Posted on 08/03/2009 11:48:34 AM PDT by buccaneer81
Henry Louis Gates Jr. mulls moving over death threats Calls Crowley ‘a nice guy’ By Susan Milton and Jessica Van Sack Monday, August 3, 2009
CHILMARK - Black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. has received numerous death threats since he accused a white officer of racially profiling him in a controversial arrest last month, prompting Harvard University officials to suggest he consider moving, the professor told a crowd yesterday.
“You should die; you’re a racist,” read one e-mail that Gates recalled in his first public appearance since sharing a beer at the White House with President Obama and Cambridge police Sgt. James Crowley, who arrested him July 16. The threats forced Gates to change his e-mail address and cell phone number.
Crowley was investigating a possible burglary at Gates’ home, which Harvard University owns. While Crowley claims Gates became enraged and continued to yell despite warnings, Gates has alleged racial profiling and said he never raised his voice. A charge of disorderly conduct against Gates was dropped.
The arrest incited a national debate over race and class that Gates said yesterday shows no sign of abating.
“They have not been resolved at all,” Gates said before 150 spectators at the Martha’s Vineyard Book Festival, where he was promoting his book, “In Search of Our Roots: How 19 Extraordinary African Americans Reclaimed Their Past.”
On July 25, someone posted signs outside Gates’ Ware Street home calling him “shameful” and a “racist.” Gates said he has also received bomb threats.
Gates said he dreamed he was arrested at the White House the night before his meeting with Obama and Crowley. He said his family and Crowley’s were “like a deer caught in headlights” upon meeting.
But the two were able to use humor to break the ice, Gates said.
“I offered to get his kids into Harvard if he doesn’t arrest me again,” Gates said.
“I said to him, ‘I would have sworn you were 6-feet-8 inches tall,’ ” Gates said. “He said, ‘I used to be, but I’ve lost 2 to 3 feet over the last two weeks.’ How can you be mad at a guy like that? When he’s not arresting you, Sgt. Crowley is a nice guy.”
They even talked about meeting again, perhaps going to a Red Sox or Celtics game, Gates said.
A man in the crowd told Gates he admired his sense of humor, prompting Gates to quip: “I should have been funnier in the kitchen of my house on July 16.”
Gates is planning a documentary from both the perspective of police and people who have been victims of racial profiling so “Americans can understand that you can have two equally valid perceptions of the same event.”
Sorry, but do not beleve a single word from this manipulative drama queen.
With that comment, there's a shred of truth. It was his behavior that got him locked up. Case closed.
Brawley.
I’ll bet he sent all of the death threats himself.
The death threats are probably coming from Jesse and Al, for stealing their limelight.
Where’s his proof of all these death threats?
Why it's racist to even ask for proof. That's what Obama would say.
How brilliant Obama is....he started this whole mess. Gates was out of bounds, but most likely nothing would have come of it had Obama kept his racist mouth shut....he not only called the Cops stupid, he also volunteered this erroneous remark “...also everyone knew it was the wrong house...” Obama is not the man for this job...he is a community organizer for the South Side of Chicago, it’s the only thing he understands. How much longer America, are we going to watch this man abuse the U.S. Constitution?
I’m with you. I don’t believe a word he says. When someone gets “death threats” the police swing into action and the first thing they do is demand you make no comment about it to anyone.
As Ann Coulter stated in one of her books, “death threats” is highly overrated. Most people who want to commit murder don’t telegraph themselves by making threats, they just do it. People like Gates talk about death threats more as a way of getting attention than actually being afraid of danger.
But will be call on the racist police to protect him?
Damn straight!
If Crowley made 'ONE' mistake with dealing with this lying, self serving lil' cockroach - his police career would have terminated, and his life would have been made a living hell by the race pimps of America.
Ahhh. C’mon. This is a cute article and Sgt. Crowley’s responses are endearing.
On the other hand, Harvard is probably giving good advice. This professor behaved abominably for whatever reason. Now pictures of his house and his address have been spread all over the Internet. He might be wise to seek another place to call home. My understanding is that the house belongs to Harvard. Perhaps they can move him to another location.
In any case, I hope that he continues his new-found relationship with Crowley. It’d be a good thing.
Obama probably has US Marshals watching over Gates.
Why should he care if a white cop gets threatened?
Response: Very few really care-beyond receiving an extra $100.00/month for eating, drinking, copulating, evacuating their bowels and snoring. It is up to the few.
Diane Wilkerson hid it in her bra.
I’m sure he’s getting them but they probably won’t materialize like the results from the threats that Gates made to Crowley who Gates called a rogue cop and the lawsuit he’s contemplating against Crowley, the police department and city. My guess is team Gates (both official and unofficial) are planning to give Officer Crowley the “Joe the Plumber” treatment.
Threats against people in the public eye are unfortunately common. I wonder if Crowley is getting any other threats besides the one Gates made during the incident, and his early interviews?
He is a drama queen. The real loser in this foolishness is the woman who phoned in the break-in, Lucia Whalen. Some have noted that she's put up with a lot of insult, and has even tearfully appeared on TV with a lawyer spokes-person. What I want to know is this: How come we even know her name? Aren't crime calls to the police supposed to be anonymous? Would you phone in a crime as quickly if you thought the perps could find out your name?
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