Name the Racist... Harvard Professor, President, Police Officer?
I find this latest debacle incredible.
The President of the United States, in a National Press Conference, calls Cambridge, Massachusetts Police "stupid" and "racist". The White House later 'qualified' the President's remarks.
A Harvard University Professor, hailing from one of the single-most bastions of intelligence and higher education, accosts a cop responding to his home due to someone reporting a break-in.
A career police office refuses to apologize to anyone for arresting said professor... apparently alleging disorderly conduct.
The story begins as an uncomplicated one that happens thousands of times a day in America.
A concerned citizen phoned police when she observed two seemingly forcing their way into a home. Police Sgt. James Crowley responded. He was in uniform.
Crowley saw the front door of this home was open, and that at least one person was inside. He entered the residence and asked the person there for identification.
Apparently, all heck broke loose then. Unknown to the Officer, the person inside was the rightful resident, Harvard Professor Henry Gates. Gates is well-published and respected professor, having been at the prestigious campus since 1991.
He's also African-American... which in today's world, shouldn't be at all notable for that fact alone... but it is... in this story.
Gates was upset when the officer rightly asked for identification, and started screaming racism from just about the first minute Sgt. Crowley... who was there to protect property and innocent lives.. walked through his door.
Crowley has said, through his official police report and (later) when interviewed by the media... that he was only doing his job.
Unless I'm mistaken, the Officer is right. If a good Samaritan called the police to my home, and someone had broken in the front door, I'd be VERY happy that the cops showed up and asked everyone in the place to prove who they were and why they were there.
Gates, instead, threw a racial temper-tantrum.
The Officer repeatedly tried to diffuse the situation, but it was not to be. Gate's wouldn't be calmed... so he was arrested.
Not at all notable, and perfectly legitimate.. until the President of the United States... our first African-American President to boot, goes on national TV and calls an officer's attempts to do his job 'stupid' and racist'.
What a sad day for our country.
I'm curious what our local police think?
NIK
