Live Blog from the Anchor Desk 07/23/09
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Tonight, we have breaking news on the Michael Jackson death investigation. 360's Randi Kaye has uncovered what authorities took from Jackson's doctor's office in Houston. We also have new insight on Jackson's last days.
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We need to talk about the reality of racial profiling and not just this case. Racial profiling is stupid!
How is it that people believe every American should have rights to have a gun in their home, but an American does not have the right to be angry that he is being interrogated in his own home?
The professor was upset and the officer was power-tripping. Bad combo.
If the policeman did not have the homeowner’s permission to enter the house, why are we not addressing that he followed Gates inside without a warrant? He took Gates’s IDs and proceeded to leave the property with them to coax/force the professor out of the house. That does not seem honorable or responsible.
I think there is some blame to be shared on both sides. Gates for probably reacting in an upset manner and the officer for overreacting to the comments. This issue should have been solved by both parties sitting down after a cool down period and discussing the situation...
I agree that even if the owner has been identified, the officer should further investigate to ensure that the person entering the house is permitted to be there.
Would we really be talking about the President's comments about this case if he too were not African-American? No – because no one would have ever asked Bush or Clinton something like this.
In reality racism unfortuntaely still exist in this country. I thank God we have a Presdent who isn't afraid to admit it. You can't sugar coat or cover up what is wrong.
When a white professor gets arrested in his home after producing identification then we can have a real discussion...white people in America have the unique position to add perspectives to something they have never had to experience
I think this was not a racial issue. I believe the police and professor emotions took precidence. It is unfortunate but please let us move on. This issue is being played beyond what is necessary.
thnak you Carson
Unfortunately the incident Mr Gates experienced is an everyday occurrence in urban America. I dare say that Prof. Gates came through this "unscathe", I'm sorry to say that had it been some one less "popular", the situation could have been, and in some cases, it would have been tragic. Welcome to our world, Mr Gates...the world of the not so rich and famous!
a question should be is that in mass can someone be arrested for discon in there private home, which is constitutionally protected
What about the neighbor that called the cops? Have you never seen this man at his house before that day? What was the motive in reporting you saw "two black men with backpacks"?
I don't believe Obama should have made the comments he made about the police officer and I do believe the officer had the right to fully investigate the reported break and enter Aaron
Anderson,
If the officer was going to give Professor Gates his badge number, why didn't he just write it down and leave it? Could it be his Ego was hurt, because the badge was requested by a Black man?
If the officer had no record of domestic abuse at that residence and no restraining orders on file, I don't see how that comment was revelant to the reason the officer still felt it necessary to remove Gates from his home.
I support the policemen. The professor should have been more courtesy. Understand that the police doesn't know who you are. We must follow procedure.
Did we forget that President Obama answered a question that was asked? His answer should prove his honesty!
The Country is President Obama's business he should be able to say what he feels even if it may rub some the wrong way. There is a large group of people who have been rubbed the wrong way for years!
Hi everyone,
I think Gates took the incident completely out of proportion, he failed to understand the arrest from a police officer's point of view.
how much rights does a home owner have? on his or her property
Nicole S. - North Carolina
I agree with you!!!!
The entire Gates saga is unfortunate because it's all a big misunderstanding
No one wants to be treated as less than a man in their on house.
I suppose Obama is allowed an opinion, but he, perhaps, should have gotten all the facts before giving his. Then, even if he did, he'd still be ostracized by some faction that wanted to find fault with him.
Is voice insane? Just because the officer teaches classes in racial profiling does not mean that he could not be guilty. The question here is this, if Gates was a white man, would the police have been called at all.
we all know that racial profiling is alive and well....so why all the pretending. Police are suppose to be here to protect and serve...not harrass and kill innocent people and get away with it (repeatedly).
Now I agree that President Obama should not have commented but enough is enough...when will it stop!!!
As far as the police report – it's the report of the police accounts not always truthful.
I agree with Roland that the mindset of the victim, Gates, is worth consideration. I personally feel that Gates was the victim of racial profiling and that the officer was out of line for arresting Gates after it was proven that he was the owner of the home.
My question is "If a officer is being rude to you and you call him a jerk or worse. Is that grounds for him to arrest you for Diordrely conduct. Just for getting loud? If the professor didn't threat him or attack him then he should not have arrested him.
I think the victim is Prof Gates, the officer should have had a cooler head, the prof showed his ID, the officer had the power
we have to find out the true facts before we label the officer in the gates case a racist. some times we blacks point fingers at the white officers and say their racially profiling and their just doing their jobs and we get to roudy. not dimming the light on racial profiling because it does happens and is evident. know the facts before we cast judgment on the officer or gates.
@anna ac360, i watched Black in America 2 for the first time..was very interesting! a lot of race issues on cnn today seems like...
The officer gives breaks and warnings to people on the street. Why didn't he do that here.
Did anyone call the cops? Like, neighbors? I think the worse thing about this situation is that Professor Gates is such a well-learned man and more specifically Black man. Many Black men work hard to achieve such success but it's disheartening to know that this still happens to someone who isn't even looking the part of the "stereotype" of a threatening Black man.
So, now we can be arrested for 'fussing'. I think that the main point here is that the officer arrested Professor Gates even after the issue of his residency was resolved......but, why? For 'fussing' or, for asking for the officer's name and badge #?
I dont believe it was racial
Racial profiling is our reality. I can see how the Doctor was upset, I think ...I know we are tired of being abused having our bodies and minds abused, our rights neglected. If Doc Gates was white and the officer was black... the officer would be looking for a new job.
In my humble opinion, had the professor reacted calmly and objectively, perhaps the entire unfortunate scenario could have been prevented. This is another example of the result of bad tempers flaring out of control – on both sides – both the professor and the officer.
Evening everyone! first time blogger to this site...pretty interesting topics tonight
Police officers are held to a higher standard in every situation. Common sense was lacking on the part of the officer. Here is a man clearly by age and disability posed no threat. Descalate the situation. Get into your car, keep house under surveillance while you check the facts. Confirmation would've subsequently revealed he was the homeowner. All is well. Instead we got this mess by an officer who lost control of the situation by letting his ego get the best of him.
Why does Roland call Gates the homeowner, I thought Harvard owned the house?
When the police figured out there was no breaking and entering, etc. why didn't the leave the professor's home. The moment there is no need to be there – get going.
Seems the professor is disturbing the peace on his own property. If the professor is upset or expressing himself that isn't against the law.
The officers should have left
i really believe the whole story has not come out yet .... it will be interesting to see the final version.
Unfortunately Prof. Gates incident brought into light of how many African Americans feels towards police officers. I do disagree with the comment the President made, but I truly understand. Let cooler heads prevail.
This issue is out of hand! Cooler heads could have prevailed on both sides. However I do feel after the officer found the older man was at home he should have dropped it. He had to show he had the power to take him down.
If Gates was disorderly and beligerent , then the policy office has every right to arrest him. Perhaps this was a case of reverse discrimination. Something that no one has mentioned as of yet. I offer up this as reverse discrimination since the professor is more intune to the wrongs of black persons. This is CAMBRDIDGE! land on liberal ideas and tolernance.
A wise aged professor, unarmed, black, in his own house, and arrested, obviously not a harm to the officer. I appreciate the Officer's training, he is not unfallible. If this can happen to a man of this stature, what about the masses of Black men,
The whole thing was blown up way more than it should. I think that Gates should have been mad, but kept his mouth shut until the officer left. Its not the first time that someone is arrest after mouthing off at an officer. However, I am glad that the subject of racial profiling being talked about on the national stage.
I don't see how this got out of control. Someone sees forced entry into a house and calls the police. Police have to verify ownership. What's the big deal.
@Dona, Gates was charged for being disorderly outside.