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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I wasn't in that house with Gates and the cop so I don't want to pass judgement. But I will say this:
I voted for Barack Obama. I support President Obama's push for health care reform. I think President Obama made a serious mistake passing judgment on these police officers without knowing the facts.
If you do not have the facts, do not comment. Leave it at that. That would be a safe move.
I am a black female american, I was not there to see what happen between the police officer and the Professor, but I believe that the professor was in the wrong. No matter what happen, the professor must obey the law of the land. As I have heard people say, "A dead man cannot speak for himself." The professor should have obeyed and pleaded his case later. I know that white police officers do disrespect black people and especially our black men, but be smart and shut your mouth until the time is proper.
Hello Anderson. I am a black female in Nashville and I think we may never know the true story of what happened in the Gates incident. It is unfortunate but I do think that at times some African Americans think that when any questions are asked of them by authorities it is because "they are black." I am not saying we all think or feel that way, but some of us do. Personally I think Gates was upset by having someone call the police on him and when the officer went to confront him he let his anger go overboard. Yes racial profiling happens and happens everyday, but I do not think this is one of those times.
Who is the neighbor that call the cops? Was this the first time Gates every left his house or did they just see a black man and assume the worst?
Of course the arrest was unlawful - and I hope Mr. Gates sues the crap of them.
This is a true "hot button" issue.
i can tell this is going to be a great show. As far as the Gates scandal I am torn after listening to both parties.
Obama was asked a question and had every right to have an opinion too.
I don't care what the circumstances are, when it was proven this was his home he should have been left alone. Who would not be agitated by the fact that they were treated that way in there own home.
I agree with Anderson, the cop should have stopped when Gates proved he was the owner. Even if he tells him off in his own house...private property.
As the only African American professor in the College of Education at the University of Nevada , Reno I understand Professor Gates fury. I have been asked for my ID by campus police while sitting in my own office.
evening, everyone. i was crashing some scripts and didn't get to see all of soledad's 2nd half of "black in america" tonight - looking fwd to the next airing!
I think the policeman was right! He was doing his job
i understand we dont have the whole story, however if we can not be safe in our own home where do we go? racial profiling is alive and well and however you interpret this is up to you but it is still alive.
I am appalled that the officer wasn't trained enough to disfuse the situation after the I.D. was shown. I was arrested before for asking for the officers badge number and name. And the "standard" charge is "Disorderly Conduct".
Boyce is right...every white cop that arrests a black man is not corrupt!
Cindy..Ga.
On Professor Gates and Sgt Crowley, this is not about race but about two individuals with supersized egos, unfortunately there are from two respectable professions and President Obama should have stayed out of it.
Why didn't the cop issue the prof a ticket (citation) for disorderly conduct and leave instead of arrest and handcuffs.
I think it's getting out of hand! There are two sides to this story. I think both men are profound citizens and should just move on and solve this peacefully without all the back lash.
I am an African American female. The police officer did not racially profile Professor Gates. The woman who called the police did. Gates got his wake-up call.
I am so sick and tired of hearing racial profiling "everytime" someone of a one race catches someone else of a different race. No job will ever get a job done if there's always someone who will claim racial profiling "before" they have all the facts up front.
Hi Anderson and everyone,
I would like to see that police officer apologize. He was in a private residence, and once he realized that Prof. Gates was the true owner,he should have apologized for the inconvenience and left!
What I don't understand as a black woman in America is why on earth all the chatter now? Over-zealous police have been a standing problem in this country. I am not saying this Gates incident is actually racially motivated but I am saying why would it take a wealthy black man to be offended and all of a sudden realize that this "could" happen to others? It does! Every day. I am offended that a man such as Gates has just come to speak out on this matter. I am quite disappointed.
That was crazy
i believe the officer was just doing his job to protect the harvard community. there was a recent shooting in harvard so he did what he was suppose to do. Prof. Gates should be appreciative and should learn to be cooperative
I agree with Boyce on this one.
I feel Gates did something to elevate the situation.
The officer was embarrassed and in my opinion felt disrepected. Why would you ask someone whose ID was verified to come outside? Why didn't another officer enter the premises–there were other officers on the scene. I read the incident report–it says Mr Gates was yelling and people were looking.
Why can't he just apologize? It doesn't make sense.
I agree that even as an African-American we should not be quick to call this racial profiling. I had this conversation at work and was alienated as being against "my people". I just try to judge fairly.
It's time for the police to start showing respect!! The rest of us have to give respect in order to get respect and the police are not exempt from this general rule of humanity. There are a lot of us out there in the community who actually know our rights!!!
Regardless of what has happened, this is a great opportunity for these two educated, well decorated men to come together, and show the country and the world that we can forgive and move on.
I have been there and I know that it is how they (police officers) make you feel. Police officers do have the code of silience.
yes, if the officer saw that he was getting upset, why didn't he just leave him there in his house to cool off?? just a question
"Stupidly" also means without reason. Officer Crowley tricked Mr. Gates into going outside, then arrested Gates without reason.
Today's headline should be the president said the only speed in Washington is inertia! how come every body is talking about other things as if we are as a nation is in a great shape!
There should be debate on issues of race, however the facts in the case of Gates' arrest is too shady to form a basis for reopening this debate. That's if the police report is accurate.
Hi all! I'm a newbie
It's clear that President Obama reacted prematurely without knowing all the facts. He should take his own advise when he said, "cooler heads should have prevailed."
The police should not have arrested him on his own property for disorderly conduct. If I were being accused I might have reacted the same way.
I think you can have three people witness the exact same incident and still get three different stories. I agree with President Obama that the act was rather stupid..but I believe the officer had a point to make – he was in control. Hopefully, one day America will realize that race is still an issue even with an African-American President.
While it is a fact that in the arena of life racism is still the beast many african americans must be matadors of, we must all, black and white, not allow the beast that is in each of us come out. Let's step back and breath.
The facts are unclear, but the man was in his own home. Despite if he acted in disorderly conduct, there was no need to arrest him on his own property.
I feel like the larger issue with Gates is not necessarily race but pride, both of Gates and the officer. Gates reacted because his pride and credibility were being attacked (unnecessarily). Gates' response upset the officer so he pulled rank and arrested someone he shouldn't have.
Cops may be the law but they're not the end all and be all. He shouldn't have done what he did. Gates was on his own property and I think what the officer did was an abuse of authority.
I don't think that we should assume he arrested him just because he was black.We can assume allot if if you don't know for a fact then its just another police officer throwing there authority around like there God
Are we going to take the side of who?? I think its a he said, he said, and to be "sensitive" to african-american's "culture" we should just go with Gates?? What do you think?
I think the arrest was a joke, he was on his own property.
Does a president have the right to have an opinion? The media has take a portion of President Obama's statement and exacerbated it. I feel that he was speaking as a true friend.
I would like to know what happen after proof of residence was proven? What was the officer doing after proof of residence was shown?
All facts should be known from all involved prior to anyone making comments or accusations. It needs to be thoroughly investigated.