Housing While Black (1 Viewer)

[Witz]

Anyway.

He acted like a #####.

The cop should've let it go and just left.

Race had nothing to do with what the cop did.

I don't think you can make this statement not being there. I suspect race had everything to do with it, but I can't prove it either. However, there is an overwhelming historical experience to support my suspicion and not yours.

Based on the information that has come from this case so far, please give me one component of the story which supports your notion that race had everything to do with this. Just one.

 

[Fennis]

Anyway.

He acted like a #####.

The cop should've let it go and just left.

Race had nothing to do with what the cop did.

I don't think you can make this statement not being there. I suspect race had everything to do with it, but I can't prove it either. However, there is an overwhelming historical experience to support my suspicion and not yours.

Based on the information that has come from this case so far, please give me one component of the story which supports your notion that race had everything to do with this. Just one.

You can start with well respected, wealthy 58 year old Harvard professor arrested in his own home.

 

[Michael Fox Fan]

Congratulations, but I bet you'd be in the minority here.

And no one can convince me otherwise.

He is well known. Most of the posters here are educated. I am sure most people know who he is.

They might at this point, but I doubt they did prior to this incident.

Just because you didn't know who he was, you assume almost nobody. Too funny.

I'm certainly not alone on this.

But you were the one asserting that basically nobody else knew who he was.Hell, if you listed practically any famous musician from the past decade, I would have zero clue who it was. But it would never occur to me to insist that nobody in the FFA knew either.

 

[Witz]

Anyway.

He acted like a #####.

The cop should've let it go and just left.

Race had nothing to do with what the cop did.

I don't think you can make this statement not being there. I suspect race had everything to do with it, but I can't prove it either. However, there is an overwhelming historical experience to support my suspicion and not yours.

Based on the information that has come from this case so far, please give me one component of the story which supports your notion that race had everything to do with this. Just one.

You can start with well respected, wealthy 58 year old Harvard professor arrested in his own home.

Ok. Just want to keep score here - if anyone is arrested in their home, it has to do with race. Gotcha. Now if you can provide any actual component, I would love to hear it. Again - just one.

 

[timschochet]

Anyway.

He acted like a #####.

The cop should've let it go and just left.

Race had nothing to do with what the cop did.

I don't think you can make this statement not being there. I suspect race had everything to do with it, but I can't prove it either. However, there is an overwhelming historical experience to support my suspicion and not yours.

Based on the information that has come from this case so far, please give me one component of the story which supports your notion that race had everything to do with this. Just one.

You can start with well respected, wealthy 58 year old Harvard professor arrested in his own home.

This would have been my answer.

 

[Witz]

Anyway.

He acted like a #####.

The cop should've let it go and just left.

Race had nothing to do with what the cop did.

I don't think you can make this statement not being there. I suspect race had everything to do with it, but I can't prove it either. However, there is an overwhelming historical experience to support my suspicion and not yours.

Based on the information that has come from this case so far, please give me one component of the story which supports your notion that race had everything to do with this. Just one.

You can start with well respected, wealthy 58 year old Harvard professor arrested in his own home.

This would have been my answer.

Many people are arrested in their homes. Again - how is this racist?

 

[Brave Sir Robin]

If I climbed over anything to get into my house by any other means than by the front door my neighbors (If they saw me) would call the cops. It's tough being gay in a rural commmunity. America sucks...except for black people.

 

[timschochet]

Anyway.

He acted like a #####.

The cop should've let it go and just left.

Race had nothing to do with what the cop did.

I don't think you can make this statement not being there. I suspect race had everything to do with it, but I can't prove it either. However, there is an overwhelming historical experience to support my suspicion and not yours.

Based on the information that has come from this case so far, please give me one component of the story which supports your notion that race had everything to do with this. Just one.

You can start with well respected, wealthy 58 year old Harvard professor arrested in his own home.

Ok. Just want to keep score here - if anyone is arrested in their home, it has to do with race. Gotcha. Now if you can provide any actual component, I would love to hear it. Again - just one.

There is NO doubt in my mind, none whatsoever, that if he had been a white professor, there never would have been a call to the police in the first place. And if there had been, the confrontation would have gone something like this:"Excuse me, sir, what are you doing?"

"Oh, I was locked out of my house, I'm trying to get in."

"I see. No problem, sir. Let me help you. Have a good night now."

 

[StrikeS2k]

Pat, the only reason my friend got taken away from his family in handcuffs was because he was Black. That's it. He didn't argue with the police, didn't act like a jerk, nothing like that. You call it what you want. Whatever you want to call it, it's wrong. And it happens all the time. And because of that, I have reason to suspect it happened in this case, too.

Tim, Do you think he would have gotten taken away if the description of the perp was a white person?

 

[StrikeS2k]

There is NO doubt in my mind, none whatsoever, that if he had been a white professor, there never would have been a call to the police in the first place. And if there had been, the confrontation would have gone something like this:

"Excuse me, sir, what are you doing?"

"Oh, I was locked out of my house, I'm trying to get in."

"I see. No problem, sir. Let me help you. Have a good night now."

You don't think good neighbors call the cops when they see white people breaking and entering, or you don't think white people ever commit breaking and entering crimes? You're sounding quite racist in your own way here.......

 

[timschochet]

This argument reminds me of the one where certain conservatives in this forum refuse to acknowledge, despite overwhelming evidence, that waterboarding is torture. Some things are just so obvious that even to attempt to explain them seems absurd. If you don't understand that this situation would have gone down COMPLETELY differently had the professor been white, then you don't want to understand, and you never will.

 

[Michael Fox Fan]

There is NO doubt in my mind, none whatsoever, that if he had been a white professor, there never would have been a call to the police in the first place. And if there had been, the confrontation would have gone something like this:

"Excuse me, sir, what are you doing?"

"Oh, I was locked out of my house, I'm trying to get in."

"I see. No problem, sir. Let me help you. Have a good night now."

It's irrelevant - at least if you are criticizing the cops - whether or not the neighbor would have called the police if the professor had been white. The police were called, and they were obligated to investigate.Ok, now let's package together the actual scenario. The confrontation DID NOT go as you described above. It started out that way, with the officer approaching Gates and asking for ID, but then Gates started yelling and ranting irrationally. So please, let's try to keep the facts in order instead of conjuring up mythical scenarios.

 

[zdaddy]

Racism won't go away until the race card does.

 

[Michael Fox Fan]

This argument reminds me of the one where certain conservatives in this forum refuse to acknowledge, despite overwhelming evidence, that waterboarding is torture. Some things are just so obvious that even to attempt to explain them seems absurd. If you don't understand that this situation would have gone down COMPLETELY differently had the professor been white, then you don't want to understand, and you never will.

Some of us felt the same way about your views on Kennedy and Chappaquiddick

 

[Witz]

There is NO doubt in my mind, none whatsoever, that if he had been a white professor, there never would have been a call to the police in the first place. And if there had been, the confrontation would have gone something like this:

"Excuse me, sir, what are you doing?"

"Oh, I was locked out of my house, I'm trying to get in."

"I see. No problem, sir. Let me help you. Have a good night now."

See - you are twisting the situation to suit your arguement. How can you make a statement that there is no doubt in your mind that if he had been white, it would go the way you say. There is no way anyone can say that and by hanging your hat on that, it only makes your argument all the more flimsy. You seem to be sticking to the fact that he was arrested in his home. Why aren't you mentioning the fact that he was beligerent to the police when they asked him to come outside. Why aren't you mentioning the fact that he refused numerous times to show id when asked by the police? Why aren't you mentioning the fact that numerous neighbors have stated that Gates was verbally loud during the exchange? The reason you aren't is because your mind was already made up the minute you heard the story and that's a shame.

 

[Michael Fox Fan]

There is NO doubt in my mind, none whatsoever, that if he had been a white professor, there never would have been a call to the police in the first place. And if there had been, the confrontation would have gone something like this:

"Excuse me, sir, what are you doing?"

"Oh, I was locked out of my house, I'm trying to get in."

"I see. No problem, sir. Let me help you. Have a good night now."

See - you are twisting the situation to suit your arguement. How can you make a statement that there is no doubt in your mind that if he had been white, it would go the way you say. There is no way anyone can say that and by hanging your hat on that, it only makes your argument all the more flimsy. You seem to be sticking to the fact that he was arrested in his home. Why aren't you mentioning the fact that he was beligerent to the police when they asked him to come outside. Why aren't you mentioning the fact that he refused numerous times to show id when asked by the police? Why aren't you mentioning the fact that numerous neighbors have stated that Gates was verbally loud during the exchange? The reason you aren't is because your mind was already made up the minute you heard the story and that's a shame.

Because it doesn't fit what tim wants to believe. If the facts don't fit your version of the truth, make up new facts.

 

[StrikeS2k]

This argument reminds me of the one where certain conservatives in this forum refuse to acknowledge, despite overwhelming evidence, that waterboarding is torture. Some things are just so obvious that even to attempt to explain them seems absurd. If you don't understand that this situation would have gone down COMPLETELY differently had the professor been white, then you don't want to understand, and you never will.

I am constantly amazed at your ability to know exactly how other people who you have never met would react in any given situation. It's a gift. You're like the next John Edwards. You should have a TV show.

 

[timschochet]

Pat, the only reason my friend got taken away from his family in handcuffs was because he was Black. That's it. He didn't argue with the police, didn't act like a jerk, nothing like that. You call it what you want. Whatever you want to call it, it's wrong. And it happens all the time. And because of that, I have reason to suspect it happened in this case, too.

Tim, Do you think he would have gotten taken away if the description of the perp was a white person?

I am 100% convinced the answer is no. They might have asked him where he was in the last hour, and they would have taken his word for it. Maybe they would have asked to see his license. That's it.

 

[Witz]

This argument reminds me of the one where certain conservatives in this forum refuse to acknowledge, despite overwhelming evidence, that waterboarding is torture. Some things are just so obvious that even to attempt to explain them seems absurd. If you don't understand that this situation would have gone down COMPLETELY differently had the professor been white, then you don't want to understand, and you never will.

Brillant. Way to derail the conversation at hand. Stay focused if you can please.

 

[Fennis]

Racism won't go away until the race card does.

 

[Witz]

Pat, the only reason my friend got taken away from his family in handcuffs was because he was Black. That's it. He didn't argue with the police, didn't act like a jerk, nothing like that. You call it what you want. Whatever you want to call it, it's wrong. And it happens all the time. And because of that, I have reason to suspect it happened in this case, too.

Tim, Do you think he would have gotten taken away if the description of the perp was a white person?

I am 100% convinced the answer is no. They might have asked him where he was in the last hour, and they would have taken his word for it. Maybe they would have asked to see his license. That's it.

Wait, what? If the description of the perp was a white person, you are saying the cops would have still questioned your black friend? Seriously? Come on now - you have got to be fishing here.

 

[Twilight]

There is NO doubt in my mind, none whatsoever, that if he had been a white professor, there never would have been a call to the police in the first place. And if there had been, the confrontation would have gone something like this:

"Excuse me, sir, what are you doing?"

"Oh, I was locked out of my house, I'm trying to get in."

"I see. No problem, sir. Let me help you. Have a good night now."

There is a lot of doubt in my mind. I'm sure it's procedure if a call has been made to ask for ID, regardless of skin color. The only area where racial inequity might exist is the arrest itself. You are right that if a white 58 year old professor reacted the same way, there is a decent chance he would not be arrested. But I think the expectation by Gates of that inequity is what became a self-fulfilling prophecy and is the reason behind the eventual arrest.

 

[StrikeS2k]

Pat, the only reason my friend got taken away from his family in handcuffs was because he was Black. That's it. He didn't argue with the police, didn't act like a jerk, nothing like that. You call it what you want. Whatever you want to call it, it's wrong. And it happens all the time. And because of that, I have reason to suspect it happened in this case, too.

Tim, Do you think he would have gotten taken away if the description of the perp was a white person?

I am 100% convinced the answer is no. They might have asked him where he was in the last hour, and they would have taken his word for it. Maybe they would have asked to see his license. That's it.

Tim, I think you missed my point. I was asking if your BLACK friend would have gotten taken away if the perp was white, not if your friend was white and the perp was white. See, you said he was ONLY taken away because he was black. I submit that he was taken away because he met the DESCRIPTION of the perp, albeit a very vague one. Unless you can say that your BLACK friend would have still been taken away even if the perp was white I don't see how you can believe it was ONLY because he was black.

 

[Brave Sir Robin]

This argument reminds me of the one where certain conservatives in this forum refuse to acknowledge, despite overwhelming evidence, that waterboarding is torture. Some things are just so obvious that even to attempt to explain them seems absurd. If you don't understand that this situation would have gone down COMPLETELY differently had the professor been white, then you don't want to understand, and you never will.

I want to be accepted by black people too.

 

[timschochet]

Pat, the only reason my friend got taken away from his family in handcuffs was because he was Black. That's it. He didn't argue with the police, didn't act like a jerk, nothing like that. You call it what you want. Whatever you want to call it, it's wrong. And it happens all the time. And because of that, I have reason to suspect it happened in this case, too.

Tim, Do you think he would have gotten taken away if the description of the perp was a white person?

I am 100% convinced the answer is no. They might have asked him where he was in the last hour, and they would have taken his word for it. Maybe they would have asked to see his license. That's it.

Wait, what? If the description of the perp was a white person, you are saying the cops would have still questioned your black friend? Seriously? Come on now - you have got to be fishing here.

Sorry, I think I misunderstood the question. I thought he meant if my friend was white. I see now he meant if the perp was white. Well obviously, they would not have taken my friend away. But I'm not sure I understand Strike's point here.

 

[timschochet]

Pat, the only reason my friend got taken away from his family in handcuffs was because he was Black. That's it. He didn't argue with the police, didn't act like a jerk, nothing like that. You call it what you want. Whatever you want to call it, it's wrong. And it happens all the time. And because of that, I have reason to suspect it happened in this case, too.

Tim, Do you think he would have gotten taken away if the description of the perp was a white person?

I am 100% convinced the answer is no. They might have asked him where he was in the last hour, and they would have taken his word for it. Maybe they would have asked to see his license. That's it.

Tim, I think you missed my point. I was asking if your BLACK friend would have gotten taken away if the perp was white, not if your friend was white and the perp was white. See, you said he was ONLY taken away because he was black. I submit that he was taken away because he met the DESCRIPTION of the perp, albeit a very vague one. Unless you can say that your BLACK friend would have still been taken away even if the perp was white I don't see how you can believe it was ONLY because he was black.

Yeah, sorry, I misunderstood. But IMO your point is weak. Sure, they took him away because he met a vague description, but I think you get my point. Had the description been of a scrawny white guy that looks like me, I don't think I would have been arrested. They would have asked me questions, and that would have been the end of it. Blacks are simply treated differently by the police. They are treated as criminals who have to prove their innocence.

 

[timschochet]

Sorry, guys I have to crash. I realize many of you disagree with me on this, but one thing you need to realize: based on polls and studies that have been taken many times on this issue, African-Americans really do believe the police treat them differently because of their skin color. You can consider this some kind of collective delusion on their part, but they believe this based on first hand experience which most white people have never had chance to witness.

 

[StrikeS2k]

Yeah, sorry, I misunderstood. But IMO your point is weak. Sure, they took him away because he met a vague description, but I think you get my point. Had the description been of a scrawny white guy that looks like me, I don't think I would have been arrested. They would have asked me questions, and that would have been the end of it. Blacks are simply treated differently by the police. They are treated as criminals who have to prove their innocence.

I know there are some cops that act that way but you'll have to excuse me if I don't make a blanket indictment of an entire profession like you. I just don't have your psychic ability.

 

[Witz]

Sorry, guys I have to crash. I realize many of you disagree with me on this, but one thing you need to realize: based on polls and studies that have been taken many times on this issue, African-Americans really do believe the police treat them differently because of their skin color. You can consider this some kind of collective delusion on their part, but they believe this based on first hand experience which most white people have never had chance to witness.

I don't think anyone disagrees with you on that point. Where the disagreement lies though is with this particular case. There are numerous touchpoints in this situation where it wouldn't have escalated to where it did. - If Gates came out of the house when the police arrived and asked him to come out- If Gates did not refuse to show his ID numerous times when asked by the police- If Gates did not continue to respond loudly with many comments accusing the police of being there due to his raceHonestly - Gates is as much to blame in this mess as anyone.

 

[Twilight]

Sorry, guys I have to crash. I realize many of you disagree with me on this, but one thing you need to realize: based on polls and studies that have been taken many times on this issue, African-Americans really do believe the police treat them differently because of their skin color. You can consider this some kind of collective delusion on their part, but they believe this based on first hand experience which most white people have never had chance to witness.

There is definitely a lot of legitimacy to this. But it's also a self-fulfilling prophecy. Going into a confrontation with Police expecting problems is what causes the problems a reasonable portion of the time.

 

[DevilsTrifecta]

When I get pulled over and a black friend is with me they pull his ID too. When I get pulled over and a white friend is with me it doesn't happen.

I call BS.

You call BS all you want. It's 100% true.

How often do you get pulled over?

Not very often anymore. I learned it was better to obey traffic laws than pay fines the hard way. But I used to get pulled over a few times a year. Been about 4 years since i did, though.

 

[Michael Fox Fan]

Sorry, guys I have to crash. I realize many of you disagree with me on this, but one thing you need to realize: based on polls and studies that have been taken many times on this issue, African-Americans really do believe the police treat them differently because of their skin color. You can consider this some kind of collective delusion on their part, but they believe this based on first hand experience which most white people have never had chance to witness.

I don't think anyone disagrees with you on that point. Where the disagreement lies though is with this particular case. There are numerous touchpoints in this situation where it wouldn't have escalated to where it did. - If Gates came out of the house when the police arrived and asked him to come out- If Gates did not refuse to show his ID numerous times when asked by the police- If Gates did not continue to respond loudly with many comments accusing the police of being there due to his raceHonestly - Gates is as much to blame in this mess as anyone.

 

[Saints-Man]

This argument reminds me of the one where certain conservatives in this forum refuse to acknowledge, despite overwhelming evidence, that waterboarding is torture. Some things are just so obvious that even to attempt to explain them seems absurd. If you don't understand that this situation would have gone down COMPLETELY differently had the professor been white, then you don't want to understand, and you never will.

Some of us felt the same way about your views on Kennedy and Chappaquiddick

Wait, tim doesn't think there was a crime committed by Kennedy @ Chappaquiddick? Oh. come. on. (I missed that thread)And he is in a chess club?

 

[Saints-Man]

Pat, the only reason my friend got taken away from his family in handcuffs was because he was Black. That's it. He didn't argue with the police, didn't act like a jerk, nothing like that. You call it what you want. Whatever you want to call it, it's wrong. And it happens all the time. And because of that, I have reason to suspect it happened in this case, too.

Tim, Do you think he would have gotten taken away if the description of the perp was a white person?

I am 100% convinced the answer is no. They might have asked him where he was in the last hour, and they would have taken his word for it. Maybe they would have asked to see his license. That's it.

tim, then how are white people ever arrested if your contention is true?

 

[DevilsTrifecta]

Congratulations, but I bet you'd be in the minority here.

And no one can convince me otherwise.

I saw him speak one time. He's really the preeminent mind on African American studies. I don't think anyone is going to pretend like that is a field a whole lot of people are interested in/know the top level academics.

What exactly is covered in African American studies? Are there Harvard scholars teaching courses in Italian-American studies, Irish-American studies, Greek-American studies, etc. etc.?

I once got into an argument about Women's Studies being offered as a minor. I was adamant that it was sexist because they did not offer Men's Studies. I lost that argument and changed my tune. What changed my mind? There is no market for Men's Studies.I have no problem, now, with classes on racial/sexual/religious/etc studies because in order for them to exist there needs to be a market for them.

 

[DevilsTrifecta]

Congratulations, but I bet you'd be in the minority here.

And no one can convince me otherwise.

He is well known. Most of the posters here are educated. I am sure most people know who he is.

Heard the name before tonight. Couldnt pick him out of a lineup. And I am from Boston.

I would be absolutely, completely amazed if more than a quarter of the posters here knew who this guy was and could pick his face out of a lineup at this time last week.

I knew of him, but I will admit I could not pick his face out of a lineup.

 

[Saints-Man]

I apologize for the hijack. Sometimes, I read posts and I just scratch my head and I respond sometimes derailing the conversation.

This is a serious issue worthy of discussion. I am aware that black people do perceive that they are treated differently by police. I do believe some are. To what extent is very difficult to determine.

 

[Aaron Rudnicki]

based on my understanding of the story from reading this thread, Gates was able to get in his house through the back door. But, the front door was stuck for some reason so he went out and forced it to open. While doing this, some random passerby or neighbor saw a couple of black guys trying to "break in" to the front door in broad daylight in what I'm assuming is a nice neighborhood and reported it to the police.

if I try to put myself in Gates's shoes and the cops showed up after I had got home from a long trip like that, I'm not sure I'd be too happy to be bothered with them either. seems like he had justification to be annoyed here.

if I try to put myself in the cop's shoes, it seems like asking for some identification isn't an unreasonable request. but, would someone who broke in really have the balls to hang out and talk to the cops when they show up? seems like that might have been a strong clue that the guy was who he said he was and belonged there. But, if the guy starts going off on you when you're just trying to do your job, I imagine that would just escalate the situation as well.

 

[snitwitch]

Based on what is being reported - this is what happened: - Gates came home from a trip and was unable to get into his front door. - Gates tried to gain access to the backdoor and was not successful. - Gates with the assistance of his driver push open front door- Neighbor (Lucia Whalen) notices two men pushing their way into a house and calls the police- Police arrive after Gates is already inside. - Police call for Gates to step outside and identify himself- Gates does not do this and yells, 'Is it because I am a black man in America?' - Police enter house- Police ask for identification and Gates refuses initially saying 'Do you know who I am? You believe white women over black men. This is racial profiling'- Gates finally produces a Harvard id card and police place a call with the Harvard police- Gates continues to act out loudly - Gates is arrested by the policeIf I am missing anything above, please fill in the blanks for me. Of the events that occurred, please tell me where this was racism? Gates had just returned from a long trip to China and was probably tired, coupled with the fact that he couldn't get into his house and you could understand why he would be frustrated. Add on the fact that police have shown up to your house questioning you, you can see how he was going to react. Again - I can't see how the police did anything other than by the book. Gates has said on his numerous interviews that he could not have been yelling because he was sick, but more than one neighbor has confirmed he was yelling. He was probably caught up in the moment with all of the items mentioned above and honestly probably doesn't remember all of his actions. Thoughts?

If this is how this went down, the cops had every right to arrest him.

If this is how this went down, what criminal act was committed here?

There doesn't need to be a crime for there to be a valid arrest. I am not sure what the exact legal standard is (probable cause? reasonable suspicion?) but the fact that (a) they were called to the house and saw some guys matching the description, (b) gates refused to present ID initially, and © gates started ranting (to what extent we don't know, could have been threats of violence for all we know), together should give these guys more than enough justification for arresting him.Now, I'll readily admit the "ranting" issue can probably tilt either way, and it's hard for me to say if the cops were acting reasonably in arresting him without seeing footage or hearing a tape or something.

 

[Chairshot]

I think Gates probably acted like a jerk. But I still don't see how they could arrest him.

They didn't arrest him for B and E. At some point, ranting or not, they determined who he was and that he hadn't broken into the house. So, it seems like they basically arrested him because they got their feelings hurt while he was ranting and raving while in his own home.

I guess I could see arresting him for disorderly conduct if all of this happened in a public place. But the guy was in his own house. I'd think he can yell at whom ever he wants in his own home.

Sounds to me like he's guilty of being a jerk on his own property. I don't think that's a reason to arrest someone. Race could have played a part, for sure, and it will be really hard to know if the cops considered his race and disliked being yelled at by a black man more then they would have by a white man. Regardless of their reasons, it just sounds like a couple cops who didn't like getting spoken to in a disrespectful way.

Regardless, the arrest is bogus. You can't arrest someone for being a jerk in their own home.

 

[snitwitch]

I think Gates probably acted like a jerk. But I still don't see how they could arrest him.They didn't arrest him for B and E. At some point, ranting or not, they determined who he was and that he hadn't broken into the house. So, it seems like they basically arrested him because they got their feelings hurt while he was ranting and raving while in his own home.I guess I could see arresting him for disorderly conduct if all of this happened in a public place. But the guy was in his own house. I'd think he can yell at whom ever he wants in his own home.Sounds to me like he's guilty of being a jerk on his own property. I don't think that's a reason to arrest someone. Race could have played a part, for sure, and it will be really hard to know if the cops considered his race and disliked being yelled at by a black man more then they would have by a white man. Regardless of their reasons, it just sounds like a couple cops who didn't like getting spoken to in a disrespectful way.Regardless, the arrest is bogus. You can't arrest someone for being a jerk in their own home.

If his ranting was related to his unwillingness to hand over an ID, and the cops had not yet been able to verify his identity when they arrested him, I'm not so sure it's bogus.There are things 1000x worse that go on every day in the black community and we're getting hung up on this BS?

 

[The Z Machine]

I think Gates probably acted like a jerk. But I still don't see how they could arrest him.

They didn't arrest him for B and E. At some point, ranting or not, they determined who he was and that he hadn't broken into the house. So, it seems like they basically arrested him because they got their feelings hurt while he was ranting and raving while in his own home.

I guess I could see arresting him for disorderly conduct if all of this happened in a public place. But the guy was in his own house. I'd think he can yell at whom ever he wants in his own home.

Sounds to me like he's guilty of being a jerk on his own property. I don't think that's a reason to arrest someone. Race could have played a part, for sure, and it will be really hard to know if the cops considered his race and disliked being yelled at by a black man more then they would have by a white man. Regardless of their reasons, it just sounds like a couple cops who didn't like getting spoken to in a disrespectful way.

Regardless, the arrest is bogus. You can't arrest someone for being a jerk in their own home.

My thoughts exactly.The cops should have turned their back on Dr. Gates and let him verbally assault their backs as they left his property. They got their panties in a twist because someone was being an ####### to them in his own house. Sorry, but that's not a good enough reason to bring him down to the station in cuffs. It reflects badly on them as officers and as a department. These guys have to realize that this situation had the potential to blow up in their face, and they did nothing to prevent that. Rather, they likely escalated the situation causing some really bad PR for the city and police of Cambridge and greater Boston.

Police officers are officers of the law. They protect and serve. They are also representatives of their agencies and should not seek to put their employers in a bad light.

 

[Shaft]

I think Gates probably acted like a jerk. But I still don't see how they could arrest him.

They didn't arrest him for B and E. At some point, ranting or not, they determined who he was and that he hadn't broken into the house. So, it seems like they basically arrested him because they got their feelings hurt while he was ranting and raving while in his own home.

I guess I could see arresting him for disorderly conduct if all of this happened in a public place. But the guy was in his own house. I'd think he can yell at whom ever he wants in his own home.

Sounds to me like he's guilty of being a jerk on his own property. I don't think that's a reason to arrest someone. Race could have played a part, for sure, and it will be really hard to know if the cops considered his race and disliked being yelled at by a black man more then they would have by a white man. Regardless of their reasons, it just sounds like a couple cops who didn't like getting spoken to in a disrespectful way.

Regardless, the arrest is bogus. You can't arrest someone for being a jerk in their own home.

My thoughts exactly.The cops should have turned their back on Dr. Gates and let him verbally assault their backs as they left his property. They got their panties in a twist because someone was being an ####### to them in his own house. Sorry, but that's not a good enough reason to bring him down to the station in cuffs. It reflects badly on them as officers and as a department. These guys have to realize that this situation had the potential to blow up in their face, and they did nothing to prevent that. Rather, they likely escalated the situation causing some really bad PR for the city and police of Cambridge and greater Boston.

Police officers are officers of the law. They protect and serve. They are also representatives of their agencies and should not seek to put their employers in a bad light.

Why?. If someone's being a ####, should you check their race and then make a decision? Plus, he wasn't arrested for being a jerk in his own home, although he was that. He was arrested for following the Cop outside and continuing to be a pain in the ###. Basically, Disturbing the Peace, which is what he was arrested for. He deserved it.

He caused this situation by by being a #####. I hope he files a lawsuit and gets thrown out of court, with costs and penalties for being frivolous.

 

[Blue-Kun]

Why?

To avoid this ****storm perhaps? Or have you not been paying attention here?

 

[Shaft]

Why?

To avoid this ****storm perhaps? Or have you not been paying attention here?

To avoid the manufactured controversey by the Black AA professor who couldn't be more happy about it, and will probably write a book and make many speaking appearances about this non-issue? Yes, I ask why this was necessary. Perhaps naively, given the above.

 

[snitwitch]

Why?

To avoid this ****storm perhaps? Or have you not been paying attention here?

To avoid the manufactured controversey by the Black AA professor who couldn't be more happy about it, and will probably write a book and make many speaking appearances about this non-issue?

Yes, I ask why this was necessary. Perhaps naively, given the above.

I am a flaming liberal, and am against racial profiling in all its forms, but I have to agree with you here. This just doesn't pass the smell test -- the dude was being a dooshnozzle and ended up getting arrested not because he was black, but because he was being a dooshnozzle.

 

[Shaft]

Why?

To avoid this ****storm perhaps? Or have you not been paying attention here?

To avoid the manufactured controversey by the Black AA professor who couldn't be more happy about it, and will probably write a book and make many speaking appearances about this non-issue?

Yes, I ask why this was necessary. Perhaps naively, given the above.

I am a flaming liberal, and am against racial profiling in all its forms, but I have to agree with you here. This just doesn't pass the smell test -- the dude was being a dooshnozzle and ended up getting arrested not because he was black, but because he was being a dooshnozzle.

Yep. If the Black community wanted to really get pissed off, they could focus on things that are REALLY bad, like the Black High School student who got shot in his own driveway in Bellaire, an upscale community in Houston. That was an incident where Obama could have said the police acted "stupidly" and been right. (That officer has been indicted, as he should be). Instead, Obama chose this stupid incident where he didn't have any facts, probably because the Professor is his friend.

 

[Homer J Simpson]

I wish I could arrest people for being ###holes.

 

[pollardsvision]

This is an odd story. I'm inclined to think this is way overblown.

However, I'm curious why the cop (at the scene) didn't just look at his ID and make the connection that the address on the ID matched the address of the home in question.

Did the professor refuse to show his ID?

Did the professor make a huge stink before it even came to that?

I can't imagine it, but do cops generally not ask for ID in these situations?

If the professor acted how he should've in this situation and still got arrested, I can understand the outrage.

If he wasn't cooperative, the cop needs to get the benefit of the doubt.

The other issue I see is that the cop refuses to apologize. I can understand that. He's on the verge of getting fired and/or sued, an apology is tricky if it can imply wrong-doing.

I didn't see what the charge was.

It wasn't B&E, was it? If that's the case then we know the cops knew he owned the home when they arrested him.

He must've been arrested for his behavior.

Sounds like 1 of 2 things probably happened:

1-Racist cop was looking to throw a black man in the slammer for being black

2-Homeowner, already annoyed from getting back from a trip to be locked out of his house at 1am, gets very pissed off when a cop is standing in his front yard assuming he's breaking into it and says/does some uncooperative things.

I wasn't there, but I'm inclined to believe that #2 is more likely.

 

[Statorama]

would someone who broke in really have the balls to hang out and talk to the cops when they show up?

Something along these lines happens very frequently on the show "Cops"Gates needs to watch that Chris Rock clip "How not to get your ### kicked by the police"