Poll: Henry gates or Cambrigde police (Oakland, Fremont: home, office, racist)

[d-iron]

Originally Posted by nmnita

What in the world does this have to do with anything in California? I did vote, but I think you are just trying to open up a can of worms..I am surprised this hasn't be deleted already...

Nita

True it is national though does that qualify?

[Boompa]

Neither, both were engaged in Baiting. The Police Officer wanted Gates outside screaming and causing a disturbance so he could justify an arrest because his ego was injured. Gates was playing the victim trying to get the Police Officer to over react. He would have been happier being tased or beaten. Gates won this round

[City Boy]

Originally Posted by d-iron

If you listened to the audio tapes right when the cop arrives BEFORE Prof. Gates shows ID while being loud and obnoxious the cop is still trying to determine IF he does in fact live at residence. Also the Cambridge police officer WAS responding to possible break-in. All the while Prof. Gates was being loud and obnoxious

What does being loud and obnoxious have to do with getting arrested? You get arrested for committing a crime not for hurting a officers feelings with words.

[whydoucare?]

In the 911 tape race was not mentioned but in the police reports it say two black men. Somethings not adding up here. Did the police add that in? Gates probably was mad because he just came from being on a plane all day or night from China, then gets home, the door is jammed, then on top of that here is a cop asking if you are a burglar in your own house. I can see why his nerves was frazzled plus he was arrested AFTER he was already in his house. And what burglars do you know carry suitcases? The cop was mad cause this..guy was asking for his badge number and questioning his authority. Plus when you live in a neighborhood as he is a professor at Harvard you know what the atmosphere is with the police and the area you live in.

[rah]

Originally Posted by fizbin

Not sure this thread will last around here.

Both were wrong, the cops were more wrong.

One truism of life is that the best play when a cop is asking you questions is to be polite, answer the questions they ask, and hope they go away. Any other response is just asking for trouble. Gates did not play it this way.

This. I've been hassled by cops for no reason before, and you have to play the game. That means be relaxed and cooperative until you can figure out what the hell is going on. Any kind of resistance whatsoever, even verbal, greatly reduces your chances of a good outcome. But, if you want to try your luck in getting a trip to the county jail, and/or a boot/baton/gun/the ground in your face, argue and yell, and complain away at those cops.

[fizbin]

Originally Posted by fizbin

Not sure this thread will last around here.

Both were wrong, the cops were more wrong.

One truism of life is that the best play when a cop is asking you questions is to be polite, answer the questions they ask, and hope they go away. Any other response is just asking for trouble. Gates did not play it this way.

Originally Posted by rah

This. I've been hassled by cops for no reason before, and you have to play the game. That means be relaxed and cooperative until you can figure out what the hell is going on. Any kind of resistance whatsoever, even verbal, greatly reduces your chances of a good outcome. But, if you want to try your luck in getting a trip to the county jail, and/or a boot/baton/gun/the ground in your face, argue and yell, and complain away at those cops.

For the innocent it is the only smart play in the book. Everything else is just asking for trouble. And the cops can always give you a world of trouble. You may not like it, but the alternative is always worse . . .

[NorCal Dude]

Both sides acted like little children, and this whole mess stemmed from two grown men who could not act like adults to resolve a misunderstanding. This is why this country is so pathetic. The people.

[nmnita]

Originally Posted by Boompa

Neither, both were engaged in Baiting. The Police Officer wanted Gates outside screaming and causing a disturbance so he could justify an arrest because his ego was injured. Gates was playing the victim trying to get the Police Officer to over react. He would have been happier being tased or beaten. Gates won this round

I happen to agree and yet disagree. No one won, both acted like elementary kids. I happen to believe when a cop says, settle down I should do what the cop says to do, but I also think the cop went a little overboard. Now, what the heck our president got involved with this for is a joke.

Nita

[BayAreaHillbilly]

People like Gates (Lefty profs) need to stop seeing everything as a revolutionary struggle. By the same token, cops need to chill out on the "tactical urban warfare" schtick. Excessive force has become a significant issue.

[KRISTINsf]

The lady who called 911 talked to reporters today and said she never mentioned anything about two Black men. The only description she gave was one possible Hispanic looking man and the other she couldn't ascertain. This contradicts police statements.