seem to be an odd time and place for an officer to act out blatant racism, in front of witnesses, and already being aware of whom he was dealing with.

Yes, Father_Time, thank you so much for going ahead and taking care of the whole judge and jury thing for us. Sure saves a lot of time and trouble.

From a boston resident with Harvard affiliations: our police force is remarkably "error prone".
In the last few years, our police (1) shot someone in the face, (2) shut down a chunk of the city over an LED cartoon, (3) arrested sheppard ferry at his art opening instead of the numerous times he appeared in public, (4) etc etc etc.

On a personal level, I have been threatened by police on baseless charges.
Probably because I was in the wrong area. "Fortunately", I am white so I was OK.

The real question is: what do we do about systematic police failure?
I repeat, this is not an outlier case.

"He was booked for disorderly conduct after “exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior....”'

He was in his own home and on his own property. If you can't get loud in your own home, then where CAN you get loud? Especially if one doesn't want someone on one's property.

He was in his own home, the police came, he didn't want them there and they refused to leave. The police created this situation.

I can't imagine some of the commenters on here going quietly in the night if the police show up at their home, that person produces ID and the police still accuse them of breaking and entering. Seriously, what would YOU do if you're in your home and that happened?

If women didn't fight for their right to vote, do you think they'd be able to vote today? If blacks (and some whites) didn't stand up for their rights after the CIvil War (and in the 150 years since then) do you think they'd be where they are if they just rolled over and played dead?

I think the police wanted to exert their power and yes, perhaps Gates did over react. But he certainly didn't plan it nor was he looking for an excuse to cry racist. He was in his own home and not out looking for trouble. But at the end of the day it was the police with the authority and the power to defuse the situation. However the police do what they do best- arrest people and let their superiors (or courts if there is a crime) sort it out later.

I love conservatives. They are the people who tell us that we shouldn't trust government and that government is incompetent, but when it comes to the police or the military, all over sudden the government is a great trustworthy institution, but for anything else you shouldn't trust the government any further than you can throw an elephant.

I grew up in Queens, NY, I had a friend who lived a couple of houses down the street from me, I went into the Marine Corps, he joined the NYC police, we hooked up after I came out of the service, in the three years he had been in the force he had gone from a nice guy to an arrogant nasty & potentially violent SOB.

DQ,

I sympathize with your friend.

As anyone can tell you, I’m the nicest person in the world. But if I had to deal with New York liberals every day for over three years, I would probably be ready to bust some heads too.

Some situations just change a person.

Concerning this story, I’m certain that after reading the police reports you’ll agree that Henry Gates had every opportunity to diffuse the conflict, but the lure of reenacting a civil rights battle from 40 years ago was just too much for him to pass up.

Don’t worry about the poor working man who was just trying to make sure no one was breaking into a home. He’s a cop, so chances are he’s a racist. That’s the type of lower-class, uneducated, unenlightened person that type of job attracts, isn’t it? Probably ex-military, and you know how they are. I’m sure the accusation of racism wouldn’t hurt his chances for promotion. Hell, he probably wouldn’t mind a few weeks off without pay being suspended over this false racism charge.

Screw the little guy. Right?

Jwest has makes some valid points, articulated about as insensitively as possible. Having completed a Harvard program in the past year, I can assure you that the majority of academics there--regardless of skin color--believe that they sh-t out 24-carats at any given moment. Typical of academics at most fancy schools, really. Gates is not likely any exception. The police report suggests that he most certainly did overreact to a cop who, with not a smidgen of Gates' education or intellect (or, most likely, personal wealth), can only observe law enforcement protocol in any given situation.

Gates is the recipient of a tarnished legacy of slavery which he tries to scrutinize and is in a better position than a cracker like me can ever dream of, which is why I disagree with conservative black writers like Shelby Steele and still think African Studies has viability in a culture that strives for race neutrality but has so far to go. The double-edged sword that Gates wields is manifest in his illustrious career built out of dissecting race-consciousness and being asked to divorce himself from it in the heat of a passionate moment. He behaved like an ass to a cop, someone ranked much lower than Gates on the intellectual totem pole, but the sociological totem pole still allows the white guy to reign supreme.

This will shake out in a very interesting manner--most likely the next chapter after the New Haven firefighters' saga. When we close this book in 3.5 or 7.5 years of Obama, it will be interesting to see where the partition rests between elitism and skin color.

"Friends of Gates said he was already in his home when police arrived. He showed his driver’s license and Harvard identification card, but was handcuffed and taken into police custody for several hours last Thursday, they said."

Police Officer - There was a report of someone trying to break in this home. Could you show me your ID?
Gates - Here is my driver's license and Harvard ID.
Policer Officer - KKK! I'm going to arrest you now because I hate black people!

But if I had to deal with New York liberals every day for over three years, I would probably be ready to bust some heads too.

When you worked in the South Bronx in the early eighties, you didn't get to deal with to many liberals...

He’s a cop, so chances are he’s a racist.

No, chances are he's an a**hole, like most cops...

Don’t worry about the poor working man who was just trying to make sure no one was breaking into a home.

Your concern for the working man is truly touching, now if we could extend it to the laborers, farmers, construction workers, etc...

Probably ex-military, and you know how they are.

No, I don't...
When I was in the Corps, almost thirty years ago at least a third of the people in my platoon were African-Americans, and another 15 to 20% were hispanic , the rest white whith a couple of American Indians thrown in fro good measure. So please educate me...

Here is another possibility I haven't seen mentioned.

Maybe the cop did overreact, was abusive of his authority, and was on a power trip. Who is to say that was because it was Gates was black? Frankly, I have also seen a lot of cops who fit that description act that way with white people.

So, maybe the cop is not a racist - maybe the cop is just an asshole.

Show you have a brain and denounce this ball of slime.

Okay, jwest, I denounce you. And the racist police officer who arrested Prof. Gates in his own home.

Kathy -

the racist police officer who arrested Prof. Gates

So, there cannot be any other answer? Only that? No possibility that Gates was indeed the instigator of behavior that led to his arrest, or that the cop is just a power-hungry asshole not a racist?

Your position is, amusingly enough, prima facia racism.

So, maybe the cop is not a racist - maybe the cop is just an asshole.

Or maybe he's both. The point is that you can see it that way because you are white. You are not automatically assumed to be a criminal because of your skin color and racial identification. As a white person, you have that luxury, of assuming it's nothing personal, of assuming it's just that that particular police officer is an asshole, or a jerk, and it's nothing to do with who you are, because in your world that's the reality. White men are not automatically assumed to be breaking in to their own homes just because the door is jammed and they're pushing against it with their shoulder.

This is the reality. And if it happens to you and everybody you know (of your skin color) and it's been happening for time out of mind, then you no longer have the blessing, the privilege, of assuming that you are simply dealing with an asshole who acts this way to everyone.

after reading the police report, i believe the officer let it get out of hand. he was the one who insisted on t
aking mr. gates' business literally out into the streets because he couldn't get a signal? - give me a break! i like the way he says that harvard officers and passerbys were gathering and looking at the scene! of course- he's the one who called harvard police/security! once gates showed i.d., why did his employer have to be called? how about apologizing for the mixup or inconvenience, once identity was verified? this got way out of hand. i'm sure gates was loud. in my professional and personal career, i have several 'misunderstandings' on the part of others, however, in the workplace you're not free to get obnoxious or become outraged, that's if you want to keep your job. with my obviously professional uniform, badges and professional assoc. patches, i've been mistaken for the housekeeper, or someone who didn't belong. i saw an interview with the past founder of BET who talked about being in his riding gear at home when contractors or maintenance workers showed up at his home to do work he rquested. although he's with one of his several horses and in his jodhpurs, the contractor asks to be directed to the man of the house. bob told him, you're looking at hime. this stuff happens all the time. i lived a few years in boston, but fortunately, i was very young when we left and have only good memories of that childhood and the teachers (black and white) and friends made (black and white). thank God for that.

Oh, I see Kathy. And guess what. You are white, too (unless for some bizarre reason you use some white lady's picture for your avatar while being black).

But I guess by some grace you have been blessed above all other whiteys to know the black man's burden and shame, to feel his pain and shame for him, to speak for him, and to have an understanding other white people cannot.

I did not dismiss the possibility that the cop is racist. I pointed out, and continue to point out, that the simple fact that Gates is black is not proof in and of itself that this was a racially motivated incident.

Oh, and only a racist would think it does prove that racism was involved.

So, there cannot be any other answer?

Given the way black men have historically and traditionally been treated by the police and the legal system, and given the fact that Boston police, in particular (Boston iin general, as a city, in fact) have a reputation for brutality and unfair treatment of blacks, I'd say that racism is by far the likeliest reason. That does not necessarily mean the police officer in this particular situation was acting out of conscious, deliberate, thought-out racist intent. But given the circumstances as we know them right now, it certainly looks as if the officer carried with him certain specific racial stereotypes and assumptions that caused him to act as he did.

Your position is, amusingly enough, prima facia racism.

No, it's not. It's reality. I am not making a statement about every police officer. I am starting from the specific circumstances of this particular incident, placed within the larger context of how black men have historically been treated by the law in situations like these.

It is just inconceivable that a white man -- especially a professional white man in a middle-class neighborhood -- would be taken for a burglar in his own home.

You are white, too (unless for some bizarre reason you use some white lady's picture for your avatar while being black).

No, that's me. I am white. And I know that I am white.

But I guess by some grace you have been blessed above all other whiteys to know the black man's burden and shame, to feel his pain and shame for him, to speak for him, and to have an understanding other white people cannot.

Austin, I am not "speaking for" anyone. It's not necessary to be a black man to have some understanding of the nature of historical black experiences in this country. I am a voracious reader with an especially strong lifelong interest in history, and that, along with an open mind, is really all that is required. I don't say I know how it feels to be black, or to be anyone other than who I am. Understanding on an intellectual level is not the same thing as knowing on a personal level. I am doing the former, not the latter.

I pointed out, and continue to point out, that the simple fact that Gates is black is not proof in and of itself that this was a racially motivated incident.

Of course, it's not "proof." And in point of fact, there can never *be* proof of such a thing. No one can "prove" in a legal sense that this police officer assumed Prof. Gates to be a criminal because of his black skin, or that he reacted more strongly to Gates' anger because Gates was black. No one can prove that. (Unless, of course, the officer had used specifically racist language, which as far as we know, he did not.) But that's not the point. The point is that Gates, in perceiving it that way, was not being irrational or unreasonable. Arresting someone for yelling when he's in his own home, objectively, is not an appropriate thing to do.And it's something that is far more likely to happen to a black person than a white person. That is just reality.

Deuteronomy,

“Jwest has makes some valid points, articulated about as insensitively as possible”

Those Ann Coulter Sensitivity Classes have yet to pay off, but I do love her style. I’ve tried subtlety, irony, wit and charm, but sometimes you just need to use a baseball bat between the eyes to make a serious point.

Watch the comments. There are times that, in response to a really blunt post, the liberals will slip and actually say what they are thinking. When they do that, they not only loose the argument, they embarrass and expose themselves.

Actually I think the cop was an asshole cop and not very likely a racist one. Racist ones tend to pick on people that have no voice as they know their actions will not be accepted if they reach the light of day. Asshole cops always treat people like that and are stunned when someone has the political clout to enforce their rights.

I also think the Prof. likely over reacted to an asshole browbeating cop which escalated the situation even further but how do you think a white business prof. would react? Sure it would not have gone to race but with the way the man probably(I could be wrong) dresses if he were white at his age no intelligent cop would harass him for ID in a nice neighborhood. Notice that I said intelligent though, this was an asshole cop. Intelligence is not what they are known for, they are grown up highschool bullies with badges and no one can do anything if they stay just this side of the law until that is they mess with someone connected, and it looks like the bell is tolling. I have no pity for the cop, he deserves what he gets unless there is a large amount to this story that I do not know. Cops like him need to get run out of the force anyway and if this is what does it so be it. As for the Prof, he should probably realize that this is how the police treat all of us now. Sure there are still areas where they treat you like humans, like Oregon but watch cops sometimes. I generally dont treat dogs like they treat the people that pay their salaries before they have any reason to suspect anything. Maybe he will trade in his Professorship to a higher calling of activism to get us back to the nation of rights we were before the drug war began and we exported ghetto policing to the entire country.

As for jwest, you do not understand who you are speaking to. Liberal I may be but big city liberal I am not. One of the most racist cities I have ever lived in was LA. I know the south well, I spent ten years traveling around it and working in it. I know a good part of this nation as laborers and truckers or ex-truckers tend to. I know the difference between liberal and conservative racism and that little hate fantasy you seemed to be writing belonged historically right where I put it.

Kathy -

He was not arrested for being a burglar, and you know it.

Saying that racism is the most likely answer is also different than saying it is the ONLY answer. You have finally conceded my point at least.

Dear Deuteronomy: "majority of academics there--regardless of skin color--believe that they sh-t out 24-carats at any given moment. "

that is a quote for the ages D. thank you. I knew there was a reason some folk at U walk funny... s'all that gold backed up. lol

dr.e

He was not arrested for being a burglar, and you know it.

I did not say he was arrested for being a burglar. I said he was "taken" for a burglar, meaning the police officer suspected him of being the person who was supposedly breaking into the house. (In reality, no one was breaking into the house; Gates was entering his own home.)

He was arrested for "disorderly conduct," which consisted of yelling at the police officer that the officer was being racist and didn't know who he was messing with. Gates was doing this yelling from *inside his own home.* He was arrested, basically, for raising his voice to a white police officer -- in his own home.

Saying that racism is the most likely answer is also different than saying it is the ONLY answer.

LOL, you're right. It *is* different. Which was precisely my point. You were the one who suggested I (and others) were saying racism was the only answer. I didn't say that, Austin. You did.

You have finally conceded my point at least.

Actually, I think you conceded mine. But who's keeping score?

"When we close this book in 3.5 or 7.5 years of Obama, it will be interesting to see where the partition rests between elitism and skin color."

one of the best insights and something to watch Deuteronomy. Good call. The shift in Latinos, Blacks is considerable in just the last 9 years. However, the poor of any group, including AngloAmericans continue to drown for lack of esp the hoist of decent education. That you took work at Harvard puts your reach far above the reach of most .... I'm glad you could go. And find it fascinating to know how a self described 'cracker' got to H, and why. There's a book in there for sure.

And whomever referenced what i'd call the 'hyper-reactive state of ' you get in my face because of what color my pigment is,' rather than because of anything else... my experience as a diversity lecturer at university? you spoke exact truth. This phenom which is far beyond simply 'playing the race card' as some say... is the least discussed phenomena in all of any kind of ethnic studies. I speak about it and teach other ways to deal with 'not being liked' other than saying it has to do with one's background. Sometimes it does. Sometimes not. But I think we as a culture are growing more able to call this immediate and specious duck and cover when it is so. And with accurate measure, with fairness.

Dont have enough facts about Prof Gates yet to determine what really occured. Do know that any of us could be arrested for disorderly conduct for contravening the order of an officer. Even a small order. Presumably even an off-base order.

But thus far, in no way does it seem this case re Gates, even come close to the bar of say for instance a group of men at university being falsey accused of rape et al, and bludgeoned for months on end in certain media before being acquitted. Or the Rodney King case, which still causes strong 'sides' to be taken.

Prof Gates's situ is nothing like the young civil rights workers hung by the necks from the bridge, aided and assisted by sheriff's officers.

If he tries to make it so unjustly, the times they are a-changing... not at all sure of outcome--- it will depend

thanks,
dr.e

One thing that I have yet to read in any of the posts defending Gates is a response to the police report.

The America where Blacks no longer enjoy the same opportunities as whites is gone. Blacks or African Americans or whatever the PC moniker you prefer occupy every level of American Society. If anyone is guilty of racism in this case, it's Gates.

there was an article in the NYT 19 yrs ago, about Gates' interesting climb to prominence.

He apparently back then was already a multi-multi- millionaire. I stopped reading on page 3 or 4 when came to a description of his 9000 square foot house. Not sure the point of the article than to both host and toast his fabulous wealth and intriguing way of his achieving success by essentially sort of niche marketing that he grew into a behemoth...

but the article has an interesting insight about how people climb the ladder in academial; how they make themselves 'valuable' to the economy of the institution which wants to attract monied students or else those who qualify for government subsidies that come directly to coffers of the university... and how tough/ aggressive Gates is known for being... and how expensive to employ. Interesting in the piece he is said to be known to say in certain ways that he doesnt care if people push back against his values,...

Here is the link:

http://www.nytimes.com/1990/04/01/magazine/blac...

and here is the full police report by the arresting officers:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/...

Kathy -

Do know what you actually write, or do you just write it in a blind rage? You very first comment was "the racist police officer who arrested Prof. Gates". Where is the ambiguity in that? Please show where int this thread, prior to you FINALLY saying "racism is the most likely answer" you made any comment other than racism WAS the answer.

I was the one that said there could be non-racism based answers, and gave two different scenarios, and never said either was the answer, only possibilities. I also am the one that agreed that racism could be the issue. In short, I was the one open to the possibility of multiple different answers to the question of why this happened, not you.

We don't agree on a lot, but at least be honest in your arguments. No one likes a liar.

I am late to the discussion here, but it seems like there aren't enough facts provided to make much of a judgment one way or the other. The link to the police report won't work for me so maybe I'm missing something but it seems like people are taking sides here based on their pre-disposition rather than any real evidence.

Gates is full of it because it appears that a non-white cop witnessed the entire thing & filed a supplemental police report.

Here's a link to the police report which includes the supplemental report.

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/galleries/polic...

Let’s see if I’ve got this right. You are seen breaking into your front door in the middle of the night, and when the police arrive you decide to be an a-hole. Well guess what? You get what you deserve no matter what color your skin is.
Read my take on it and stick around for more good content.
http://libertarianhumor.com/2009/07/21/gates/

Wow. I can't believe some of the comments on this. I had a policeman stop me on my own street. I was turning into my own driveway. I didn't know that it was illegal to have 2 licence plates on my car (stupid and uninformed, yes; criminal, no). The old one was in place with rusted out screws that had to be drilled out. To avoid driving with out of date plates, I put the new one in the back window. The policeman who approached was as arrogant as they always are. (I should mention that I am 50 and a slightly dumpy, white middle-class female in a middle class neighborhood.) It annoyed me that he was talking to me in that you are a criminal, bow down to me because I have a badge attitude. I got really annoyed and had an attitude just because he was being so rude in my own driveway. He was clearly showing off his power to a new recruit, who looked uncomfortable through the entire encounter. Why should I show respect to a policeman who can't even be bothered to approach me in a polite, professional manner? God only knows how that policeman approached Gates, a dangerous black man. If I were Gates, I'd be shouting too. I'd be willing to bet he was just annoyed until after he showed PERFECTLY ADEQUATE ID to the policeman. AND the policeman had no business not immediately apologizing for bothering a private citizen in his own home. The whole incident is absolutely a case of racial stereotyping and I don't blame Gates one bit for going ballistic. I hope the officer gets a major blackmark and demotion: he deserves it.

Holy cow, I've missed quite a discussion since yesterday!

Look, it's extremely common for black people to be unduly harassed by police officers. Extremeley common, historically and presently. When something happens that often, eventually it's going to happen to someone who not only knows the history of such things, but has both the education, clout, and attitude not to take it lying down. It's a numbers game. Even if in this case the harassment was not race-based (what was it based on? well dressed guy entering his own home in the middle of the day? where's the suspicious behavior there?), if the cops weren't so hell-bent on harassing black people *in general*, then maybe that wouldn't even come up as a possibility.

I know I have been in similar situations, where I got mouthy with a cop because he was being a jerk, and I can only imagine if I had been in my own home when it happened. But I'm a cute white woman, and so I did not get arrested. Who do you call to get a trespasser out of your home when the trespasser is a cop? Yes, I'd get upset! And yes, I can imagine shouting something to the nosy neighbors gathered to watch.

This just in...............charges dropped..........Liberals WIN!! Liberals WIN!!

Take the rest of the day off and celebrate.............we'll try not to miss you.

roro, please post your phone number before you leave........:)

"roro, please post your phone number before you leave........:)"

Ummm...not sure what that's supposed to mean. ? Are you cyber flirting?

Also:

"Liberals WIN!!"

Or, maybe --just maybe -- there was no reason to arrest the guy in the first place. You know, 'cause he was at his own house.

From the details of the report, there isn't enough information as to who's word is closer to the truth--that of Gates or the police. Either way, I trust that the judicial system will get to the bottom of the issue and penalize whichever party was in the wrong. The important fact is that this story was in the news with a slant that favored Gates. Perhaps we are closer to achieving equality.

-Politics.com intern

Just to stay true to form……..

I’d still be beating this mouthy chump with my nightstick because of his attitude.

But, like I said. That’s just me.

"but the lure of reenacting a civil rights battle from 40 years ago was just too much for him to pass up."
You state this as if we are in a post racial society where numbers of inmates are statistically representative to the nation's population. We may have a black president but look at the rest of the governing bodies:

Men and Women in the 111th Congress
While the partisan composition of the Congress is fairly close to that of the electorate, there are larger disparities between the Congress and the general citizenry in term of sex and race. In the House, there are currently 360 men and 75 women. In the Senate, there are 17 women and 83 men.



Racial Composition of the 110th Congress
House:
African American 42
American Indian 1
Asian 8
Caucasian 461
Hispanic 26
Pacific Islander 1
Vietnamese 1

Senate:
African American 1
Asian 2
Caucasian 95
Hispanic 2

Do the math sir.

@@roro, please post your phone number before you leave........:)"

Ummm...not sure what that's supposed to mean. ? (But I'm a cute white woman) Are you cyber flirting?@@

No, I simply wanted to explore methods to achieve "bi-partisanship"

Marthajane,

Hopefully, the prison population reflects the proportions of who is committing crimes.

And yes, I believe we are living in a post racial society. Not only can we elect a black President, he can drink from the same water fountains and eat at the same lunch counters.

The only thing that is still off limits is private school for poor inner city kids – and that is because Obama and the Democrats in congress don’t want these kids to get an education if it comes from anyone other than the teacher’s union.

As a liberal, Marthajane, how can you look at yourself in the mirror knowing you’re a party to condemning black children to a life of ignorance, crime and poverty?

Hang your head in shame, woman.

I don't know for sure the specifics of this event, so I'm not inclined to make a judgement. I do know, however, that right or wrong you are a fool to overreact or get belligerent with the police in any circumstances. The place to resolve a dispute is in court, not in the street. Otherwise, you will lose everytime, and you may lose a lot. And whatever right you had on your side is quickly trumped by being too foolish to know this truth.
I remember being outside a bar and watching in a crowd while several cops were using hard force to get a man into their paddy wagon - he was kicking and screaming and they were working him pretty good. I said to my friend on the right who was watching with me, "Police brutality." I said that very softly, I was astonished that anyone other than my friend could hear, but in two seconds I had a cop in front sticking a club in front of my face yelling at me "You want to go with him?"
Cops don't stand for ANYONE, white or black, trying to take control of a situation. It's too dangerous.

The news and the people took this too far. first of all I would expect the cops to be called if anyone seems like thier about to kick a door in no matter if your the pope or mother tarresa. Once mr Gates has proven that it's his house, then the cops should have left the area, and mr Gates should have thanked them for keeping the hood safe. However if mr gates decided to use his Black vito card and asked the officer his name and badge #, then the officer should have presented that. Since that is our citizen rights to ask for it, and pass it on to internal affairs. So i would have said both parties mr.Gates and the officer both need good slap in the face to keep thier sh*ti anger under control.......

But hey that's my opinion.

Gates never showed his Drivers License for proof of residency, only his Harvard ID card. While officers were trying to figure out the situation and make sure he was SUPPOSED to be there, Gates berated the officers and calling them racists. When a person becomes aggressive, either physically or verbally, officers are trained to defuse the situation with restraint for the persons safety and theirs. This is very common.

BTW. The Officer Crowley is a decorated officer, teaches anti-profiling classes for the police dept hand chosen by a black superior officer to do so, tried to revive a black athlete (Reggie Lewis)

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/...

The police dept is backing him completely. Maybe its time for blacks and other minorities to follow the rules when confronted with questions from a police officer? You want to stop racism? Look deeper into your own world and stop the stereotypes yourself. If I knew I was such a target for the Police, and knowing that black people are blamed for 60% of the crime in america, why would I continue to act like an uneducated thug, carry weapons, carry drugs? Stop the cycle yourself. White people are not really the problem anymore.

Afrofresh-

When an investigation is going on, and police are trying to control the situation, they are not required to give any information until the situation is under control. Lets all try to keep with the facts in this case.

Yong Li was a senior software engineer in Raytheon's Marlborough facility. She was constantly harassed by her managers, so that she was worried about her own safety. When she reported to HR about her concern, Raytheon, through company counselor John Didio, interrogated her "do you want to kill someone?" As a result, she was traumatized and became long term disabled ...

http://livraytheon.blogspot.com/