Harvard scholar's arrest raises profiling questions

[Danno 1,228]

Well here he is, just as we thought... mouth still open and running.

Hell the Black Cop even looks irritated.

[Marilyn. 340]

that pic looks like it was taken during the day

[_Simpson_ 250]

that pic looks like it was taken during the day

more importantly did you see the black officer, that racist #######

[_Simpson_ 250]

photoshoped, yes I think so

[Danno 1,228]

Well here he is, just as we thought... mouth still open and running.

Hell the Black Cop even looks irritated.

Get a load of this guy will'ya.

Gates chastises officer after authorities agree to drop criminal charge

By Tracy Jan, Globe Staff

Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. chastised a Cambridge police officer today and demanded an apology after authorities agreed to drop a disorderly conduct charge against the renowned African-American scholar.

Gates accused the officer who arrested him at his Cambridge home of having a "broad imagination" when he summarized last Thursday's confrontation in police reports, and he denied making several inflammatory remarks.

“I believe the police officer should apologize to me for what he knows he did that was wrong,” Gates said in a phone interview from his other home in Martha’s Vineyard. “If he apologizes sincerely, I am willing to forgive him. And if he admits his error, I am willing to educate him about the history of racism in America and the issue of racial profiling … That’s what I do for a living.”

Gates, 58, was handcuffed and booked last Thursday following a police investigation into a suspected burglary at his Ware Street home near Harvard Square. A passerby spotted Gates and his driver, who had dropped him off from the airport, trying to push the front door open and called the police. The door had been jammed. Police responded and arrested Gates after they said he became belligerent.

Earlier today, the Middlesex district attorney's office announced plans to drop criminal charges against Gates. The City of Cambridge and the police department recommended today that prosecutors not pursue charges in a joint statement from authorities and Gates that called the confrontation "regrettable and unfortunate."

"This incident should not be viewed as one that demeans the character and reputation of professor Gates or the character of the Cambridge Police Department," the statement said. "All parties agree that this is a just resolution to an unfortunate set of circumstances."

Cambridge Mayor E. Denise Simmons said in a statement that the controversy illustrated "that Cambridge must continue finding ways to address matters of race and class in a frank, honest, and productive manner."

The imbroglio elicited reactions from across the country about race relations and profiling. Representative James E. Clyburn, Democrat of South Carolina, said today on MSNBC that even though "we've elected an African-American president … these kinds of profiling do, in fact, take place."

"We're a long way from putting this issue behind us," said Clyburn, a Democrat and former chairman of Congressional Black Caucus.

This afternoon in an interview, Gates said he never yelled at the officer other than to demand his name and badge number, which he said the officer refused to give. The officer, Sergeant James Crowley, said in the police report that he did state his name. He also said Gates unleashed a verbal tirade, calling him racist, telling him that he did not know who he was messing with, and threatening to speak to his “mama” outside.

“The police report is full of this man’s broad imagination,” Gates said in response to a question on whether he had said any of the quotes in the report. “I said, ‘Are you not giving me your name and badge number because I’m a black man in America?’ . . . He treated my request with scorn. . . I was suffering from a bronchial infection. I couldn’t have yelled. . . I don’t walk around calling white people racist.”

Gates continued, “I’m outraged. I shouldn’t have been treated this way but it makes me so keenly aware of how many people every day experience abuses in the criminal justice system ... No citizen should tolerate that kind of poor behavior by an officer of the law. . . This is really about justice for the least amongst us.”

Because of his arrest, Gates said he plans to make racial profiling and prison reform central intellectual and political issues he wants to explore. He’s also considering a new documentary on racial profiling.

“Because of the capricious whim of one disturbed person . . . I am now a black man with a prison record,” Gates said. “You can look at my mug shot on the Internet.”

This guy has been so out of touch... for so long, he actually though a cop who demanded his ID was abuse and harassment.

Talk about Self importance!

Welcome to the Real world Professor. Time to get out of the insulated University Cocoon and start living what you have been writing about for all these years.

[Danno 1,228]

photoshoped, yes I think so

If it was someone's in trouble, heres the link, not exactly some mini-blog.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_...es_to_be_d.html

[_Simpson_ 250]

photoshoped, yes I think so

If it was someone's in trouble, heres the link, not exactly some mini-blog.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_...es_to_be_d.html

I made that comment cause the left part of that officers shoulder didnt even have a back ground.

Edited July 22, 2009 by looking_up

[Hilarious Clinton 452]

Associated Press

BOSTON -- Supporters of a prominent Harvard University black scholar who was arrested at his own home by police responding to a report of a break-in say he is the victim of racial profiling.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. had forced his way through the front door of his home because it was jammed, his lawyer said Monday.

Cambridge police say they responded to the well-maintained two-story home near campus after a woman reported seeing "two black males with backpacks on the porch," with one "wedging his shoulder into the door as if he was trying to force entry."

By the time police arrived, Gates was already inside. Police say he refused to come outside to speak with an officer, who told him he was investigating a report of a break-in.

"Why, because I'm a black man in America?" Gates said, according to a police report written by Sgt. James Crowley. The Cambridge police refused to comment on the arrest Monday.

What a F______ idiot.

No. Because you were seen breaking into a house. This guys shouldn't even teach special needs kids.

[thepizzadude 26]

“Because of the capricious whim of one disturbed person . . . I am now a black man with a prison record,” Gates said. “You can look at my mug shot on the Internet.”

How long was this man in PRISON exactly....

[Ban Hammer 14,668]

“Because of the capricious whim of one disturbed person . . . I am now a black man with a prison record,” Gates said. “You can look at my mug shot on the Internet.”

um no, he does not. he didn't go to prison.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

If Gates was white and the officers were black some here would have a different opinion.

[Danno 1,228]

I got the feeling this guy has been waiting for this his whole career.

He does all this research trying to find racism in every corner, he writes books gets constant pats on the back from the typical liberal groups that seek out victims to champaign but..... the truth is, this guy has a pretty good life, China one week back to Boston the next and off to Martha's Vineyard the next (not exactly hangin with the Brotha's if you know what I mean).

Now finally he has a testimony.... a moment where he can say... even prove, that Racism is alive and well in 2009.

His mugshot I guarantee will be in his next book, perhaps the cover?

From the looks of this gentlemans Wilki page, he has not worked a day in his life, his exclusive focus in life has been squarely ...or should we say totally on race.

Yet he's half white (If I read correct) and I don't see where he has ever even lived in a Black community (he's from WV).

At any rate he probably is not a bad guy just way hyper sensitive over race to the point where he sees everything through that prism.

When the cop failed to "fawn" over his name and position but rather spoke to him, well, like a cop would speak to anyone.

"That" was a sure sign of Old Jim Crow poppin it's head up in Boston of all places.

Say what you want but,... the Honored Professor was right about one thing; that Cop "didn't know who he was messin with".

To him he was some wacky old Black guy trying to live out some -Black guy vs bad Cops- in 1960 ....while growing more and more out of control by the minute.

The Dull cop never knew what was coming.

Truth is, once he failed to kiss the Ring of Professor Gates, he was done-fur.

I would loved to have watched that Cop squirm back at the station.

As the situation went from routine arrest too, Higher-up's, calling to find out what the hell was going on with these news reports.

As the hours ticked by Gates wacky behavior became less and less the issue and his Color became more and more. Until finally they wanted the whole thing to just go away.

So Gates being the kind hearted peacemaker that he is has offered the Cop one last chance.

Kiss his ring and shoes and he will forget the whole thing.

Cop, I know you don't want to but just get it over with. On the bright-side his shoes can't be that dirty, as I said

The guys never worked a day in his life (look it up).

*Before the dust settles on this thing I can promise you there will be those claiming this whole silly event will have some deep meaning for race-relations, he may even be called to headup a panel or "task-force" to "see where we can go as a nation" to combat this "ugliness" in the Police forces. (mark my words).

The race hustlers (and the white apologist) will take this and run with it even though most fair minded people (of any color) know this had much more to do with the egos of these two men than it did race.

[Niels Bohr 72]

As Gates said, he doesn't going around calling white people racist.

Profiling is common with these cops. You never lived in Eastern Ma? The southeastern MA, the people commonly profiled are asians, blacks, and latinos people (I do it all the time, but, I know it's wrong). In Northeastern MA, they are the latinos, and blacks.

Heck, the cops around here think all asians are gang bangers. A cop drives my house very slowly or the park slowly when he sees any asian around all the time. It makes me uncomfortable to have them drive so slow as to think something is about to happen or investigating me. It's horrible.

[justashooter 430]

And if he admits his error, I am willing to educate him about the history of racism in America and the issue of racial profiling … That’s what I do for a living.”

sounds like he has a chip on his shoulder the size of mount rushmore.

maybe he should get a real job and create something, rather than spending his days trying to crucify the past.

he would prolly gain some self esteem in the process. it appears that he has none at present.

[alienlovechild 75]

C'mon people. Don't you know it's impossible for a professor to get angry for cops thinking he broke into his own home? Why, he's written so much and been on TV so banish the thought. He's above human emotion unlike you lesser beings.

They arrested him simply because Boston is full of redneck cops waiting to pounce on celebrity black professors. Happens everyday. Look it up.

Think otherwise and face a suspension.