<p>I would be pretty ****ed if I got arrested going into my own house, too. I don’t blame Gates one bit. I also find it hard to believe a white man in the same situation would have had the cops called on him.</p>
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<p>That’s ridiculous. One should not have to “get to know” the cops in your neighborhood to prevent them from arresting you for going into your own home.</p>
<p>The thing that disappoints me the most is that a man of his status, education, and title had to resort immediately to the race card when it wasn’t necessary at all whatsoever. Surely he, of all people, would understand this, but apparently there was still a disconnect in that altercation.</p>
<p>I’m not sympathetic to Skip Gates on this situation. He has always struck me as someone who is very easily upset if he isn’t shown deference. If the police report is to be believed, he kept saying, " do you know who I am"? As if he couldn’t be questioned. I recall another time some years ago that he spoke about being slighted by someone who should have “known who he was” and made the laughable comment, “I had on a Burberry coat!” and was treated this way.</p>
<p>I too, am not buying his pulling out the “race card” in this situation. I agree with dntw8up’s assessment that if Gates had kept his civility instead of immediately resorting to the “you’re doing this to me b/c I’m black” accusation, the situation could’ve and would’ve been remedied in a better manner.</p>
<p>If I were in a neighborhood and I saw two men trying to force their way into a house, no matter what ethnicity they are, I’d call the cops too.</p>
<p>Of course the details of what really happened during the altercation are still unclear and both sides say differently, so my points may be moot.</p>
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Actually neighbors called the cop on my (white) dad once when he had misplaced his keys and they saw him lurking around waiting for my Mum to get home. We had lived in that house for years. It did not escalate into a big situation like this, but was laughed off by all concerned (including my dad who could be quite obnoxious at times) once it was proved that he was the homeowner.</p>
<p>The cops were also called on my Mum once when she was staying in our house while we were away. </p>
<p>I am sure it happens not infrequently.</p>
<p>Hmm it seems to me Gates was in the right and the police officer was in the wrong. However, ultimately I think his arrest has more to do with the police officer’s pride. The officer was upset that he was being called out in public so in some sort of child like rage the officer responded by arresting him. Also some people commenting at the Crimson said the neighbor was an editor of the Harard Magazine. I wonder how a member of a Harvard publication would’t recognize such a valued member of the Harvard community like Gates, nevertheless her own neighbor.</p>
<p>Well… he was arrested for “exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior,” which could mean anything at all. </p>
<p>I’m not going to jump to conclusions. Professor Gates could have been a victim of prejudice. However, he could also have been argumentative and uncooperative. Too many people use the excuse of “racial profiling” when it really had nothing to do with it. Eventually, the uninformed public outcry will lead to a cheap public apology and the censoring of the those involved, only reinforcing the stereotype “a racist authority in stark contrast to the poor minority victims”.</p>
<p>Let’s see what the investigation brings out. However, it really won’t matter what the results of the investigation will be. It’ll be politically, socially cheaper to hang the offending officer out to dry whether he’s guilty or not.</p>
<p>It does warm my heart to know that the tuition check I’m about to write helps secure this “crown jewel” at Harvard. </p>
<p>Our neighbor called the police on my dad once when he went on our roof to repair a leak. The neighbor was a rather eccentric old lady who thought he was a burglar. The policeman came, interrogated my dad and it all ended amicably. </p>
<p>If you’re always looking to be dissed, you will always be getting dissed.</p>
<p>I thought this comment from the Harvard Crimson site especially was interesting as it’s from a person who can see both sides:</p>
<p>“Take a moment to reflect on how you would feel if faced with the same situation…violated. It’s amazing to think how often we are so quick to not understand how someone else would feel about something just because we can relate. It’s obvious that you can’t relate. I’m white and have a black brother we lived in a pretty affluent neighborhood in Virginia and during our high school years would often hang out together. I kid you not, when my brother was with a bunch of his friends hanging out without fail, police would approach his group to say someone called about something and they looked suspicious, demanded id, made them get up against the cars and would reprimand me about the company I kept. I could be with my friends, acting rowdy, being really crazy, even smoking some of them. IF the police came, they would say boys quiet it down and be careful. I was thankful, but trust, there is a real difference in treatment and perception.”</p>
<p>There is no question that Black boys and men are profiled and treated differently by law enforcement officials but I’m still not convinced that this situation with Skip Gates is nothing but a battle of two male egos. Skip didn’t like being questioned and made a “mama” comment to the officer and was not initially cooperative. Chaired professor or not, he was still obligated to respond to the police officer. I imagine the police officer was offended by Skip’s arrogance and utilized his power as an officer to arrest him to bring him down a notch or two. There so many real issues of race that are impacting Black people that this situation tends to trivialize them.</p>
<p>This has nothing to do with who is right or wrong - just a question to ponder…</p>
<p>Do you think Gates’ comment to the police about being a Harvard professor could be seen as his own prejudice against uneducated black males? It is almost like saying “you can’t accuse me of a crime because I am educated and therefore I carry a higher status than lesser blacks” If so, is he taking the all men are created equal claim to mean that while we are equal at birth, true equality comes from your social status.</p>
<p>Why are so many of the comments above defending Gates so adamantly?! Everyone is focusing all the attention on how the officer is racist while neglecting the fact that Gates initially started the dilemma by acting disorderly as the police were going about standard operating procedure. He immediately pulled out the race card (not to mention the Harvard-prof card) without giving the police enough time to assess the situation and make sure everything is resolved. </p>
<p>In my opinion, the police will give anyone, who is being an a-hole (whether black or white), a hard time. It is standard protocol to arrest anyone who is verbally assaulting or not cooperating with policing protocol. I think he reacted this way on purpose in order to blow out of proportion the never-ending racist state of today’s society. </p>
<p>Oh, and another thing: there is a black policeman present in this “racist” policing unit. Enough said. </p>
<p>The more I learn about some of these Harvard professors, the more I realize what an elitist education entails: a detachment from common sense for the sake of pursuing a “deeper” mindset. I am,now, very thankful that I was not accepted by top-ranked schools. If I went to Harvard, they would systematically brainwash me into believing that every police encounter with a black man is a product of racism.</p>
<p>Kajon brought up a good point. Havard card + race card > royal flush.</p>
<p>Need I say more?</p>
<p>Yea, please elaborate… Last time I checked, not obeying police orders (in this case, they were completely rational orders) is disORDERly conduct. Yes, even if you are a Harvard professor. Now, I don’t think he was disorderly enough to warrant an arrest, but the police man’s actions were legal, and in my opinion, a result of being challenged, so to speak,a by self-important man. </p>
<p>Both of them were in the wrong. Both their egos caused this dilemma, and I highly doubt racism was present in this case.</p>
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<p>I certainly don’t find it reasonable. I’d refuse to show ID myself. Since when do people need to provide ID for being in their own home? IMO, its ridiculous. Under the law, you do NOT need ID except for certain circumstances such as when you are driving. Last time I checked, being in your home was legal even without having ID. Let me sum up what the cop did here:</p>
<p>1) Gets call about possible break-in.
2) Goes to home to investigate.
(No problems so far.)
3) Sees person living in his home.
4) Assumes this person broke in.
(We are pushing it now.)
5) Person refuses to ID himself as is his right.
(The cop should now step back and ask him/herself if there is probable cause to arrest/search the person. There really isn’t. After all, all he knows is there was a call about a possible break in. And no break in is apparent, just a guy living in his home. But I see the other side of the argument here so lets go on)
6) Cop demands ID and “suspect” gets ****ed, but ends up showing him Harvard ID.
(Okay, problem solved. Now is the time for the cop to realize there was bad communication and leave. But no…)
7) Cop arrests the Professor for “disorderly conduct.”
(Exactly what happened here that was disorderly??? He got mad that a cop required him to ID himself for living in his own home. The cop can’t demand ID from someone because they are living in their home. The professor/anyone else in this situation CAN and has the LEGAL RIGHT to refuse to ID him/her self. But why the cop arrested him after he ID’ed himself is way beyond me. The only “disorderly” conduct I see is the professor asserting his legal rights.)</p>
<p>1253729, the problem with your statement is, there was a breakin into the house. But, it was done by Skip Gates. The neighbor nor the police realized that he was the resident of the house. So, what was the problem with asking him for verification of his identity? And, what’s the deal about this question immediately being translated into being because he’s a Black man? Is this guy’s skin that thin that an ordinary police check should exempt him because he’s a Harvard professor. This all sounds like gross elitism to me that somehow because Gates is a Harvard professor, he shouldn’t be treated like ordinary peons.</p>
<p>I’m going to re-write 1253729’s post another way</p>
<p>1) Police gets a call from the neighbor of a property that two individuals are breaking in. This neighbor does not recognize theses individuals as the owner of the property. This is the first clue to the police that this could be a legitimate break-in since neighbors often recognize neighbors.
2) Police go to home to investigate (No problems so far.)
3) Police see an individual inside the property in question.
4) Police assumes that, since a neighbor reported a possible break-in and this person is inside, this person has broken into the home (Seems logical to me)
5) Person refuses to ID himself. How crazy is this? The police have come to investigate a break in of your house. In this day and age when no one can bother to report crimes happening, your property is actually being protected. An nice thank you to the police and a thank you to your neighbor is now in order.
6) Cop demands ID because they have no way of telling whether individual is the owner he claims to be or an adept lier. “Suspect” gets ****ed because the officer doesn’t recognize him despite his fame and eventually shows his Harvard ID.
7) Cop begins to leave but suspect follows the office outside to berate him for his actions. Cop arrests the Professor for “disorderly conduct.”</p>
<p>BTW If a police officer came to your house after a break in was being reported and an individual was inside but claimed to be the owner, how would you feel if the officer took that person at their word and your house ended up being robbed. That is the question.</p>
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<p>No, a neighbor just said he/she saw someone who looked like they were breaking into the house. For all the cop knew at that time, it could have been a college student/anyone making a prank call to start trouble. Or it could be legit.</p>
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He legally doesn’t have to ID himself. All he is doing is living in his home. Why is it so crazy?</p>
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<p>Legally, he has no basis for asking for ID. He can ask, but he sure is not entitled to the guy’s ID. The guy can legally refuse. Just because he can’t differentiate between him and a burglar doesn’t mean the guy (who has done nothing wrong) has to prove his innocence.</p>
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<p>Here is that question but turned around. Suppose I call the cops and play a prank on you by saying I saw someone breaking into your home. They go to your home, and guess what they find, you inside your home. So they demand you ID yourself for being in your home. Sure, you might be fine with it once. But what if this happens several times? Why do you have to prove your innocence? Isn’t America a country where people are assumed innocent until proven guilty? Having to prove yourself innocent just seems to fly in the face of the Constitution and the law of the country imo. I mean, I dont care if you don’t mind providing your ID and proving yourself innocent, but being arrested just because you won’t rollover and prove yourself innocent is wrong.</p>
<p>“Legally, he has no basis for asking for ID.”</p>
<p>Of course the cop has every legal basis to ask to see his ID. A break-in was reported to the police. According to Professor Gates, his driver “forced” the door open and he reported the broken lock to Harvard maintenance. He matched the description of the suspect, i.e. he was black. The fact that a person matching the description of the suspect is standing in a house in which the door has be forced doesn’t automatically mean that he has a right to be there. The cop did not have to simply believe Professor Gates when he stated it was his house, certainly without proof that it was. Had he simply produced his ID we would have never heard about this event. Instead he decided that the 911 call or the police investigation was racially motivated and demanded the cop’s name and badge number. Now you’re talking a battle of egos - on both sides.</p>
<p>While I don’t agree with President Obama that the police “acted stupidly”, I do think that the police should have simply “taken the high road” and walked away from the Professor instead of arresting him.</p>