President Obama is take some heat for saying that the Cambridge police “acted stupidly” when they arrested well known African-American and Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. yesterday. The incident has sparked accusations of racial profiling, leading to renewed discussions about the relationship between black people and police across the country.
Interestingly, it turns out that the officer who made the arrest runs a training program for other policemen about how to avoid racial profiling.
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I was disappointed with the President's comment. My children have been taught to always respect an officer's requests. I think even those supporting Dr. Gates would agree that he did not act with respect towards the officer.
It's a shame that someone was arrested in his own home, but he was arrested for his belligerent and antagonistic actions towards a police officer. A Harvard professor… well actually anyone… should know better. If you don't agree with an officer's actions you should comply first, complain later. (Unless of course he is obviously acting maliciously and putting you in danger. That was not the case here.)
Years ago I was pulled over coming home from work after mid-night by a white police officer. I was a white male driving a pickup truck in a predominantly black neighborhood. He said it looked suspicious for a white guy to be in that area at that time of night and that's why he pulled me over. I was racially profiled and frankly it didn't hurt my feelings one bit.
He asked if I had any weapons in the vehicle and I politely offered to let him search my vehicle while I sat in the back of his. He declined but thanked me. It is amazing what a little bit of respect and common sense can do when you aren't resentful of every action performed by a police officer.
I think it's time that all people regardless of race and education start offering the same respect to police officers that they demand themselves. Shame on you Dr. Gates for not being respectful of another human being who was just doing his job.
July 23, 2009 at 4:45 pmWow Elizabeth, do you ever proof read before posting? Furthermore, with all the coverage of this story do you really think this entry contributed anything? You don't even get into any analysis or opinion here, you just regurgitated the facts.
As for the story in question, I think the stupid part was arresting the professor for “tumultous behavior in a public space” after it had already been determined that the professor was in his own home (not a public space.)
July 23, 2009 at 7:02 pmTypical response! I would love it if a police officer showed up at my house to say he/she was investigating a possible break-in. I think the professor overreacted. How can he be such a professional with such a racial attitude? I would believe that because of his color (and probably his intellect) he has certainly benefited from his race. Be happy that someone is looking at your home while you are supposedly away! Your actions as a professor are very ignorant sounding. You certainly have some issues. Apparently the President has some issues as well! I feel sorry for the both of you!!
July 23, 2009 at 7:17 pmIt may not be “stupid” but it surely looks very stupid. What was that officer thinking, what purpose would it serve to arrest somebody in his own home? And what is this officer teaching if he got into such a mess? He should have swallowed his pride and leave and try to catch some real criminals instead of trying to show a distinguished professor who is the man. I would say the entire police department should be re-shaken there. They don't even see what is the problem.
July 23, 2009 at 8:19 pmHenry Gates has set African-Americans back 10 years!
July 23, 2009 at 8:20 pmGates is a low class person! Did you read what he said to police officer when he was asked to get outside? He said: I will talk to you mother outside. What a jerk!
July 23, 2009 at 8:36 pmShame on you and your friend obama. Since now on I will wright your name and obama only in small letters as small as you are, brothers.
Black, White, Yellow, or Purple…. you do not antagonize, or insult Police. You are stupid for doing so… and the president is showing his color plays into his brain more then he wants us to believe.
July 23, 2009 at 9:29 pm1. Making a comment about an incident without all the facts. He even admitted he didn't have all the facts. But then jumped in with both feet with harsh words.
2. Sitting under the biased and harsh teaching of Reverend Wright for 20 years.
Makes you wonder just how impartial and level headed our current President is under his spruced up and tidy exterior.
July 23, 2009 at 10:50 pmCome on America. Grow up. People make mistakes even our Presidents. Just ask George Bush! Learn from our President and become a better person. It is up to you to make this a better world. People say things and act out irrationally from time to time. No excuse. Words can make people stronger and wiser. Now please live it rationally and make this a better more humanely world! We are all one and we need to create a better, stronger world together. You can either sink or swim! We are all in this together.
July 23, 2009 at 11:05 pmAccording to what I have been able to read about this, the professor had just returned home after a long overseas trip. He was most likely tired and fed up with crowds of people and just wanted to relax at home. But, OOPS, couldn't find his keys. He has to bust something open to get into his house. Cop shows up due to a phone call from a neighbor. Mr. Gates is in a foul mood due to his frustrating circumstances. He at first doesn't ID himself, causing the office to suspect a burglar hoping to avoid arrest. He gets loud at the cop. Even so, (and I don't approve of that), the officer might have understood the professors anger and given him a bit of compassion. Even though Mr. Gates was not polite I think the office could have simply said, “Professor Gates, this is certainly not professional behavior. I understand your anger but this is not appropriate. I am willing to overlook this for now but in the future, I suggest you be more polite when police are attempting to protect you and your property.”
I certainly hope that would have defused the situation. If not, and Professor Gates continued to be loud and rude, then he deserved a trip downtown.
So in my humble opinion, both Professor Gates, AND the office did not exhibit behavior that others in their situation should imitate.
To be fair, how many times could a white person be treated unkindly by (Pick one: Asians, Blacks, Latinos, Skinheads) before they developed a smoldering anger toward that group?
People of all color and groups need to realize when they mistreat others they set the stage for a conflict.
Don't think so? What happened at Columbine and at least three other schools? Some kids felt they were treated unfairly and they killed a bunch of other students. (I don't suggest they had the right to do that, only that there was a cause and effect)
Think twice before you degrade another person, the one who suffers the backlash might be someone you love.
July 23, 2009 at 11:26 pmRace aside, if you are confronted in your own home on suspicion of breaking into it, anyone would be a little upset. Now since we have two different sides of the story, no one really knows what the facts are.
July 23, 2009 at 11:28 pmI believe in respecting police but police also need to learn to respect those they serve. If it is true that Professor Gates proved his residency at the address in question, the suspicious nature of the matter should have been dropped and the officer probably should have left.
On the other hand, if Prof. Gates was indeed belligerent, he was out of line, but I think anyone would agree that you would be upset if you were accused of breaking into your own home.
Furthermore, Prof. Gates is nearing his 60s and I believe needs a cane…if the officer saw those facts upon his arrival, wouldn't that call into question the whole premise of the man breaking into anything…just a thought.
Instead of get involved in a local police matter, I believed President Obama should focus more on the urgent matters such as health care reform program, housing crisis and how to get America back on track. If the President keep getting involves in this similar matter every time it come up, before you know it, his presidency term will end, but nothing is getting done and we will be in worse shape than we are today.
July 24, 2009 at 12:20 amNo one under any circumstances, should react indignantly to a police officer investigating a possible burglary at their home. This is why we pay taxes. It is a benefit a lot of people in other countries do not enjoy. These are public servants doing their job to protect us and safeguard our property. If I leave my garage door open after midnight it's not uncommon for a police officer to ring my doorbell just to make sure I am aware and that my house hasn't been broken into in my absence. It's 2009 folks, you'd have to be pretty braindead not to have heard about racial profiling by now. Public awareness is not the problem. The real problem is that crying racism has become a convenient and overused weapon for many people in this country, regardless of their skin color. And I am sick and tired of people who are technically no more African (anymore than I am European) calling attention to the color of their skin in order to further exaccerbate race relations in this country. Because that's all it does. This is an outrage for all law enforcement officials and sprirtually enlightened people everywhere, and a blatant disregard on the part of our obviously racist president for throwing fuel on this fire when he should be playing moderator or doing us all a huge favor by keeping his mouth shut.
July 24, 2009 at 1:32 amTO “FORMER REPUBLICAN” : Your post was hilarious. Do you realize that you sound like a hippie, and your last words “We're all in this together” is the refrain from the song of the same title from the hit Disney Movie “High School Musical”???? I am a former DEMOCRAT, until I wised up this year and realized that my former comrades were going nuts attacking Sarah Palin, calling every white person a racist, and comparing Obama to Jesus. I sing that Disney song with my kids… but I teach them to respect Police, don't listen to Rap music, and not to ever compare a politician to a God. You need to come back over from the Dark Side.
July 24, 2009 at 1:59 amGO QBALL! WELL SAID!
July 24, 2009 at 2:02 amThe sentence is kind of awkward, but that's exactly the way that Obama said it, that “the Cambridge police acted stupidly.” I'm not sure what else you're referring to…but in terms of analysis, isn't it nice to just be told the facts sometimes rather than being fed opinion and/or analysis that is disguised as “fact?” I don't know…that's just my feeling on it.
Lastly – this was not meant to be a major post on the site…it is just a contribution to the regular blog wire. There was nothing on Scoop about this story when I wrote this, so my intention was just to get something about it up while the story was still new. I'm actually really happy with the discussion this post seems to have sparked!!
July 24, 2009 at 2:49 amOn balance he seems far more level-headed than his opponent in the last election. No one's perfect, but I think our country made the right choice.
I think Obama would have done better to keep his response to that reporter's question vague. Both race activists and libertarians have reasons to think the police response was stupid. But it's not for the President to say.
I hope this blows over soon, at least in the mainstream media.
July 24, 2009 at 3:51 amthe cop my have initially followed protocol but by law, once you show prof that that is your property! its can now be called an illegal search , and the owner of the property has every right to show dissaproval because you have entered his property his house after the fact. you cannot take away ones freedom of speech once they have given you all documentation showing ownership. this then falls into illegal search and siezure because your going by a hunch. now if you where to see the person breaking in and then leaving with items such as a tv etc then thats when you call the police. what if someone was inside the house dying and there trying to get in ? the president was correct in what he said. once you show that this is your property no government or city government should be hackling you. that cop should have rode off in the high horse he came in quickly as possible because if you had someone accusing you of robbing your own house you would be furious esp your own home. i wouldnt be suprised if the cop is fired and the station fined. The cop like so many of them chose to protect his pride infront of his buddies and did the wrong thing now hell pay for it. this is why i never became a police officer to many of them have god complex and cant function out in real society because they feel powerless so they join the force. unfortunetly police dont seem to regard people rights and the only way they learn is via lawsuits american society 1 cops 0. at the end of the day this come down to illegal search plain and simple. this is what they do in cuba.
July 24, 2009 at 4:33 amOf course the officer acted 'stupidly' and blatantly misused his authority. At the very least, he should be suspended. Many are saying that the professor over-reacted but imagine yourself being profiled on a regular basis and being humiliated and embarassed. I have black friends who talk of being pulled over by officers for doing nothing wrong other than driving an expensive vehicle. How in the world do you manage to be pulled over so often yet receive no tickets?
Until more non black and non brown people experience this type of indignity, then it's best that they refrain from telling the person who is oftentimes wronged that they're over reacting.
July 24, 2009 at 5:46 amRauli
July 24, 2009 at 5:48 amWow, you must be a first year law student! Your comment was so awesome and misinformed! The point is, the police were called to investigate an incident but Mr. Gates chose to interfere with that investigation and was therefore obstructing it. That was the reason for the arrest. Forget age, race, disability or whatever, the law is to be applied equally.
Once the professor displayed his identification the investigation was over. From that point forward, the officer was abusing his authority. How in the world can you arrest a man on his own porch for 'disorderly conduct'? Especially when the officer asks the person to step outside so that he can place him under arrest? Of course you know that he asked him to step outside because it wouldn't have been possible to charge him with 'disorderly conduct' inside of his own home.
The officer should be suspended. Hopefully, he'll read the Bill of Rights and memorize it.
July 24, 2009 at 6:15 amPresident Obama deeply disappointed me yesterday with his comment. I think he owes the Police and specifically the arresting police officer a formal apology for making a statement like he did without all the facts. Only fools give the police a hard time when they are trying to help protect the public and Gates was a fool plain and simple. The charges shouldn't have been dropped just because he cried racism.
July 24, 2009 at 6:23 amJust another example of reverse racism against a “White” individual. Many Black individuals scream racism all the time to get out of a situation, and do. The police man acted correctly in my opinion. If Dr Gates wasn't doing anything wrong, why the attitude. Let the police do their job investigating a possible break-in. You would think Dr Gates would appreciate someone looking out for him and his property instead of playing the race card, screaming and acting in a childish belligerent manner. Appalling! Then charges are dropped because he did scream racism. See it works!
July 24, 2009 at 6:42 amPlease quote me one person that has made an accusation of ratial profiling. Not heard anyone make that accusation, just lots of defensivness about it.
This police department had a history of problems with black profiling and problems with police harrasing innocent people. Maybe the cop was choosen to teach the coarse, because he had attitudes himself. His attitude afterwards is not very diplomatic, and he show no ability now of taking action to calm the situation either.
Is it ok for the police to shoot you because you ran when they started shooting at you?
July 24, 2009 at 7:28 amThe investigation should have been over if Gates would have 1. thanked the officers for their quick response and concern for his property, then 2. shut his mouth and gone back inside. Instead, he persisted in his channeling of Malcolm X.
What should the officer be suspended for? Trying to do his job while a raving lunatic tried to prevent him fro it? What areas of the Bill of Rights were in play? The officers had a right to be there, did not conduct a search and made a lawful arrest.
July 24, 2009 at 7:30 amPhil you just made statements without knowing all the facts. First you say that is wrong, then you do it yourslef. Clearly making a statment is not your issue, you just did it yourself. Like flag pins, jackets in the oval office, teleprompters, and birth certificates, this just gave fooder to the fools, nothing more.
July 24, 2009 at 7:34 amGates wasn't arrested for breaking into his house…he was arrested for acting like a fool in public. All the cops did was respond to a break-in call. They don't know if the person answering the door is a criminal posing as the resident. All they did was ask for ID and Mr. Gates starts raising his voice and accusing the cops of being racist. They had every right to arrest him regardless of his skin color.
July 24, 2009 at 8:15 amAs a recently retired African American Marine of 25 years, I am absolutely disappointed that this president responded to a small local incident. I find his remarks offensive and racially insensitive! Whatever intelligence he had was just set back 15 yrs! What an idiot! How would African Americans respond if President Bush makes the identical remarks about a black cop? This sickens me!
July 24, 2009 at 12:18 pm“I would believe that because of his color (and probably his intellect) he has certainly benefited from his race. “
I think you've touched on something here. He has absolutely NO CLUE as to what it's like to be black in America.
He's upset over an officer checking his home for a break-in.
He's probably never been pulled over and beaten up by a cop. Or harassed just for standing in front of a liquor store at 10 PM. Or riding a bicycle through a neighborhood at 3AM.
All his life, he's lived with privilege in his ovory tower and NOW, he decides to get in the fight.
July 24, 2009 at 3:39 pmNow Gates' lawyer Ogeltree announces that they will be canvassing the neighborhood for you people who have had run ins with officer Crowley.
So, to assasinate the officers' character, they are going to interview people he has arrested for testimony?
I'd get another lawyer!!
Race profiling and hate crimes exist in America. This is not a case of Henry Gates being a black man in America.
This is a case of Henry Gates being an @$$h013!
July 24, 2009 at 3:43 pmI agree! Once the officer had Gates' identity and was calling it in, he started to LEAVE the premises. Gates continued to follow him outside and harass the officer to a point of being a public nuisance and stopping traffic!
July 24, 2009 at 3:45 pmReminds me of a white guy in a pickup who was arrested back in the 90s.
He was driving erratically and got pulled over for a license plate violation . He was uncooperative and ended up getting the death sentence.
His name was Timothy McVeigh and he had just bombed the Federal building in Oklahoma City.
Had he remained cool and polite, they probably would have let him off with a ticket and a summons to go to court!
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