;)
Gates Arrested in His Own Home
Thursday, July 23, 2009 at 4:29AM 
Henry Louis "Skip" Gates, Jr. (born September 16, 1950) is an American literary critic, educator, scholar, writer, editor, and public intellectual. Gates currently serves as the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor at Harvard University, where he is Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research.
The above was taken from his Wikipedia biography. Henry Louis Gates, Jr. is also Black. Whether this fact played a role in his arrest at his own home or not is as matter of conjecture. Below is one account of what happened when police were summoned to his house, because a neighbor, identified as Lucia Whalen, thought that two Black men were trying to break in. See Video here
The President, Barack Obama, was asked at a news conference what he thought of the incidence. Obama called Gates a friend, and said he doesn't know all the facts of the case but he said:
"Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof he was in own home," Obama said.
"What I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there's a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately," Obama said. "That's just a fact."
The police sergeant accused of racism after he arrested Gates insisted that he won't apologize. Police say Gates at first refused to display ID and then accused the officer of racism. Sgt. James Crowley said he followed proper procedures in arresting Gates.
Crowley said he was disappointed by the national debate triggered by the incident and insisted he followed proper procedures in arresting Gates last week in Cambridge on a charge of disorderly conduct.
"I'm outraged," Gates said in extensive comments made to TheRoot.com, a Web site he oversees.
"I can't believe that an individual policeman on the Cambridge police force would treat any African-American male this way, and I am astonished that this happened to me; and more importantly I'm astonished that it could happen to any citizen of the United States, no matter what their race.
There are 1 million black men in the prison system, and on Thursday I became one of them," he said. "I would sooner have believed the sky was going to fall from the heavens than I would have believed this could happen to me. It shouldn't have happened to me, and it shouldn't happen to anyone."
He spoke of a "terrifying and humiliating" experience at the Cambridge jail, where he was booked, fingerprinted, photographed and questioned, then locked up in a tiny cell that made him claustrophobic. He said he wants an apology from the officer, Sgt. James Crowley. He also said he planned to talk to his legal team about the next step.
Prosecutors dropped a disorderly conduct charge against Henry Louis Gates Jr. The city of Cambridge called the arrest "regrettable and unfortunate," and police and Gates agreed that dropping the charge was a just resolution.
The city of Cambridge, a Boston suburb, released a statement saying the situation "should not be viewed as one that demeans the character and reputation of professor Gates or the character of the Cambridge Police Department."
Reader Comments (178)
I think Pres. Obama should not have made a comment. After I read the two police reports it appeared to me that the police officer was trying to do his job. I really feel Prof. Gates "over-reacted" and HE escalated the situation...which began when Prof. Gate's neighbor called police to investigate a possible break-in. One thing that does not remain clear is if the "reporting neighbor" ever met her neighbor Prof. Gates. It appears she does not know him. It also appears that Prof. Gates is too caught up on the subject of racism. On my block my neighbors and myself would also call the police if we thought a break-in was occuring...regardless of any race.
The whole thing looks to be a setup to trap the policeman in a racial confrontation. I'm really surprised he didn't have a camera set up to record it for use in his whining report about discrimination. I don't see that gates proved anything, other than that he is a horse's ass!!!
The news report say that Professor Gates was arrested for "disorderly conduct in a public space". Your own home is a public space? You can get arrested for shouting (and being accused of breaking into your own home) and somehow it becomes a "public space"? OK, folks, no more shouting in your own home. Sounds to me more like this was a case of the police officer feeling like he was being disrespected and escalating the situation. What a shame that this kind of stuff happens. Come on, Sgt. Crowley, be a man and apologize.
The police were there on legitimate business and gates acted like a horse's ass. All you blacks out there who wonder why there is little police presence in your neighborhoods and why the police are apathetic when you call them, here's part of the reason!
Any time a cop encounters a crime scene or possible crime scene, he's going to want to sort out who are the good guys and who are the bad guys.
It sounds to me that, like many if not most blacks, Gates is so racist and race-obsessed (he is a professor of African-American studies, after all) that he started the whole thing by immediately whipping out the "race card". Early reports when he was first arrested said he initially refused to provide identification and immediately accused the cop of "harrassing a black man in America". The reason the cop was there was because a neighbor had called in about a possible burglary in progress. So the cop is going to want to confirm for sure that anyone present is not a criminal, REGARDLESS OF RACE. Then, after setting a bad tone with the cop, Gates continued on his racist rant until he got his dumb black ass arrested. I've had a similar circumstance, only probably worse behavior on the part of the cop, without the arrest, but it was just the circumstances in my case, not race, same as in this case.
And for Obammy to jump in, along with the dumbass liberals, and immediately agree that it's a race issue, just adds to the resentment whites have of blacks, Hispanics, and other minorities who are so eager to whip out the race card any time things don't go their way. Sometimes things don't happen as we'd like, and race has nothing to do with it.
If Gates had been cooperative in the first place, and not had the racist chip so readily available on his shoulder, none of this would have happened.
It's good to know that driving while Black is now in second place to entering your own home when Black!
There seems to be a pattern of Black men returning to their homes after work, a night out, or after going to the supermarket or shopping mall. They come home to their homes expecting to enter normally as the white folks do but thanks to their scared to death good White neighbors who call the police they are handcuffed, arrested and prevented from entering. Whatever made Black men think they had a right to enter their own homes without being harassed by the police?
The good news is that they are eventually released so the same police can stop them when they are in the cars for driving while Black. Thankfully, the cops are able to prevent Black men from entering their own homes now too. What a color blind society we live in! Makes you feel glad these same brilliant folks are our front line in the war against terrorism, doesn't it?
This Situation and Your Comments are Just another EXAMPLE of how out of Touch and self Righteous WHITE AMERICA still is. Clearly the POLICE WERE WRONG thus THEY DROPPED THE CHARGES!!!!....How are you arrested for LOUD and UNRULY BEHAVIOR in a PUBLIC SPACE inside of YOUR OWN HOME??...NEWS FLASH PEOPLE YOUR HOUSE IS NOT A PUBLIC SPACE!!!..ITS YOUR PRIVATE DOMAIN..WHICH YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTECT....YES EVEN AGAINST LAW ENFORCEMENT (anyone ever heard of a warrant). THE OFFICER WAS SUPPOSE TO APOLOGIZE to Prof. Gates and LEAVE POST HASTE after The Professor Showed the proper ID. WHY CALL HAVARD POLICE to come to the Scene? Why not ask for maybe some sort of Bill or letter addressed to the house with Mr. Gates Name on It? NO YOU CALL OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT? IT DOESNT ADD UP...IT NEVER DOES...POLICE DO WHAT THEY WANT IN RESPECT TO MINORITY MEN AND THEIR RIGHTS AS CITIZENS...AND YES!!!! BLACK MEN HAVE A RIGHT TO NOT TRUST POLICE AND BE PISSED OFF...LOOK AT THE HISTORY!! (Childrens March in ALABAMA in the 60's...SEAN BELL...RODNEY KING..AND COUNTLESS OTHER ACTS OF POLICE BRUTALITY AND PROFILING)...MAYBE PROFESSOR GATES DIDNT WANT TO GO IN HIS POCKET FOR ID AT FIRST FOR A FEAR OF BEING SHOT 41 TIMES....(Amadou Diallo NYC 1999) HE WENT IN HIS POCKET TO GET ID TOO...HE PAID FOR IT WITH HIS LIFE...WAKE UP WHITE AMERICA...EVERY BLACK MAN ISNT AN ANGRY MILITANT...BUT IF PUSHED THEY ALL MIGHT BECOME ONE!!!
I think what was done to Mr. Gates was wrong, he shouldn't have to show proof that he is the residents of his on home. Proper identification is shown when you're walking the streets. But, if he opened the door from his own house, why should he? If he was a thief he wouldn't have opened the door. President Obama at least reads the news and it's shows that discrimination has to change in this country. It doesn't matter what color your skin is, this shouldn't have happened. Mr. Gates is owned an apology from the police.
It seems as if you are taking ONLY the story of the Police officers. To be honest i've read both, and both I don't agree with. It seems as if the truth has been stretched! And it seems as if the arrest was wrong, because if he was really in the wrong, would his charges have been dropped?
So being a professor of African American studies make you a racist? So if a chinese person studies chinese, then they are racists? And what is he cooperating for? Being falsely accused? If I falsely accuse you of something are you going to sit there and say...."yes you are right?" Don't think so!
what Prof. Gates and his neighborhood needs is a Block Party where all the neighbors get together to socialize and get to know one another. Then when one of the Professor's neighbors sees him and someone else trying to "un-stick" a stuck door, he/she would recognize their neighbor as Prof. Gates rather the one of "two black guys" trying "to break into" his own house. Maybe they could have gone over and offered to help! Instead, the police were called about "two black guys" breaking and entering.
Yes, the Cambridge police did "behave sturdily" and yes, Proof. Gates may have over reacted and/or had a "chip on his shoulder"--who knows for sure? But I wonder, would as many police have shown up if it were "two white guys" trying to open a door?
You sir, have no clue how the world works.
The charges were dropped because in today's society, if a black man yells discrimination, everyone gets afraid they will get sued or labeled a racist.
It's total BS.
Officer, I salut you!
My research on Black America and endorsed by Professor Cornel West proves that most Black American do not have an African or African slave history. Professor Gates was sent select chapters of the book prior to its publication. He used my research to do a t.v. series with Oprah and he did not credit my research. I believe Professor Gates set up the police to engage him at his house and used his neighbor as an accommplice.
Another poster who wants us all to believe that Mr. Gates was targeted becuase he was black, not the fact that both him and his driver were breaking into the house from the outside. Would it be reasonable to assume from the neighbors standpoint that if he lived there, he should have a key?
Your responses are what makes this issue racist.
He wasn't falsely accused. The police officer was responding to a freakin burglary and he was doing his job. If Gates would've pulled out his ID CARD instead of his RACE CARD this wouldn't have been in the news. In most states if you fail to provide an ID to a police officer who is asking for it, you can be hauled off to jail for that. Gates should thank for the officer for responding to the call and checking up on the house to make sure things were ok. I don't see how this is labeled as racial profiling? Police shows up to potential burglary and he doesn't know who the owner is or what he looks like, so like I said he was doing his job and did nothing wrong.
And for Mr. Obama to put his 2 cents in is not very smart. If he's friend's with Gates that means he'll have a biased opinion. He should've done the smart thing and said "No comment". Way to back up some of the hardest working people in America Mr. Prez!
Well this cop is abusing his power to prove that he can arrest anyone if he likes, he intentionally lured the professor outside so he can get him for disorderly conduct. After the professor proven that he is in his own house, the officer at that point should've just left, but he try strech his power by arrest him just to show that he has license to. This cop should be fired.
Sue, do some research, as you won't get it from the mainstream media. Gates followed the officer outside and contiued to berate him in front of a crowd of other policemen, neighbors, and on-lookers. That is in fact a "public place."
Most of the comments here prove without a dought that there is a race problem in America. We all need to get a clue!! this is sad, and as educated as most of these comments sound, they are ripe with ignorance.
How did the officer "lure" Gates outside? The officer asked Gates to calm down. Gates refused to do so while hurling racist remarks at the officer. So who's the racist?
I don't have to "jimmy" or "jigger" (as the Won so eloquently stated) to get inside my home. Perhaps Gates could use some of his Government grant money to get his door fixed.
Newsflash!!! Gates was outside in front of a crowd of people. Where do you get off on putting all white people in the same box. That is what racists do.
Your statement fails logic.
Exactly! After proven that the black man is actually owns and resides at that mansion, the officer should just apologize and leave, instead he tries to arrest him just to humiliate him. This cop should be FIRED period.
True Al..until we can see past the colour of ones skin, we cannot have real "Change." It's unfortunate our present President is close friends to a race-baiter and racist like Gates. But it should come to no surprise, as his list of close alliances are infamous throughout the northeast.