(This booking photo released by the Cambridge, Mass., Police Dept., shows Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who was arrested while trying to force open the locked front door of his home near Harvard University. SOURCE)
Police responding to a call about "two black males" breaking into a home near Harvard University ended up arresting the man who lives there Henry Louis Gates Jr. one of our nation's best known scholars and Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research.
Gates had forced his way through the front door because it was jammed. By the time police arrived, Gates was already inside his house. Police say he at first refused to come outside to speak with an officer. At first Gates refused to show his ID to the officer, but then he did show it. Nonetheless, Gates was arrested for "loud and tumultuous behavior." (Is that a crime in your own house?)
OK. I don't get this. Gates' only crime seems to be that he was angry about being asked for identification inside of his own home. He did, however, do as he was asked. So, why was he arrested? No violence. What is the problem?
The problem is mismatched expectations. The cop did not expect to see a black man in such a nice house, nor do (some) cops like being told "no" by anyone, but most especially by black people. The cop felt the need to "put Gates in his place" and make a show of power even though no crime had occurred. This arrest was totally without merit. The thing is... Gates will be OK. He has a reputation and an established position in life. But, this kind of thing can happen to anyone and often there isn't any recourse for it. People are simply "put in their place." It never makes the papers.
And it doesn't just happen to black people it can happen to women to any non-white person really, to people who are members of "radical" organizations, and to anyone who is poor.
Though, in the end this, case reminds me of Amadou Bailo Diallo, who was shot in 1999 on the front steps of his own home. It is an illustration of how racism combined with poorly trained police can leave us unsafe even in our own homes. Subject to arrest just for getting locked out, or for trying to identify yourself (as Diallo did when he removed his wallet which was mistaken for a gun) or for refusing.
Well now, thinking about that, I think I know what Dr. Gates said "No!" at first!
You can read more about what happened here:
http://www.google.com/...