Since this is the only forum to where I really post, I thought I would start a topic and just vent here.  I have been listening to the radio and with people's opinions being shot off, it is really surprising how dense and how much lack of thought some people have.
So here is the story that I have as far as I know.
This Harvard professor, Henry Louis Gates, was trying to break into his own house because he forgot his keys after a trip to China.  Some woman, who didn't live in the neighborhood, called the cops on him and reported that two black men were trying to break into someone's house.  The cops came over and found one black man already inside the home.  The cop who is at the center of this is James Crowley.  Crowley asked for ID.  Gates got irate and started saying stuff to the cop, most quoted as you dont know who you're messing with and the such.  They stepped outside but after a bit, both parties agree that he did show ID, two.  His driver's license and his harvard ID, both with photos.  But the cops arrested him for being a jerk basically, being uncooperative and saying stuff.  The charges were then dropped.
The discussion centers around the issue of whether or not this was a racist act and whether an arrest should have been made in the first place.  For the racism, i can't really tell, but it feels like yes, there was a touch of racism.  I mean, really it just feels like a white person would not be arrested in the same situation.
And the situation is this.  Crowley's biggest point for the arrest was Gates behavior and saying things about Crowley's mother.  On the radio I heard hosts talking about how cops should not stand there and take abuse or that the police department is great and the President's comment that the actions of the cops were stupid.  Well, I am sorry, but yes, cops should be respected but that doesn't mean I can't act like an asshole in my own home, on my own property.
Here is the question to all of you, how would you feel if that is the reason you got arrested in your own house.  After the cops did know it was your house, you got arrest for yelling at them?  Why did they drop the charges?  Because he clearly did nothing wrong and with another harvard lawyer representing him, the cops knew they would get their asses handed to them.
As for what the president said, he called out the actions of the cops.  Clearly stupid since those charges would not stick.  Sorry but just because you have a good police department, it doesnt mean the president cant call your ass out for something you did.  Also, Obama went to harvard, he knows this professor.  If your friend got treated this way, you would say something, would'nt you?
Lots of people like to say it was just a cop trying to do his job, but his job does not included letting someone get to you and arrest them for it.  He didn't get arrested for breaking into his own house, he got arrested for telling the cops to fuck off after they knew it was his house and all the neighbors wondering why the fuck the cops were there in the first place if this guy owns the house!
I think we should all be outraged that this happened, that this could happen.  Is it racist?  I can't say for sure.  Did the cops fuck up anyway?  You bet they did.  This cop is gonna face some consequences if Gates does sue, because if I got arrested at my own house, just for speaking my mind, i would be pissed too.  Just cause you're a cop doesnt mean I can't do and say what I want at my own house just because you are there.

I think it is just a cop trying to do his job.

Sure the cop was just doing his job but there are so many videos on youtube that suggest you can't talk back to a cop regardless of how cooperative you are. I've seen so many people get cuffed or tazed because the cop can't take a little verbal abuse. I can't hit you or detain you because you called me an asshole. What gives an officer the right?

Don't trust no piggies, naw'm sayin'

Did he shout, "Don't taze me bro?"

Is there anything specific reported about the professor's behavior? While it's a shame he was arrested, I don't think he is completely innocent in this, as he was probably very uncooperative in what was clearly a misunderstanding, making matters worse and provoking the arrest. The media seems too intent in turning this into a race issue.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Obama was specifically asked about the arrest at his healthcare conference. He didn't comment just for the heck of it.

Something tells me this kind of thing happens all the time. This cop just picked the wrong guy to bully, whether it was racist or not.

Wow... its not that big of a deal. A mistake was made and its been admitted. I would have arrested the guy too if i saw him acting suspicious and then not cooperating with me.

There had already been reports of someone trying to break into that house before so the cop had every right to suspect something. This had nothing to do with race, especially since the cop teaches a racial profiling class at the police acadamey.  If you ask me its just a way for someone to play off the race card to try and benefit from a misunderstanding. If it was a white person then theere wouldn't be all this media attention surrounding the case.

I also think Obama shouldn't have said anything at all. He basically called the department stupid even if he was just beating around the bush to do it. He should be worrying more about how he will fix the mess of our economy that he has created than worthless racial feuds.

White cop arrests black man, must be automatic racism, Jesse Jackson meets with the officer, yawn.

@lukeissxc said:

He basically called the department stupid even if he was just beating around the bush to do it. He should be worrying more about how he will fix the mess of our economy that he has created than worthless racial feuds. "

First of all to the OP, use some better formatting when posting a topic, the current format makes it difficult to read.
 
I very much doubt this was a racially motivated issue. But I wouldn't deny the fact the police officer in question fudged up this particular incident. If you get a report of someone breaking into a house and find the person on the scene provides you ID and pretty much proves they live in that house and own it. Then what reason is there to demand they step outside, what reason is there to arrest them for refusing?
 
Why not simply explain that you feel the person may be in danger as a report of a break-in was made? Why not explain to the person you aren't trying to pressure them but rather protect them from possible harm? If this police officer was as good at his job as everyone says he is, then why didn't he explain the situation fully? Why did he jump to the easiest solution which is to pop some cuffs on the guy's wrists and take him back to the station?
 
It doesn't matter if the police officer teaches a racial profiling class or not. That doesn't provide any evidence that he isn't a racist or isn't a bad police officer. Personally I'd say yes if this happened to a white person we wouldn't see such a racial slant on the story, rather an injustice by the police, but it doesn't subtract from the fact the police officer fudged the situation.
 
As for Obama's comment on the issue, I say he was perfectly correct in stating his opinion on it. At the end of the day the guy is head honcho, leader of the country. He has a right to say what he feels on issues going on in that country however small or large they may be. And in this case obviously the victim in question was his friend and he felt like highlighting that and I don't see the issue. There is no denying the police forces in the USA are to a certain extent bad at their job and bad at resolving situations without resorting to brute force or simply booking someone with an offense.
 
And in this case the police officer quite clearly didn't resolve the situation like he should of. And now he is paying the price, sucks for him but who cares. Should of done his job better.

What do I think?  I think it sounds like the professor needs to grow the fuck up and act like an adult the next time something like this happens.  There was a call about a break-in, the cop went over there, and someone was inside.  Sure, the guy had photo IDs that matched what he looked like, but regardless, I still would've cuffed the guy and took him down to the station just as both a precautionary measure as well as knowing that the incident was documented for any future problems that might occur.

" @PercyChuggs:

Well we cannot assume it wasn't racism either.  We might like to believe that this cop was not racist but maybe he is not to the degree that he uses the n-word, but some predisposition to consider a black man guilty or that he doesnt belong in the home is something that is still racist.  Who knows.  But we also want to believe racism is gone, but not too long ago, I read about a town in the south that still holds segregated Proms.  The white prom is for whites only, while at the black prom anyone can go.  LINK

"

If a uniformed policeman showed up at my door, I would be all like. "Yes sir, no sir" That's how you do it.

" What do I think?  I think it sounds like the professor needs to grow the fuck up and act like an adult the next time something like this happens.  There was a call about a break-in, the cop went over there, and someone was inside.  Sure, the guy had photo IDs that matched what he looked like, but regardless, I still would've cuffed the guy and took him down to the station just as both a precautionary measure as well as knowing that the incident was documented for any future problems that might occur.

Was the situation HANDLED properly?  Fuck no...by either side.  The cop just jumped to conclusions and acted like an ass because he's got a badge.  The professor jumped to conclusions and acted like an ass because he's got a fucking Harvard job and he's buddies with the President.  Both of them need to be deep-fried in a vat of MANNERS and RESPECT!!!

So who gives a fuck if this is racial profiling?  Put 'em both in front of a firing squad and we don't have to worry with their idiocy infecting our news stations again.  =  D  Problem solved.

"

" @jakob187 said:

" What do I think?  I think it sounds like the professor needs to grow the fuck up and act like an adult the next time something like this happens.  There was a call about a break-in, the cop went over there, and someone was inside.  Sure, the guy had photo IDs that matched what he looked like, but regardless, I still would've cuffed the guy and took him down to the station just as both a precautionary measure as well as knowing that the incident was documented for any future problems that might occur.

Was the situation HANDLED properly?  Fuck no...by either side.  The cop just jumped to conclusions and acted like an ass because he's got a badge.  The professor jumped to conclusions and acted like an ass because he's got a fucking Harvard job and he's buddies with the President.  Both of them need to be deep-fried in a vat of MANNERS and RESPECT!!!

So who gives a fuck if this is racial profiling?  Put 'em both in front of a firing squad and we don't have to worry with their idiocy infecting our news stations again.  =  D  Problem solved.

"

Couldn't have said it better myself. "

"If a uniformed policeman showed up at my door, I would be all like. "Yes sir, no sir" That's how you do it."

The world pisses me off. People nowadays are so sensitive that they see racism in places the races in question themselves don't see. I mean there's one thing in being racially cautious, and then another to say anything mildly related to accent or race is instantly racist.

I just call stupidity on the police officer.  A police officer should learn to ignore mild verbal abuse until a much clearer line is crossed.  If I wish to call a police officer a dickhead for doing his job badly, then I feel entitled to and they should just deal with it.  Police are losing community respect because of crap like this - they have brought it upon themselves.

I one day hope that cops won't be under fire for doing their jobs, and I hope one day that all white Americans can live their normal life without being labeled as a racist.

I can't speak for the cop in question, he's the only person who knows if he is racist or not. But shit, if I was that cop and the dude started giving me attitude because I asked him for ID because he was BREAKING INTO A HOUSE, i'd bash his head in not just arrest him, black white or fucking green.

 The professor jumped to conclusions and acted like an ass because he's got a fucking Harvard job and he's buddies with the President.  Both of them need to be deep-fried in-

"Well here in Holland the "MY HOUSE BITCH" attitude doesn't go - you can't hit a burglar in your house till he's dead or you'll be arrested. 

But claiming it's racist because it's a white cop is racist to me - the cop is merely doing his job. A worried bypasser saw someone breaking into a house, she can't know it was the owner forgetting his keys... She calls 911 and the cops go out and do their job. The owner could've been understanding to the whole situation (realizing he is indeed a burglar at that time) and explained it in a proper manner, makes me wonder how this guy can even BE a Harvard professor tbfh.

All in all, I wish Holland had police like this - we'd get things done for once."

" Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe Obama was specifically asked about the arrest at his healthcare conference. He didn't comment just for the heck of it.Something tells me this kind of thing happens all the time. This cop just picked the wrong guy to bully, whether it was racist or not. "

"@The_A_Drain said:

" I can't speak for the cop in question, he's the only person who knows if he is racist or not. But shit, if I was that cop and the dude started giving me attitude because I asked him for ID because he was BREAKING INTO A HOUSE, i'd bash his head in not just arrest him, black white or fucking green. "

Ok but as the story stands, he did hand over ID.  So you would still bash in someone's head because he gave you attitude?  Do cops have a right to use their position just because they got their feelings hurt?

Any position of power has to be watched over and you cannot just trust someone blindly, thats stupid...Iraq War?  We all need to be questioning peoples actions and asking for the best, otherwise every cop could arrest someone that pissed them off and say they were doing their job.

Is this cop a racist?  I would say not but did he go too far?  Yes, no one should get arrested for mouthing off in their own home.  He didn't assault the cop, thats clear, so why arrest him?  The other question is that if he did do something wrong, why were the charges dropped?  If there are no charges then he should not have been arrested and the police admitted to that.  So when the president calls their actions stupid (here is calling the actions stupid, possibly only extending to this cop, not the whole department, dont you know someone at work who is retarded?  Does that make the whole office retarded?) which would not be if there was a reason to arrest.  THis police department cant have it both ways.

President Obama admitted that if he were doing the same thing in Chicago, to his house, he would expect any cop to ask for ID.  Just not to get arrested him if he called the cop an asswipe afterward.  Sure gates started before ID was shown but after, the cop should have dropped it.  

"

"@The_A_Drain: Yes I know you were joking about the skull bashing but I was just trying to make the point that a person should be able to mouth off without getting arrested in their own home.Another thing I notice is that these cops are taking the President's comments too seriously or as an attack on cops everywhere.  Huh?  Is the president supposed to just support any cop anywhere?  I am sick of some cops just banding together and thinking no one is flawed or does anything wrong.  But so many times we read stories about cops who dont come foward with reports of abuse of power or corruption because of how cops like to stick together.  Somehow all cops think they are heroes and that their work is infallible.  What the president cant call out a cop who fucks up?  He sure as hell is expected to yell at Generals who fuck up war strategy, and this cop is no where near giving as much service as these guys.  So come on, get off your high horse and dont just assume your cop is perfect.Also one more thing Cambridge police, your boss, the guy who appoints who is in charge there, apologized to Gates, tells you something about how cops view themselves. "

I love how the media though after a 55 minute press conference, ignored completely the 54 minutes and 30 seconds of talking about health care, and instead talked about his 30 second response to one question....

just gonna say, first off, that this guy's a Harvard professor so of course he's an asshole, it's what he does. secondly, this guy has the right to be an ass on his own property, if this had happened on public property this would be a different story. and lastly, the cop was from new england, so of course he's racist, it's what he does.

It's time to start one of these.

The Top 10 Things I learnt from Henry Louis Gates and James Crowley:

1.  Talk about my Momma & you'll be arrested.
2.  Harvard genius can't afford door repair.
3.  Police shouldn't follow-up on 911 calls.
4.  Establish a committee of gangs to determine future proper police etiquette.
5.  Flight back from China make me grouchy.
6.  Obama can take time out of his busy schedule to give speeches about mundane,
trivial affairs that he is ignorant of.
7.  When the cops bother you, call Obama.
8.  It gives the opportunity for Obama to showcase his inexperience.
9.  Teaching how to avoid racial profiling doesn't mean you
know what you're talking about.
10.  Clearly, having a black President means that
racial viewpoints & motivations haven't changed since
the 1960s. Clearly.

I think the cop was just doing his job. From what I've heard, he got a report of a robbery-in-progress. He saw 2 men that fit the description, that were actually attempting to break into the home. The cop asks for ID, and then the professor just shoots off, accusing the cop of being a racist. While he should of just walked away from the scene, professionally, after seeing the ID, he did his job. The professor was obviously just starting trouble the minute he responded so rudely to being asked for ID. It's a mess, but I'm on the cop's side. And Obama had no right to judge without the facts either.

Everyone outraged by this non-story is subconsciously racist.

UPDATE:
Prof. Gates is apparently going to make a documentary now on racial profiling. How convenient!

Also, here is a cool video I found about the situation:

http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-303137

@Colonel_Cool:  says the guy with a cop avatar.

i think the cop just didn't like taking verbal abuse.  you think he'd get used to the verbal abuse.