Yes, Gates should be grateful that the Cambridge PD did their job in responding to an anonymous tip, and yes, Gates should have kept a civil tongue in his head when they showed up. But the fact that they arrested him after confirming his identity and that he was -in fact- breaking into his own house proves that Crowley was, like so many trigger-happy, renegade asshole cops, trying to make an example of a man who bruised his fragile cop ego.

I hope that someday you get to experience first hand the joy of being relentlessly prosecuted by an over-zealous, thin-skinned law enforcement official. Then maybe we’ll see how “grateful” YOU are.

Acquaintance of the Professor who couldn’t recognize him from 10 feet away? The fact is that the US is such a crime ridden country that it is normal for people to be paranoid like this.

I live in New Zealand, and if a neighbor saw two men forcing a door open, they would probably assume that they had lost their keys and offer to help them. This is all about perspective. And the general perspective in United States is f**** up. And so are you.

“The neighbor was quick to report the break-in incident, however, long before this incident happened, she never had the inclination to find out who lives next door - a black man who was named by Time magazine as one of the 25 most influential Americans.”

Why do you conclude–without even knowing this person–that the neighbor is a racist? Maybe she couldn’t get a clear view of the two men, other than a general description. Is it rational for her to immediately understand why “one of the 25 most influential Americans” would be wearing a backpack and, along with another man, try to force his way into his own front door?

In fact–because you don’t know her personally–she may have very well have been an aquaintance of Professor Gates and didn’t want his home broken into or his valuables stolen. Or maybe she–not being necessarily privy to Professor Gates’ travel itinerary–thought he might be in the house and didn’t want to see the man physically attacked or even killed during a home invasion.

Homes are frequently broken into during broad daylight. In Richmond, Va., a few years back, a couple of recently paroled felons walked into a suburban home at 10 a.m. on New Year’s Day and then tied up and beat to death a couple and their four-year-old and nine-year-old daughters.

Maybe you and I think differently, but I want my neighbors looking out for me–not intimidated into NOT calling the police to report suspicious activity because the perpetrator might happen to be black.

In this instance, this woman has now been permanently labeled a racist by you and others simply for being what most would define as a good neighbor. I guess if–God forbid–there’s ever a real crime taking place at Professor Gates’ house, she or other homeowners in his neighborhood will peek through their windows, lock their doors and NOT call 911. Why bother?

Racism is like Air - it is everywhere but cannot be seen.

Gates on Crowley and on the police:
“I think the actions of Sgt. Crowley aren’t the actions of everyone on the Cambridge police force or all white people in Cambridge or Boston or in the United States. … We depend on the police—I’m glad that this lady called 911. I hope right now if someone is breaking into my house she’s calling 911 and the police will come! I just don’t want to be arrested for being black at home!”

In my case there was no public–or private–apology offered. The arresting officer went on to serve as county sherrif for several terms.

It’s a shame that this pompous professor has to turn his bad conduct into a race-baiting tantrum. Yes, there is racial profiling, but it’s the unfortunate by-product of the current state of the black man in this country. The gangsta lifestyle is glamorized in black music and fashion.

If this guy wanted to do something productive, he would chastise the members of his own community about how they create negative black stereotypes instead of of crying “racist”. Same goes for the professional race-baiters Al Sharpton and Jesse Jackson.

(Obama masterfully answered the question, though. By saying he was biased because he was a friend, he didn’t have to give an objective answer!)

1. I was stopped in Tuscon, Arizona by a State trooper and was asked if I was Mexican then let go after the officer inspected my license, which revealed that I was legal in the country. The reason for the stop was purely based on the way I look.

2. I called 911 to report a couple of young men yelling on the street. The 911 operator immediately asked me: What is their race?

3. Had a verbal argument with my white roommate. Police was called and I was told to leave the residence by the officer, although I was the one to call the police.

4. I attempted to enter a nightclub in Chicago and the bouncer told me that my ID was fake (although it was not). Then he called a police officer who was patrolling on foot and gave my ID to him. The officer confirmed that the ID was real but advised the bouncer that he does not have to let me in. (wtf?)

I left usa in 2008 for good.