Wanna know who wrote that racist Arizona immigration bill? Why white supremecists of course.
No, seriously...
You might want to decided if these are the people you want to be associated with.
Showing posts with label racial profiling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label racial profiling. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Monday, July 27, 2009
Which Story Will Be Written?
Now that the 911 tapes and the police transmissions have been released by the Cambridge Police Department it will be very interesting to see how the media tries to spin it. Last week I documented a discrepancy in the police report between the two responding officers' accounts. Now there is a bigger discrepancy and a very curious development to consider.
The discrepancy is that the woman who called 911, Lucia Whalen, never identifies the people who she thinks may be breaking into the house as being black. In fact she never even ventures a guess about their ethnicity until prompted to do so by the dispatcher and then she says possibly hispanic. Now some people are spinning this as bad for Henry Louis Gates Jr, but I don't see that at all. The report was written after the incident and the question has to be asked, why did the officer make it seem as if the woman identified the men as being black men. Sounds a lot like trying to make the facts fit the crime.
Also, although it couldn't be called a discrepancy, the tone of Ms Whalen is not one of certainty at all. In fact she makes sure to note that these men had suitcases (not backpacks as has been reported) and that they may just live at the residence. That is not the story we have been sold by the Cambridge police department which tried to make it seem like Crowley thought his life might be in danger.
Now the curious development is this, Crowley called for more back up AFTER he admitted having seen Gates' ID and believing it was his house.
Now we have all pretty much seen pictures of Professor Gates at this point. Are we really to believe that Crowley felt threatened by Gates and thought he needed help apprehending him. Well the thing of it is, Crowley never claims to feel threatened in any way in his own police report. He probably felt humiliated no doubt but you don't arrest people for humiliating you. But bigger than that, at that point he knows no crime has been committed. What exactly is Gates being "uncooperative" about that would require even his own presence, let alone the need for more back up?
Now the question is, how will the media report this. Its not even a judgement call anymore here. The police report was obviously factually incorrect. We hear Crowley calling for backup after learning it was Gates' house. What else is there to even consider?
The discrepancy is that the woman who called 911, Lucia Whalen, never identifies the people who she thinks may be breaking into the house as being black. In fact she never even ventures a guess about their ethnicity until prompted to do so by the dispatcher and then she says possibly hispanic. Now some people are spinning this as bad for Henry Louis Gates Jr, but I don't see that at all. The report was written after the incident and the question has to be asked, why did the officer make it seem as if the woman identified the men as being black men. Sounds a lot like trying to make the facts fit the crime.
Also, although it couldn't be called a discrepancy, the tone of Ms Whalen is not one of certainty at all. In fact she makes sure to note that these men had suitcases (not backpacks as has been reported) and that they may just live at the residence. That is not the story we have been sold by the Cambridge police department which tried to make it seem like Crowley thought his life might be in danger.
Now the curious development is this, Crowley called for more back up AFTER he admitted having seen Gates' ID and believing it was his house.
Sgt. James Crowley said he was with a man who claims to live in the house and with identification showing he was Gates. Crowley said the man was not cooperating and told the dispatcher to "keep the cars coming."
Now we have all pretty much seen pictures of Professor Gates at this point. Are we really to believe that Crowley felt threatened by Gates and thought he needed help apprehending him. Well the thing of it is, Crowley never claims to feel threatened in any way in his own police report. He probably felt humiliated no doubt but you don't arrest people for humiliating you. But bigger than that, at that point he knows no crime has been committed. What exactly is Gates being "uncooperative" about that would require even his own presence, let alone the need for more back up?
Now the question is, how will the media report this. Its not even a judgement call anymore here. The police report was obviously factually incorrect. We hear Crowley calling for backup after learning it was Gates' house. What else is there to even consider?
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Friday, July 24, 2009
A Clarification, Not An Apology
President Obama came out today and offered a clarification about his "stupidly" comment aimed at the Cambridge cop who arrested Skip Gates, Sgt James Crowley. I say a clarification rather than apology because he reiterated his belief that arresting Professor Gates didn't make any sense. He also reiterated his belief that he had a right to weigh in on the situation.
It was probably a great political move. It certainly took the wind out of his enemies' sails when he announced that he had talked to Crowley directly and that he was considering having both men to the White House for a beer. And one again he painted it as a "teachable moment".
But all in all I am glad he didn't totally capitulate and apologize because what he said was absolutely correct if not politically so. Crowley arresting Professor Gates was a stupid thing for him to do.
It is what it is.
P.S. I do have one complaint and that is President Obama called Crowley but still hadn't talked to Professor Gates at the time he made his statement, yet he in effect said that Professor Gates was "probably" at fault too with out anything to back that up. Now maybe Gates did go off on the officer, but then again he says he didn't and maybe he didn't. I just didn't like the appearance that President Obama thought it more important to get the cop's side of the story than to get Professor Gates' side.
One last thing. Isn't about time we reexamine the freakout that happened earlier this year when Eric Holder said that we were a nation of cowards when it comes to race?
Im just sayin.
Update: Heres the video
It was probably a great political move. It certainly took the wind out of his enemies' sails when he announced that he had talked to Crowley directly and that he was considering having both men to the White House for a beer. And one again he painted it as a "teachable moment".
But all in all I am glad he didn't totally capitulate and apologize because what he said was absolutely correct if not politically so. Crowley arresting Professor Gates was a stupid thing for him to do.
It is what it is.
P.S. I do have one complaint and that is President Obama called Crowley but still hadn't talked to Professor Gates at the time he made his statement, yet he in effect said that Professor Gates was "probably" at fault too with out anything to back that up. Now maybe Gates did go off on the officer, but then again he says he didn't and maybe he didn't. I just didn't like the appearance that President Obama thought it more important to get the cop's side of the story than to get Professor Gates' side.
One last thing. Isn't about time we reexamine the freakout that happened earlier this year when Eric Holder said that we were a nation of cowards when it comes to race?
Im just sayin.
Update: Heres the video
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Thursday, July 23, 2009
Roland Martin Roughs Up Rick Sanchez
Rick Sanchez just comes off like a buffoon talking about President Obama's comment last night that the police officer who arrested Harvard Professor Skip Gates in his home acted "stupidly". Unfortunately for him Roland Martin made him look even worse by correcting him over and over and pointing out several times that Rick Sanchez was not only just telling one side of the story, but also cutting the video so as to try to make a story out of nothing. I am not the biggest Roland Martin fan, but the guy represented today on CNN!
I will say that one other point has to be made here. President Obama never said Officer Crowly was acting out of racial profiling. In point of fact he made it plain that he DIDN'T know if race played a role in the arrest. But Rick Sanchez just stubbornly kept trying to tie the "stupidly" comment in with racial profiling.
As a side note I was very dissappointed in Dr. Boyce Watkins but you see how the MSM does pitting one black man against another.
Predictable.
I will say that one other point has to be made here. President Obama never said Officer Crowly was acting out of racial profiling. In point of fact he made it plain that he DIDN'T know if race played a role in the arrest. But Rick Sanchez just stubbornly kept trying to tie the "stupidly" comment in with racial profiling.
As a side note I was very dissappointed in Dr. Boyce Watkins but you see how the MSM does pitting one black man against another.
Predictable.
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