July 24, 2009
The He Said, He Said Saga in Cambridge
Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., Sgt. James Crowley's Accounts of Arrest Wildly Differ
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Play CBS Video Video Officer Not Backing Down The officer that arrested Henry Louis Gates Jr. continues to blame Gates for the arrest amid growing controversy. Harry Smith spoke with Gates' daughter and Cambridge, Mass. Mayor Denise Simmons.
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Video Nationwide Debate Over Gates Many Americans, including the president himself, are voicing their opinions over the controversial arrest of an African-American Harvard professor inside his own home. Jim Axelrod reports from Cambridge.
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The arrest of black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. has cast a sharp gaze on race relations in the United States and more specifically, the treatment of black men by police. (AP Photo/Demotix Images, B. Carter)
When Crowley, who is white and an 11-year veteran, confronted Gates, perhaps America's most prominent black scholar and Harvard professor, after a report of a possible burglary at Gates' home, Crowley said the professor accused him of being racist and made derogatory remarks about Crowley's mother. Gates says he presented the officer with two forms of ID and that Crowley followed him into his home without permission.
The incident has cast a sharp gaze on race relations in the United States and more specifically, the treatment of black men by police.
Since the arrest, Gates has called the officer a "rogue cop" and demanded an apology. Crowley has insisted he has done nothing wrong and his attorney hinted the officer may sue Gates for defamation.
In an interview with WHDH-TV in Boston, Crowley admitted he knew arresting Gates would be controversial, but that the professor's alleged misbehavior
"I really didn't want to have to take such a drastic action because I knew it was going to bring a certain amount of attention, unwanted attention, on me. Nonetheless, that's how far Professor Gates pushed it and provoked and just wouldn't stop," Crowley said.
Gates told a different story.
In an interview with CNN this week, the professor said he told Crowley, “This is my house, I'm a Harvard professor. I live here.
"He said, 'Can you prove it?' I said, 'Just a minute.' And I turned my back , I walked into the kitchen to get my Harvard ID and my Massachusetts drivers license. He followed me without permission, I gave him the 2 ID's and I demanded to know his name and badge number. He wouldn't say anything. He was just very upset and I said, 'Why are you not responding to me? Are you not responding to me because you're a white officer and I'm a black man?'"
Click here to read Henry Gates' daughter's reaction to the incident.
As the story about last week's arrest built steam, even President Obama weighed in during a prime time news conference, saying the police acted "stupidly" during the incident. The president Thursday backed off somewhat from that comment and said that "cooler heads" were needed in the situation.
Crowley's story to WHDH continues with the officer saying:
"I was leaving as I reached the porch, and I was aware that now he was following me because he was still yelling about racism and black men in America, and that he wasn't somebody to be messing with."
Gates recalled to CNN that when he walked outside, “It looked like a police convention, there were so many policemen outside.
"I stepped out on my porch and said, 'I want to know your colleague's name and his badge number.' This officer said, 'Thank you for accommodating my earlier request. You are under arrest.'"
Gates added: "Look how tumultuous I am. I am 5-foot-7 and weigh 150 pounds and my tumultuous, outrageous action was to demand that he give me his name and his badge number."
Despite having the disorderly conduct charge dropped and the promise by Cambridge police to launch an investigation into the incident, the debate shows no signs of slowing down.
Related Coverage:
Cambridge Cops Want Obama Apology
White House: No More To Say On Gates
He said, He said Saga in Cambridge
Gates' Daughter Calls Crowley Uncooperative
Cambridge Cops Back Crowley
White House: Obama Didn't Call Officer Stupid
Prof. Gates, Cambridge and Racial Politics
Cop Who Cuffed Gates Tried to Save NBA Pro
Cambridge Cop: Gates' Arrest by the Book
Gates Devastated by Arrest, Says Daughter
Obama: Cops Acted "Stupidly" in Professor's Arrest
Black Professor Wants Apology over Arrest
Was Professor's Arrest 'Racial Profiling'?
Gates Speaks out about His Arrest
Charges Against Harvard Scholar Dropped
Profiling Charge In Black Scholar's Arrest
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Add a Comment See all 131 Comments
- WHEN DID THE LEFT STOP STICKING UP FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS UNION MEMBER AVERAGE JOE AND PROTECT THE RICH WELL CONNECTED INSTEAD? Its so tragic that HERR PROFESSOR was arrested for what amounts to less of a crime than a parking ticket at Wally World. OH GOD that poor poor well connected, rich, I am friends with the most powerful man in the world professor. Sad thing is there are many people that are suffering at the hand of racism WHITE AND BLACK and this ELITIST SLOB thinks that HIS DOESN'T STINK? What do you suppose he wanted the poor slubs badge number and name for to send him a thank you card. I bet you dollars to doughnuts (no pun intended) it was to give to make sure this cop wised he never bothered such a superior man of letters. ABOUT RACE???? its about a professor that had to save face because his was plastered on the evening news and we CANT HAVE THAT!!!!!!We call the police heroes when they die in 9/11 or at a holocaust museum AS WE SHOULD but go agaist a well connected RICH POWERFUL CAN CALL CNN OR ABC OR CBS BECAUSE THEY KNOW ME or buddy Obama and some how its seen as the police officer was ABUSING HIS POWER??????OH sure I bet Gates wants to see if he can make this working stiffs job any more a nightmare. I guess the police and fire men are heroes until they go after a professor. IT NEVER WAS ABOUT THE PROFESSORS RACE BTWWhat VP of the networks did he KNOW and CALL to facilitate the OUTRAGE and HEADLINES.PIGS and SNOBS and I don't mean the police!!!!!!! I have sympathy for this cop and as much for every black man, woman and child that thinks they voted for change or that GATES has their best interest at heart.This is the wost case REAL ABUSE OF POWER in a generation and people are still rooting for the POWER?I would stand side by side with any man black or white but I have l ZERO respect for a man who claims to fight for the middle class but has such a knee jerk reaction AGAINST A POLICE OFFICER TO STICK UP FOR HIS IVY LEAGUE FRIEND. LEFT FOR THE LITTLE GUY? HA HA HA FRICKING HA. I want to vomit thinking about it.
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- "Bogus charges were dismissed, it is not illegal to talk loudly on your front porch. Crowley is GUILTY as charged of false arrest and abuse of power 'nuff said."
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Officer Crowley can NOT be guilty because if you got your facts straight he was never charged with anything. Gates should have been charged with slander and obstructing justice! "I'll speak to your MAMA outside" is what you hear from a black high school student trying to start an argument in the school yard by 'ranking' on someones parents! - Reply to this comment
- Gate's comment to Officer Crowley was indeed racist! "I'll speak to your Mama outside" is something you'd hear from a black high school student in the school yard en route to an argument 'ranking' on each others parents. What does he teach at Harvard, how to respond to white people of authority? He should apologies to the officer!
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?Many articles keep mentioning the "prominent status" of Gates. But is social status supposed to be a factor in police's decision making??
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In this case, yes. The only factual evidence I can see is the police report that is essentially a written statement from the arresting officer, supplemented by another fellow officer. Since there is no independent, objective evidence available, this comes down to credibility. On one side, you have a well-respected Scholar from an Ivy institution, and on the other, a police officer with 10 years experience and with specialize training on racial profiling.
The report alleged Gates refused to provide ID to the arresting officer and this allegation was supported by a supplemental report by a fellow officer who witness this specific incident.
What I?m unable to comprehend was why Gates refused to submit ID inside his own home. Any rational individual should realize ?beyond reasonable doubt? that this request is ?rational,? and necessary. I failed to comprehend why Gates an Ivy Leagues scholar, allegedly refused to comply with this request.
Then, I failed to understand why the officer arrests Gates after he identifies himself as the resident of the home. Since the charge was later dropped I assumed it should not have been issued in the first place. His rational for the arrest on the report refers to disturbing the ?Public Peace? is not credible. Gates was in his home, outside or otherwise. Who was he disturbing, the police officers that was outside his residence?
This comes down to credibility and I chose to believe Gates, therefore, I concluded that the report from the police officer, that is Crowley is not believable. It probably is pure fabrication on his part to protect his butt upon realization of the ?prominent status? of his ?victim.
Since this is a court of public opinion, that is my ?judgement.? - Reply to this comment
- I can not believe any freedom loving American would support that arrest-
An innocent person in their own home-
If there were any charges you bet the D.A. would push them-
Disorderly Conduct? That arrest alone should make anyone shudder- Face it he was arrested for talking back- when it's a crime to talk back to the police in your own home then we are all in trouble-
Americans will back Obama on this although the right-wingers will harp on it endlessly as they support a police state for blacks and freedom for the biggots... - Reply to this comment
- I am a white man and I am amazed that the entire country can't see the obvious. How would you feel if a cop arrested you in your own home because he didn't like you "attitude". This man may have been flustered and may have shot off his mouth but the last time I checked that it is not a crime. I think we are forgetting something. People get arrested FOR CRIME and just what crime did this man commit. Cops nationwide are rising up in indignation, and they should, it is the ONCE that someone didn't get a video of their bad behavior. Recently in Oklahoma a highway patrol went beserk and choked an ambulance driver. For his bad behavior he got 5 days suspension. Yes, these COPS stick together while they are screwing a large portion of the American electorate. For god's sake when are we going to wake up. This cop deserves a 30 day suspension if for nothing more than his BAD ATTITUDE the same bad attitude he claims Mr. Gates had.
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- I believe all patriotic Americans who love their country side with the law enforcement officer on this issue.
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- TIME TO LET IT GO, FOLKS.
CBS should also move on. This story is not important news, but just a way to foment racial hatred and divisiveness.
LET IT GO. - Reply to this comment
- FACT: A Disorderly Conduct offense can NOT be applied to a person who is in his own home (Disorderly Conduct: "Conduct that is likely to lead to a disturbance of the PUBLIC peace or that offends PUBLIC decency"). The cop & former Court TV reporter Terry Moran missed this decisive legal point. Fortunately, the Prosecutor did NOT miss it and that's why they Nolle Prossed it. In the third from last paragraph in the cop's complaint narrative the arresting officer states that while inside Gates' home he told Gates he "would speak with him [Gates] outside" and the cop proceeds to explain WHY the officer wanted to speak to Gates "outside" rather than inside the house. Gates' conduct outside his home on his front porch was identical to his conduct inside his home. This conclusively demonstrates the cop did NOT believe Gates' conduct inside his home was "disorderly" on its face, otherwise, why would the officer issue a directive that would move that conduct outside, thereby allegedly CREATING a "public" disturbance which would never have occurred and would never have been "public" if Gates had not followed the officer's directive and remained inside his home. There are only 2 possibilities. Either the officer, in bad faith, set Gates up for a sucker-punch arrest that he knew he could NOT make if Gates stayed inside his home. Or the officer never believed Gates' conduct (inside or outside his home) constituted a Public Disturbance. The arrest does NOT pass the smell test.
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- Folks,
If Republicans succeed in stopping Health Care Reform this year, then please write to President Obama to support Congressional Democrats call for several Independent Commissions and Special Prosecutors to Investigate and Probe all Unconstitutional acts of Ex-VP Dick Cheney and Ex-President George Bush. Lets put Bush and Cheney in Jail. No need for President Obama to be Mr. Nice President. Please help spread the word around like cancer.
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1912297,00.html?cnn=yes
The Republicans need a good Fear of their own.
You have my Explicit Permission to copy this idea for your own use. I refused 'All Rights Reserve'. I refused all 'CopyRights'. - Reply to this comment
- Welcome to Barack Obama/Jeremiah Wright's America. As time goes on the true Barack Obama is emerging. A radical, leftist who's overarching strategic goal is to re-shape America. During the campaign he moderated and/or hid his true views and agenda, abetted by a liberal media that was totally biased and committed to getting him elected. He is a a bare knuckles Chicago politician who will say whatever is politically expedient to achieve his ends. For example, he lied to the American public about his stimulus package. Instead of taking actions specifically targeted at the issues of job loss and a faltering economy, he and the Democratic Congress, used those issues as an excuse to enact more big government spending, disingenuously explaining that the more money the government spends, the more it will help the economy. As his chief of staff said "You never waste a crisis."
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- Lie detector tests for all is the only suggestion that makes any sense here. The liar has to pay the other a small penalty, like an abject apology, beg on his knees for forgiveness and pay a $100,000.00 reparation fee. With those conditions, how much would anyone bet that neither would take the test?
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- African Americans are continuously losing support because EVERYOE else see that it is their own decissions and actions that bring them grief. NO more support for people who cannot wake up and help themselves! Let ANYONE white or black or otherwise march backwards if they insist on doing so.
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- It is time Gates and Obammer hung their heads in shame. I bet 90% of Americans believe the cop. No use hurting the University any more than what Gates has already done. Obamma is not helping either, just making a fool of himself as usual.
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- All this is a diversion from Obama being responsible for the Dow reaching 9000 for the first time since January.
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- All this is a diversion from Obama being responsible for the Dow reaching 9000 for the first time since January.
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- If you look at Professor Gates, account of the incident, he says that he was asked for i.d. He went into the kitchen to get his i.d.'s and was followed by Officer Crowley eventhough he was not invited. Surely when it had not yet been established that the house was that of Professor Gates, the officer would follow him in. The cambridge police were responding , as far as they knew to a possible burglary. Would this be the one and only time that a police officer would have heard something like this. Officer was checking Professor Gates, i.d.'s when the professor asked for his name and badge number.I don't know about the states but in Ireland a police officer does not have to give his badge number or name if he has done nothing wrong and if you look at Professor Gates statement, Officer Crowley hadn't. This is where if anyone seems to take a negative turn is Professor Gates when he asked Officer Crowley, why he was not answering him, "because your a white officer and I'm a black man." It seems to me, someone who has no interest in the your black I'm white or vice versa, ignorence in this world that maybe for once it was not the police officer but the professor who kicked this whole thing off. And also stupid is stupid which ever way you put it....rude.
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- Having a college degree does not give you the right to go waco to a police officer.
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- This has nothing to do with race but of couse that seems to be the main call for all crimes, work related problems, & any thing else that happens to a non-white person in todays world. Do these people of color think that they are the only ones not treated right in America or not given the job that they want??? There are alot of uneducated, underprivileged white people also. No matter what color skin you have, no matter how underpriviledged you may be, you can rise above it all if you truly want to. I do not believe most of us look a color & think your behavior says it all. This professor should be ashamed of himself. People of all races need to be responsible for their own actions & stop blaming some one else for the problems you have brought on yourself. The police officers are not paid nearly enough or given the respect they deserve for trying to keep us safe.
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- The photo shows a man apparently enraged and evidently shouting or screaming at the officers.
Maybe if Professor Gates wasn't so occupied with playing the victim, he would have calmly provided the Id and the incident would have been closed. But, no, after he provided the ID, he had to start verbally abusing the officer, either because he felt that as an Academic with a PHD he was entitled to special treatment or he has lived so long with his victimization complex he just couldn't let it go. Seems to me, Professor Gates as an educator at one of the most prestigious universities in the world is in no position to claim he is a victim of racism.
I think he was angry and lost control of his temper and is now so badly embarassed that he can't let go.
The President should NOT have commented on this issue unless there was clear evidence that the professors civil rights had been violated. And even then, as POTUS, this incident is beneath his big picture view. - Reply to this comment
