Bannister  on July 21st, 2009

Isn’t it strange how the loudest critics of “white racism” are half-white themselves? And are married to white women?

The cops showing up gave Gates the perfect opportunity to vent his “black” rage on “the man”. If anything, this mug shot gives Gates something he’s never had – street cred.

Jim Rockwell  on July 21st, 2009

I just heard about this from my wife (of African Decent) and was astounded. I have always held that the most racist folks I know are in New York and New England and this is right to the point. In the movies and in the media racists are most often portrayed as ignorant southerners. I grew up in Maryland and until I went to live in upstate NY I had never seen such blatant and visceral racism. I know it exists everywhere. And no one deserves to be treated like this. But, from a certain perspective, it is a vindication.

Racism needs to be fought wherever it is found and the moronic officers who could not be bothered to confirm the identity of this man before arresting him should be sanctioned or fired.

There is nothing more demeaning or disenfranchising to an honest and honorable person than to be arrested and treated like a common criminal.

My heart felt sympathy goes out to Dr. Gates.

Regards to all,
Jim

Michael N  on July 22nd, 2009

The only racism here is on Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s part.

Police responded to a call of a break-in. They have to assume the worst for their own protection and then establish the reality of the situation through their on-scene investigation. This is standard procedure.

The police show up and ask for ID. They are refused. The suspect becomes belligerent and confrontational. They have to gain control of the situation in order to continue their investigation. They put the suspect in handcuffs.

The suspect remains uncooperative and hinders the investigation. There are a few different charges that could be incurred at this point. All of them quite legal.

If Henry Louis Gates Jr. had simply shown his ID to the officer when asked nothing more would have happened.

Instead he immediately charged the officer and/or the reporting party as racist. The only racist act in this whole incident is Henry Louis Gates Jr. assuming a white police officer is racist. Would he have acted the same way towards a black police officer?

And the situation that happened at Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s house happens hundreds of times a day in every state to people of all races. Refuse to identify yourself to a police officer while said officer is conducting an investigation and you are, at the very least, going to be detained and could possibly be arrested.

That’s simply how the law works. Don’t like that? Think it’s unfair. Start writing and calling your congressmen. Tell them they need to get the laws changed.

The E  on July 22nd, 2009

What is Micheal n

TQ  on July 22nd, 2009

Henry L.Gates was a VICTIM of RACIAL PROFILING. This has got to stop! RACISM AND PROFILING OF ANY KIND, MUST BE ABSOLUTELY ELIMINATED! My prayers are with you Mr.Gates. I hope that Justice will be granted in your favor! Peace!

Fred W  on July 22nd, 2009

Gates brought this on himself by his act of rage against the police officer. Had he been polite and helpful, as I would have been under the same circumstances, the officer would most likely have apologized for the misunderstanding and left. Instead, Gates immediately screams “racism” gets belligerent and gets arrested. And people feel sympathy for him? He’s a renowned college professor? Sounds like he was acting like a spoiled child.

SB  on July 22nd, 2009

I agree with Fred W and Michael N… news sources (including Gates’ own testimony) indicate he refused to cooperate and immediately accused the officer or being racist.

Teddy Wong  on July 22nd, 2009

Last Thursday, 4 Jersey City, NJ police officers were shot and wounded and Detective Marc Dinardo was killed in a shootout while trying to apprehend 2 armed robbery fugitives in an apartment building. Will the Rev Sharpton be attending his funeral this Friday?

Does anyone think police work is safe or easy? How did the Cambridge police know whether Gates was the homeowner or an armed intruder? Circumstances of all cases are different but responding officers have to assume the worst as so often the case in felony 911 calls. What if Gates was being attacked or robbed by a black assailant and the cops responded like they did- would Gates continue to say he was being racially profiled?

Gates was not profiled but broke the law. If you look at the facts, he broke down a door, refused to identify himself initially. Then after he did, he became verbally abusive and refused to follow directives from the officers and stand down.

(When Gates was asked to step out on the front porch and talk, he allegedly responded, “No, I will not!” and, “I’ll speak with your mama outside!” Gates eventually came outside, where the shouting continued in front of witnesses. Then Gates — ranting, yelling and “alarming” passers-by with his “outburst” — was arrested, cops said.)

Oh and if you look at the media pictures , there were black officers at the arrest scene.

If Gates was an honest man, he would be thankful the officers were simply doing their sworn duty, calmly explain the situation and wait for it to be cleared up. But instead, it seems like he is a race baiter and looking for a shakedown or more notoriety to sell his next book.

Jason  on July 22nd, 2009

I love how America is securing its borders from those who aim to “destroy it”. America is rotten to the core and will destroy itself from the inside … no outside assistance required !!!!

SusanS  on July 22nd, 2009

Folks, there is a law in Massachusetts that requires police to provide their name and badge information. So, he was within his rights.

Gates is an “honest man.” He has said repeatedly that he appreciates that if someone suspected there was a break in that the police were called. However, the man provided two forms of ID, one of which was a driver’s licence that showed he was the resident of the house at issue. That should have been the end of it.

And by the way, Professor Gates is internationally acclaimed and pretty well to do. He doesn’t need a “payoff” from the Cambridge PD.

DC  on July 22nd, 2009

Racial profiling? Are you kidding me? Do people even read before making knee-jerk responses? A concerned neighbor called 911 thinking someone was breaking into the house — first they were nosing about in the backyard, then tried to force the front door in. Anyone in the right mind would be reasonable to think it might be an attempted burglary.

The cops responded, it’s their job. If they didn’t, and it WAS a break-in, Gates probably would’ve cried racism then too. He sounds like a race baiter to me, crying racism by default. If he just cooperated and acted civil, it probably would have been cleared up in about 5 min. Instead he decided to make a scene (and probably use it to further himself professionally) and cry racism. Enough already.

Give me a Break  on July 22nd, 2009

PELASE Step back and look at the whole picture.
My Dad was asked for his ID in a similar situation in SC. He of course produced his ID and answered the questions of the Deputy. In return the deputy appoligized for asking for his ID . MY Dad’s response was “that’s your job, Thank YOU for asking me for my ID” It’s easy for anyone to say they are someone that they are not. This is more a case of someone with a big head trying to make it seem like a race issue. The President stated “the STUPID Cambridge police” I demand that he appoliize to them and to the American people for being racist himself!

Thinking Voter  on July 23rd, 2009

Gates was not arrested for breaking into his own home.
He was arrested for disorderly behavior.
The Police officer arrived responding to a call about a break in in progress.
The Officer arrived, and attempted to ask Gates some questions. Gates threw a tantrum. Repeatedly, threatening to ruin his careear and and screaming “DO YOU KNOW WHO AM I?”.

Think about this.

When responding to a breaking and entering call, don’t you want to the police to ask for ID? If I had been Gates, I would have been glad to identify myself. It means that the police wouldn’t have just let anyone into my home.

If you start yelling at police officer and threatening to destroy his career.. What is going to happen? Male or Female, Rich or Poor, whatever?

I wonder who called the police in the first place.

I’ll bet that Gates has a book or some other project coming out and needs the P.R..

Marshall  on July 23rd, 2009

If he had just produced identification like every other person that is questioned is suppose to instead of immediately attributing the arrival of the police to the fact that he is black than none of this would have happened.

LW  on July 23rd, 2009

Wow…

This should have ended as soon as Mr. Gates provided both of his id’s to show that he was the owner of the home, and a professor at Harvard. The license should have been enough anyhow.

The Cambridge police did “Act Stupidly”, and the president said it just as he saw it. He owes no apology!

I find it funny that so many of you who were “not” there are so quick to say that Mr. Gates acted disorderly. If he commited a crime please explain why the charges were dropped. If the police officer felt that he did nothing wrong then he should have given his name and badge number when asked for it. Of course it would make him made to have someone ask for it, but it is our rights as American citizens to ask for and receive this type of information. End of story!

Who cares if there was “one” black officer there. Unfortunately, officers are not usually going to challenge their colleagues. However, in this case there should have been a bigger person to step up and say we know he is the owner of the home, and we need to leave this man alone.

It’s too bad that there are so many bigots that remain in this world.

bigot (plural bigots)

one who is obstinately or intolerantly devoted to his or her own opinions and prejudices.
one who is strongly partial to one’s own group, religion, race, or politics and is intolerant of those who differ.

Teddy Wong  on July 23rd, 2009

Yes, I’m sure those officers woke up that morning and were just pining to racially profile. “Screw the family, my career, pension and years of service and sacrifice- i would rather just harass a black man.”

Or Gates was caught in an awkward situation, panicked, got defensive and lashed out at those in his midst? Settling for the low lying fruit, he went for the R label which is so common now days. Of course labeling a white person, and especially a white police officer a racist, will garner all the media and politically correct ivory tower resident’s attention. And most times they cave like a deck of cards.

Back to reality…….

Detective MArc Dinardo’s funeral is tomorrow. A white SWAT Team officer shot and killed by a black armed and dangerous fugitive in Jersey City, NJ last Thursday ( see above posting). Where are all the so called ” civil rights activists”? Will they be attending? Will they speak out? Or it just doesn’t fit their narrow agenda and templet. Strange how it’s not being covered by the national media like the Gates incident…..isn’t it? And so it goes….

God bless Det. Dinardo ( and his family) for laying down his life to protect his fellow man.

Mo  on July 23rd, 2009

FACT: Gates TRIED to get arrested by following cops out and cursing at them. GATES WANTS the attention in order to sue cops and attract attention to himself.

B.M.  on July 23rd, 2009

the Professor is an arrogant racist liberal who thought he was above the law. He should have complied and thanked the neighbor for looking out for him. As for the other arrogant racist liberal, President Obama, he should keep his big mouth shut and stick to reading his teleprompter. It’s ironic that those who were enslaved in this country are now being used by one of their own (Obama) to enslave all of us!

Reggie Greene / The Logistician  on July 23rd, 2009

We have three observations about the Harvard professor incident:

1. We find it interesting that the fact that this was the professor’s home was evidently not established early on way before the dispute escalated;

2. We find it fascinating that the versions of two members of society, who most would ordinarily view as responsible and honest citizens (this obviously does not include politicians), would vary so dramatically from a factual point of view.

3. Finally, considering that the reading and viewing public were not present at the scene (and thus have no first hand knowledge), and that there is no video tape to our knowledge of the sequence of events and what was said, how so many have formed conclusions, and made assumptions, about who did what and who was wrong.

There are some things which Professor Gates might have considered upon the arrival of the police, no matter how incensed he may have been.

Always the Victims  on July 24th, 2009

This moment is the culmination of Gates’ life’s work, he must be verrry pleased!
Talk about a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Obama’s observation that it is stupid to get arrested at your own home is true. However, if a white guy shouted “yo momma” to a cop of any color, chances are it wouldn’t end well for him either.
How easy it is for the black community to be perpetual victims, and then bait others into situations they can’t point to as confirmation.
One question: When does Spike Lee start production on this?