Henry Louis Gates: "victimized by police brutality and racial profiling!"

[stephenabm]

This Gates deserved getting arrested for his actions.

[caganb]

When he mouthed off, he should have been beaten, tazered, then arrested.

[deathwatchreturns]

There are a lot of so-called "scholars" who have been arrested. Look at Ward Churchill. Just because you have a degree doesn't mean you cant act like an ass.

[farrazano]

Everybody supports the police until its them. Rest assured, you will be sodomized sooner of later. I hope its sooner.

[deathwatchreturns]

Ignorant people who hate and distrust the police change their minds when they call the police for help.

[Howlinblind]

I don't call or ask the cops for help. I take care of things my self, I don't trust the police

[RacistLiberals]

Good. Maybe you can call Gates for help.

[iamhere233]

Police brutality is rampant in the United States. Ask yourselves: who are police men? Here are some answers: a) uneducated high school drop outs, b) the bullies that abused smaller girls and boys in school, c) financially insecured bastards that find comfort in abusing the power of their uniforms, d) violators of the law, e) crooks, (I leave f, g, h, i, j, & k for you to fill out.)

[whitemanwaydownsouth]

iamhere233 , i bet $100 that you are black , unemployed and have a criminal record . you probably have children that you dont support and welfare picks up the tab. i bet you think michael jackson , oj , mike vick, tookie and the jena six are all innocent victims of whiteys racsim.

[MELLAU6]

no, but now, iamhere233 is a victim of whiteys racism--thank you for your input, you have validated the 'claim' that racism is very much alive and well in America!

[demslibssuck]

Seems as though the only victim here is the officer. Profiling MY ASS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[foldedintobeauty2]

maybe this was a reality check for gates. i have a sneaky suspicion he might have gotten used to the high life and reality just smacked him in the face that even though he has titles attached to his name....he is still a black man in america....and black men in america.....you know what? imma just stop. i can't even get myself to type it out

[whitemanwaydownsouth]

i will finish for you . black men in america are expected to follow the same laws as everyone else. including when the police are investigating someone breaking into YOUR house , just show identification and they will go away. he was pissed about being locked out , so he let his ego and feelings of status override his common sense. he probably talked to the police like one of his underlings , and that dont fly , white or black when it comes to the police.

[jojokerus]

Can a cop do and say anything he wants on your property, Mr. WhiteManWayDownSouth? Sounds like you would lick the boot of any man in uniform. Live free?

[whitemanwaydownsouth]

if a neighbor reports a breakin at your house , and when the police show up , the guy who broke in refused to show proof that he lives there , do you think the police should just leave? instead of showing his identification , he showed his attitude and how much of an egotistical asshole he is.

[iamhere233]

Jerk.... you ignorant bigot jerk

[MELLAU6]

Gates did provide ID, two forms of ID in fact, drivers license and professor ID from Harvard. The cop was disinterested. You should read the police report which clearly states the above.

[whitemanwaydownsouth]

LOL maybe YOU should read the police report. gates was yelling and screaming even after the officers left his house . if this is so racist , why did the black officer say that gates acted the same way the white officer said he acted.

[MrTblackb]

Unfortunately, I can believe the Cambridge police would treat someone like this. NOBODY, regardless of their race should be treated like this by the police. But, the police often use disorderly conduct to either threaten or arrest people who give them "attitude". They do this to white people too, though I'm sure it happens disproportionately to African-Americans. Unfortunately, in court, it's your word against theirs, and they always back each other up. You're screwed unless you're famous.

[Jiryu02]

I'm sure black people do get arrested for disorderly conduct more than white.

BUT, I don't expect Police to just walk off after a citizen yells at them, even if they were wrong about breaking and entering.

The police need to practice making unbiased arrests. But it's not only their responsibility to eliminate profiling, the common citizen need to take part.

So African Americans should dare not play the race card everytime their legitimately arrested or just simply mistaken.

[Jiryu02]

If I, as an Black American gets pulled over, I'm not going to argue with the police. I don't wan't to perpetuate any possible wrong perception of black people that he may have in his mind. Thats one way to help eliminate profiling.

Therefore, GATES had it coming

[MELLAU6]

Any negative perception of black people that a cop may have won't go away because you don't argue with him. That's what racial profiling is, bc you're black you fit into a profile, bc u dont argue doesnt make you less a part of that profile that is based on your race.

[whitemanwaydownsouth]

do you consider blacks automatically taking the side of the black person arrested over the word of police in EVERY situation where a black person says they are being treated wrongly because of skin color. ( a claim that most blacks make in any situation that does not completely satisfy or accomidate )

[harleykman]

@Jiryu02 That's it. Cooperate with police even when they bust into your house, without warrant, and arrest you. Be a good little darkie. Be a good house slave

.

Fool. Stand UP for your rights

.

[oilmonkie]

This guy had made a carreer out of playing the race card. He is not helping his people. What a cry baby. I have no respect for people like this. Racism will always be here as long as people like Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, and now Gates keep it alive.

[tzsefu]

Racism will always be here because of people who deny it exists.

[whitemanwaydownsouth]

or people who see every situation that doesnt completely satisfy as racism.

[jsbarbee]

Gates could have taken the high road, identified himself, then thanked the police for protecting his home from burglars. Instead, he profiled the officer as a white cop abusive to blacks and responded as if under threat. I would expect a man of Gates' stature to have behaved in a more mature and calculated manner. His behavior only bolsters the reputation of some black leaders as ones who cry foul before foul play has occurred and to jump to radical claims of persecution without good reason.

[tzsefu]

The problem is people who pretend racial profiling doesn't go on. They also pretend that police don't play power and mind games with people. The police screwed this up by disrespecting Prof. Gates, and they thought they would get away with it because they never thought this black man would have enough stature to deserve respect. Their apology is proof they were wrong

[charadester]

I agree. Profiling does go wrong. I still believe Gates could have handled the wrong in a more productive way. The yelling of time-worn statements about mistreatment in America only serves to divide the public even further.

[whitemanwaydownsouth]

racial profiling does go on , but this was a case where someone reported a break-in,and the police responded in hte same manner they would in any breakin. if he showed identification , they would have left as soon as he did. the police could find many black men to arrest , why some rich guy who was at home?, he was pissed about locking himself out of the house, and when the police showed , his ego overshadowed his common sense, and he yelled and screamed at the police, you dont do that

[whitemanwaydownsouth]

the police stopped to see what was happening , and gates started with his angry black man bullshit . blacks complain when the police do their job all the time , why should thias be any different

[wacky2backer]

You are right, I see on the news all the time, blacks complain when the police dont patrol their neighborhoods , then complain when they do patrol because they arrest people. The problem is not the police , its black people complaining about the police.

The next time , when someone really breaks in gates house , he will be bitching that the police took to long to get there.

[tzsefu]

Gates was inside his home and he showed his identification. Obviously something was said by the police that escalated this situation. The police were forced to apologized when they realized they weren't dealing with just another black man. The police thought they were teaching Gates a lesson and the table was turned on them. Go Gates!!!

[whitemanwaydownsouth]

the police officerS said that he refused to show identification , instead was yelling and screaming. gates thought he was talking to one of his underlings and was going to teach them a lesson , and the table turned on him.

i dont care if you are black or white , if you start yelling and acting like an asshole to the police , you are getting arrested. the difference is , white people cant cry racism and get the charges dropped.

[whitemanwaydownsouth]

the police were forced to apologize to prevent another bullshit frivilous lawsuit by some asshole who has enough money to cause them problems. like oj , mj , the jena six and now gates , blacks will always side with the black person , no matter what the circumstances. period.

[zuesthelessor]

Gates fanned the flames here. Perpetual victimization even from black leaders.

[jamesankrah88]

Yes i think wot happened was wrong.The cop was doing his job alright but didnt handle the whole situation well.U will never know how it feels like if u not black for the police to stop u.Frankly i dont think racism was intended but it was treated to Mr Gates...because he wouldnt recieve the same treatment if he was White Professor.Its so sad,2009 and Racism is still lurking!!!!

[wacky2backer]

they asked him for identification because a neighbor said they saw someone breaking into the house. what is so racist about that?? the only person being racist is gates for crying racisnm when it does not apply

[jamesankrah88]

Listen he showed the cop his I.D and everything when the cop wouldnt let him into his own home.All he asked the cop was for His badge #....thats all Mr.Gates asked for!!!Ok so if he the cop knew wot he did was right he wouldnt hesitate to show Mr.Gates his badge or wotever.Everything was settled until Mr.Gates felt violated because the cop followed him into his home without permission.the next thing u know he's being cuffed for some lame ass reason.!!!!!