Henry Louis Gates Does Not Blame the 9/11 Caller At All

[Stephanie]

http://www.theroot.com/views/skip-gates-speaks?page=0,0

Skip Gates Speaks
The Root's Editor-in-Chief Henry Louis Gates Jr. talks about his arrest and the outrage of racial profiling in America.
July 21, 2009 at 5:34 PM

==snip==

TR: What do you make of the suspicious neighbor who called the police with an erroneous report of “two black men” trying to enter your apartment? Was this neighborhood watch gone wrong?

HLG: I don’t know this person, and I’m sure that she thought she was doing the right thing. If I was on Martha’s Vineyard like I am now and someone was trying to break into my house, I would hope that someone called the police and that they would respond. But I would hope that the police wouldn’t arrest the first black man that they saw—especially after that person gives them an ID—and not rely on some trumped-up charge, which is what this man was doing.

[ejpoeta]

1. that's the whole thing. of course a person would be glad to see that someone noticed

and called the police. that would make you feel better. but when the police come and harass you even after you show that you are the person who live in the house, that would upset me too. I don't know what was up with the cop, but you just look at the ID, verify that it is correct and that this person is a resident of the house and be on your way. that should be the end of it. even if the person isn't 'cooperative', whatever that means.

[Stephanie]

2. Even if the person asks for your name and badge number

(That's what uncooperative means - asking for your identification and threatening to file a complaint.)

[merh]

10. especially uncooperative when Massachusetts law requires that

cops give their identification card when asked. Since the uniformed Crowley was in a unmarked car and not a squad car, asking for his identification card was reasonable

[damntexdem]

3. I listened to the released 911 call, and Whalen clearly did act responsibly.

She reported a 'situation' but did not characterize it as a break-in, only thought that it could be. And she did not identify either man involved as 'Black.'

[Blasphemer]

4. Unfortunately this statement has gotten lost in the shuffle

It's a shame that Ms. Whalen has had to respond to negative reactions based on false reporting and the misguided idea that Mr. Gates or others placed some blame on her. I am glad that she came forward to set the record straight.

[Stephanie]

5. It certainly has.

I think the lady should be invited for beer at the WH too.

[EFerrari]

7. But, the up side is that pressure led her to reveal the mendacity

of Jim Crowley and indirectly, she's vindicated Dr. Gates.

[EFerrari]

6. That's right. He thanked her. n/t

[Stephanie]

9. That's right.

:hi:

[Hassin Bin Sober]

8. Gates wants the police to respond. Great. But he flies off the handle...

....when they QUESTIONED the first person they person they come across in the subject residence who, in his case, happens to be black. He wasn't arrested on the bull-shit charge of disorderly conduct till he pissed the cop off.

Disorderly conduct IS trumped-up 90% of the time - including this case.

Cops should be required to wear personal video recording devices every day they strap on a gun and carry a badge.

[Cali_Democrat]

11. "Cops should be required to wear personal video recording devices"

I agree 100%.

I think they should also be required to wear audio recording devices.

[TexasObserver]

12. Yes, it is. It's an excuse to arrest citizens who say anything the officer doesn't like.

It's a bullshit charge.

[EFerrari]

13. Right. Or, both the cop and the arrestee should right reports,

not only on party.