Obama: Racial profiling 'still haunts us'

Isn't it great how Obumbles dissed the police of his hometown? The Chicago police would shoot him if he tried to break into his own home! Way to go, Obumbles, joking about the Chicago cops!
And Mark Silva never figured that out because David Axelrod told him not to.

Countdown to the racist birther Republican nutjobs:

5...4...3...2....2 Ding Ding Ding!!!!

Please help me!

I now spend my days in fear that an INS official will knock on my door, round up my family, and deport us.

After all... how can I be REALLY, ACTUALLY, TRULY and COMPLETELY sure I'm in the country legally.

Now.....yes, I have a birth certificate that says I was born in Chicago, Illinois and, yes, my parents tell me I was born at Edgewater Hospital and, yes, up until know I've been allowed to live and reside and educate myself and work in the United States of America, but without some law to verify the fact that all the documentation AND my memories AND what my mommy and daddy told me is TRUE who can say for certain I wasn't actually born, well... anywhere.

I might be Sudanese.

Or Chinese.

Or any of a thousand different "ese" I've never thought of.

Hell, I could really be a citizen of IRAN, which would, justifiably put me on a thousand different watch lists and make me ineligible to compete on or watch American Idol!

Now that I think of it... not being an American... how did I even learn to speak or write in English (good GOD can you even READ what I'm writing?).

Have I eaten a hot dog?

Do I know how to play football?

Am I male... caucasian... HUMAN?

I have a diploma... but did I REALLY go to college?

I have a mortgage... but do I own a house? (Help me out here, failed Swamp financial "expert" Terry!)

I have a marriage license... but maybe that never happened either.

Am I ANYTHING my documents say I am or have I always been plotting to impersonate myself?

And see, since I'm quite sure I DID NOT ever apply for, nor was granted, a green card (and don't even mention the process of becoming a naturalized citizen) I might just be an illegal alien hiding in plain sight of myself, while taking the jobs and social services for real Americans (whomever they might be).

Furthermore, my wife (if she really IS my wife), Mary, might not be a natural or naturalized citizen and though my children have birth certificates CLAIMING they were born in Dekalb, IL... my youngest son on THIS day seven years ago... and I'm pretty sure I remember being on domestic soil when he came out all purple and goopy, without a law to reconfirm and redocument what previously been confirmed and documented on driver's licenses and passports and loan documentations, how can I know what is TOTALLY, ABSOLUTELY, VERIFIABLY, CROSS-MY-HEART-AND-STICK-A-NEEDLE-IN-MY-EYE true?

(And by true, I mean "the earth is 6000 years old" true not "fakey-fakey evolution" true.)

Dear God, please, oh Pete, let congress pass the Republican sponsered and Godly blessed HR-1503 bill, so that I can one day hold my head high, knowing that I am who 45 years of paperwork, memories, and endless documentation says I--.....gulp.

(Oh, God. There's someone at the door. This is it! This is the end. PLEASE KNOW... I LOVED YOU BEST!!)

(Never mind... just a pizza. Mmmm, pepperoni.)
.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pt3dz9KX3UE

His understanding is wrong, but what would you expect from someone who used the race card to get elected?

I'm REALLY sick of the focus of this whole incident being on Gates and the arresting officer. Where's the outrage against the ignorant NEIGHBOR who called the police about a break-in in the first place???? Is this neighbor an idiot that they OBVIOUSLY do not know AND recognize the person who lives next door to them??? This neighbor should be PUBLICLY HUMILIATED for being the START of this whole incident!! The Scarlet Letter should be branded on this neighbor!!! If not for their lack of observation and recognition, NONE of this would have ever happened. Who doesn't recognize someone that they see EVERY DAY, such as the person(people) who live next door to them?!!? I live in a large apartment building here in the city of Washington, FULL of self-absorbed, self-important interns and government beaureaucrats who don't give ANYONE the time of day on the elevator because they're too busy listening to their pink & green I-Pods or scanning their Blackberry e-mails; yet, I STILL am aware of the people who live in the apartments directly adjacent to me and recognize them when I see them, as are many others in my building. How does someone become THAT self-absorbed that they cannot do this???? And for the record, Mr. Gates had EVERY RIGHT to be angry & outraged for being treated like a criminal in his own home.

If Obama "doesn't know all the facts", how can he say that the police acted stupidly?

The police claim that Gates refused, at first, to show ID, and was belligerent.

Note to the wise: If the police arrive while you're jimmying your own door, calmly explain the situation, provide ID, and know that they HAVE to act suspicious of you for their own safety.

Obama is wrong, He should of commended that officer for doing his Job. Mr. Gates has a large chip on his shoulder dealing with race. The officer was doing his job to the book. Asking for an ID. He needed to ID the man and make sure it was his home before he could leave. Mr Gates is wrong and so is the President. Shame on OBama for making this a racial thing, to take the focus off of his heath care. Mr Gates is being used by the media and our President.

Isn't this Boston? One of the liberal meccas of thsi country ? Part of the land of Drunken Teddy? I thought everyone was tolerant there.

I take it the neighbor who called the cops also took the picture of him getting arrested. And this was not a profiling issue - the cops were called and they responded, and Gates wouldn't give ID, so they arrested him. It would be profiling if the cops were driving down the street, saw a black man enter a house, and then go in there and arrest him for no reason.

Of Course...did you expect anything different from obama?

Now if you're black you're right and regardless of the facts.

And of course the police will be wrong !!

Typical....

Any thought given to whether Gates contributed to this outcome ?

Any thought given to the fact that GAtes was wrong in this instance?

Nah...couldn't be ...he's a professor of Black Studies at Harvard and this would add to his crediablity....nothing self serving here...Huh?

Let's put this into perspective. A neighbor sees a man who they do not recognize trying to enter a house under somewhat suspicious circumstances. The neighbor called the police and reported the incident. The police respond and find this person trying to enter a house. The police attempt to question this person, however this individual cops an attitude towards the police and refuses to answer their questions. Of course he's going to jail, regardless of who he is.

I have to congratulate the neighbor for calling the police, and the police for responding so quickly. I also have to say shame on you, Mr. Gates for acting like an idiot! You deserve what you got, regardless of who you are!

Furthermore, this whole incident has now been blown completely out of proportion and has become a race issue, all because of Mr. Gates' arrogance. Or is this ploy contrived by Mr. Gates to make him look like the victim of a race issue rather than his act of stupidity.

Mr. Gates could have simply provided ID when the cops asked him for it instead of pitching a hissy fit and rightfully being arrested for disorderly conduct. The police (including the black ones) responded to a 911 call. They did exactly what they should have done. If Gates didn't act like a jerk and simply cooperated, it would have been easily resolved. He should be grateful that the police responded to a reported break in so quickly. He's the one that owes an apology for acting like a jerk. The last thing you do when police are trying to examine the situation is cop an attitude. A "professor" should know better. As for Obama, it concerns me that he has a history of passing judgement before having the facts. There seems to be a pattern there. For example, he himself admits he hasn't read the health care proposal. I don't care if you are a democrat, republican or libertarian, we all should demand our leaders actually read, comprehend, and evaluate any legislation they vote on. Especially one with such a huge impact on our future. I am having a hard time even finding facts about the proposal so I can make a judgement on my own. I suspect 90% of the people don't care and just side with their "party" like it's some sort of sporting event. Perhaps that's why everything is so messed up. Please go back and read the constitution to understand how this country became great. Then contrast it to what is happening now. We are loosing our freedoms.

So, Obama the dude admits he didn't know all the facts of the incident, says Gates is his bud and shoots off his mouth, callling the cops' action stupid. Bush was dumb, yes, but this poseur of a president is simply stupid.

Obama is out of line, again, in assuming that the Cambridge police acted, in his slur, "stupidly", especially after he just admitted he "wasn't there" and didn't know the specifics. This is not a towns vs. gowns thing, this is likely an indignant suspect who should have been more compliantly grateful that neighbors and civic employees cared about his property.

No John D., Obama was not 'dissin' Chicago cops. He made reference to the house he lives in now...the White House...when he said he's be shot if trying to break in...

Anyone who is surprised by Crowley's treatment of Professor Gates has not lived in Cambridge. The cops, as President Obama said, are certainly stupid, but beyond that, they really hate the academic and professional community.

The Cambridge cop prominent Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. claims is a racist gave a dying Reggie Lewis mouth-to-mouth resuscitation in a desperate bid to save the Celtics [team stats] superstar’s life 16 years ago Monday.

So is it possible that the professor was upset that some one called the police and the police followed through and the professor torn into the cop until he went to far? No this guy is a racist and the President ONCE AGAIN should keep his mouth shut until he knows more. No fan the flames, fan those flames your ratings are dropping fan, fan , fan ... what a joke. Great reporting Trib what a joke.

It seems like many of the commenters fail to realize that Gates did show his ID, even the police report states so. According to the police's own version of events they went in, asked for ID, and he gave them his driver's license and Harvard ID. At that point, they knew that he was the proper resident. Now, Gates was probably fairly irate, but he wasn't arrested for refusing to show ID.

Poorly handled by all involved, including Prof. Gates. The neighbor who made the call should have first gone out of his/her own home to determine if that was the neighbour trying to get into the house without keys. And, Prof. Gates, knowing what lies there for you because of obvious profiling, you should have simply called a locksmith. You live in a time when breaking into your own home for lack of keys is seriously misconstrued. You can afford a locksmith. You should have taken the high ground. It's too bad that this goes to race, because it should never have gone this far at all.

We also want to know the racial profiles of ALL MURDERERS AND VICTIMS in the City of Chicago.

Which races are the biggest murderers?

Chicago Public Schools need to impliment a NO MURDER CURRICULUM.

That should solve the problem.

John D - you misunderstood the quote. He said, "here (at the White House) I'd get shot." He was not talking about the police in Chicago...

White people will never admit that this type of behavior can happen. White people cannot imagine this type of behavior happening. Black people know; they know white America has left them nothing that acknowledges their identity: not the Boy Scouts because white parents would be offended; not civil rights leaders because they were murdered; not community organization because groups like the Black Panther Party were seen as public enemies to white America; and law enforcement has historically been used to keep black people in their place and forcefully removed from places in which they did not belong. Our President knows these truths to be self-evident by virtue of his skin color, but he has to parse his words and speak carefully so as not to disturb the dreamworld his country remains locked in. The intransigience of racism makes me disappointed to be white, but I will not tolerate my white friends to speak about race relations from this dreamworld but will slap the truth right out their mouths. Believe that....

Word in all pragmatic circles everywhere is that the Cambridge police officers acted completely appropriate and within protocol. By all accounts but Gates' own, he was completely beligerant from the very beginning, immediately insulting the officers and insinuating the police were only there because he was black...not because they were called by alarmed neighbors regarding suspicious activity. Anytime race is thrown up as quickly as it was in this case, any reasonable person must therefore question the sources, credibility, and interests of those involved. On the other hand, I suppose without incidents such as these, Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and co would be out of work? I hope police units countrywide are not deterred and continue to enforce laws and answer the call of duty against anyone of any color.

I'm so disappointed in POTUS. This issue is so beneath his office. What a rank amateur.

Driving while Black is now in second place to entering your 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?

Obama saying he would get shot was in reference to him trying to break into the White House, not his home in Chicago. That said, given that he admittedly was not there and has no idea what role race played in it, I find his comments to be stupid, as much as it pains me to say it, he should have kept his mouth shut.

Obama is absolutely right, the police behaved stupidly. The whole thing is an outrage - as reflected authentically on the face of Professor Gates in the photo - and the self-righteous Cambridge force and the neighbor indeed should be called out on it. Good for Obama for speaking up, and I hope he would have done so if he were white.

First, in Illinois, you can not disturb the peace of a Peace Officer. I have been called every name in the book, that did not give me the grounds to arrest someone.
Secondly, once the Officer was shown ID verifying the address, the incident should have ended.
Third, you do not have to exit your home because an Officer tells you to do so.
Fourth, the complaint wording is "While in a public place." Your home is not a public place. The Officer arrested the suspect by misusing a known law. The Officer knowingly misused the law. That is an unlawful arrest. Fifth, in Chicago we are required to give our badge number to any citizen who asks. Whether it makes sense or not, those are the rules and we obey them or suffer the consequences, such as a few days without pay.
We were not there so we shade our views by our own biases. We do not know if the Officer told Mr. Gates why he was at the door. A simple "We received a call" might have defused the situation. Too many of my fellow Peace Officers allow situations like this to escalate. The best advice I received as a trainee was that we don't have to win every time. I was taught that there are times when it is best to back down, do not escalate a situation needlessly.
Remember, your home is your last refuge. Do not think that this can not happen to you. Being a Peace Officer requires a thick skin. We do make mistakes. Most importantly remember, you can not give up someone else's rights without losing your own.

The "neighbor" -- I agree with Joseph, what kind of neighbor doesn't recognize the person who lives next door? -- sees a gray haired man in a polo shirt & slacks who uses a cane and a chauffeur driver trying to open a door at noon, and thinks its a break in? Please people.
Gates was in the house when the police arrive. Is he angry? Yes, he's just flown 8 hours from China, can't get a jammed door open, and a neighbor calls the cops on him. Sure, he's cranky. You would be too. But he did show the cop his ID. He wasn't arrested for burglary. He was arrested for pissing the cop off. The cop who when shown the ID, should have said, "Sorry, sir, we had to check out the report," and walked away. He didn't. The cop allowed this to continue to escalate. Called Gates onto the porch and arrested him for disorderly conduct.
I've met Skip Gates. He's not a radical. He's a scholar. The cops were wrong this time.

Gee, why don't I trust this version of the story? Let me think...One would think that Blacks are the only ethnic group that experiences racism. I experience it every day of the week and I am not even Black or Hispanic. Go figure.

REPLY TO JON D

"Isn't it great how Obumbles dissed the police of his hometown? The Chicago police would shoot him if he tried to break into his own home!"

If you knew how to read your response would not be so dumb. IN the comment Obama made he spoke that if someone tried to break into his home in the white house, they would be shot. If you look at the wording he says about his home in chicago --(pause) "here I would be shot" he means at the WHITE HOUSE. moron.

I can't believe the President is pulling out the race card. He even admits he doesn't know the full story yet condemns the police dept. Then says if he were in Chicago he would get shot at his house. By who the police or one of the black gang bangers that live close by. What a very sad statement by a leader. He should know the full story before making his comments.

I have been profiled and pulled over twice in my own neighborhood for just driving down the street. Though others may not understand how humiliating it is, these types of acts do not deserve to happen.

"And number three, what I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there is a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcing disproportionately."

We also know that there is a long history in this country of African-Americans being involved in crimes disproportionately. It's just statistics.

Isn't there also at least a *chance* that Gates got arrested on purpose, just to get the attention to "the cause"? He's upset he had to deal with the Cambridge cops coming to his house, so he says, "Hey, I'll get arrested - I bet I can get these Cabridge cops in some hot water for arresting a 'pillar of the black community'!" It looks like that worked pretty well.

If you would like the real facts in this case visit the folllowing URL. Seems like Mr. Obama and Mr. Gates are the ones that should apologize to Officer Crowley. Click the "full police report" link in the article.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2009/07/23/boston-globe-scrubs-henry-louis-gates-arrest-report-website

I cannot believe this man is president of the United States. He acts like someone right out of the General Assembly. Oh wait....

Obama is a bigot plain and simple, with no respect for the law.

But I guess a Kenyan citizen probably wouldn't have much respect for American laws or law enforcement officials.

Funny, police officer in the foreground of the photo looks black to me. Even a darker skin tone than the man erroneously arrested. So that is racial profiling how?

Sorry, but Obummer shouldn't have even discussed this in a national news conference. Playing the race card is not the thing to do to get your health care reform pushed through.

Amazing how so many people on this board state Gates refused to show his ID. Some whites in this country still refuse to believe that there are different rules for minorities. Never being on the receiving end of unfair treatment breeds ignorance. If he was belligerent it was from a life time of being harassed for because of his skin color and now in his own home!
Obama was trying to tread lightly but point out that this country has a long way to go. Obama bashers will find fault no matter what he says. The arresting officers acted stupidly. Period.
Thank you Jackson for your statements.

Funny, police officer in the foreground of the photo looks black to me. Even a darker skin tone than the man erroneously arrested. So that is racial profiling how?

Sorry, but Obummer shouldn't have even discussed this in a national news conference. Playing the race card is not the thing to do to get your health care reform pushed through.

It's sad that Obama would call the police stupid for Gates acting as a jerk. It's okay nowdays to act as a jerk, and then claim the police hated you because you are black, but for Obama to get on a podium and call the police stupid is insane.

What often goes unmentioned regarding this event is the fact that the police asked the gentleman they thought to be a perpetrator to identify himself and he flatly refused and became belligerent. A night in jail should learn even an ivy school EOE token some respect for the law.

I got the impression he was talking about a Chicago cop would shoot him for breaking in to his home. I thought it was a diss to Chicago, but deservedly so. Chicago cops have been know to shoot people holding cell phones they thought were guns. Nothing like the race issue to spin a room out of control.

Seems to me a lot of posters are either not in possession of some facts or choose to ignore them. According to all the news accounts, the front-door lock on Professor Gates's rented house was jammed. He didn't forget his keys. It wasn't night, it was broad daylight. He's a 50-something guy who uses a cane. A limo driver was trying to help him open the door; they weren't breaking in. By the time the police arrived, he was inside, on the phone with the rental company to report the malfunctioning lock. At the door, the police ordered him to come out of the house. Have any of you ever had this experience in your own home?

Black-on-White hate crimes are covered-up by the national media, while they focus on ridiculous non-stories like Gates' hissy fit.

In Ohio, a White family was attacked by 30 to 50 Black teenagers. If the races had been reversed, it would be a major national news story for months:

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/51253207.html

http://www.ohio.com/news/dyer/50698407.html

In New York, a 30-year old White man was beaten by 12 or more Black teens in his driveway. If the races had been reversed, it would be a major national news story for months:

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/crime/cops-man-beaten-in-valley-stream-possible-hate-crime-1.1274593

As offensive as this article is to people of color, The President (without having complete knowledge of the situation) should have remained silent until this situation was completely resolved. His rush to speak out says a lot about him. I have a member of my family working on the force in a large city and he says this happens frequently to all races and not just blacks. Racial profiling is a reality in all races. The fact is in today's world no chances will be taken or given because of how people have proven they can be and act when the law is involved..

First, Obama should be familiar with the Cambridge police. Obama stiffed the city of Cambridge for years on unpaid parking tickets; he paid them the week before announcing his run for President. This means, of course, he lied on his bar application in Illinois in which one swears under oath that he or she has no unpaid fines etc.

Anyway, this whole story if being blown way out of proportion. A man enters his own home by breaking into it; this happens from time to time. The police arrive; the owner flips-out and is arrested for disorderly conduct. Remember, this owner would bash the police if in fact his home was actually broken into.
This happened to me; I lived in a ground floor apartment. I was locked-out, so a went through the front window. Police arrived; they were not sure who I was. They were doing their job. I showed ID and was vouched for by the landlord. Not arrested.

Obama is irresponsible in making any comments on this issue. He doesn't know the facts and makes these racial comments to keep up the racism banner that he uses as does the majority of the black community.

Has anyone considered that the disproportionate stops of blacks/hispanics may be due to them committing a disproportionate amount of crime? No, too logical.

REPLY TO JON D

"Isn't it great how Obumbles dissed the police of his hometown? The Chicago police would shoot him if he tried to break into his own home!"

If you knew how to read your response would not be so dumb. IN the comment Obama made he spoke that if someone tried to break into his home in the white house, they would be shot. If you look at the wording he says about his home in chicago --(pause) "here I would be shot" he means at the WHITE HOUSE. moron.

Posted by: Ryan | July 23, 2009 8:51 AM

Ryan, then he is still dissing someone, whether Chicago police or the Secret Service.

Here is the paragraph in question: "I mean, if I was trying to jigger into -- well, I guess this is my house now, so it probably wouldn't happen,'' he said in his East Room news conference. "But let's say my old house in Chicago -- here I'd get shot,'' he said to laughter in his White House home.

First of all, Obumbles is all over the map in this comment. He goes from the White House and how it probably wouldn't happen there because it's "his" house now, then to Chicago and then back to the White House. He also goes from it not happening in the White House because it's "his" home to being shot at the White House. Very disjointed commenting from the Messiah. So, let's get back to the question: If it wouldn't happen in his new home but that he would get shot, does that mean he thinks the Secret Service is trigger happy? Why would they shoot him if it were "his" home?

Nothing like all the LIBERAL RACE BAITERS showing up to call this racial profiling.

I say BS.
1) A break in was reported!
2) The guy broke into his house
3) He refused to cooperate with police.

I mean come on PEOPLE! The police were just doing THEIR job!

Let's not chastise the neighbor. They observed 2 men trying to force open a door, hardly something that occurs frequently with the actual homeowner. In a college town, it's not unusual to not know the faces of your neighbors due to the high turnover. I had a white neighbor who was a bit of a hermit and therefore I never saw. I observed him putting items in a car at 2am, driving away and returning 5 minutes later to add another load. After several trips, I too phoned the police because of the suspicious behavior and yes, the white neighbor had to show id that he lived there. Maybe Gates should be thankful that he lives in a neighborhood where his neighbors look out for each other, regardless of whether they know each other.

I am assuming most of these comments are made by white people. I am a white woman with a black woman as a best friend. I watched as police in a very upscale mall followed her through the stores. She was the only black person in the mall, so they assumed she must be causing trouble.

If you are white, you have no idea what you are talking about on this subject. There is a huge divide in this country between the races. Anyone who ignores this is simply living in a fantasy bubble.

I love how white people, when they know other white people were in the wrong, jump up and say "Race Card".......everytime something happens negative to blacks you all always say race card....well duh whites have negatively conditioned this country for decades and centuries....

How dare Gates nhot show his ID to the police on his own private property! This is America. When the police demand to see your papers obedience must be immediate! We nmust not allow people to believe that simply not committing a crime and being on their own private property somehow gives them rights. This is a nation by and for the police. A police State if you will.

Every time a minority does something STUPID and they are called on it, it instantly becomes "racism." The cries of wolf have now reached the White House. The United States is going down in flames (and Mr. Obama is doing his best to increase the speed). It seems to me that the President has many other huge problems to worry about. He shouldn't be wasting his time on one man who does his best to escalate a minor situation into a major one so he can cry "racism"....like that's never happened before.

The Police report doesn't indicate that Gates refused to provide ID, it says that he was disorderly by yelling at the police and demanding the name and badge number of the police officer involved. May I suggest that those who find being arrested after being accosted in one's own residence acceptable practice aren't thinking through the implications of trying to seek redress for what at the time appears to be improper treatment by a police officer

John D- read the article again.

(Tools like John D have a hard time comprehending what they read. It's really not their fault though, bias like this is learned at home.)

Three cheers for President Obama, showing once again why we elected him!

Hey, I've been racially profiled too. I was unfairly cut from my high school basketball team because I'm white!!

Do you know why Gates' front door was jammed? The door was damaged during a previous break-in attempt at the residence! Why doesn't the Chicago Tribune consider that an important fact?

The neighbor knew that someone had tried to break into the house before, and so did Gates.

It's at the end of the police report:

http://www.amnation.com/vfr/Police%20report%20on%20Gates%20arrest.PDF

Tha lady thought she was helping the neighbor and the professor overreacted to the ID request by the cops, moral of the story do not protect black homes from break-ins.

Obama should keep his nose out of it, it backfired already.

Tha lady thought she was helping the neighbor and the professor overreacted to the ID request by the cops, moral of the story do not protect black homes from break-ins.

Obama should keep his nose out of it, it backfired already.

The question is: what was Gates doing in China , getting more information on Communism for Obama?
The press always misses the big questions.

I can't believe the President of the United States scolded an American police department. These officers lay their life on the line everyday to make America a better, safer place.

"Poorly handled by all involved, including Prof. Gates. The neighbor who made the call should have first gone out of his/her own home to determine if that was the neighbour trying to get into the house without keys."

Not sure if you watch the news or read the paper but that could get you killed in today's world. CALL the police don't go look yourself, unless you are okay with finding out its not him and putting yourself in danger. This went too far because someone pushed it, it says the cop was leaving and the professor persued him, maybe the professor should have picked up the phone and called the police he has an enough pull, the President of The United States, to ensure it does not get swept away??? I have been in this situation with very prominent politicians and some, very few, feel that they are above reproach so I could see the professor being tiered after a flight from China, I normally am, mad that he forgot his keys and mad that a person called the police and HE acted STUPID, as the President said about the police. The cop was probably the straw that broke his back and the cop might have done the right thing, he did not allow some one to go beyond the law. Why are the charges dropped? RACE and CONNECTIONS. The only thing I know is the cop tried to save a man's life several years ago, an AA. The professor on the other hand has friends ...

People, how crazy have we all gotten? There are no "facts" in this case, just the contradictory words of men. We cannot assume all black professors never lie, or that all policemen never lie, or that there is no gray area in this case. For the President to assume that he knows what happened and to attempt to try this case in the press is absolutely irresponsible.

The lefties continue to reveal their inner racism and demonstrate bully tactics. When will they come to their senses and realize what frauds they have become?

Anyone notice the black cop in the picture? he must be a racist too....

This happens to people of every color in America everyday.

I was yanked outside of my house in an affluent area. I was handcuffed and detained.

My neighbor called the police because he did not recognize a car in the driveway.

Yes, I was in my house, pulled out at gunpoint (numerous guns) and handcuffed in the snow. My feet were barefoot at the time.

I told the officers that my wallet was just inside the door. They looked at my DL and eventually let me go after a 30 minute ordeal.

Did I mention I was already in my house and opened the door when I saw police walking around my house?

Did I mention I am Caucasian? This happens on a daily basis throughout America.

Yes, it is still a problem, but we have to being recognizing and admitting that their is a shared responsibility.

There are an increasing number of african american people, from those receiving assistance to leaders that try to use their race to escape responsibility for their actions. If blacks want to stop profiling, than they neeed to take an equaling strong position on those that use race to escape culpability. They have to stop claiming they were pulled over for speeding because they are black, and admit that they were doing 57 in a 30. This kind of "reverse profiling" is nearly as prevalent, and if this does not atop, nothing will stop.

To Nick, your post has to be one of the most ignorant ever posted. Such naivete is most of the problem in this country.

Isn't this Boston? One of the liberal meccas of thsi country ? Part of the land of Drunken Teddy? I thought everyone was tolerant there.

Posted by: Terry | July 23, 2009 8:01 AM

It's certainly incongruous, but Boston is notoriously racist against blacks, as symbolized by both the Red Sox's and Celtics' great reluctance to accept blacks on their teams.

Do a quick search and you'll retrieve tons of material on this subject.

=====

I'm as anti-authoritarian as they come and even so I think Barry was wrong to knock the cops without knowing their side of the story. Gates may well have had a bad attitude bordering on threatening the cops.

Let's have a bit of common sense.

1. It makes no sense for Prof Gates to be un-cooperative and not show ID or identify himself. He's a black man and black men know they could be profiled at any moment. FACT.

2. It's interesting his neighbor didn't know who he was, if they were close enough to witness the event. Afterall, you just can't trust a black Harvard professor. He's still black, professor or not.

3. It is "stupid" for police not to be understanding that a person would be a little ticked off if they've proven who they are and they are where they should be and they're still not believed by the police. Sometimes police act like idiots and go too far.

It seems that Obama fell into the same trap as so many others -- it has to be a racial thing because Gates is Black! Obama commented on something where he knew little of the facts. But, because Gates is Black, it is a racial event.

I do not know the facts either. The media does not know the facts. I have read different contradicting sets of facts. Which to believe? I do not know. The one "fact" that i have read is that the police initially asked for ID and Gates refused, started demanding for a badge number of the officers involved. Gates was belligerent and the police were overly defensive.

I expect that now, Gates will sue the city, Jesse Jackson will want to start a dialog, and that Sharpton will use this to promote racism.

Obama's answer should have been "I do not know the facts. "

The whole series of events has become a racial issue even though there is no reason to believe that it was. Had a White person been breaking into the house, this never would have made it into the news.

This is ridiculous! It is about time people, black and brown and white and whatever woke up and realised we have bigger issues to deal with! This case is simple...Man tries to break into own home, neighbour calls police (people it was dark, the neighbour probably couldn't see very well, and didn't want to go outside and ask, "excuse me, are you the owner, or a thief?") That would have been, in the presidents words, "Stupid". Anyway, so the cops are called, the man becomes belligerent, probably rants at them about how racist they are, and gets arrested, probably not for breaking and entering, but for belligerent behaviour, and disrespecting the police.

People this is simple, respect the cops, REMOVE the chip from your shoulder, and everything will be ok.
Shut up about how this thing is racist, wake up, it was dealt with appropriately.

I would be irrate too if I returned home from a long trip, had break into my own house, then had the police hassle me. Yes, it might have looked suspicious, but he showed his ID abut was arrested anyway. I'm white and I would have reacted the same way as Dr. Gates.

Racist? Isnt that a black police oficer standing in front of Gates?

Hey John D, you might want to re-read that portion of the article you were quoting. Obama wasn't stating he'd get shot by Chicago Cops. He was stating it would be the Secret Service doing the shooting on anyone trying to break into the White House. He was telling a joke, get it?

People, read the police report. It's all there. Gates was acting like an idiot, not a scholar, and got what he deserved. Actually less.

http://www.amnation.com/vfr/Police%20report%20on%20Gates%20arrest.PDF

"As I turned and faced the door, I could see an older black male standing in the foyer of {} Ware Street. I made this observation through the glass paned front door. As I stood in plain view of this man, later identified as Gates, I asked if he would step out onto the porch and speak with me. He replied “no I will not”. He then demanded to know who I was. I told him that I was “Sgt. Crowley from the Cambridge Police” and that I was “investigating a report of a break in progress” at the residence. While I was making this statement, Gates opened the front door and exclaimed “why, because I’m a black man in America?”"

"My reason for wanting to leave the residence was that Gates was yelling very loud and the acoustics of the kitchen and foyer were making it difficult for me to transmit pertinent information to ECC or other responding units. His reply was “ya, I’ll speak with your mama outside”."

Very scholarly. Nice company that Obama keeps.

Jake's post was right on. That being said, as long as blacks and latinos continue to dominate the news for shootings and violent crimes, guess what - racial profiling will always be a reality. Every day all of the headlines come from the same neighborhoods. The stereotypes that become of this are not evidence of racism - it is human nature.

The police did their job in responding to an incident that a neighbor reported. There was no racial profiling on their part. Furthermore, if Gates complied with the officers instead of playing the race card, none of this would have happened in the first place. So stop trying to make this news; it is a non-incident that's being ballooned into a big deal for no reason other than to stir emotions.

This only shows how STUPID this President is. Responding in the manner that he did at a national press conference? Can't wait to see his poll results after opening his mouth and showing the country his racial bias.

On Sunday, 7/19/2009, I was pulled over by Chicago police officer Carlos Palacio(star 12868) for an expired registration while driving my brother's BMW convertible. I forgot to bring my driver's license which I had left at my brother's apartment and had no other photo identification with me. I had just dropped off my brother at Midway airport for his 5 day trip to Las Vegas and had no other contacts in Chicago as I live in New York City and am just visiting Chicago. I was taken to the station and handcuffed for four hours and then taken to lock up and locked behind bars for another 4 hours since I had no identification. I gave the police officers my personal info including name, birth date, and social security number and they should have entered my personal info into the computer to look up my identity and driver's license and release me from custody. I am a white male with no prior arrest. This was the first time in my life I was handcuffed and the first time I ever spent time behind bars in a prison cell. I felt humiliated and was treated like a criminal.

I love how he jumps on the bandwagon for this, but said nothing of his Iranian friends killing political dissenters, or the Ohio beating of a white family by 50 black youths. He completely ignores important issues while magnifying black racial issues. Just like Jessie and Al. Man were we duped.

misinformation! this did not happen at night, look at the picture. it was in broad daylight. gates got home shortly after noon, was arrested, and out of jail around 5pm.

If a black, or white suspect, acts out of line with police who are simply doing their job why should their race matter? It shouldn't. obama might want to get the facts before he picks sides based on skin color. obama might want to check out the facts quickly, since the media is already trying to bury the truth.

http://newsbusters.org/blogs/p-j-gladnick/2009/07/23/boston-globe-scrubs-henry-louis-gates-arrest-report-website

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/us/23race.html?_r=2&hp

So was the black cop who was there a racist, too, mr.obama??

It's obvious Gates is the one who acted stupidly.

Just more BS from the 'post-racial' Obama.

I'm surprised Obama didn't call the cop a "typical white person."

So all of you people are telling me that if the police showed up at your house, and tried to arrest you for breaking into your own house, you would react calmly? You'd just provide the cops your ID with a big smile on your face as they keep you at gunpoint? Give me a break!

What's stupid is that this is the headline onthe website today when the new conference was about something much more pressing and important, healthcare.

Of course they acted stupidly, how else can ANYONE explain why they dropped the charges days later? If they didn't act stupidly then the charges would still stand and the man would be arraigned.

I'm not absolving the professor from being belligerent, if he in fact was, but the fact remains, the man was arrested on his own doorstep for disorderly conduct. I mean come on people. How many of you would not be upset about that.

Are you telling me that you would react calmly if the police tried to arrest you for breaking into your own house? That you would provide them with your ID with a big smile on your face as you are held at gunpoint? Give me a break!

The police may have acted stupidly, but the American people most definitely acted stupidly in electing this fool as president.

Obama says he doesn't know the facts and will not comment but then says the police acted stupidly. YIKES! And why do you thing blacks and hispanics are picked up more frequently than others? Hint, the police go where the crimes are committed. I have not heard of 9 dead and 20 wounded in the north suburbs lately. I have read about the same going on in the south side however.

Reading these comments makes me think that this is a valuable time for us all to take a moment and think about how far we have to go to even come close to what our religions have taught us as to our behaviors toward our fellow human beings. As I read these comments I am (sadly, not) stunned by the hatred and fear in them. Perhaps if we all just admitted that this is still a very racist country & I, or my particular group is not correct all of the time and maybe, just maybe that other human I'm looking at is a lot like me... If I wasn't so used to how we all are I'd be surprised by these responses. The funniest one was where the guy said Obama got elected by playing the "race card". As if ,all of a sudden, being (1/2) black was a huge benefit in the ole' USA. When exactly did that happen?

1. Stop automatically blaming the neighbor. We don't know if this person had lived there a long time or if they lived far enough down the street they couldn't make out a face but could see them trying to break in the door. For all we know, the neighbor might also be black, knew Dr. Gates was in China and thought somebody was trying to break in while he was gone!

2. Dr. Gates DID initially refuse to show ID and started in accusing the officer of only doing this because Dr. Gates was black. I know this racism charge is not true, because a white friend of mine visiting his mother in suburban DC went through the same scenario. He got there while she was still at work, was looking at a leaky window that she said needed to be fixed, when a neighbor saw him and called the police (thinking he was also a burglar). He was already inside when the police arrived, and they were also very aggressive with him, demanding ID. If he had been belligerent and yelled at the officers during and on their way back to the car, he would have been arrested too. Of course, he was upset (still is), but he knew better than to yell at the officers. It wasn't about the color of his skin, it was simply the police doing their job.

3. Let's be honest. Nobody called to report a "black man in a nice neighborhood." They called to report two black men who were seen trying to BREAK INTO a house." That isn't racism. This is what good neighbors do. What's the alternative - allow people to break in, don't call, because somebody's feelings might get hurt?

4. Dr. Gates might be a leading scholar, but it is incredibly stupid to yell at and harass the police - no matter what color you are.

A few weeks ago I was in a similar position to the woman caller - I happened to see a man checking the windows on the house across the street from mine. After a couple, he found an unlocked one and climbed in. I know my neighbor only in passing, and I couldn't say if that was or wasn't him since I only saw this man for a moment from the back.

My first instinct was to call the police so they could determine if the man was, in fact, my neighbor; but in the end I did not call. I am white and my neighbors are Hispanic and I knew if I was wrong they'd be quick to let the whole neighborhood know I was racist against Hispanics, and I did not want to end up a target.

I'm relieved that everything turned out fine, as it could have just as easily gone the other way with the house ransacked and the kids murdered in their beds.

It's a sad state of affairs when people are afraid to look out for each other and their neighbors' property.

Hey electrical supply products: Before I make my statement, I first have to tell you to blow it out your a$$.

I was in the EXACT situation as this Harvard snob while I was in college. One of my roomates locked up the house and I had to break in - to my own home.

I was quickly apprehended by the police because a neighbor saw me crawling through a window.

I promptly thanked the police for being diligent and thanked the neighbor for keeping an eye on my house.

I did NOT protest the police doing their job, and I certainly did not pull the cliched race card because the police were doing their jobs - JUST LIKE IN THIS CASE.

For the President of the United States to carelessly throw out OPINION without even having the facts - it is GROSSLY careless and at least unbecoming. The Chosen Thief did nothing aside from stoking the flames of racism. Nothing.

I doubt if the caops acted in a racist manner. However, they reacted inappropriately as they usually do, like arrest happy, jack-booted thugs!

This may surprise the poster called 'Smoke Filled Room', but white people have encounters with police, too. I have, and yes, I remained calm, instead of acting like a jerk, and didn't get arrested as a result.

Also, to 'Really?' the charges were dropped because it's a minor offense, and not worth the trouble to prosecute. Since Gates doesn't, presumably, have a record, he wouldn't get anything for disturbing the peace anyway. Most people don't... arrests on that charge are basically just a tool to calm someone down who is acting like an idiot.

He's right, but that blanket statement could apply to police across the nation.

Police work is not, and will never be, a true profession due to the lack of standards and the lack of decorum on the part of those in the occupation. Given the complete lack of standards and professionalism among police officers, it is relegated to being just another job, like bagging groceries or mowing lawns. People who want to help others don't become cops, they become paramedics.

The police in this case acted completely unacceptably and hopefully the individual officers, as well as the department, will be sued for a healthy sum of money. Until cops are held accountable for their misbehavior and lack of any sense of service, this will not change.

It's so easy to comment that the neighbor should have recognized the owner of the house. We dont know how close the houses were to each other. He also didnt use his key to just walk in as any homeowner would have. We also just 'know' his public persona and not the one he projects to his neighbors. He may be someone who simply lives in the house and has little to nothing to do with those neighbors. Personally, if someone was acting suspicious around my home be it day or night(and most robberies are done during daylight hours in case you didnt know) i would want them to call the police to investigate. We dont have a clue how this man 'really acted' to the police. He may have had a totally arrogant attitude. I had a client years ago who was a chiropractor and i referred him once as Mr. so and so rather than Dr. so and so and he threw a fit. This man may have one personality when it suits him in public and a totally other ego trip of a spoiled child when no one else is around. Sorry, but although i have heard of police being a bit abrupt with people and i dont condone it, none of us was there to see how he handled himself and he may simply be using his 'status and title' to cause a scene and get others to back him up.

If you have never been profiled for looking a certain way, there's no way to understand this issue. Everybody judges people just by looking at them, whether they want to admit to it or not. The difference is if the person is willing to get pass the initial thought or reaction and get to the know the truth.

Even though the cop in the picture is black (not sure about the neighbor who called) Gates arrest is still a white on black 'crime'?

I Uh duh don't get it?!

What if Gates WERE WHITE? You wouldn't hear a word about this!!!

I think Gates should sue the Cambridge Police and all the taxpayers in that community should be marching in the streets over this waste of their money.

Police call this a "contempt of cop" arrest, any time some mouth breathing cop gets in over his head and takes offense at something he can just arrest someone.

Gates is lucky he didn't get charged with felony resisting arrest.

Police are a complete waste of taxpayer resources and do nothing to prevent crime.

Combating poverty and allowing people to defend themselves and property are the only proven ways to cut crime.

He didn't get arrested for breaking into his own home, it was disorderly conduct. That leads me to believe he got very mouthy with these cops that were called to the scene and doing their jobs. I bet if he was respectful, it would have been just another day.

I'm a 34 year old black man. I was born in London, UK. I have a white girlfriend, I grew up in an affluent neighborhood in the Chicago burbs. Many times I was the only person of color in my school classes. I attended U of I in Champaign. My take on this whole situation is:
1) Prof Gates was on his property.
2) He showed ID when asked.
3) He got arrested anyway on a bogus charge.

The same thing happened to me in Glenview. I was returning from my girlfriend's house at 11 pm. My car was very recognizable, it was always parked outside her house. The neighbors knew the car on site. I was pulled over by Glenview's finest because they had reports of "burglaries" in the area. I had to show ID, explain why I was in the neighborhood, where I was going, which house I had visited etc etc. The cop even went so far as to threaten to ring the door bell of my girlfriend's house to verify my story. After half an hour I was "released" and allowed to leave. I handled it by cooperating with the cop (as much as I loathed it) because i didn't want to get arrested or shot. But it is true - some Caucasians do not understand that racial profiling exists. It does not matter who you are, how rich you are, how smart you are. You are always going to be looked at as a black person first - regardless of your social status. I blame the media for saturating their newscasts with stories of minorities committing crimes. Do you people honestly think that all blacks and hispanics cause trouble? . Or maybe it's because you have been conditioned to believe what you see on tv? Don't you remember Michael Moore's movie where he showed Wall St. execs getting thrown on the hood of the squad car? He said that it just didn't make interesting news. It's more profitable to show blacks being brutish violent thugs. I'm tired of walking down Michigan Ave and being looked at as if I don't belong there even though I probably make as much money as anyone else. Too bad we have so many ignorant white people who just can't see the world around them.To those of you who aren't ignorant (white, black and everyone else), I appreciate your efforts to integrate the society. your hard work does not go unnoticed. i suggest that everyone here go out and get a copy of Arc of Justice or wiki Ossian Sweet. It may help comprehend what is going on and has been going on in this great country of ours. ps - GO OBAMA!

"It's certainly incongruous, but Boston is notoriously racist against blacks, as symbolized by both the Red Sox's and Celtics' great reluctance to accept blacks on their teams."

a blinkin... The Red Sox you are correct on, but the Celtics? Are you joking? Maybe you should do some more research. Ever hear of a man by the name of Bill Russell? The Celtics were actually trailblazers in that regard as they employed him as the first black coach in the NBA. They also had a man on their team by the name of KC Jones and were also the first NBA team to draft a black player in 1950 by drafting Chuck Cooper.

With that being said, Boston is notoriously racist. This is nothing new... The Boston Bus scandal in the 70's will forever be a black eye for the city.

If a white person screamed and shouted while getting arrested for breaking into his own home, nobody would be calling him "belligerent".

All the man had to do was follow instructions, the whole thing would have been straightened out.

I am so tired of the "race" card being played I could puke.

There is nothing wrong in calling the police if you suspect a burglary, The police should have identified himself which he apparently didn't. Once it was clear that Gates lived in this house, the police should have politely apologized and calmed him down. At that point Gates most likely would have thanked him. There was no need for the arrest as the police should have recognized that the upset was normal. I thought police were trained to not overreact. Sometimes what you see is that they get full of themselves and their power. Once determined that this was HIS house, that should have been the end of it. What was this police officer thinking when he decided to arrest him. I agree with Obama. This officer acted stupidly.

ablinkin,

I know the racist history of Boston. I just can't believe that it happens in the land of Drunken Teddy still. I thought libs were the tolerant type.

The same thing could easily happen to a white man breaking into his own home, especially if he refused to provide ID to the police when asked (one must comply with such a request from a police officer). And it probably does happen to white men all the time, but the MSM and the Race Industry and the President don't bring it to national attention.

And, yes, I would calmly hand over my ID with a smile as soon as a police officer arrived on the scene--I would be acutely aware of how suspicious my behavior would look and would not want to be arrested for burglary.

Barry's comment proved once again just how stupid HE is.

This has all been very funny up until now. Now bring on the real president. You know, the American.

I'm thankful for the intelligent posts and not surprised by the racist Obama bashing.
So you racists that keep mentioning the black police officer in the photo.. how is that relevant ??? Are you implying that because one of the police officers was black the others would abstain from racial profiling?
If you 'broke' into your own home would your neighbors call the police? If they did and the police showed up and you were white.. would they put a gun in your face? C'mon now.

No, from now on, police should let black men, or any men for that matter, pry their way into any home of their choosing, just because it MAY be their own home. We don't want anybody to get offended. And don't bother calling the cops if you see someone breaking into your neighbor's house, especially if it's a black person, because the police won't be allowed to interfere.

Perhaps the police should not have reponded to a call to the residence of a Black person. Maybe the police should not try to protect the Black community!!!

So far we have the news story and the police report. Neither one says he was arrested (or tried to be arrested) for breaking in to his own house. The arrest was for belligerent conduct by Gates after he showed his ID.

Let's see what the bystanders have to say.

Obama has no business commenting. Also, the above article misstated the response by the police. BOTH Gates and the police signed the statement that they incident was regrettable.
If it was MY house I would WANT the cops to stop anyone "breaking" in. What this incident also shows is that if this was a neighbor who called the cops, they all better have a block party to get to know each other!

You don't yell and scream at a cop, calling him a racist, and make a big scene, and THEN say something about the cops mother (which Skip Gates did) and then NOT expect to get arrested.

Common sense, if Skip would have stayed calm, did what the cop said, none of this would have happened.

Obama has no business commenting. Also, the above article misstated the response by the police. BOTH Gates and the police signed the statement that they incident was regrettable.
If it was MY house I would WANT the cops to stop anyone "breaking" in. What this incident also shows is that if this was a neighbor who called the cops, they all better have a block party to get to know each other!

LiDU is right.

What you must remember is that when police enter upon your property and cross the threshold in to your foyer or your kitchen, they OWN your house.
Unless you have a digital recording of what goes down (and you can't in Illinois because they will charge you with a class 4 felony for making one without their permission), you must grovel and apologize to THEM for making them enter your premises. You must be completely subservient, and lie on the floor like a puppy on its back with its paws in the air, or you run the risk of having what happened to Gates happen to you.

And it doesn't matter your race. Although I'm sure Gates' race was an aggravating factor.

His main problem was that he didn't know or didn't follow Ornery's Rule as stated above.

He's lucky they didn't taser him and put him in cardiac arrest.

That neuropathy from the too tight handcuffs MIGHT go away in a few months with a lot of physical therapy.

Also, I wouldn't assume this arresting officer tried all that hard to revive the retired basketball star way back when. The guy died.

To all complaining about the horrible neighbor: Stories I read yesterday reported that the "woman" who called in the report to police was actually riding by in a taxi cab when she observed the "break-in". She was NOT a neighor.

Good perspectives people. Ahh, the freedom of speech. Maybe the neighbor needs to get new glasses since they did not recognize their own neighbor. Give me a break, I may not personally know all of my neighbors but I would recognize each and every one of them and would know if they were the neighbor or a stranger trying to break into a home. You are right though, the President should get ALL the facts before making comments, and he did say that he did not have all the facts.

I have had enough with black folks crying racist every change they get. Obama is President. If racism existed, how the hell did he get elected? And how the hell did Gates get to become a prominent professor at Harvard? Yep, racism was there alright. But it was the kind of racism that benefited them (affirmative action et al) so they did not make a peep. Obama was doing not too well in school yet he got into Harvard. He had no experience, either in law--his studied field--or in politic or business yet he got elected. He ought to curl his tongue seven times before uttering the word racist. And although the media has pumped him and his wife up with praise of "smartest, most intellectual, brilliant", he has shown that he isn't too bright so he ought to quit the word "stupid" as well.

As for Gates, he broke into his own home. Where was his intellectual, bright Harvard trained mind? Did it not occur to him that if the door of his own home was bolted, which wasn't the way he left it when leaving for his trip, there might be problem--landlord locking it for unpaid rent perhaps or there's an intruder in the house, etc? No, nothing occurred to him. He simply broke in. Well, I am certain the nice neighbor would call the police if he were white, and the police would still treat the white him similarly. Yes, there's always a prejudice, stereo-typing, profiling. It happens in country where there is only one race. Look, it even happens in his ancestor's home land Africa. So Gates ought to shut the hell up.

To all those people ripping on the neighbor who called because she didn't know him...Where is your outrage against Mr. Gates???? It is obvious he has not put in the effort to introduce himself and "hang" with them either.

And yes....If the police came to my door after I broke in because of a lost key ie. "saying there was a call to police" I would open the door with a smile and have a laugh about the misunderstanding. They would be gone in 2 minutes.

You don't have to be a Jagwad ALL your life!! It isn't worth it and people will respect you more.

Do I have the right to say what ever I want in my own home? Is being rude to a police officer in my own living room now a crime? Can I be arrested for not saying "Yes Sir,, thank you for treating me like a criminal in my own home sir?My I shine your boots in gratitude?" How much do I have to grovel to the police officer who has entered my property without my permission to avoid being arrested?

* * * * *
Posted by: Marco | July 23, 2009 9:00 AM
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Thanks for the link to the police report, Marco. However, I have to disagree with you that Gates or Obama have done anything for which they owe an apology.
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The police report, itself, indicates that Gates was not arrested for failing to provide identification. It indicated that Sergeant Crowley had entered Gates’ home to confront him, whereupon Gates got irate, accused the officer of racism, repeated vague threats of how the officer hadn’t head the last of it, and demanded the officer’s name - only to start shouting when the officer tried to comply. At some point during the exchange, the report states, the officer asked for identification, and that “Gates initially refused, demanding that I show him identification but then did supply me with a Harvard University identification card.” The police report then provides the following description of the circumstances surrounding the arrest, as follows:
.
“As I descended the stairs to the sidewalk, Gates continued to yell at me, accusing me of racial bias and continued to tell me that I had not heard the last of him. Due to the tumultuous manner Gates had exhibited in his residence as well as his continued tumultuous behavior outside the residence, in view of the public, I warned Gates that he was becoming disorderly. Gates ignored my warning and continued to yell, which drew the attention of both the police officers and citizens, who appeared surprised and alarmed by Gates's outburst. For a second time I warned Gates to calm down while I withdrew my department issued handcuffs from their carrying case. Gates again ignored my warning and continued to yell at me. It was at this time that I informed Gates that he was under arrest.”
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(See Incident Report #9005127, Cambridge Police Department, fourth full paragraph.)
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The conduct for which Gates was arrested was protected speech under the First Amendment. His conduct was limited to speaking (“yelling”) at the police. He had every right to verbally challenge the conduct of the Cambridge Police Department as long as his language fell short of “fighting words” and did not threaten to incite an immediate violent response. “The freedom of individuals verbally to oppose or challenge police action without thereby risking arrest is one of the principal characteristics by which we distinguish a free nation from a police state.” (See City of Houston v. Hill, 482 U. S. 451, 462-63 (1987).) "Speech is … protected against censorship or punishment, unless shown likely to produce a clear and present danger of a serious substantive evil that rises far above public inconvenience, annoyance, or unrest.” (Id. at 461.) Thus, “speech” does not loose its First Amendment protection just because it is vulgar, “offensive,” stirs people to anger, invites public dispute, or brings about a condition of unrest. (See Lewis v. City of New Orleans, 415 U. S. 130 (1974); and Terminiello v. Chicago, 337 U. S. 1, 337 U. S. 4-5 (1949).) Gates’ behavior may have been unwise or imprudent, but it couldn’t be described as “unlawful” in a manner consistent with the liberties defined by the Constitution.
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Insofar as his behavior was perfectly lawful, one cannot say the same for his arrest. He has nothing for which to apologize. For the same reason, the President has no reason to apologize for calling the police conduct “stupid.” It was stupid.

"I have had enough with black folks crying racist every change they get. Obama is President. If racism existed, how the hell did he get elected? And how the hell did Gates get to become a prominent professor at Harvard? Yep, racism was there alright. But it was the kind of racism that benefited them (affirmative action et al) so they did not make a peep."
Where's the racism? Right there. With the assumption that any person of color who gets ahead does so through affirmative action. Gates and Obama are where they are not because they are darker than me, but because they are smarter than me ... and you.

Heather, right you are.

A passerby, not a neighbor.

But don't confuse the racists with facts.

Let them vent and project their own defects onto others.

Like the one above who said Gates should get to know the "neighbor" so next time he would be recognized!

It is instructive to see the racists rise to the bait.

It's like the highway accident: you don't want to look at it but you can't avoid looking at it.

Latina - The Cambridge cops did not put a gun in Dr. Gates' face. Stop being dramatic. Also, if you look at the police report, Officer CARLOS FIGUEROA, backs up the arresting sargeant's account that Gates was out of control, screaming racist. Sgt. Crowley did identify himself and apparently tried to calm him down, to no avail.

Read the actual report here (page 3 for Figueroa's account):
http://www.amnation.com/vfr/Police%20report%20on%20Gates%20arrest.PDF

Good perspectives people. Ahh, the freedom of speech. Maybe the neighbor needs to get new glasses since they did not recognize their own neighbor. Give me a break, I may not personally know all of my neighbors but I would recognize each and every one of them and would know if they were the neighbor or a stranger trying to break into a home. You are right though, the President should get ALL the facts before making comments, and he did say that he did not have all the facts.

Black-on-White hate crimes are covered-up by the national media, while they focus on ridiculous non-stories like Gates' hissy fit.

In Ohio, a White family was attacked by 30 to 50 Black teenagers. If the races had been reversed, it would be a major national news story for months:

http://www.ohio.com/news/top_stories/51253207.html

http://www.ohio.com/news/dyer/50698407.html

In New York, a 30-year old White man was beaten by 12 or more Black teens in his driveway. If the races had been reversed, it would be a major national news story for months:

http://www.newsday.com/long-island/crime/cops-man-beaten-in-valley-stream-possible-hate-crime-1.1274593

THANK YOU!!

Last fall, afriend of my son was attacked. Here are the spec's.
THe boy was 15, white, and what would be charactorized as a "dork" by todays idiotic standards. He is tall, thin, has acne, and prefers academics over sports.
His bus was followed by three black seniors, 2 of them football players. They hid out near his stop. After he had exited the bus, they attacked him. They robbed him, beat him badly enough to require an overnight stay, and spewed with hateful, racist rants ("tell anybody and we will kill you craker ass").
The school informed his mother that there was nothing they could do, because the incident occurred off campus. The police told her that because he could not give an "accurate enough" description (more out fear then memory, and by a black police captain) there was nothing they could do.

SO, if any body cares to reply, would this have been handled the same if the races were reversed? If a black bot had been attacked by 3 whites, it would not matter where it happened. The school/police wwould have immediately labled this a hate crime, and utilized all of their efforts to apprehend the atttackers. So, yes, profiling does exist. Black do not want to admit that they use it to their advantage as frequently as it actually occurs.

First off IF what the police state is true then I agree with them.But what people are not seeing is that in these cases of black and Hispanics it not usually about race.It's about being poor.True minorities do make up a large portion of the poor population.And thats sad.But police treat you very differently on what neighborhood you live in and what type of car you are driving.Lets be honest before 9/11 cops were in the news alot for the way the were acting.They still act the same but now have the Patriot Act to hide behind.Yes I am poor but not always.Now I do live near an area where drugs are a problem.Can't help it.It's all I can afford.I was walking to the store the other day and was stopped for suspicious behavior.I was just walking as a white guy in a black neighborhood.Before 9/11 that would have be harassment.My car is an older model and I have been pulled over for stupid stuff while BMW's and other nice cars fly by.I never got a ticket by the way.I am always asked if they can search my car.I said no once because I am tired of that treatment.They then said I was acting suspicious and searched it anyways.Even brought in the k-9 unit.Didn't find anything.Never anything to find.I know I look like trouble.I have long hair and look like a biker.But why should I be harassed so much for being me?I am a really nice guy.lol.

To All The Above,

What have to you done today to make the world a better place?

If Gates didn't act like a jerk and simply cooperated, it would have been easily resolved. He should be grateful that the police responded to a reported break in so quickly. He's the one that owes an apology for acting like a jerk.
..;.........
Please go back and read the constitution to understand how this country became great. Then contrast it to what is happening now. We are loosing our freedoms.

Posted by: Deklund | July 23, 2009 8:17 AM

Ahh the irony. You on one hand blame Dr. Gates entirely for what happend, and then you cite the Constitution and complain about our loss of freedoms. Dr. Gates was speaking in his own home. He was arrested by the police for that speech in his own home. Is that a reflection of our Constitutionaal freedoms? Does our constitution say that the police can arrest you for mouthing off on your own property?

Boy, nothing gets the people going like healthcare..............

For all you dim wits-- The police have a right to ID anyone they like on private property when responding to suspicious activity on said private property. Lastly, did Obama smoke a lettuce before he made these statments. Is he feeling well these days? BTW-- It matters little if the neighbor could or couldn't tell his neighbor from a vandal-- I don't think we want to punish people from reporting suspicious activity; fearing to get involved. THAT, more than the fact that we can't tell who is and isn't our neighbor anymore, would really signal the end of "community" as we know it. (Almost there anyway.)

I would discount the typewritten account in the police report.

The "facts" as reported, and typed up, by the police.

Who knew by the time they started typing that, to use an old rural expression, "they were crappin' in some pretty tall cotton".

Self-serving.

Yes, the distinguished Harvard professor, walking with a cane apparently, and after a very long flight from China, might get a little testy under the circumstances.

One issue this incident raises is:

Was he entitled to be a little testy under the circumstances?

I should have thought he was.

Of course the self-serving "reporters" in the police report try to put provocative words in his mouth.

I don't think Prof. Gates would have been so stupid or crude to use provocative language.

Which brings to mind the related area of police interrogation.

The late great Supreme Court Justice Walter V. Schaefer wrote, way way back in the 60's, that he wished interrogations could be recorded so the reviewing courts could better tell whether a confession were coerced.

Years later, with the advent of video technology, his wish was granted in some jurisdictions.

As usual, he was decades ahead of his time.

Anyway, it would have been helpful to have a recording of which actually went down, to help sort things out.

As I noted earlier, one can't do that in Illinois because there is a statute making unauthorized recording a felony.

Anyhooo , let's just suppose for the sake of argument that the good Prof., walking with a cane, after a flight of many hours, did get testy with the good officers, inside the foyer of his own home.

I know there is an offense called driving while black.

Also, driving while hispanic.

But now it appears there is the offense of getting testy in your own vestibule of your own house when the police come calling.

Why should anyone be surprised?

Under Bush, they could tap your fax machine, telephone, e mail, office and home without a warrant. Patriot Act.

Not to mention take away your constitutional right to travel. Patriot Act.

Methinks at a minimum some one is going to be undergoing some RE-TRAINING.

And it is not going to be Prof. Gates.

Just to drive the tent stake a little further into the ground:

Asking Prof. Gates to justify his presence in his own house strikes me as very like:

Asking Obama to "prove" he was born in Honolulu.

Think about that one a minute.

Maybe this is why Barack instinctively sprang to Prof. Gates' defense.

Man, more criminals should consider a wooden peg for a leg and maybe a cane...its brings the pity party people out in full force. Here's the bottom line-- Obama's proximity to the person in question has temporarily blindsided him to who Obama is and what he should say and how he should say it. As to the poor old professor-- AS AN AFRICAN AMERICAN PROFESSOR (KNOWINGLY IN THE RIGHT) WHAT MESSAGE DOES HIS ERRATIC BEHAVIOR SEND TO THE BLACK YOUTH? If one can show that the cops in that part of town routinely go door to door (ala Iran) to ID the residence without any dandy reason--- I can understand. What I can't understand is how this well educated (and even in his RIGHT to "question" authority-- albeit belligerently) seasoned black men sends the right attitude to minority youth-- when faced by cops just doing their job (in the limits of the law)-- or racially biased cops (working outside the confines of the law)? The professors age, disability, career, and prestige, might get him off-- but a young black male in the same position-- who would make it hard for the officers to do their job -- wouldn't be so lucky-- he'd be in deeper s---.

Yeah, right, cops put their lives on the line everyday, blah, blah, blah!!!

Tell me, then, how is it that 2,300 black police in Philadelphia had to file a lawsuit about racist content posted on www.domelights.com?

Don't those officers put their lives on the line, just like their white counterparts? Or do only white cops deserve respect?

Jim in Florida said:

The question is: what was Gates doing in China, getting more information on Communism for Obama?
The press always misses the big questions.

Wow, Jim, I knew it wouldn't be long before someone threw out the C-word.

I don't think I've heard the words socialism and communism this much since my high school world history class.

Just so you know, Joseph Stalin was a communist, and a murderer on top of that. Stalin carried out all kinds of atrocities against perceived enemies.

Same is true with Chairman Mao and others.

President Obama is NOT a communist, nor is he a socialist.

People, please learn some history before you go opening your empty skulls to pontificate about something on which you possess NO knowledge whatsoever.

Conservatives would like you to believe that the only way to 100% satisfy a cop is to drop trou, bend over, and submit to his every desire.

* * * * *
Posted by: Laura | July 23, 2009 12:38 PM
.
Tell me: How did that justify the arrest? Has the U.S. turned into such a police state that one can be arrested for yelling at the police from one's own property? Unless the law has changed very recently, and without my notice, I seriously doubt it. You may not like his behavior, but it was protected speech under the First Amendment. As such it was perfectly legal. Since it was legal, he could not lawfully be arrested for it.

Get the story right.
1) The police did not catch him entering his home. By the time they got there, he was already in his home.
2) Once he showed ID that proved he lived there, the matter should have been over. Even if he cussed them out until they made it to their cars, it's over. He was in his house, on his property, and he has the right to say what he wants.

You all can twist the story all you want. I've read the report on several sites and they all read the same. you critics are just looking for another thing to bash Obama on.

The sad part is, if everyone involved was white, this would have been a "filler"story in the news with the headline: Man arrested while breaking into his own home. This isn't news!
Sure, there is racial profiling going on in this country, and it is a horrible thing, but this is not the case in this situation. People in this country need to learn that if you are going to be a JERK to someone they have a right to respond in kind.

Im a young african american male , living in arizona . I took care of four childrens of a mix relationship for nine years . The oldest is'nt my biological son but i treated him like mines for eight years of his life . After the seperation im not able to see him any more he cries everytime i come around and says he wants to go home with his daddy(me)But the court put a restraining order against me saying its best for him to not being around me.The three is my biological two daughters and one son . I ask for a devorce because she met someone else who could live with her lazy ways of living . They all is on SSI income and she still don't work . Well now she wants to use the arizona of America race card for protection to keep me from my kids . Everytime she tries to keep me from seening my kids.The funny thing is im the one calling them out to assit me with my kids. But when they come the only thing they want to know is do i have a I.D and any warrents and then they take my I.D and run a check on me. then they run mine tags and plates and in many words tells me to hush and don't say a words and mabe come back on my next vistatation week. I work for BANNER HEALTHCARE FOR 2001 TIL 2009 AS A GASTROENTEROLGIST ASST the only thing i wants wanted is to spend time with my kids..so i also feel the embarrassment of america racial profile and stupid history thats goes on then and NOW...WE STILL NEEDS A CHANGE IN AMERICA AND PHOENIX ARIZONA..I NEED HELP PLEASE..

Has Obama ever considered passing a law that states: Allow all blacks, hispanics, chinese, terroists etc. to roam the cities as they please and they are off limits to authority?
Makes me want to join a white organization real quick. Obama is supposed to be for all the people, not just a chosen few. Shame on you Obama for your "stupid" remarks before listening to both sides of the story!

* * * * *
Posted by: ornery | July 23, 2009 1:59 PM
.
The bottom line is this: Even if we take every word in the police report as true, the police still didn’t have grounds to make an arrest. Yelling at the police, and particularly making loud protestations against what appears to be oppressive behavior, is protected speech. If it is protected speech, one can’t be arrested or punished for it.
.
Unlike you, however, I see nothing wrong with the police conducting an investigation and asking about his identification under the circumstances. A passerby with a cell phone (rather than a neighbor) reported seeing what appeared to be two black men with back-packs attempting to break into the home. What was unknown to all was that a prior break-in had damaged the door (which is probably why Gates and his chauffeur had to force it open). It was a sufficiently suspicious report to warrant an investigation. I mean, if police received a call of two people with back packs forcing their way into your front door, don’t you think they should investigate? If they found someone suspicious in your home (and it wasn’t you) don’t you think they would be remiss if they failed to ask for ID or determine whether the person was properly on the premises? I do. That’s why I think Gates overreacted to the investigation. He should have been a little grateful that they were acting to protect his interests.
.
However, I also think the investigation should have stopped once the police figured out that Mr. Gates was in his own home. That’s where the trouble started.

It never ceases to amaze me the amount of "Red Blooded" Americans that don't hesitate to advocate the trampling of the rights of minority CITIZENS of this nation. The same people who are "up in arms" about the NRA's defeat this week in Congress believe it is ok to live in a police state?

If you believe this officer was justified in arresting this citizen, consider the following:

-The police report has been posted here many times. The facts should not be in question. Gates DID produce sufficient I.D. to the Police officer.

-The First Amendment is not VOID when speaking to a Police Officer. The same words and language you can spew at Milton Bradley due to his poor performance, you can spew at Officer Friendly due to his. As long as you don't threaten either, you are within your rights

-Being a "jerk", "belligerent", "arrogant", or any other code word for uppity you can think of, is NOT ILLEGAL and is never grounds for arrest

-None of the Officer's supporters have yet to answer why he would not produce his name and badge number upon request as is department regulations. If it is stated in the complaint that Gates complied with the Law, why didn't the Officer? Who has the greater responsibility to follow the law here?

-All charges against Mr. Gates were dropped, without so much as a citation. For an officer with so much "public" support, this is unheard of. This proves to me without question that he perp walked Gates on a trumped up charge out of spite, with no legal basis to do so. His job is to enforce the law as written, not to teach adults any lessons in manners. Again, if Gates was being a loud mouthed jerk, he was well within the rights afford him by the U.S. Constitution

* * * * *
Posted by: Busted for the Same Thing | July 23, 2009 10:32 AM
.
The police did not bust Gates for being in his own home. They busted him for loudly protesting his treatment. The arrest and the alleged grounds for the arrest didn't happen until after the police had already identified him. Do you still think it's the same? Or, do you think it was okay for the police to arrest him and take him downtown for exercising his constitutional right to protest police conduct?

Obama:
"I think it's fair to say, No. 1, any of us would be pretty angry. No. 2, that the Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof that they were in their own home. And No. 3 — what I think we know separate and apart from this incident — is that there is a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately, and that's just a fact."

Conveniently left out was No. 4, that 54% of the U.S. prison population is black, while blacks account for only 13% of the general population.

Jus' saying...

@ Parker, and others...

What you still fail to understand is that black people are not the only ones who are profiled. At happens just as much to white people. I'm white, and it has happened to me repeatedly. Sometimes a police officer is going to stop you, even though you weren't doing anything wrong.

Get over yourself, and be polite, and you'll be on your way in a bit. You don't have to grovel, but if you talk about his mama, like the allegedly-smart Gates did, you're going to have a problem.

I got harrassed by a cop back when I was just sixteen years old ( in small towns, white male kids are the profilees ). I was angry, but I worked the cop ( 'Yes officer' and 'No officer' are the key phrases ) and I walked.

If a sixteen year old kid can pull it off, why can't a black man with a genius grant do the same?

Somewhere in Kenya or Indonesia a village is missing it's idiot................

pleases lets stop racial profiling. The next time the stupid police see someone trying to break in to a house who won't show any ID please just offer to lend a hand. They may also need a hand load their car with the telivision, jewlery and other valuables so please don't just rush off to the doughnut shop, stay around and give them a hand carrying things out.

Gates should feel lucky that he did not get the Rodney King "beat down". After all, most whites felt Rodney should have laid down on the turf and shouted "serenity now". He just couldn't be a good ole darkie and do exactly what Bull Connor, I mean the LAPD, directed, so he got what he deserved (broken facial bone, broken leg, lacerations, you know the usual stuff) Shucks, all Gates got was a couple of bruised wrists from the handcuffs. Can't wait for South Park to satirize another sad episode in the life and times in the good ole U S of A.

JohnW, I agree with you.

Police were within rights to investigate.

And with a Harvard faculty ID, which should be familiar to the Cambridge Mass. police dept. because Harvard has been there since 1636, way before there was a Cambridge , let alone a Cambridge police dept., all police have to do is put the name into their PDA or Blackberry or equivalent and know this is Prof. Gates' home and they can get a photo of him on their screen.

After that, everything they did was way off base and the only reason there will be consequences to the cops is that Gates is a nationally known figure.

Whatever he said through a closed storm door is just too bad.

That Irish cop should have remembered that line from nursery school: "Sticks & stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me."

Particularly words from an elderly professor walking on a cane.

Inside his own house.

Does this cop teach this at his course on community relations?

Lets just give it up. No more people of color arrests. That will free up our prisons, people won't be able to complain about any murders, rapes, break ins or any disorderly conduct by any person of color. Let's see how long people of color like that. Oh at first it will be a great civil rights accomplishment. Police officers can cut down on all the paper work, our jails will have less people in them and the judicial system will have a lot more available time. But then what? People of color will squak they are not being protected. Can't win with blacks. Dammed if you do and dammed if you don't.

Nice work Barack… with one comment you managed to alienate 75% of America.

And anyone who has spent any amount of time in the “higher” education system knows the Professor Gates type: bitter, spiteful, bigoted racist with a position of power who felt emboldened to make a political statement.

This is the type of Professor who would change the subject on you when you attempt to engage in a debate- or would give you a poor grade because you actually have an opinion, and done research outside of marxist texts and such. You are fooling no one, Mr Gates.

And Mr President, is this “nuance” you’ve spoke of? “the police acted stupidly”? -please

Obama is out to rip this country to shreds in EVERY way- who can question that such ill-advised statements are divisive… and NOT helpful? He has no idea what happened, he admitted it- and apparently doesn’t care, either… he’s picked his side.

But back in reality, the childish and paranoid Gates completely baited the cop, who acted with admirable restraint, IMO… all he had to do is show his ID and shut up, he was treated with respect. This guy was clearly looking for a fight… and he ought to thank God he didn’t find one.

Obama is going to destroy race relations in this country with his vengeful “get even” mentality… some messiah- Americans should have chosen a fair and sensible human being instead of this embittered nut.

http://reaganiterepublicanresistance.blogspot.com

*****
“Does this cop teach this at his course on community relations?”
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Posted by: ornery | July 23, 2009 11:32 PM
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We can always hope not.

It started last Thursday when Gates, returning after a flight from China, was unable to open his front door a block from Harvard Square. While his limo driver tried to help him, a woman called police to say that "two black males with backpacks" were trying to break in.

__________________

The above quote is not true. The woman didn't say they were black, she thought one looked hispanic!

Here is an update regarding the posting I made earlier on July 23, 2009 10:07 AM. The judge dismissed the case against me and was angry at the cop for having detained me for so long. I am glad we have an independent judicial system that keeps a check on the police(executive branch).