The ITT List
Tuesday Jul 21, 2009 7:56 am
Henry Louis Gates, Jr. arrest open thread
The debate is heating over the arrest of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who was handcuffed on his front porch after Cambridge, Mass. police received a call from a neighbor that Gates, who had been stuck outside dealing with a broken door, was attempting to break into and enter the home.
Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree released a statement on the website for The Root, the online magazine founded by Gates:
The police report, written by Sgt. James Crowley, paints Gates as being more confrontational, initially refusing to show his identification and yelling at the officer. In the report, Crowley wrote that Gates accused him of racial profiling and, when Crowley told him he was investigating a possible home invasion, Gates responded with, "Why, because I'm a black man in America?"
There is a gap between the two accounts, to quote Daily Beast columnist Touré in his op-ed on the arrest, "wide enough to drive a Hummer through."
Still, as Toure and other writers and commenters have mentioned, the only real offense listed in the police report was Gates's yelling at the officer, which is not a crime that merits arrest.
Even within the past 24 hours, the conversation over Gates's arrest has already grown heated, with supporters of Gates expressing outrage and calling for justice while others worry the arrest may be blown out of proportion, especially with the introduction of the always polarizing Rev. Al Sharpton, who said he will attend Gates's arraignment.
So we want to turn the conversation to you. What are your thoughts on Gates' arrest? What actions would you like to see taken in response to the incident? And where do you see this factoring into the larger discussion on race relations in 21st-century America? Can we really have "post-racial America" if a man like Gates is arrested outside his own home?
Harvard Law Professor Charles Ogletree released a statement on the website for The Root, the online magazine founded by Gates:
When Professor Gates opened the door, the officer immediately asked him to step outside. Professor Gates remained inside his home and asked the officer why he was there. The officer indicated that he was responding to a 911 call about a breaking and entering in progress at this address. Professor Gates informed the officer that he lived there and was a faculty member at Harvard University. The officer then asked Professor Gates whether he could prove that he lived there and taught at Harvard. Professor Gates said that he could, and turned to walk into his kitchen, where he had left his wallet. The officer followed him. Professor Gates handed both his Harvard University identification and his valid Massachusetts driver’s license to the officer.
The police report, written by Sgt. James Crowley, paints Gates as being more confrontational, initially refusing to show his identification and yelling at the officer. In the report, Crowley wrote that Gates accused him of racial profiling and, when Crowley told him he was investigating a possible home invasion, Gates responded with, "Why, because I'm a black man in America?"
There is a gap between the two accounts, to quote Daily Beast columnist Touré in his op-ed on the arrest, "wide enough to drive a Hummer through."
Still, as Toure and other writers and commenters have mentioned, the only real offense listed in the police report was Gates's yelling at the officer, which is not a crime that merits arrest.
Even within the past 24 hours, the conversation over Gates's arrest has already grown heated, with supporters of Gates expressing outrage and calling for justice while others worry the arrest may be blown out of proportion, especially with the introduction of the always polarizing Rev. Al Sharpton, who said he will attend Gates's arraignment.
So we want to turn the conversation to you. What are your thoughts on Gates' arrest? What actions would you like to see taken in response to the incident? And where do you see this factoring into the larger discussion on race relations in 21st-century America? Can we really have "post-racial America" if a man like Gates is arrested outside his own home?
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I will have to wait for a statement from Mr. Gates in order to have an informed opinion about the circumstances. The truth is that eye brows are being raised because of the celebraty of Mr. Gates. Celebraty status does not prevent people from making foolish decisions. Right now it is the word of the police vs. the word of Mr. Gates, and I bias towards believing Mr. Gates. But all things being equal: What if there were an actual break in. Would Mr. Gates have cared if the police locked up a black man for B&E—breaking and entering? Just a thought!
Alice, from Macon Georgia
Hello every one,I am a 20+ year Police Officer in Los Angeles. I’m not sure how they do Police work in Massachusetts, but if I was investigating a possible break-in, I’m not knocking on the front door to comfrim if the suspect is still there !
Obviously the police over-reacted.. When Prof.Gates showed the police officer his 2 ID’s, that should have been the end of the situation.The man is clearly in his own home, a little observational analysis by the officer could have proven this.Even if Prof.Gates was confrontational; the man is in his OWN HOME,and again has proven his residency and employment,by providing proper ID.This is a new catagory of propiling;AT HOME WHILE BLACK…
I am not suprised that this situation took place. I am sure that Mr. Gates lives in a very upper class neighborhood in which no one really knows their neighbors. A police officer overreacting to the seemingly normal frustration by a homeowner being accused of breaking into his own home. The fact that he is as close to an upper class social political activist only intensifies the perception of racism. Whether the arrest had more to do with the authoritarian personality that appears to be inherited by police and law enforcement, or if it was a case of racial profiling, we may never know. But the fine line between each motive is what is problematic about law enforcement and the current relationship between crime, race and class.
It is quite obvious i the aressting officer diddn’t use good judement.After Mr.Gates had shown proper I.D,the matter should have been resolved.As a African American Male,I know to well the attitudes of some in law enforcement.
It is quite obvious the aresting officer didn’t use good judement. After Mr.Gates had shown proper I.D, the matter should have been resolved. As a Afrcian American male, I know to well the attitudes of some in law enforcement.
I believe based on the circumstances that Gates didn’t want the Sergeant in his residence because he was hiding the 2nd black male. Remember, the witness said that she observed two black men with backpacks trying to gain entry. I think that Gates solicited the assistance of his male friend to get inside the house. I think that the 2nd male was one of his “students”. I believe the student was inside the house when the Sergeant showed up. I think that “Gates” who is suppose to be this intelligent man diliberately started a scene with the sergeant to prevent the sergeant from staying in the house and asking probing questions or looking around. I think Gates is involved in a homosexual relationship with his student (ie.,the backpack)and didn’t want anyone to find out.
That poor sergeant. His only mistake was not using proper police tactics: 1) waiting for back-up. 2) having his dispatch call the house and have Gates step outside. 3)Not entering without back up. 4) not containing the area until back up arrived. 5) not carrying a tape recorder.
The only thing that sergeant is guilty of is not maintaining his training.
ConcernCitizen…I am asking this Question in all seriousness…Have you taken your meds today ??Either that or you are an extremely immature individual, with your own closeted homosexual tendencies.A third possibility is that you are in fact a self-hating racist , who gets his/her jollies off of imposing your deluded schziod mis-behavioral tendencies on others.Either way ; you definitely need help….
While Concern Citizen MAY be right, it is conjecture and probably irrelevant. The other accounts relate that Gates was irate, vocal, and beligerant FROM THE BEGINNING - and PRIOR to going in to get his identification. The fact that the officer knocked, etc., rather than treated this as a SWAT activity shows he was simply doing his job. IF the door was shut and he knocked on it how would he know if the person answering was black or not? All he had was a report which he HAD to follow up. The officer was actually very, very restrained in comparison to what he COULD have done - and still been perfectly legal…
Black Horse….you are as racist as your user name. What’s the matter, does everything have to be racially motivated? How long will you use the “I’ve been suppressed card?” How long will you say that you were enslaved? GET OVER YOURSELF!!! GET OVER TAKING ADVANTAGE OF SITUATIONS LIKE THIS TO BENEFIT YOURSELF! REALIZE THAT NOT EVERY AMERICAN HATES BLACKS, JEWS, OR ANYONE ELSE FROM DIFFERENT RACES OR BACKGROUNDS! YOU ARE THE REASON THIS PROBABLY HAPPENED! YOU SHOULD CHANGE YOUR USER NAME TO “BLACK RACIST!” WHEN YOU GET OVER YOURSELF YOU MIGHT JUST OPEN UP YOUR MIND TO OTHER PROSPECTIVES THAT COULD HAVE AND PROBABLY DID OCCUR. TELL YOU WHAT BIG BLACK HORSE.. YOU AND RODNEY KING MAKE A GOOD COUPLE! IN CLOSING I POSE THE SAME QUESTIONS TO YOU…
“Have you taken your meds today ??Either that or you are an extremely immature individual, with your own closeted RACIST MIND. A third possibility is that you are in fact a self-hating HOMOSEXUAL RACIST, who gets his/her jollies off of imposing your deluded schziod mis-behavioral tendencies on others. Either way; you definitely need help….”
YOUR FRIEND CONCERN CITIZEN
Military Police,
Despite the fact that it is conjecture and probably irrelevant it is a possibility. You have to ask yourself, would you treat someone that is responding to your residence the way Mr. Gates treated the Sergeant? If someone is responding to my residence to check on my well being or the status of my personal property; i would embrace them! Here is a police sergeant that responds to the residence, knocks on a door, not knowing what is on the other side, DOES HIS JOB to verify and confirm the identity of the individual inside the residence and proceeds to be victimized by the homeowner! Where is the logic in that???
If you drop your wallet and i find it and return it to you do you punch me on the face as a “thank you” and then screem rapist????
Maybe this whole thing was orchestrated to benefit the professor with his upcoming endeavors?
Bottomline, it’s unfortunate that it happened. Already in America, there are truely racist police officers that muddy the minds of younger new police officers. This sergeant was entrusted to fight a battle that is a very difficult battle…“to teach the toughest class of student-COPS” about not being racist in their actions, about not falling prey to racist behaviors, about not hating others based on their skin color, about standing up for their believes, down outright EDUCATING police officers.” Now, what credibility has the professor given that poor sergeant… ZIP!!!
For an intelligent man the professor acted “Stupidly” himself!
Concern Citizen…Did I touch a nerve..Damn Sam, or “Son of Sam”.This Blackhorse always finds the rantings and ravings of under-informed lunatics such as yourself to be ; shall we say , mundane or marginalizations, based on your own fears and insecurities.Your use of the sexual orientation tag is a clear indicator of your phobically myopic viewpoints concerning social issues.There was no mention of this in any of the reported news, so why mention it?? Clearly CC; YOU HAVE YOUR OWN INSECURITIES IN THIS AREA…This is OK,but it is inappropriate to make these accusations against others ,especially when the subject being discussed has nothing to do with homosexuality…Grow up dude!!
As far as being called a racist..thats rich ol’boy…Truly; coming from a nucklehead such as yourself, because I use the name Blackhorse, you just proved you are a dyed in the wool moron…Truly !!
Dear Black Pony.
Talk about hitting a “nerve” let’s base this “whole” professor issue about “you”. You are as self centered as the name you hide behind. No wonder we still have racisim in our country! Okay, Black Pony, resond with some more of your immature,irrelevant, narrow minded, name calling! Go ahead and hide behind your big evil words; by the way “use spell-check” lol. I look forward to your insults because they are as comical as you. Later Big Black Pony.
ConcernCitizen..You can dish it out but ya sure can’t take it..The more you post the more this Blackhorse is sure of your ” instability “.
Intelligent thread- I ask Who got the power?
I’m relatively new to social posting/threads, I was hoping to read intelligent debate and discussions regarding the events that folded over the arrest of Gates. What I mean is that clearly there was a lack of respect from both parties I feel it was more about egos and self narcissism which many social networks contribute the derail of our basic human curtsey, i.e. twitter, facebook and so on…the lack of common courtesy it is contributing and fueling these events with the during and post Gates arrest, as it is also effecting and unfolding in this post.
I feel that everyone especially the media are motivated by only to find these matters to be race related, even the president’s remarks were viewed racially, but why can’t he pass opinion (whether bad choice of word or not) state the officers actions were stupid, but no…the media spins it to be a racist comment?
No one is discussion I mentioning the obvious, who had the power in the situation? The one with the gun, that’s who! He had the availability to make the arrest. While Gates is not completely innocent and may have conducted himself in very bad behavior, it is still the responsibility with the one who carries the power to use better judgment! I believe there was certainly lack of judgment form both parties and there was more egos and self gratification involved the racial motivation, however a re-state the one with the power, the officer should be held more responsible and use much better judgment…period.
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