Harvard scholar's arrest raises profiling questions

[The_Dude 1,142]

#######? Are you kidding me...people are actually agreeing w/ the police on this one???

the neighbor didn't recognize the prof and called the police. the police responded and caught someone inside and asked for identification (they apparently didn't know the prof either). All the prof needed to do was be polite and provide ID ... it would have all been over in a matter of a few minutes. Instead ... the prof gave attitude "initially refused to show the officer his identification, but then gave him a Harvard University ID card, according to police." Oops ...

The police should have done their job prior to showing up to the scene. They should have known who lived there. I seriously doubt you'd be calm if the cops showed up to your house and accused you of robbing it.....

[Niels Bohr 72]

On what grounds is Gates subjected to an arrest by just going into his house the wrong way?

Well, since Gates is one of the important employee at Harvard, he will not keep his mouth shut. The city is going to have a tough time battling this one. Yes, Cops can do a database query to see who lives there if he owned a car or something.

Edited July 21, 2009 by Niels Bohr

[_Simpson_ 250]

#######? Are you kidding me...people are actually agreeing w/ the police on this one???

Well yes of course, what good reason did this professor have for getting a attidude and pulling out the race card right away. They were there too help him. People here sometimes really amaze me. Where you guys dropped on your head as a kid.

Sorry, but if anyone came over and accused me of trying to get into MY house, there will be plenty of attitude on my part. Count on that. And, for those who do not know prof. Gates from Adam, he is one of the most kind and non-chalant academics you will ever meet: not a diva, so your theory just does not fly. And yes, I know ####### I am talking about.

You dont know him, you dont know what he really is like. Put yourself in the officers shoes. They show up to a house that was reported to have somebody breaking in, they knock on the door and ask to speak to the man and he refuses and pulls out the race card and refuses to give ID. Where would that leave you, to get pissed at these officers is just not rational, the guy had a attitude that was unjustified. The officers at that point didnt know who he was, THE GUY WOULD NOT SHOW HIM HIS ID! It was later when he did. I would be thankful to know that the officers were there to check in on an reported burglary on MY house.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I actually do know him - since 1996-, reason why I tell you the police really fvcked up this one. The whole thing is bullsh1t.

Puhleaze

[_Simpson_ 250]

#######? Are you kidding me...people are actually agreeing w/ the police on this one???

the neighbor didn't recognize the prof and called the police. the police responded and caught someone inside and asked for identification (they apparently didn't know the prof either). All the prof needed to do was be polite and provide ID ... it would have all been over in a matter of a few minutes. Instead ... the prof gave attitude "initially refused to show the officer his identification, but then gave him a Harvard University ID card, according to police." Oops ...

The police should have done their job prior to showing up to the scene. They should have known who lived there. I seriously doubt you'd be calm if the cops showed up to your house and accused you of robbing it.....

Once again the guy wasnt showing his ID at first and the proffesser had a attitude. Should they of known what he looked like too?

[_Simpson_ 250]

I actually do know him - since 1996-, reason why I tell you the police really fvcked up this one. The whole thing is bullsh1t.

Puhleaze

You addressed none of the logic I presented to you. You know him good enough to know he wouldnt lose his temper, everbody loses there temper. You dont know the officers but you want to accuse them. Puhleez

[Niels Bohr 72]

I know cops around these area too. They always have the mentality that black men are perpetrators of identity theft. The cops was assuming this I bet.

[Chica Yeyé 41]

I actually do know him - since 1996-, reason why I tell you the police really fvcked up this one. The whole thing is bullsh1t.

Puhleaze

You addressed none of the logic I presented to you. You know him good enough to know he wouldnt lose his temper, everbody loses there temper. You dont know the officers but you want to accuse them. Puhleez

His "attitude" was exactly what I would have done if some idiot in blues came over and demanded to see my ID while I was in MY house. I bet Skip was pizzed as hell -specially since his whole career has been spent studying social theory and racial politics-; but he has way too much class to freak out.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I know cops around these area too. They always have the mentality that black men are perpetrators of identity theft. The cops was assuming this I bet.

What would you do if you come to a house that was reported to have been broken into and get a guy that answers the door not being compliant at all. Regardless to if this guy was white or black its still would raise suspicion.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I call bullsh!t on any of you who say that you'd be calm and collected if the police showed up to your house and accused you of robbing it. . I've actually been in this situation, it is extremely humiliating and degrading. If you don't feel pissed off after something like that happens, then you are a robot.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I know cops around these area too. They always have the mentality that black men are perpetrators of identity theft. The cops was assuming this I bet.

What would you do if you come to a house that was reported to have been broken into and get a guy that answers the door not being compliant at all. Regardless to if this guy was white or black its still would raise suspicion.

You are missing a glaring fact here. The police, had they done their job properly would have known who was supposed to be living there. They have access to this information in their car. They failed to do the necessary work that comes before ALL calls for service.

[_Simpson_ 250]

I actually do know him - since 1996-, reason why I tell you the police really fvcked up this one. The whole thing is bullsh1t.

Puhleaze

You addressed none of the logic I presented to you. You know him good enough to know he wouldnt lose his temper, everbody loses there temper. You dont know the officers but you want to accuse them. Puhleez

His "attitude" was exactly what I would have done if some idiot in blues came over and demanded to see my ID while I was in MY house. I bet Skip was pizzed as hell -specially since his whole career has been spent studying social theory and racial politics-; but he has way too much class to freak out.

You wouldn't be grateful that the officer was over at your house checking up on a reported burglary? He wouldnt show them his ID, they didnt know him and you dont know the officers so theres no need to call them a idiot.

[The_Dude 1,142]

I actually do know him - since 1996-, reason why I tell you the police really fvcked up this one. The whole thing is bullsh1t.

Puhleaze

You addressed none of the logic I presented to you. You know him good enough to know he wouldnt lose his temper, everbody loses there temper. You dont know the officers but you want to accuse them. Puhleez

His "attitude" was exactly what I would have done if some idiot in blues came over and demanded to see my ID while I was in MY house. I bet Skip was pizzed as hell -specially since his whole career has been spent studying social theory and racial politics-; but he has way too much class to freak out.

You wouldn't be grateful that the officer was over at your house checking up on a reported burglary? He wouldnt show them his ID, they didnt know him and you dont know the officers so theres no need to call them a idiot.

Again..... you fail to address the underlying problem with this. If the police had done their job properly, they wouldn't even need to do that......

[natty bumppo 297]

#######? Are you kidding me...people are actually agreeing w/ the police on this one???

the neighbor didn't recognize the prof and called the police. the police responded and caught someone inside and asked for identification (they apparently didn't know the prof either). All the prof needed to do was be polite and provide ID ... it would have all been over in a matter of a few minutes. Instead ... the prof gave attitude "initially refused to show the officer his identification, but then gave him a Harvard University ID card, according to police." Oops ...

The police should have done their job prior to showing up to the scene. They should have known who lived there. I seriously doubt you'd be calm if the cops showed up to your house and accused you of robbing it.....

they should have "known"? It's a leased house ... the prof is not the owner.

maybe next time the neighbor who apparently didn't know the prof should just do nothing if they see someone trying the "wedge" the door again.

fwiw: if one of my neighbors I don't know (and there are a few) saw me "wedge" one of the doors and break into my place ... called the cops ... the cops show up ... request ID ... I'd give and offer a thanks for them responding. then I'd contact the neighbor and definitely say thanks (a perfect chance to meet them too).

[_Simpson_ 250]

I call bullsh!t on any of you who say that you'd be calm and collected if the police showed up to your house and accused you of robbing it. . I've actually been in this situation, it is extremely humiliating and degrading. If you don't feel pissed off after something like that happens, then you are a robot.

I have had similar experience. I was a teenager and I would never steal. I prided myself on it. I was once in a store looking around and noticed that i was being watched by the clerk. Eventually the clerk came up to me and asked me to leave. I was doing nothing wrong, kind of taking my time cause I was waiting for someone but nevertheless I was pissed off. I knew why I was being watched and what not. The matter of the fact is I dont blame that clerk he didnt know me, it wasnt personal. This professor should of seen the situation for what it was instead of pulling the race card out right away and getting a attitude.

Edited July 21, 2009 by looking_up