Harvard Prof Arrested in His Own Home

Reader Comments
Back to blog

I am a current Criminal Justice student and this story came up in class yesterday. Being the only African-American in the class, I took on the role of Devil's Advocate after a Caucasian female in my class basically said the cop was justified completely. I was offended that she felt that race had nothing to do with this story at all, but that hasn't been established at this point. I was also offended because she was not the type to take a real interest in stories such as this one and the fact that she is totally against welfare, affirmative action, or any other form of assistance for minorities, her comments bothered me. We are also in Texas where we probably weren't witnesses to the event! Fortunately, the instructor of our class basically concluded that poor communication, or a lack of,led to the arrest of Mr. Gates. Good thing we can't be arrested for our thoughts!

Jim of TX 5:14PM June 17, 2010

отличный пост, автор пиши ещё

kikus of AL 4:55PM June 12, 2010

IS LIKE I ALWAYS SAY, IN THE UNITED STATE OF AMERICA POLICE ARE NOT TO REQUIRE A COLLEGE DEGREE WHERE THEY CAN LEARN TO BE CIVILIZED PEOPLE. ANY GED OR HIGH SCHOOL KID CAN BECOME A COP AND PEOPLE ARE SO STUPID TO PULL FOR THESE FOOLS WHO HAVE NONE OR VERY LITTLE EDUCATION. THE POLICE ACADEMY IS NOT ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY,THEY OUT SHOULD REQUIRED HIGHER EDUCATION, THINGS ARE CHANGING ALL THE TIME AND IF THE POLICE ACADEMY WAS GREAT YEARS AGO, TODAY THE WORLD HAS CHANGED AND SO SHOULD THE POLICE REQUIREMENT SHOULD CHANGE. FIRST OF ALL, A COP SHOULD BE REQUIRED A MINIMUN OF A BACHELOR DEGREE IN PSYCHOLOGY OR RELATED FIELD PLUS THE POLICE ACADEMY OF COURSE, BUT NOT ONLY BE THE POLICE ACADEMY BE SUFFICIENT TO BECOME A COP IN THE U.S.
COPS ARE NOT EDUCATED IN AMERICA AND THEY ARE GIVEN WAY TOO MUCH POWER TO UNEDUCATED PEOPLE AND THIS IS WHY HAPPEN THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN OUR COMMUNITY. PEOPLE SHOULD ADVOCATE MORE EDUCATION, RAISING THE AMOUNT OF EDUCATION A PERSON NEEDS TO HAVE TO BECOME A COP. ANYONE IN THE COMMUNITY CAN HAVE MORE EDUCATION THAN A COP OUT THERE! I HAVE MORE EDUCATION THAN A GIVEN COP IN THE COMMUNITY. THINK ABOUT THIS AND YOU WILL SEE THAT WHAT I AM STATING IS TRUE!

WHOASK of FL 6:48PM July 30, 2009

First and foremost I would like to state I did minor research on this issue. But the knowledge that I have acquired, brings me to my conclusion that hands down the police didn’t act entirely appropriate.
First of all, if I where the officer who got the call about this "Robbery" I would have looked up who the home belonged to. That right there would have killed five birds with one stone. If the officers knew it belonged to Mr. Gates and upon arriving would have asked Mr. Gates himself to show some identification, which states GATES ON IT, then there you have it. But if one would really want more evidence, then you run his name into the system where it shows that he is a pretty prominent and powerful figure.
Secondly, I would like to propose this question; what do robbers usually tend to wear?
I really can’t answer that question with full knowledge, but I can say what they do not wear. A robber doesn’t break into someone's home wearing I fifty dollar polo, 80 dollar designer pants, 150 dollar penny loafers and 200 hundred dollars glasses, with some form of identification on them, unless of course you are a pretty rich thief, or someone attempting to break in their own home after what appears to have been business meeting just before hand, assuming of course wee judge on the basis of what Mr. Gates was wearing.
Finally, I am addressing anyone who doesn’t seem to believe that this was in any case discrimination. In doing so I’m asking you all; have you ever traveled? Have you ever experienced Jet Lag from a flight that was under 3 hours? If not then please book a vacation right now and experience it. This man had just flown back from CHINA, that jet lag would ultimately be miserable.
For those of you who have experienced it, imagine having to come home to your own house, your front door being jammed, being forced to enter through the back, get your front door, then on top of all that being badgered about breaking into your own home. I’m sorry but the Pope or a Buddhist Monk would have Lost his cool.
I do believe those of you who are blinded to ignorance or are to set on your ways to realize that this is discrimination, that if not now then when will you realize?

John Joyner of CO 4:29AM July 26, 2009

Police ? Is a MUST have. Civilisatiom (sp? cannot exist without
them!!!

Harold O. Tennant of LA 5:10PM July 25, 2009

Mr. Gates here seems to be up in arms that he was approached by police, when in all honesty he should be grateful that they responded. The police acted accordingly, they did not know the situation! Was Gates an estranged husband that his wife had filed an order against? Was he housing drugs? Why would Gates be so "Here's my ID, go away!" without a good reason? They acted on protocol, and Mr. Gates seemed to be pulling the race card like the sport it has become. Simply because he was black and the officer was white does not automatically mean racial intentions. Everyone in America with a race card in their utility belts needs to grow themselves up.

Samantha of PA 9:41PM July 24, 2009

It is obvious to most of us that the bigot and the prejudiced person is Mr. Gates himself. He did not like the fact that a white officer demanded his cooperation to resolve the matter appropriately. In his own mind Gates perceived that if he was white this wouldn't have happened. Completely ridicuolous to assume you can understand the thought process of another man. Mr. Gates is a complete idiot. Being mad, or losing control of yourself is no excuse for loss of control and the inability to control yourself or your actions.
I'm offended at the very nature of this issue. Racism and prejudice exists in this country and more common place is reverse racism. Hatred and ignorance is a easy tool to sell just like at our neighbors around the world. Mr. Gates' preaching and belief system has tainted his own mind. President Obama your a politician, not a police officer. Don't pretend to understand what and how to do that job. Don't run off at the mouth about some textbook definition of racial profiling that clearly doesnt apply to this situation.

Allen of VA 8:43PM July 24, 2009

Mr. Gates should have been more appreciative of the fact that the neighbors were watching out for him and also that the police responded. If the police confronted me in my home due to the same circumstances, I would have graciously provided any information they needed and I would have thanked them for doing their job. I would also call my neighbor and thank them for being a responsible citizen and reporting the unusual activity. Too many people view our law enforcement officers with contempt rather than respect! Mr. Gates may have a superiority complex to go along with a possible chip on his shoulder! Be thankful the police were there for you.
President Obama should have never made the comments about racial profiling when talking about this incident. His comments were unnecessary and did nothing but hurt race relations.

willie g of TN 1:00PM July 23, 2009

Have been around and on this earth fo over 80 years and I found out that those who have to use profanity to express themselves lack common sense intellegence despite how much formal education they have.
Who, in this encounter had more common sense.

J. O;gorman of MD 11:37AM July 23, 2009

This man was in his home. He showed the officers proof that he lived there. If you just got home after a long day of work you would be mad too. You know you would! I believe it was partially racial and ego on the part of the police. Shame on the Cambridge police.

Mary of TX 12:29AM July 23, 2009