Lawyer's statement on Gates arrest

[KamaAina]

doesn't jibe much with what we've been hearing from the constabulary by way of the M$M...

http://www.theroot.com/views/lawyers-statement-arrest-henry-louis-gates-jr

This brief statement is being submitted on behalf of my client, friend, and colleague, Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. This is a statement concerning the arrest of Professor Gates. On July 16, 2009, Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., 58, the Alphonse Fletcher University Professor of Harvard University, was headed from Logan airport to his home (in) Cambridge after spending a week in China, where he was filming his new PBS documentary entitled "Faces of America." Professor Gates was driven to his home by a driver for a local car company. Professor Gates attempted to enter his front door, but the door was damaged. Professor Gates then entered his rear door with his key, turned off his alarm, and again attempted to open the front door. With the help of his driver they were able to force the front door open, and then the driver carried Professor Gates' luggage into his home.

Professor Gates immediately called the Harvard Real Estate office to report the damage to his door and requested that it be repaired immediately. As he was talking to the Harvard Real Estate office on his portable phone in his house, he observed a uniformed officer on his front porch. When Professor Gates opened the door, the officer immediately asked him to step outside. Professor Gates remained inside his home and asked the officer why he was there. The officer indicated that he was responding to a 911 call about a breaking and entering in progress at this address. Professor Gates informed the officer that he lived there and was a faculty member at Harvard University. The officer then asked Professor Gates whether he could prove that he lived there and taught at Harvard. Professor Gates said that he could, and turned to walk into his kitchen, where he had left his wallet. The officer followed him. Professor Gates handed both his Harvard University identification and his valid Massachusetts driver's license to the officer. Both include Professor Gates' photograph, and the license includes his address.

Professor Gates then asked the police officer if he would give him his name and his badge number. He made this request several times. The officer did not produce any identification nor did he respond to Professor Gates' request for this information. After an additional request by Professor Gates for the officer’s name and badge number, the officer then turned and left the kitchen of Professor Gates' home without ever acknowledging who he was or if there were charges against Professor Gates. As Professor Gates followed the officer to his own front door, he was astonished to see several police officers gathered on his front porch. Professor Gates asked the officer's colleagues for his name and badge number. As Professor Gates stepped onto his front porch, the officer who had been inside and who had examined his identification, said to him, "Thank you for accommodating my earlier request," and then placed Professor Gates under arrest. He was handcuffed on his own front porch.

Professor Gates was taken to the Cambridge Police Station where he remained for approximately 4 hours before being released that evening. Professor Gates' counsel has been cooperating with the Middlesex District Attorneys Office, and the City of Cambridge, and is hopeful that this matter will be resolved promptly. Professor Gates will not be making any other statements concerning this matter at this time.

[malaise]

1. Truth will out

How dare you uppity NEGROES stand up for your own rights in your own home

:sarcasm:

[geckosfeet]

2. JC on a stick. If that's what happened, doesn't he have several grounds

for complaint and suit for unjustifiable arrest?

[Spazito]

3. I see all charges have been dropped...

no wonder, and the City of Cambridge et al are, no doubt, trying to stop from being sued as well. I hope they fail.

[leveymg]

4. Another arrest for Demanding Your Rights While Black (DYRWB).

Frankly, if the officer can't prove he was assaulted, he just got himself fired and will be facing the wrong end of a law suit by a justifiably enraged university professor.

[peacetalksforall]

5. Unbelievable. We should just change the law in this country to say that anyone of

color or the wrong clothes or the wrong hair length must agree to be arrested first and released later if deemed to be who they are.

Yes, change the law. Show them who counts - folks of white northern european heritage . That's all that counts in this country, even if the cop's heritage is from the wrong continent.

I can't believe the brass who are teaching their cops to do these things. We are in deep doo-doo. This country still stays sick. So much hate has been taught to others. And now I hate the police who keep doing these things.

[FatDave]

6. There must be good cops out there.

Sheer numbers alone would guarantee it. But I've never met one in my nearly 40 years.

[fishwax]

7. nice to see the other side told

though I thought the police report was incriminating enough.

I'm glad the charges were dropped today.

[Solomon]

8. That's what I said. Try as they might to beef up the police report

in their favor, it still condemned him. His own words.

[david13]

9. What, does the stupid cop live under a rock? I would recognize

Professor Gates from tv anytime. Can the professor prove it? Can the stupid cop prove he is a cop? Or that he is not a pathetic idiot?
dc

[Wednesdays]

10. K&R

:kick:

[goodhue]

11. pretty ridiculous conduct by police