The 'unfathomable' arrest of a black scholar

[Vteckidd]

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A black police officer who was at Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s home when the black Harvard scholar was arrested says he fully supports how his white fellow officer handled the situation.

Sgt. Leon Lashley says Gates was probably tired and surprised when Sgt. James Crowley demanded identification from him as officers investigated a report of a burglary. Lashley says Gates' reaction to Crowley was "a little bit stranger than it should have been."

Asked if Gates should have been arrested, Lashley said supported Crowley "100 percent."

Gates has said he was the victim of racial profiling.

President Barack Obama says the officers "acted stupidly." Lashley called Obama's remark "unfortunate" and said he should be allowed to take it back.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — A multiracial group of police officers on Friday stood with the white officer who arrested a prominent black Harvard scholar and asked President Barack Obama and Gov. Deval Patrick to apologize for comments the union leaders called insulting.

Obama said Wednesday that Cambridge police "acted stupidly" during the disorderly conduct arrest of his friend, Henry Louis Gates Jr., in his own home near Harvard University. Gov. Deval Patrick said Gates' arrest was "every black man's nightmare."

Dennis O'Connor, president of the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association, said Obama's remarks were "misdirected" and the Cambridge police "deeply resent the implication" that race was a factor in the arrest.

"President Obama said the actions of the CPD were stupid and linked the event to the history of racial profiling in America," O'Connor said. "The facts of the case suggested that the president used the right adjective but directed it to the wrong party."

Officers responded to Gates' home on July 16 after a woman called 911 and said she saw two black men with backpacks trying to force open the front door. The woman, Lucia Whalen, has not responded to repeated attempts for comment.

Gates has said he returned from an overseas trip, found the door jammed, and that he and his driver attempted to force it open. Gates went through the back door and was inside the house on the phone with the property's management company when police arrived.

Police said he flew into a verbal rage after Sgt. James Crowley, who is white, asked him to show identification to prove he should be in the home. Police say Gates accused Crowley of racial bias, refused to calm down and was arrested. The charge was dropped Tuesday, but Gates has demanded an apology, calling his arrest a case of racial profiling.

Gates, 58, maintains he turned over identification when asked to do so by the police. He said Crowley arrested him after the professor followed him to the porch, repeatedly demanding the sergeant's name and badge number because he was unhappy over his treatment.

Crowley has refused to apologize, saying he followed protocol.

[preferredduck]

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – A black police officer who was at Henry Louis Gates Jr.'s home when the black Harvard scholar was arrested says he fully supports how his white fellow officer handled the situation.

Sgt. Leon Lashley says Gates was probably tired and surprised when Sgt. James Crowley demanded identification from him as officers investigated a report of a burglary. Lashley says Gates' reaction to Crowley was "a little bit stranger than it should have been."

Asked if Gates should have been arrested, Lashley said supported Crowley "100 percent."

Gates has said he was the victim of racial profiling.

President Barack Obama says the officers "acted stupidly." Lashley called Obama's remark "unfortunate" and said he should be allowed to take it back.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. (AP) — A multiracial group of police officers on Friday stood with the white officer who arrested a prominent black Harvard scholar and asked President Barack Obama and Gov. Deval Patrick to apologize for comments the union leaders called insulting.

Obama said Wednesday that Cambridge police "acted stupidly" during the disorderly conduct arrest of his friend, Henry Louis Gates Jr., in his own home near Harvard University. Gov. Deval Patrick said Gates' arrest was "every black man's nightmare."

Dennis O'Connor, president of the Cambridge Police Superior Officers Association, said Obama's remarks were "misdirected" and the Cambridge police "deeply resent the implication" that race was a factor in the arrest.

"President Obama said the actions of the CPD were stupid and linked the event to the history of racial profiling in America," O'Connor said. "The facts of the case suggested that the president used the right adjective but directed it to the wrong party."

Officers responded to Gates' home on July 16 after a woman called 911 and said she saw two black men with backpacks trying to force open the front door. The woman, Lucia Whalen, has not responded to repeated attempts for comment.

Gates has said he returned from an overseas trip, found the door jammed, and that he and his driver attempted to force it open. Gates went through the back door and was inside the house on the phone with the property's management company when police arrived.

Police said he flew into a verbal rage after Sgt. James Crowley, who is white, asked him to show identification to prove he should be in the home. Police say Gates accused Crowley of racial bias, refused to calm down and was arrested. The charge was dropped Tuesday, but Gates has demanded an apology, calling his arrest a case of racial profiling.

Gates, 58, maintains he turned over identification when asked to do so by the police. He said Crowley arrested him after the professor followed him to the porch, repeatedly demanding the sergeant's name and badge number because he was unhappy over his treatment.

Crowley has refused to apologize, saying he followed protocol.

damn, this should be case closed and i don't wanna see this or hear it on the news anymore. esp after the story i posted about a 60 year old white woman getting the same treatment. i don't care who you are or what color you are always be nice to the cops. my alarm at my house has gone off before and guess what i was questioned since i was the only one home. too many people lie and steal now esp since the economy is bad and you really don't know who is up to what. it sucks all this happened but the media coverage is getting out of hand.

[leobond001]

They need to look at the bigger issue of cops just arresting ppl left and right. he didnt need to be arrested. i saw the puclic statment from the arresting officer on tv this morning.

he said only after his mother was called names he proceeded to arrest hime.

so as a cop, do you only act out of personal emotion? that sound like what happened. the cop got offend and slapped the cuffs on and that goes against the oth they take on the bible about protecting and serving.

[preferredduck]

They need to look at the bigger issue of cops just arresting ppl left and right. he didnt need to be arrested. i saw the puclic statment from the arresting officer on tv this morning.

he said only after his mother was called names he proceeded to arrest hime.

so as a cop, do you only act out of personal emotion? that sound like what happened. the cop got offend and slapped the cuffs on and that goes against the oth they take on the bible about protecting and serving.

actually next time you see a cop give him the finger and say your momma sucks and i bet the charges will stick. they have laws on insulting officers, slander, and many other things. the professor should have known better and just been nice and worked with the guy. i know from experience, the two times i was with someone who smarted off to a cop once i was in handcuffs, and the 2nd time i fortunately only got a whiff of pepper spray and on both occasions i was nice.

[The Ninja]

This all could have been finished EVEN IF THE GUY MOUTHED OFF TO THE OFFICER, when the officer arrested him I'm 100% positive the guy didn't sit there and act like a criminal. Despite what he was saying, when he was arrested I'm sure the officer looked at his ID and saw the address matching the one at the house.

AT THAT INSTANT THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED WITH A "Oh, so you live here? (rhetorical, doesn't even need an answer) Well I was just following up on some neighbors reports. Have a good night." Uncuff him, let him go home. The end. Probably never would have made it any further. Lets not place blame, but lets figure out why it didn't end right there???


Because cops are douchebags.

[speedminded]

Here's the thing... when Gates brought up race, the officer lost his shit and arrested him. Rather than leaving the scene and relying on both the 911 tapes and the testimony of his fellow officers and witnesses at the scene to back him up, the officer chose to lure Gates out and haul him in for DC. Many Whites are fearful or hesitant when it comes to having an actual dialogue about race, and whenever there is an issue concerning race brought up on this board, the response from the "IA conservative peanut gallery" is always deny deny deny.

I'm not saying Gates was right for bringing up the subject of race, what I am saying is that the cop didn't handle it right when Gates did bring up the issue of race. Had the cop just left, and fallen back on the 911 call and the testimony of those at the scene this wouldn't be an issue. By un-necessarily arresting Gates he made it a damn circus.

This all could have been finished EVEN IF THE GUY MOUTHED OFF TO THE OFFICER, when the officer arrested him I'm 100% positive the guy didn't sit there and act like a criminal. Despite what he was saying, when he was arrested I'm sure the officer looked at his ID and saw the address matching the one at the house.

AT THAT INSTANT THIS ALL COULD HAVE BEEN RESOLVED WITH A "Oh, so you live here? (rhetorical, doesn't even need an answer) Well I was just following up on some neighbors reports. Have a good night." Uncuff him, let him go home. The end. Probably never would have made it any further. Lets not place blame, but lets figure out why it didn't end right there???


Because cops are douchebags.

He REFUSED to give an ID, "flew into a verbal rage", and said it was racial profiling refusing to cooperate. Get your facts straight.

An officer arrives at the scene of a home reported to 911 for burglary after someone witnessed two men "breaking in". Black or white doesn't matter. He refused to cooperate when questioned. I would expect to be arrested if I did the same thing.

[The Ninja]

Here are the facts.

1) Guy trying to enter his house.
2) He was on the phone when police arrived. (What fucking burglar takes time to make a call in the "victim's" house?)
3) He was arrested.
4) This was blown way out of proportion.
5) Could have been resolved before he was arrested.


Here are some inferences.

1) Henry Louis Gates, Jr acted like a retard.
2) The cop acted like a retard.
3) Abuse of power. "Hey, since you're not doing exactly what I say I'm gonna put you through hell so you learn to respect me. Look what I can do."
4) Abuse of the race card, BY BOTH PARTIES. Of course he's gonna think he was a victim of profiling. He's black in a predominantly white neighborhood where I'm sure he's lived for SOME TIME. He's on his own property. What burglar has a "driver", and I'm not talking a getaway driver.

Cop pulls up "Hey, I heard some reports of some guys trying to break into this house." He just got back from coming in from out the country, so apparently the guy is stressed and tired, meanwhile the cop should have had some common sense to realize this did not look like a robbery (at first glance) but after it was OBVIOUS the man lived there, despite any uncooperation, the guy wasn't doing anything wrong. Had the cop never came, nothing bad would have happened. If you're not doing anything wrong, and cops bother you, IT FEELS LIKE FUCKING HARASSMENT. I'd get pissed too.

[BanginJimmy]

Here are the facts.

1) Guy trying to enter his house.
2) He was on the phone when police arrived. (What fucking burglar takes time to make a call in the "victim's" house?)
3) He was arrested.
4) This was blown way out of proportion.
5) Could have been resolved before he was arrested.


Here are some inferences.

1) Henry Louis Gates, Jr acted like a retard.
2) The cop acted like a retard.
3) Abuse of power. "Hey, since you're not doing exactly what I say I'm gonna put you through hell so you learn to respect me. Look what I can do."
4) Abuse of the race card, BY BOTH PARTIES. Of course he's gonna think he was a victim of profiling. He's black in a predominantly white neighborhood where I'm sure he's lived for SOME TIME. He's on his own property. What burglar has a "driver", and I'm not talking a getaway driver.

Cop pulls up "Hey, I heard some reports of some guys trying to break into this house." He just got back from coming in from out the country, so apparently the guy is stressed and tired, meanwhile the cop should have had some common sense to realize this did not look like a robbery (at first glance) but after it was OBVIOUS the man lived there, despite any uncooperation, the guy wasn't doing anything wrong. Had the cop never came, nothing bad would have happened. If you're not doing anything wrong, and cops bother you, IT FEELS LIKE FUCKING HARASSMENT. I'd get pissed too.

You do know that cops HAVE to follow certain procedures dont you? Read the police report first, then come back. The cop was about to let it go when Gates came out of the house screaming and calling him a racist.

You also have to remember that Gate's neighbor was the one that called the cops about a break-in. If she didnt even recognize him, then who is to say that there wasnt someone else in the house? That is why the police will typically ask you to come out onto the porch or sidewalk when they talk to you.

The only way this entire event could have been avoided is if Gates didnt throw the race card. Makes me wonder what he is teaching in his classes if every time he has to deal with someone white he throws around claims of racism. IMO, people like this are the reason why race relations will never move forward. Real acts of racism and discrimination are being ignored because of so many people crying wolf.

[ahabion]

You do know that cops HAVE to follow certain procedures dont you? Read the police report first, then come back. The cop was about to let it go when Gates came out of the house screaming and calling him a racist.

You also have to remember that Gate's neighbor was the one that called the cops about a break-in. If she didnt even recognize him, then who is to say that there wasnt someone else in the house? That is why the police will typically ask you to come out onto the porch or sidewalk when they talk to you.

The only way this entire event could have been avoided is if Gates didnt throw the race card. Makes me wonder what he is teaching in his classes if every time he has to deal with someone white he throws around claims of racism. IMO, people like this are the reason why race relations will never move forward. Real acts of racism and discrimination are being ignored because of so many people crying wolf.

Why is it when it comes to black people that they're the only one's to really play up the race card?

I mean really... I'm an Asian dude... was I profiled? Hell yea I was profiled before... was I made... hell yea I was mad... but did I get arrested? NO... because I know that if I do something or say something, it'll be me in handcuffs. I got pulled over driving my soccer mom SUV (mazda cx7) and i got pulled over... why? Because I looked suspicious! WTF is that?! But I gave him my license and everything else and was sent on my way... Yea I was mad but I didn't play up the race card... the cop that pulled me over... yea he was BLACK...

Get over it and move on.

[Vteckidd]

the 911 tapes were released, and the caller never mentioned that it was a black person or black people breaking in.

The backup officer who is black has come out and said that Crowley wasnt racist or racially motivated and was right in arresting the prof.

Like i said, this wasnt a race issue, the Prof made it one

[preferredduck]

ok today the 911 call was released and the caller never brought up race and actually thought the person was latino, but wasn't sure. also the recordings of the cop on the radsio you can hear someone being unrully in the background. it looks like mr gates plan backfired on him this time and obama's remarks did also. i cant wait for the white house meeting.

[The Creeper]

Who really gives a shit about all this anyways? There are more important things the media should be covering, and much more important things for Obama to worry about.

[Total_Blender]

Here's the thing... when Gates brought up race, the officer lost his shit and arrested him. Rather than leaving the scene and relying on both the 911 tapes and the testimony of his fellow officers and witnesses at the scene to back him up, the officer chose to lure Gates out and haul him in for DC. Many Whites are fearful or hesitant when it comes to having an actual dialogue about race, and whenever there is an issue concerning race brought up on this board, the response from the "IA conservative peanut gallery" is always deny deny deny.

I'm not saying Gates was right for bringing up the subject of race, what I am saying is that the cop didn't handle it right when Gates did bring up the issue of race. Had the cop just left, and fallen back on the 911 call and the testimony of those at the scene this wouldn't be an issue. By un-necessarily arresting Gates he made it a damn circus.

[Vteckidd]

Here's the thing... when Gates brought up race, the officer lost his shit and arrested him. Rather than leaving the scene and relying on both the 911 tapes and the testimony of his fellow officers and witnesses at the scene to back him up, the officer chose to lure Gates out and haul him in for DC. Many Whites are fearful or hesitant when it comes to having an actual dialogue about race, and whenever there is an issue concerning race brought up on this board, the response from the "IA conservative peanut gallery" is always deny deny deny.

I'm not saying Gates was right for bringing up the subject of race, what I am saying is that the cop didn't handle it right when Gates did bring up the issue of race. Had the cop just left, and fallen back on the 911 call and the testimony of those at the scene this wouldn't be an issue. By un-necessarily arresting Gates he made it a damn circus.

Oh jesus H Christ are you fucking serious HAHAHAHA

Are you reading the same report? The Cop NEVER lost control. The only one that BLEW up was GATES. READ THE REPORTS AND THE other officers that were there.

I think you are delusional. I think its pretty clear that Gates acted like a jackass because a white cop was doing his job. Gates over reacted, called the cops mother names, and the cop , who kept his cool the ENTIRE TIME, arrested him for DC. Perfectly within his rights.

If you dont think so, next time you get pulled over try pulling 1/10th of the shit Gates pulled and see what happens.

Or do you really think the officer should tip toe around him cause he was black.

give me a break

[AirMax95]

Oh jesus H Christ are you fucking serious HAHAHAHA

Are you reading the same report? The Cop NEVER lost control. The only one that BLEW up was GATES. READ THE REPORTS AND THE other officers that were there.

I think you are delusional. I think its pretty clear that Gates acted like a jackass because a white cop was doing his job. Gates over reacted, called the cops mother names, and the cop , who kept his cool the ENTIRE TIME, arrested him for DC. Perfectly within his rights.

If you dont think so, next time you get pulled over try pulling 1/10th of the shit Gates pulled and see what happens.

Or do you really think the officer should tip toe around him cause he was black.

give me a break

Not sure if I read it in a report, or from another source, but I recall the incident was over after Gates ID was shown. Then Gates started the name calling. The cop THEN asked him to come outside and arrested him for DC.

My question is, can an officer arrest you for DC in your home, or must you be "out of" the house? Just asking not wanting to argue, lol.

Since he was arrested, why was the case dropped and Gates released? To prevent an uproar, or was the arrest purely to prove a point? That is where I feel some BS is floating.

Ok, and save me the BS that b/c the other officer was black that he "co-signs" for there not being any racial reasons. Like I said, I dont feel this was racially motivated, but just cause another black person was present does not validate that point.

Thanks.

[speedminded]

Not sure if I read it in a report, or from another source, but I recall the incident was over after Gates ID was shown. Then Gates started the name calling. The cop THEN asked him to come outside and arrested him for DC.

My question is, can an officer arrest you for DC in your home, or must you be "out of" the house? Just asking not wanting to argue, lol.

Since he was arrested, why was the case dropped and Gates released? To prevent an uproar, or was the arrest purely to prove a point? That is where I feel some BS is floating.

Ok, and save me the BS that b/c the other officer was black that he "co-signs" for there not being any racial reasons. Like I said, I dont feel this was racially motivated, but just cause another black person was present does not validate that point.

Thanks.

Gates initially refused to give identification showing residence then presented the officer with his college ID. The officer then requested the campus police to be present at the residence.

The only person that made it racial was Gates and those talking about it.

[Total_Blender]

Oh jesus H Christ are you fucking serious HAHAHAHA

Are you reading the same report? The Cop NEVER lost control. The only one that BLEW up was GATES. READ THE REPORTS AND THE other officers that were there.k

I read the report and I read Gates' interview. Gates co-operated with the cop and showed him his ID. Cops are trained to deal with angry citizens and any cop worth a shit would have known to de-escalate the situation.

I'm not saying that the cop should have tiptoed around the situation just because Gates was Black. Regardless of Gates' color the cop should have left him alone after he cooperated and showed ID. He really had no further business on the property. The cop abused his power by baiting Gates to come outside. He might have been within his rights according to the letter of the law, but it was still a shitty use of the cop's discretion to handle the situation.

Every time a Black American does bring up the subject of race, White America (especially IA) gets its panties all in a wad. When, really, all that was required in this situation to determine racism was not involved was to just listen the the 911 call and hear the statements of the witnesses at the scene. Rather than doing that, you guys go off on your tirades against Jackson, Sharpton, and all the other "reverse racists".

The general conservobot attitude about race in the post-Civil Rights Act era just to sweep it under the rug and deny that race is an issue. But really, Blacks haven't been their due in the effort to achieve true equality. I don't think enough has been done to correct the problems of poverty, lack of access to education, etc that Blacks suffer disproportionately to other races.

And like AirMax95 said, there are a lot of markers like dress codes and "VIP lists" that are being used indirectly to discriminate against Blacks. We had the dress codes in Athens' "White" bars too. No camo, must wear collared shirts, no shorts, no bandannas, etc. I have walked in many "dress code" bars wearing a camo t-shirt, cargo shorts, and a bandanna and no one said anything to me.

[tony]

Every time a Black American does bring up the subject of race, White America (especially IA) gets its panties all in a wad. When, really, all that was required in this situation to determine racism was not involved was to just listen the the 911 call and hear the statements of the witnesses at the scene. Rather than doing that, you guys go off on your tirades against Jackson, Sharpton, and all the other "reverse racists".

The general conservobot attitude about race in the post-Civil Rights Act era just to sweep it under the rug and deny that race is an issue. But really, Blacks haven't been their due in the effort to achieve true equality. I don't think enough has been done to correct the problems of poverty, lack of access to education, etc that Blacks suffer disproportionately to other races.

And like AirMax95 said, there are a lot of markers like dress codes and "VIP lists" that are being used indirectly to discriminate against Blacks. We had the dress codes in Athens' "White" bars too. No camo, must wear collared shirts, no shorts, no bandannas, etc. I have walked in many "dress code" bars wearing a camo t-shirt, cargo shorts, and a bandanna and no one said anything to me.

Its good to know there are people with their eyes open. Racism whether hidden or blatant is still racism.

[speedminded]

I read the report and I read Gates' interview. Gates co-operated with the cop and showed him his ID. Cops are trained to deal with angry citizens and any cop worth a shit would have known to de-escalate the situation.

I'm not saying that the cop should have tiptoed around the situation just because Gates was Black. Regardless of Gates' color the cop should have left him alone after he cooperated and showed ID. He really had no further business on the property. The cop abused his power by baiting Gates to come outside. He might have been within his rights according to the letter of the law, but it was still a shitty use of the cop's discretion to handle the situation.

Every time a Black American does bring up the subject of race, White America (especially IA) gets its panties all in a wad. When, really, all that was required in this situation to determine racism was not involved was to just listen the the 911 call and hear the statements of the witnesses at the scene. Rather than doing that, you guys go off on your tirades against Jackson, Sharpton, and all the other "reverse racists".

The general conservobot attitude about race in the post-Civil Rights Act era just to sweep it under the rug and deny that race is an issue. But really, Blacks haven't been their due in the effort to achieve true equality. I don't think enough has been done to correct the problems of poverty, lack of access to education, etc that Blacks suffer disproportionately to other races.

And like AirMax95 said, there are a lot of markers like dress codes and "VIP lists" that are being used indirectly to discriminate against Blacks. We had the dress codes in Athens' "White" bars too. No camo, must wear collared shirts, no shorts, no bandannas, etc. I have walked in many "dress code" bars wearing a camo t-shirt, cargo shorts, and a bandanna and no one said anything to me.

So i've read every post before and after yours 4 times and have yet to see any black figures mentioned other than quotes from Obama. I don't see anything regarding the Civil Rights Acts either. You're the only person bringing that up.

I'm one of the most anti-racial people you'll probably meet and I hate the National Alliance just as much as people that throw the race card for no reason. Ignorance is found in every color. Don't be one of them.

[AirMax95]

IMO (I think I said this earlier), Gates went mad, but the cop really didn't have to arrest him. I don't really think it was a race issue, but in Gates defense, I am PRETTY sure that this was not his only incident with a white person; boiling point reached, pot exploded. I am not going to blame the cop, nor Gates. I have not read Gates' interviews or commentary from his POV. Sadly, there is not a tape of the scene......that would tell all, if there is more.

Total Blender: You are correct about whites being fearful on the topic of race, but blacks are too. There are enough open-minded whites that cleary understand, and are ashamed, about what happened in the past. Sadly, there are plenty more that really feel racial issues are dead and gone in this country. Then, more that wish things were back to pre 1960. Some blacks avoid the topic for fear of unjut requital.

While I was at Georgia Southern (2004 to be exact), I was profiled several times. Also, clubs there were turning away blacks from the "white" pubs/bars with an imaginary "VIP" list. Come to find out, there was no list. On top of that the "dress code" was pulled, yet again all black patrons adhered to the dress code, but were turned away by the "list".

So you see why people like myself and others really want the dialouge to be very open. It needs to be addressed and discussed more because if we really continue to act as if everyone "got over it" then we will never progress. To get over it is a slap in the face. As stated earlier, many of us on this board were not slaves, but not TOO long ago, my voting rights were still questioned. Freaking sad that it had to actually be VOTED on recently to "RENEW" our voting rights.

I honestly don't even like when people say "my (insert race) friend/buddy".

[81911SC]

Yea, funny how race wasn't an issue to anyone but Gates. And people will still defend Gates. LOLOL

[eraser4g63]

You know what I am going to admit this, I racialy profile people every day. I have to it is part of my job. I know that if I go to the local trailer park and pick up the white male who is skinny and dirty and all sorts of just plain nasty that chances are he doesn't take care of himself and if I have reason to suspect drugs are being used im gonna guess meth. Same if I go to the Gov't subsidized housing and pick up a black male that is dirty, but this time I am gonna suspect crack. It is the same thing when people dont know their medical problems of history. If they are black male in there fourties chances are they have high blood pressure, or if I find one unresponsive and rule out every thing else I am gonna suspect sickle cell to be an issue. It is the way shit works in the world and it is the way people in the medical profession and Law enforcment are taught to think. And you know what sterotypes wouldn't be there if they didn't prove to be right a majority of the time. That person lives in a nasty trailer park, chances are you guessed it ther trailer and life style are nasty. As to this dumb ass who started the shit with the cops he deserved to be arrested because he did not respect the LEOs authority. If a white person had done this to a black cop every one of you left wingers would be singing a diffrent song.

[tony]

Trying to find racism in that statement, just don't see it. Maybe the definition of racism needs to be defined, because standing your ground is not being racist. Saying that is racist is no different than saying the Black Power movement was racist as well.

[Vteckidd]

Trying to find racism in that statement, just don't see it. Maybe the definition of racism needs to be defined, because standing your ground is not being racist. Saying that is racist is no different than saying the Black Power movement was racist as well.

wtf are you seriously still defending this? HAHA

WTF does he have to do to stand his ground? Nobody was challenging him! Crowley doesnt know him from you. He asked for identification, Gates over-reacted.

So you still think Crowley should have tip toed and pandered to the Prof because you think Gates was standing up to some kind of injustice. Gimme a break

[Vteckidd]

This guy is a HARVARD PROFESSOR and if he isnt smart enough to connect the dots.......

1) He was observed breaking into a house
2) officer asked for identification to make sure he really lived there

I mean its fucking simple. If he would have said "oh im sorry officer, i locked my keys inside, here is my ID"

Crowley prob would have said "no problem have a nice night"

Equality goes both ways you know

[tony]

Uhh... he's talking about racial injustice, whats racist about that? You have me mistaken on this issue, I said myself that Gates escalated this and I don't feel Crowley is racist. But the quote you posted, thats not racism on Gates' part.

[Vteckidd]

Uhh... he's talking about racial injustice, whats racist about that? You have me mistaken on this issue, I said myself that Gates escalated this and I don't feel Crowley is racist. But the quote you posted, thats not racism on Gates' part.

i thought you were talking about the police report.

The video , doesnt bother me one bit, but its more racism than ive seen out of this incident.

Evil White institutions? Sounds like this guy, who has a very good education and job, has a chip on his shoulder

[tony]

i thought you were talking about the police report.

The video , doesnt bother me one bit, but its more racism than ive seen out of this incident.

Evil White institutions? Sounds like this guy, who has a very good education and job, has a chip on his shoulder

Most blacks that got to where he is have something to have a chip about. When glass ceilings are broken it takes a damn good person not to have a bit of bitterness cause it is almost guaranteed he had hurdles that his white counterparts did not. He is a black harvard professor, obviously he is an abnormality in society because of his race and his position. I'd be more disappointed if he did not voice his concerns and just went about his business not acknowledging the struggle he faced and that other minorities face.

Imagine if W.E.B Dubois said "You know what, I'm educated and got to where I am, I'm just going to be quiet about the injustices I experienced and saw and just live my life." Someone who is not black might not understand the implications of that type of thinking but just know every person that stands up and points out legitimate inequalities in society is doing it for those who are oppressed without a voice. Again, that is not racism.

[speedminded]

Most blacks that got to where he is have something to have a chip about. When glass ceilings are broken it takes a damn good person not to have a bit of bitterness cause it is almost guaranteed he had hurdles that his white counterparts did not. He is a black harvard professor, obviously he is an abnormality in society because of his race and his position. I'd be more disappointed if he did not voice his concerns and just went about his business not acknowledging the struggle he faced and that other minorities face.

Imagine if W.E.B Dubois said "You know what, I'm educated and got to where I am, I'm just going to be quiet about the injustices I experienced and saw and just live my life." Someone who is not black might not understand the implications of that type of thinking but just know every person that stands up and points out legitimate inequalities in society is doing it for those who are oppressed without a voice. Again, that is not racism.

Do you not agree that Gates and the media are the only people that have made it racial? It's clear that the media was wrong in their statements, from the caller saying it was 2 black men to them having backpacks. Neither of which were mention in the 911 call.

I've called 911 probably 25 times in my life. From DUI's to shootings I state my name, my phone number, and location before even mentioning the issue at hand. When describing a subject I state someones skin color just as I would the color of their shirt or their hair. It's a description that has nothing to do with race other than to assist in the identification of a suspect. Is that racial profiling? I guarantee you anyone going on their civil rights rants above will say it is.

[tony]

Do you not agree that Gates and the media are the only people that have made it racial? It's clear that the media was wrong in their statements, from the caller saying it was 2 black men to them having backpacks. Neither of which were mention in the 911 call.

I've called 911 probably 25 times in my life. From DUI's to shootings I state my name, my phone number, and location before even mentioning the issue at hand. When describing a subject I state someones skin color just as I would the color of their shirt or their hair. It's a description that has nothing to do with race other than to assist in the identification of a suspect. Is that racial profiling? I guarantee you anyone going on their civil rights rants above will say it is.

Just my personal opinion here but Gates wrongfully used Race in this specific instance, Obama jumped on it pre emptively without full knowledge of the situation which was not smart either.

Profiling is different from a description. When someone robs a bank and they give the description "Black male, early 20's, 5'8, 170lbs" thats not profiling..

[AirMax95]

Mike: The race of the other officer is not an issue, at least to me its not. A black person, co-signing on an incident does not affirm the incident.


In regards to the Gates video, it piggybacks reactions similar to the Rev. Wright sermons. You have to understand the scope of the discussions, as well as the WORDS used in context. They do not hate, nor are racist towards whites, they depise those that feel treating a human differently off the basis of skin color is "OK" or "Right".

As Tony stated, racism needs to be defined. Clearly the word racism has 10 billion definitions. Speaking out against whites (or blacks) that are 1) doing wrong, 2) intend to do wrong, 3) have done wrong, IS NOT RACISM. Gates, West, Dyson, etc. all know and work with whites that are not like their ancestors. Yet, they, like many of us here, realize that there are PLENTY that use racism to play on the ignorance of society.

Affirmative action had to be put in place to FORCE WHITE BUSINESSES to ALLOW BLACKS AND WOMEN a chance that MAJORITY of AMERICA would not!

[Vteckidd]

Affirmative action had to be put in place to FORCE WHITE BUSINESSES to PROMOTE LESS QUALIFIED MINORITIES

Fixed

[tony]

Fixed

lol I'm going to laugh that one off and chalk it up to ignorance of the subject. So all minorities hired through affirmative action are less qualified Mike? That post even if not intentional was one of the dumbest things you've ever posted.

[Vteckidd]

lol I'm going to laugh that one off and chalk it up to ignorance of the subject. So all minorities hired through affirmative action are less qualified Mike? That post even if not intentional was one of the dumbest things you've ever posted.

Im against affirmative action, 10000% . It promotes stuff like the firefighters up in New Haven

Whether it was a good idea or not, it has NOT done what it was designed to do. Instead it routinely promotes less qualified individuals over more qualified person in the terms of racial prudence.

That is not what America is about.

[AirMax95]

Im against affirmative action, 10000% . It promotes stuff like the firefighters up in New Haven

Whether it was a good idea or not, it has NOT done what it was designed to do. Instead it routinely promotes less qualified individuals over more qualified person in the terms of racial prudence.

That is not what America is about.

So, what was it designed to do; curious if you know? Every plan put in place has been fubared by society. It was needed then, but the discussion of it know purely lies in the minds of the majority, and you know what I mean.

[speedminded]

Fixed

Exactly. A qualified person will most likely get a job no matter their race. I'm not saying racism is absent in corporations but they are more concerned with their positive growth hiring the right person than the person themselves.

I have a friend that didn't get a job at Microsoft because he was WHITE. He was flown to their corporate office and went through several interviews over a couple days. In his 4th or 5th interview, going up the ladder one rung at a time, he was told he did not fit the description they were being requested to hire...or something along those lines. He said they were apologetic but it was out of their control making it blatantly obvious they had a specific "profile" to fill.

[Vteckidd]

ahhh now we come to the root of the problem, exploitation.

You guys make this too easy :P

[bafbrian]

This may or may not have been asked, but if the guy lives there, wouldn't he have a key to his own house?

[speedminded]

This may or may not have been asked, but if the guy lives there, wouldn't he have a key to his own house?

Supposedly the door was jammed due to a previous break-in attempt. Read the police report I posted and you can see the statement from the officer as he asked Gates about securing the house while he was being detained.

[AirMax95]

Mike, if you seriously believe the ammend to my statement that you made, then you have a bit of reading to do. Face value of Affirmative Action vs. Real World application sir.....please be joking.

I am done with the Gates incident; never though it was purely racial on the cops part, but I wanted the whole story. A police report still only tells one side, and we all know they are still possibly flawed, lol. Although, I am still going to read all the Gates interviews for more clarity.

Explain your "explotation" theory please.