OK. Here's my take from Boston on Gates-Crowley

louis c

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Sun Jul-26-09 06:34 PM
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OK. Here's my take from Boston on Gates-Crowley

Edited on Sun Jul-26-09 06:44 PM by louis c

I've talked to a Cambridge officer (African-American). Labor leaders (Non-police unions). Cambridge politicians and many of my work colleagues. The most frightening are my all white, middle aged work colleagues. But, anyway, here's my take.

1. Common sense-- When Crowley arrived at around 12:30 in the afternoon on Thursday to a "break-in" report from a passer-by (not a neighbor), he approached the front door through the porch. In all the history of criminal justice, can anyone remember a burglar, in the middle of the afternoon, answering the door of a house that didn't belong to him in order to try to convince a cop that it was really his house? On top of that, a burglar that was in his late fifties and walked with a cane? Shouldn't Crowley, at that point, given the benefit of the doubt to Gates? Isn't it rather absurd that he didn't? Isn't it understandable that Gates was upset that he had to prove he lived in his own house?

2 The Constitution--The fourth Amendment grants to every person that he be "secure in his person, houses, places and effects against unreasonable searches and seizures". It goes on to describe that a warrant, specifying the items and person's to be searched and a sworn affidavit to do it. When Crowley, by his own admission, asked Gates if anyone else was in the house, Gates correctly answered that it was none of his business. An unsubstantiated report from a passer-by does not supersede the U.S. Constitution.

3. Two Alpha Males. There is no question in my mind that Gates and Crowley are super Alpha-Males. My speculation is that both were assholes during the incident. I believe that none of it was overtly racial, but instead is the usual "police mentality" when confronted by an equally arrogant and determined person. Remember here, there is no crime, just an erroneous report from a passer-by (white) who made an incorrect assumption (for what ever reason). I have no doubt that Gates overreacted and was met by Crowley's equally arrogant overreaction. Gates may very well have been an asshole, but being an asshole, especially when you are right and safely in your own home, is no crime. This is evidenced by the fact that the Cambridge Police dropped all the charges against Gates after reviewing the police report and talking to the witnesses.

4. My Fear. I'm afraid that too many of my contemporaries would gladly give up their freedom because of their lack of understanding of the US Constitution. Many have come up with wild hypotheticals like "what if an intruder had a gun pointed at Gates. Alter all,the report said two black intruders." Under that line of reasoning a report by anyone could allow police to enter your house and search it and question you without a warrant or even a complaint. Under that line of thinking, an anonymous report that a "dangerous terrorist was hiding in the basement of some house in your home town" could allow the police to search every house in your city, without a warrant. We might as well tear up the Constitution.

5. In Closing. My conclusion is that this is not about race, but about arrogance. Gates was correct but less than friendly. Crowley was, well, a cop. "How dare you question my authority". Again, Gates and Crowley are probably both good men who had a bad day. They'll both garner lavish lives as a result of this overblown incident. What really has educated me is that too many citizens have no idea what the Constitution stands for or what freedom really means, to be secure in your own home and police should only enter it with your permission or with a warrant. As Benjamin Franklin once said, "...A people who would trade freedom for safety deserve neither."

Link:
http://www.bostonherald.com/news/regional/view.bg?articleid=1187095&format=&page=2&listingType=Loc#articleFull