Posted by sebstar:

I mean, I hate to play this angle because its comes across as cliche and limits the convo to a degree, but experiences have informed us to view things from different angles. For many, they take the words from a cop as gospel and give him the complete benefit of the doubt. Others, such as myself, think a little differently and know though personal experiences, news stories, history, and anecdotes.

There is no question in my mind that the cop mistreated him and probably provoked him. Even if he didnt, which I highly doubt, there has actually been a racial profiling epidemic on the Harvard which no doubt came into play here:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/08/27/harvard_scrutinizing_its_police_on_race/?page=2

Trust, police departments dont issue public statements of apology for nothing.

Cops know how to rob Black men of their dignity. Could Gates have just cooperated and went about his business? Of course, but he was pissed and he was going to let the cop know it. I have seen white people mouth off to cops for far more trivial matters and not find themselves arrested and if Gates were white the cop probably would have been much more sympathetic and handled the situation far differently.

Gates lived through the civil rights movement and he wasnt going to give that cop an inch of his self-worth and bow his head just for attempting to enter his own home. He may not have been 100 percent right, but I stand behind Gates fully.

Posted by Allanfan20:

Posted by sebstar:

I mean, I hate to play this angle because its comes across as cliche and limits the convo to a degree, but experiences have informed us to view things from different angles. For many, they take the words from a cop as gospel and give him the complete benefit of the doubt. Others, such as myself, think a little differently and know though personal experiences, news stories, history, and anecdotes.

There is no question in my mind that the cop mistreated him and probably provoked him. Even if he didnt, which I highly doubt, there has actually been a racial profiling epidemic on the Harvard which no doubt came into play here:

http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/08/27/harvard_scrutinizing_its_police_on_race/?page=2

Trust, police departments dont issue public statements of apology for nothing.

Cops know how to rob Black men of their dignity. Could Gates have just cooperated and went about his business? Of course, but he was pissed and he was going to let the cop know it. I have seen white people mouth off to cops for far more trivial matters and not find themselves arrested and if Gates were white the cop probably would have been much more sympathetic and handled the situation far differently.

Gates lived through the civil rights movement and he wasnt going to give that cop an inch of his self-worth and bow his head just for attempting to enter his own home. He may not have been 100 percent right, but I stand behind Gates fully.

Assumption. The mother of all f' ups. I'm assuming the cops provoked him.

Posted by Allanfan20:

Well that's beyond the point. Gates could have also alerted the media and made the cops look bad in this case.

And Gates himself, in his report, said nothing about being provoked.

And for the record: I'm as white as they get. I live in the whitest town. I know for a fact that I'd be stupid to mouth off to the cops b/c I know I'd be arrested. Anyone is going to be arrested for that. And any white knows that too.

And just so you know Sebstar. I'm certainly not a cop "apologist." There's a lot of **** I see that I cannot stand at all when it comes to them. I support them, but some stuff is inexcusable as well. I'm just calling this particular situation by how the facts present themself.

Posted by GodSaveTheKnicks:

Regardless of whether race was a factor, people here are defending the arrest saying Gates was yelling.

Is there some kind of law against yelling at the cops?

You probably shouldn't yell at cops but last time I checked it's not illegal to yell at the cops.

Posted by BasketballJones:

By the way, all indications are that this incident occurred in the middle of the day. I'm not sure if it really changes any thing, but I thought I'd mention it. I don't think burglars usually try to break in during the middle of the day. I also think they might prefer the back door to the front door.

Posted by BasketballJones:

Posted by GodSaveTheKnicks:

Regardless of whether race was a factor, people here are defending the arrest saying Gates was yelling.

Is there some kind of law against yelling at the cops?

You probably shouldn't yell at cops but last time I checked it's not illegal to yell at the cops.

According to these guys, that's grounds for arrest. Being an intellectual professor is also apparently reasonable grounds for arrest, as is asking for a name and badge number. Oh heck, the cops can just arrest any ol' body any time they feel like it.


[Edited by - basketballjones on 07-22-2009 15:12]

Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by Allanfan20:

Well that's beyond the point. Gates could have also alerted the media and made the cops look bad in this case.

And Gates himself, in his report, said nothing about being provoked.

And for the record: I'm as white as they get. I live in the whitest town. I know for a fact that I'd be stupid to mouth off to the cops b/c I know I'd be arrested. Anyone is going to be arrested for that. And any white knows that too.

And just so you know Sebstar. I'm certainly not a cop "apologist." There's a lot of **** I see that I cannot stand at all when it comes to them. I support them, but some stuff is inexcusable as well. I'm just calling this particular situation by how the facts present themself.

I have a friend that actually slapped a cop for suggesting she was drunk(when she wasn't). She was angry that he wouldn't beleive her. Not only did she not get arrested, but 3 years later they were married. Could you imagine if Sebstar did something like that? I think we'd have one less poster here.

Posted by sebstar:

Posted by Bippity10:

Posted by Allanfan20:

Well that's beyond the point. Gates could have also alerted the media and made the cops look bad in this case.

And Gates himself, in his report, said nothing about being provoked.

And for the record: I'm as white as they get. I live in the whitest town. I know for a fact that I'd be stupid to mouth off to the cops b/c I know I'd be arrested. Anyone is going to be arrested for that. And any white knows that too.

And just so you know Sebstar. I'm certainly not a cop "apologist." There's a lot of **** I see that I cannot stand at all when it comes to them. I support them, but some stuff is inexcusable as well. I'm just calling this particular situation by how the facts present themself.

I have a friend that actually slapped a cop for suggesting she was drunk(when she wasn't). She was angry that he wouldn't beleive her. Not only did she not get arrested, but 3 years later they were married. Could you imagine if Sebstar did something like that? I think we'd have one less poster here.

lol. damn.

Posted by kam77:

thats what its like to be in America!