Gates' Daughter Calls Cop Uncooperative

(CBS)  The daughter of Henry Louis Gates Jr. called the officer who arrested her father uncooperative in the city of Cambridge's attempts to diffuse a racially charged situation.

Gates, a prominent black scholar and Harvard professor, was arrested last week at his home by Sgt. James Crowley, a white officer, after it was reported someone was trying to break into Mr. Gates' residence.

In the ensuing days, claims of racial profiling by Gates, and Crowley's firm defense of his actions have reignited discussion over the treatment of black men by the police.

Speaking on "The Early Show" Friday, Elizabeth Gates and Cambridge Mayor Denise Simmons, who is also black, talked about the possibility of bringing Gates and Crowley together to settle their differences.

Simmons said she has received a "positive response" from Gates, but has yet to hear back from Crowley. To which Elizabeth Gates said: "I don't think the officer is being at all cooperative."

On Thursday, the Cambridge Police Department said it would launch an investigation into the matter and it revealed that Crowley had been hand-picked by the city's black police commissioner to teach a racial profiling class to new officers.

"I think he needs to maybe extend his sensitivity training," Elizabeth Gates said of Crowley, and stressed the importance of the officer sitting down with her father.

"If it's left as is, we're going to rely on our preconceived notions of race."

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[DrEgonSpengler]

To the Kambridge Kops, It's not a profile, it's a summary.

· Boilerplate PC,
· 2 Black Guys,
· fungible facts,
· all witnesses are cops.

Judges? We don't need no stinkin? Judges.

[michaelhm1]

Gates would have been arrested no matter what race he was and deservedly so. The Officer was conducting an investigation and under those circumstances, ONLY AN IDIOT OR DRUNK WOULD ARGUE AND YELL AT A POLICE OFFICER.

[DrEgonSpengler]

Oh I see; It's not a profile, it's a summary.

Boilerplate PC,
2 Black Guys,
fungible facts,
all witnesses are cops.

Judges, We don't need no stinkin? Judges.

[jmcaul]

Gates' daughter needs to face the fact that her father behaved in a TOTALLY UNCOOL manner towards the cop. The cop does not need to "sit down for a beer" with her father, her father owes this cop and the police department an apology. Or, perhaps it is time for universities to start creating "White Studies" departments to start studying the problem of whites in the US constantly being blamed for every ill experienced collectively or individually by blacks???

[MzSoniaV]

I praise the Officer for not participating in this charade, This will not nor does it have anything to do with race or an opportunity to mend race relations. It's an opportunity for an opportunist.


svivar9087

[shueevon]

"...we're going to rely on our preconceived notions of race." Hallelujah and Amen! To some, everything HAS TO BE about race -- to the rest, it's not about race unless it's about race. You don't have to like it but if a police officer asks you to comply - and you don't - there will be consequences, regardless of race or any other factor. The only bit of this whole matter that has to do with race, IMHO, is that the DA decided to drop the charges (because Gates is black) in order to help make this all go away... Gates should send him / her a thank you card.

[brooke50]

So let me get this right - someone feels that if a Police Officer is responding to a reported break-in, and finds an unknow person inside the house, the Police should not enter and challenge that person?

SJC_1 - I think you need to think this out more - What would you be saying if the Police were responding to a break-in at your house? They have no idea what you look like, but find the door forced open and someone inside - I am sure you would be the first one to complain if the Police did nothing - asked no questions.

People need to start thinking with their brain and not their emotions. I was not there, you were not there, so we don't honestly know everything that happened - do we?

[southwest555]

I think LIZZY BORDEN -- OPPS (GATES) SHOULD SHUT H*** UP AND IF AREN'T HAPPY GO BACK TOP AFRICA... NO PROBLEM WITH ANY US :WHIRTE BOYS:

[southwest555]

I think "LIZZY GATES", should shut the h*** up and perhaps go back to AFRICA.

[mcv57]

I believe he would forgive him, but I think Crowley would rather rot in hell for eternity with the rest of the confederates before he apologizes. Hate to the last drop of blood - remember the Civil War.