;)
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)
Tom, the officer did just that. Gates followed him outside of his own home. So who was baiting who? Gates and all other race-baiters (racists) shoud be held account by their communities. Doing this sort of thing really doesn't advance the cause any.
How did you get your info? From the media! Unless you were there. And what did he say that was racist? Calling someone racist, is not racist!
I think what was done to Sgt Crowley was wrong! He responded to call of a possible break in. What could have been:
Sgt: I'm here for a possible break in. Please step outside.
Gates: Yes I live here I had to break in becuse I forgot my keys.
Sgt: Please show your ID.
Gates: Sure here it is and thank you and the person who called this in. I have been away from home for a while.
Sgt: Thank you sir. That person out there on the sidewalk is the person who call this in. Welcome home sir and have a very good day.
Police abusing power and I can relate to this. I'm asian american and living in Minneapolis, MN and it happened to me a few months ago: my neighbor called the cop and reported that I fired BB gun on my backyard and the cop shown up at my door calling me out to my front porch to question me. I told him that I don't own a gun that I think the neighbor called just because she doesn't like me and the cop told me that he doesn't believe me and I told him that's too bad, he then start pushing me around and threaten me that he can tear my house a part and search for the gun if he wants, I then told him to please don't push me, he then pushed me again and told me that "it is time to listen and I can do whatever I want" at that point I feared for my life, I then told him I need to go inside to put on my shirt, so just to have my wife and kids there to witness incase this cop do something to me, as soon as I opened the door, seeing my wife and kids there, the cop then left my house right after that. Police abusing power and brutality like this makes bad name for Minneapolis Police Department. I believe this cop who arrested the professor at his own house is an evidence of police abusing power and he should be fired.
Henry Louis Gates Jr should apologize for being ignorant...
LoL @ "I don't know, not having been there and not seeing all the facts, what role race played," Obama said Wednesday night while taking questions after a White House news conference.", then later on in the same press conference, The incident, Obama said, shows "how race remains a factor in this society."
Sure, there are plenty of police that abuse their power. However in the above poster's comment, I wouldn't doubt that a belligerant response like "that's too bad" would warrant some type of reaction. What exactly were you thinking? It's not your mother that you're talking to anymore. Feared for your life. Lol. Sounds like something you'd use on some bogus lawsuit.
Of course we have race problem. We've had one from before the "whites" stepped off the May Flower. As a Hispanic I often find myself in the middle of this debate and sometimes as the victim. It is all due to stereotyping.
In “AnyCity,” USA I walk into a convenience store in dirty pants and shirt having worked all day putting up dry wall and repairing a sewer line in my own property. The white sales person says in broken Spanish “that will $7.50, paco.” Little does she know that this short “Mexican” is a decorated retired Air Force officer whose children and extended family have a combined service to this country of over 200 years. And that he is a high school teacher.
I am often asked why I call myself a “Mexican.” My response is because that is what I have been called all my life, in school by my teachers, in the military by my peers and superiors, and even now at age 61.
Stereotyping is as natural as breathing. However those who over react to it will surely be racist!
A lot of these comments make it sound like the officers targeted Gates because he was black. This is absolutely ridiculous. How could the police target him if they were only responding to a 911 call made by Gates' neighbor? It seems to me that the neighbor's racial tendencies, if anything, are to blame for this unfortunate situation. From what I've been able to gather there was no need to arrest Gates in this situation. Yes, he may have been berating the officers with accusations of racism, and yes he probably did escalate the situation with the things that he said, but that's really no reason to arrest someone. It seems like the officer should apologize for his poor decision, and Gates should apologize for the remarks he made. To be completely honest, Gates and the media are blowing this way out of proportion.
You are a wise man, Jose. Based on life experiences a person makes a judgement about another person within the first 10 seconds of seeing them. Its a fact of life. All people make these judgements, white people, black people, asian people, etc. I don't think it's a race problem. I think it's a judgement problem. Black people and police officers will always have a problem as long as the police officer negatively pre-judges the black man and the black man negatively pre-judges the police officer. In this case, Mr. Gates appears to have negatively pre-judged the police officer because he is white. Everyone keeps asking if it was a white professor would this have happened. I ask, if this were a black police officer would Mr. Gates have been so rude and acted so aggressively to the black officer.
Just to let you all know, as a "white man" this can happen to. I came home late one night 3am ish and had a friend drop me off (to drunk to drive) I left my keys with my local Bartender, not thinking about the door key.I proceeded to check all my windows to seee if I could get in. Finally finding a way in ,my friend drove away, about 10 minutes later there was Banging and shouting at my front door,thinking it was my friend coming back, I was a bit startled to find 4 officers (i think 2 had their guns drawn) standing at my door. They immiediatly told me to raise my hands , which I did, and they began a series of questions. after a few minutes locating my Id and some current mail that had my name and address on it. the officers had a little bit of a laugh at me, apologized and said to stay home and have a good night. I thanked them for responding and assured them it was not a bother and we all had a good night.
Did I go call a lawyer ? Did I call the media ? NOPE. Why ? BECUASE THEY WERE DOING THEIR JOB !!!
Had they just said oh you live here have a nice day (not asking for his ID?) and it turned out it was really 2 men robbing the place, What would be in the news ? Police ignore burglars at BLack mans home because it was a Black mans home ?
Get over it , And I am appaled after voting for Obama , that he would call anything, anyone who puts their life on the line for others "STUPID" without knowing all the facts. I expect a litle more from President Obama and I think he should be doing some Apologizing. I voted for someone who is suppose to be beyond personal feelings. After all if you use your Presidential Name for personal gain of your friend isnt that like Bushism?
It was completely inappropriate for President Obama to say the police acted stupidly when he himself admitted he did not know all the facts. It sounds like the neighbor and President Obama were doing some racial profiling. And putting a photo of Dr. Gates in a suit in the article has nothing to do with the incident. We were not there either. For President Obama to use this at a national level is shameful. If he wants to tackle the issue of race be direct about it and go for it. Using this was low and only showed his bias. Is it really necessary for us to tell the President of the United States of America to get his facts straight? If so, we're in a sad state of affairs.
Let's see if we can rationally look at this from both sides.
Professor Gates arrives home after a long trip and has difficulty with his front door. He goes in through the back door, then he and his driver return to the front to try and get the door unjammed. Completely reasonable thing to do.
Meanwhile, a police officer on patrol is dispatched in response to a 911 report of a burglary in progress. He is given a description of the possible suspects, two black men wearing backpacks, trying to force open a door. The description could have been anything, but this is what the caller reported. So, the officer responds on this potentially "hot call." One where he could be injured or killed if a suspect has a weapon.
Professor Gates get his own door unjammed and goes inside his home.
The officer arrives, not knowing what is really happening, but having to be ready for anything. He goes to the house and finds Professor Gates. It does not appear that there is a burglary in progress. But, the officer now has a responsibility to verify that Professor Gates belongs there.
Professor Gates is surprised and upset to have police show up at his door. Who wouldn't be? You're minding your own business and then the cops are there. You feel protective of your own home, and you should be protected in your own home. It does feel insulting to have a cop ask you for your identification when you're in your own home.
But, again, the police would not be doing their job if, after receiving a 911 call, they did not at least verify in the most obvious way that the "suspect" was the owner. It happens all the time in all kinds of neighborhoods.
Now, this is where I think both parties went wrong. The police officer should have used some common sense and lost the "I'm in charge" facade. Professor Gates should have overcome his surprise and upset and understood that the police officer was merely doing his job. Instead, I suspect both parties got into a bit of an ego match. Instead of understanding Professor Gates' understandable defensiveness and taking a more apologetic tack ("I'm sorry, sir, I was just responding to a report. I just need to confirm your id for our report and I'll be on my way."), the police officer took Gates' reaction as a personal affront. And Professor Gates, instead of recovering from his surprise and realizing the situation would easily be cleared up and the officer on his way with simple showing of i.d., he took the request as a personal affront.
Things escalated. Both men refused to take a deep breath and walk in the other's shoes for a moment. The resulting arrest was just plain stupid. It should have been obvious that Professor Gates would calm if the officer simply left the scene. But they both felt affronted and, in the end, the police usually win with an arrest. I think it's a sad thing for both men involved. Professor Gates is an amazing resource for our country. The officer is simply trying to serve his community. They are both human. Things got out of control.
But what is even sadder is that, instead of everyone calmly looking at the miscommunications and misunderstandings involved, it degenerates into so much of the ugliness that we see on this thread. Everyone in America needs to grow up and treat each other like human beings.
For those who question who I am. I am a retired, disabled police officer who supports the NAACP.
I bet big Harvard professor smart mouthed the cop. He cries "racism" since he knows that is the word that makes whites run scared. What a joke.
The term used to describe Professor Gates as being, "race obssessed", is an acurate assessment of the man who spoke of his encounter with the Cambridge police. I admire the professor's vast backround as an educator in the subject of African American history and such. Professor Gates has difficulty with parking his skin color at the gate long enough to deal with the situation calmy and fairly. The cops were called to the scene by a citizen who witnessed suspicious activity which appeared to be the crime of breaking and entering in progress. The police don't know if the person is armed and dangerous or not. If Professor Gates wasn't acting difficult, the matter would not have escaleted into the situation that resulted from his inability to be a, "man" instead of a "BLACK man". This incident was the result of a victim in search of a victimizer. I think Professor Gates sees in terms of race as the motivating factor. This was a manufactured event.
The arresting officer in this Gates ‘robbery’ thing
was Sgt. James Crowley. Please read this related
article. It states everything that could ever be
necessary about his professionalism. I heard Gates
refer to him as a ‘rogue cop’. I think not.
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view/20090722cop_who_arrested_henry_gates_im_not_apologizing/srvc=home&position=0
Sounds like you're a cop yourself, I'm just telling from my own experience and you don't have to believe it. When you're talking to someone with a gun on hand and I've seen enough of police brutality, fear for my life, that's just natural reaction. What would a person say that would warrant a cop reaction to push him around and intimidate him? They get paid to serve and protect people, not to abuse people. Our tax $$ goes to them and so they'd better do it right.
Well said!
Mr. Boyd, Sir, you're right on! I love your "ego match" assessment.
I keep on hearing about how this is all about racism in America and how race relations really aren't as good as they should be. First, let me say that I am a white man and that I don't think this was a race issue. That being said, I am just as appalled by the situation as anyone who does attribute it to race. I happen to believe that the officer was not allowing any racial bias to interfere with his judgment, which serves to highlight an ever growing problem in america. POLICE. Cops think that they have a right to arrest whomever they wish, whenever they wish. Officers like Crowley think that they have a right to arrest someone and let them deal with the consequences. After reading the actual police report, I discovered, as I'm sure many have, that Officer Crowley actually baited Mr. Gates to argue with him outside before, that's right, arresting him for being disorderly outside. That's like a cop making a drunk come outside to speak with him and then arresting him for being drunk in public. I don't know where this whole idea of having to respect cops even comes from. The issue here isn't that the guy was black, it's that he has money and power. Anytime someone with money or power comes into conflict with the police, you here about all of the illegal and unethical things that cops do. Most of these individuals are able to avoid the police for much of their life and are therefore disillusioned as to how police actually function. The fact is that every police department that i have ever worked with has engaged in activities and procedures that they knew were unconstitutional and even illegal. The problem is that most of these illegal procedure only affect those too low on the socio-economic ladder to do anything about. So, if you have to play the race card to get the police to change, I'm all for it. This is something i've thought a lot about and I keep getting stuck at this point with how to actually effect change. The only plausible idea that I've had would require states to actually start prosecuting cops who violate procedures and/or the law. Next time a cop enters a home without a warrant and no probable cause, send him to jail for breaking and entering, that will stop the next cop who wants to violate someone's rights. If you make an improper/unreasonable arrest, you need to go to jail for kidnapping, just like anyone else.
I didn't realize that you have to be nice to cops who accuse you of breaking into your own home. We have a right in this country to be an asshole as long as we don't use fighting words or assault anyone. As soon as Mr. Crowley saw Mr. Gates' ID, he should have walked away and let Gates yell at him as he drove off. Instead, he wanted to teach Gates a lesson: that cops can do whatever they want when you piss them off. I guess you've never been upset, and you've obviously never spoken to a cop, if you think that they talk or act like you've described.
This goes to my point that race had nothing to do with this. This wasn't even a rogue cop, unfortunately, Officer Crowley's behavior is common among cops throughout this country. This kind of thing happens to poor white folks all the time. Cops don't like disrespect, and unfortunately they usually get immunity from prosecution whether the arrest was reasonable or not. It's time for states to make retalitory arrest illegal. When a citizen is arrested for exercising a constitutional right, the arresting officer should be guilty of a crime.
Another example of how being politicaly correct backfires. Its about time blacks in this country stand up on there own and dont scream racism every time things dont go their way. For god sakes we elected a black president and still we have to deal with the Professor Gates of the world. He is no different then Rev. Wright and I think all will agree on his beliefs.Wake up black America. Jesse and Al are not your friend they thrive on this type of event. I bet shakedown Jackson is already eyeing his new prize that he will receive from the city of Cambridge and the university. Maybe an honary degree.This makes me sick and really wonder if they will ever change.
I agree, this was purely an issue of an egotistical cop abusing his power. As a southern lawyer, I see this exact same scenario everyday, but it's usually the other way around. Down here, it's the poor white people who get sent to jail for talking back to cops. That's not to say that black people have it easy, they just know how cops like to be talked to. If it takes race issues to change people's perception of the police, I'm all for it.
Are you an idiot. That makes no sense. I can see the headline now.White Cop leaves burglar in Black professors home. You might want to think before you start pecking away better yet you might just want to go back to school and learn a little something before making a fool of yourself.
Officer Crowley was called to an upscale, affluent neighborhood with which his department was very familiar to investigate a possible burglary. For a police officer, this can be a deadly situation, and there are strict procedures for handling them to ensure the safety of the officer. When Crowley asked Gates to step outside, that was completely reasonable and consistent with good police work. For all Crowley knew, the perpetrators could have still been in the house and, since he did not know Gates, he could have been looking at one of them. When Crowley asked Gates to come outside, that's when Gates decided to get in the officer's face, screaming "Why? Because I'm a black man?" and "Do you know who I am?" This was a man with an out of control sense of entitlement and untouchability. He was offended that a lowly civil servant would treat him like a common criminal, and he let officer Crowley know it. At that point, the situation changed considerably. I don't care if you're black or white, smart or dumb, rich or poor, if you get in a police officer's face when he investigating a potential crime you're going to get arrested. Gates' behavior is a classic example of a highly intelligent person acting like a complete moron. He owes the officer an apology for screaming racism to the media for the last two days.