On Wednesday, A reporter bring President Obama in a Racial Controversy between Cambridge, MA Police Department and prominent civil rights and African-American Studies professor Henry Louis Gates Jr of Harvard University. The events took place a week ago and recounted on news blogs site the Daily Beast(dailybeast.com).
Last week Prof. Gates and his chauffeur came home from a trip to China. Gates had locked the keys in his house. He took a card and push his shoulder into the door to enter the home. A neighbor of Gates called the police. (The Gates homes was broken into the day before.) She described two black men with backpacks top Cambridge 9-1-1.
Sgt. James Crowley of Cambridge Police Department arrived asked Gates to Identified him. Crowley asked him again and Gates berated him.
For his part Gates did identified himself to Crowley; polite and cordial. But Crowley continued to disrespect him. Gates told him this is own home. Crowley said Gates was belligerent and angry saying to Officer Crowley “this is what happens to a black man in America”; “Do you know who you are messing with?”
Gates and Crowley went back and forth. Crowley arrested Gates for disorderly conduct. Being uncooperative, and initially refused to show his Id “exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior” Gates accuses Crowley not reading his Miranda Rights to him when he was arrested. Gates says Crowley was angry that Gates initially follow orders. Gates said Crowley lied on his police report.
The Charges were dropped on this last Tuesday against Prof. Gates. Cambridge police will hold a hearing July 29 on whether or not an investigation on the event. Gates is planning to sue the Cambridge Police Department. He want it use this as a teachable moment to the black community and the police. He also wants an apology
On Wednesday President Obama was asked by a reporter about his friend Henry Louis Gates Jr. The president said while he didn’t have all the facts. He said the officer “acted stupidly” in arresting Prof. Gates. The president express the emotions of those who have been historically racially profiled by law enforcement.
“Cambridge police acted stupidly in arresting somebody when there was already proof he was in own home,”The President in a prime-time press conference that otherwise dealing on the health care issues.
“What I think we know separate and apart from this incident is that there’s a long history in this country of African-Americans and Latinos being stopped by law enforcement disproportionately,” Obama said. “That’s just a fact.”
“This still haunts us,” Obama said.
That set off a firestorm of controversy by dividing lines between whites and minorities plus liberal and conservatives. Cambridge Police Commissioner Robert Haas defended his officer Sgt. James Crowley and his actions towards Gates.
“Based on what I have seen and heard from the other officers, he maintained a professional decorum during the course of the entire situation and conducted himself in a professional manner” Haas said his officers were let down by the President remarks “They were very much deflated.”
For his part Crowley denies being a racist. Having gown up in liberal Cambridge His mother says he has friends of all races black, white etc. He has taught a class racial sensitivities at Lowell Police Academy. He even tried to save the life of Boston Celtics Reggie Lewis in 1996 at Brandies University Gym when Lewis collapsed to the ground.
Crowley supports the President 110% but believes the nation’s chief law enforcement officer is off base.
Here my take both men were worked up; cooler heads should prevail. But I as an black man, know better to confront a police. When I am pulled over for a traffic issue I comply with the police. Because I am scared. I follow orders promptly. I don’t speak out or talk-back to them. I go home; after the police either writes me a citation or lets off with a warning.
Years ago I was locked out my parents home at night I did not have a key. My parents keeps the key with them I tried to find a way in. the LA County Sheriff Deputy passed by their home and asked who I was and what I was doing I told him I lived here and my parents were gone and I did I identified myself to them. He gave me some instructions and I followed them he left. I tried my best to follow instructions. It kept me from trouble with the sheriff.
UPDATE: Obama offer to meet with both Professor Henry Louis Gates Jr and Sgt. James Crowley after the president said the choose his words poorly. Obama personally talked both men by phone on Friday.
This came on the heels of criticism by police unions including the Cambridge police unions an the Massachusetts Municipal Police Officers Association which supports Crowley. The groups wants a apology from the both Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick as well as President Obama in criticizing Crowley in particular and law enforcement in general.
