Crowley: It was Gates' tone of voice

[tj2001]

http://www.mercurynews.com/nationworld/ci_12902510

Crowley, a native of Cambridge, told a local sports radio station Thursday that Gates... "seemed that he was very upset, very put off that I was there in the first place. Not just what he said, but the tone in which he said it, just seemed very peculiar — even more so now that I know how educated he is." ...

After getting in and calling Harvard's maintenance department to fix the door, Gates said, he saw Crowley on his porch. The sergeant was disrespectful from the beginning, the professor said, asking him to step outside without explanation and demanding identification while refusing to provide his own name or badge number.

But Crowley said Thursday that he was only protecting himself when he asked Gates, whom he did not recognize, to come out and identify himself. Daytime break-ins are not unheard of in the neighborhood, he said.

Crowley described the woman who reported the possible break-in — who works at Harvard Magazine, on Gates' street — as "reliable," and said that while the professor did not "look like somebody who would break into a house," his tone was troubling.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Professor Gates needs to learn how to speak properly to His Royal Majesty Sgt. Crowley

[Uzybone]

1. uppity negro, watch how you speak

[ColbertWatcher]

5. Shows what I know, I always thought Prof. Gates was an articulate man. n/t

Really? I have to post a sarcasm tag?

[Raschel]

70. Clearly a case of uppity/arrogant conduct. That's right next to disorderly conduct in the handbook.

[BlooInBloo]

2. Please keep talking, cop.

[varelse]

71. yup, the hole isn't deep enough yet

a few more fathoms...

[HughMoran]

87. Yep, if fact here's a shovel - I don't use it that often anyway

[Blue_Tires]

93. yeah...i mean wow....

I know the cops in this case had a LOT of defenders here on DU and in the media, but the more they talk, the more incriminating they sound...

[malaise]

100. Yep - why should the cop be expected to think

about Gates' rights as opposed to 'the tone of his voice'.
No surprise here. It was always about 'how dare you speak to me like that you uppity N'.

[JI7]

3. uppity

[Xipe Totec]

14. Bingo! n/t

[Supersedeas]

96. Crowley said all but that --- a twist on his education and tone all in one breath.

[Orrex]

4. Gates should have known better than to try to live in his own house. The nerve!

[ColbertWatcher]

10. A fact missed by the librul media coverage is ...

... the reason Gates couldn't get through the front door of his own house.

Oh yeah, I'm bad. I'm kidding, but bad nonetheless.

[Orrex]

22. When I heard the story on NPR on Tuesday, they said his door was stuck due to moisture/humidity

Is that incorrect?

[ColbertWatcher]

37. I was trying to make a joke about ...

... Gates not entering his house through the front door, but through the back door (the only entrance slaves were allowed to use).

It was a bad joke, I know.

[Orrex]

39. Doh! Not a bad joke at all; it just went over my head.

Actually, it's pretty darned witty, now that I understand it!

:rofl:

[fishwax]

23. and do so with a "tone," no less

!

[Karenina]

6. PURE PROJECTION. It was "tone of voice"

that put Professor Gates on the defensive in the first place...

"I’m saying ‘You need to send someone to fix my lock.’ All of a sudden, there was a policeman on my porch. And I thought, ‘This is strange.’ So I went over to the front porch still holding the phone, and I said ‘Officer, can I help you?’ And he said, ‘Would you step outside onto the porch.’ And the way he said it, I knew he wasn’t canvassing for the police benevolent association. All the hairs stood up on the back of my neck, and I realized that I was in danger. And I said to him no, out of instinct. I said, ‘No, I will not.’

My lawyers later told me that that was a good move and had I walked out onto the porch he could have arrested me for breaking and entering. He said ‘I’m here to investigate a 911 call for breaking and entering into this house.’ And I said ‘That’s ridiculous because this happens to be my house. And I’m a Harvard professor.’ He says ‘Can you prove that you’re a Harvard professor?’ I said yes, I turned and closed the front door to the kitchen where I’d left my wallet, and I got out my Harvard ID and my Massachusetts driver’s license which includes my address and I handed them to him. And he’s sitting there looking at them.

Now it’s clear that he had a narrative in his head: A black man was inside someone’s house, probably a white person’s house, and this black man had broken and entered, and this black man was me.

[BlooInBloo]

9. "A black man was inside someone’s house..." - And he put pics of his family up on the wall....

http://www.oliverwillis.com/2009/07/23/dave-chapelle-predicts-the-henry-louis-gates-jr-incident/

:rofl:

[Karenina]

41. BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!

:spray::rofl::rofl::rofl:

[armyowalgreens]

92. "Sprinkle some crack on him and lets get out of here..."

I love Dave Chappelle.

[EFerrari]

16. Dog whistle. This guy is scum.

That sound he heard was a black man talking to him on his own terms.

[ColbertWatcher]

42. EXACTLY! n/t

[Leontius]

56. so you have a problem with the "tone of his voice" but evidently

"the way he said it" causes you no thought of "projection".

[EFerrari]

60. Do you need translating lessions in racist code?

Start a thread. I'm sure there are plenty of people here that could help out.

[Leontius]

67. delete

[Leontius]

68. Considering where I grew up and the people around me then

I don't need any lessons on racism or racist code from anyone here.

[Karenina]

64. Kein Bock mehr! Tut mir Leid!

:hi:

[jbnow]

90. Here is a difference

It's not the words, it's the situation
"tone of his voice"
A cop has authority to arrest you. If he orders you out of your home in curt tomes it is sensible to assume you could be in trouble even if you have done nothing wrong

"the way he said it"
The guy might have said it in a rude or insulting way but the cop isn't saying he was being threatened or the guy was armed. He had nothing to fear. So he felt the guy was disrespectful? Arrest might be a stupid response.

So as far as projection- "when a person's personal attributes, thoughts, and/or emotions are ascribed onto another"

Thinking "I'm in some danger. he might arrest me" would be a projection of "I am a danger to him and might arrest him"
Thinking "he is being disrespectful" would be a projection of "I don't respect this guy"

Right? I guess there are other ways to interpret it...like if the professor always thought "Cops are a danger to me" and thus went to "He is a danger to me".

Hey they say there are tapes of this. The cops say it will help their case if they are released. Of course. But if they are I guess we'd hear whose interpretation of the other makes more sense...
though it's likely people will hear things differently.
But the cops said he was yelling and causing a big disturbance, gathering a crowd (like all the cop cars wouldn't draw a crowd) He says impossible, he was recovering from an illness and his voice was weak.
Hope tapes are released

[Odin2005]

7. "Angry black man blah blah blah lie lie lie"

:puke:

[WRPendleton]

8. ahh yes...his tone

Well in that case it all totally makes sense why he was arrested. What country are we living in again?

[These Eyes]

11. This is getting good…

The more he tries to defend himself, the more he puts his foot in it. If he had the good sense God gave cabbage, he'd apologize and then shut up. His 15 minutes of fame is going to be his undoing.

[Spazito]

59. I am astounded, now that there is an official investigation...

he hasn't been told, in NO uncertain terms, to shut the hell up about it in public.

[Fire1]

12. Fascist, freepers and racists RESENT intelligent, educated

black folks. Bottom line.

[sendero]

13. Exactly..

... someone give this idiot a shovel, he is digging his own grave.

Now we are all to be arrested if we don't show the proper respect to the morons who just cannot understand that we are IN OUR OWN FUCKING HOUSE AND HAVE PROVEN SO BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT.

[Fire1]

21. And for God's sake don't sound like you have an ounce of

fuckin sense OR YOU WILL GET ARRESTED!!!!

[Cassandra]

94. They're not too thrilled with...

intelligent, educated white folks, either.

[Canuckistanian]

15. I don't remember the words "tone of voice" in the Constitution

It must be one of those Federalist Society terms.

[EFerrari]

19. It's from a society, all right but more likely the Klan. n/t

[ColbertWatcher]

46. The Federalist Society is the group Klan members join after they graduate from Liberty U. n/t

[EFerrari]

52. That's right!

:rofl:

[Canuckistanian]

55. You got that right

If you want to legitimize racism, form a nice-sounding "society" organization.

The rubes fall for it every time.

[SemiCharmedQuark]

17. His tone, huh?

[TexasObserver]

18. Guilty! Of being uppity with a cop! Release the hounds!!

This is what is wrong with police in this country. The arrogance of these glorified mall cops in America.

[virgogal]

30. You're knocking all the police in the country because of this?

I'd call that stereotyping.

[EFerrari]

44. There have been only a very few posts broadbrushing that way

and as far as I can tell, they get deleted.

This isn't about ALL police officers but about this one and his department in this situation.

[TexasObserver]

53. I'm knocking the epidemic of police behaving badly.

I'm knocking the preponderence of this kind of conduct in their interactions with citizens, especially citizens who are black.

If it's a sterotype, it's one that is earned.

[virgogal]

58. It's hardly and epidemic and when it does happen it gets a lot

of press.

There are about half a million law police officers in the country and the large percentage of them are not racist.

Maybe it is more prevalent in your area.

[EFerrari]

62. We have two different justice systems. It's not an epidemic,

it's worse than that, it's institutionalized.

Maybe you just turn a blind eye in your area.

[TexasObserver]

65. What she said ^^^.

[RandySF]

20. This is also why

So many people refuse to accept Obama as a legitimate president.

[Fire1]

24. Come again? Whatever do you mean? n/t

[JI7]

29. racists who can't stand the idea of a black man leading this country

the birthers are a good example of this. do you really think these people are truly only concerned about where he might be born. that it has nothing to do with racism ?

[Fire1]

33. Glad you cleared that up. Thank you. n/t

[RandySF]

38. So people will never accept

That Obama the election clean and clear. They will either go birther or say that ACORN stole this state or that. History will be completely different in their minds.

[JI7]

25. yes, they will tolerate them working "under" or in a less powerful position

and not making much money. but they can't stand the thought of Obama, Sotomayor,Gates etc being in a more powerful position.

just look at how the first words out of this cop during some interview was that he didn't vote for Obama. nobody asked him whether he did and it had nothing to do with this.

[Starry Messenger]

40. Whuh???

[RandySF]

45. It's true

Some people will never accept that a black man was legitimately elected president.

[havocmom]

69. Some will never accept that a black man is an equal and has rights

the cop in question seems to fall into that category. He didn't like Gates' tone? Gee, Gates was in his own home being hassled by a cop who seems unable to entertain the possibility that a black man could have a nice home and expect to be treated like a citizen with rights.

There are some pretty brittle racists out there and a black president had torn their delusions that they are still the masters all to shreds.

Police departments would do well to get some serious evaluations done. It seems likely the brittle brigade is gonna be getting less and less rational and that would put a lot of departments at risk for some major law suits if they don't address the situations constructively.

[proud2BlibKansan]

26. How often does this woman call the cops??

She was 'reliable'?! How the fuck does this cop even KNOW her unless she is a 911 dialing fool.

[ColbertWatcher]

43. Interesting point. What else do we need to know about the caller? n/t

[EmilyAnne]

78. She spoke with just the right tone.

[glitch]

27. Crowley needs to get a lawyer who can tell him to shut up before he buries himself.

Although President Obama may thank him for reinforcing the "stupid".

[EFerrari]

34. It's too late. Today, the union rep went on a media rampage

trying to demonize Gates and to diss the president. It's too bad that they overlooked their principal.

[glitch]

49. For the best, if it causes him, and with any luck others like him, to retire.

We've been putting up with this shit for far too long already.

[EFerrari]

54. The story is on Al Jazeera tonight.

:toast:

[Karenina]

95. WOO-HOO!

:toast:

[Old and In the Way]

28. Tone = attitude

Would a white professor have been arrested for the same tone? Very doubtful.

[Cha]

31. Fuck crowley and the sheet he

rode in on.

[EFerrari]

36. Every word he says just makes him more visible.

I hope he keeps talking for a week.

[Cha]

51. And, a little

egomaniacal, apparently.

[Rosa Luxemburg]

32. James the Cop knew who he was

[Karenina]

50. I heard that too in passing...

one tiny local report saying that Crowley DID RECOGNIZE Gates and KNEW that he lived there... I should have saved it.

[seabeyond]

35. head down, no eye contact, tail between legs, always submissive... or else

cant do.

dont know how to be intimidated so when they try, i forget to be....

[AwakeAtLast]

47. Since when is 'tone of voice' criminal?

AAARRRGGGHHH!!! :grr:

[EFerrari]

48. It's code for uppity negro. Take a good look, it doesn't get plainer. nt

[alcibiades_mystery]

57. Ay yay yay...keep talking Crowley

[ecstatic]

61. That "boy" should have known his place, huh?

:sarcasm: :eyes:

[Gold Metal Flake]

63. This seems appropriate here...

[Karenina]

66. BWHAHAHAHAHAHA!

[Number23]

72. LOLOL This deserves every DUzy every day for a year!!

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl:
Look at the expression on the guy's face!! lolol Priceless!! :rofl:

[lexanman]

73. well then

Ive changed my position entirely. Gates deserved it then. His tone of voice was obviously illegal.:puke:

[lexanman]

74. Where oh where are the Crowley apologists

I hope people remember the posters who completely supported this officer and dismissed everything Gates did or said about the incident.

[Mimosa]

84. Crowley 'apologists'?

Yesterday there were a lot of D.U. members who knew only what was in news stories online and who were suggesting people not leap to conclusions.

I think being a cop is a very hard job and it irked me to see that people were ready to allege the worst when they knew nothing at the time. A dear friend who happens to be a black woman is planning on attending the Police Academy in New Orleans. I was irked to read so many posts which used the words 'thugs' and 'pigs' to refer to police. People who do that don't realize it contributes to the us vs them animosity which emboldens some crazies or criminals to shoot cops. I haven't wanted to dissuade my friend from becoming an officer of the law. She wants to HELP, to make things better.

The arrest report is on the Smoking Gun now.

A couple of people have written about the machismo factor. I think the arrest report shows an element of that. Based on what is out now Gates shouldn't have been arrested for screaming and shouting. It's no crime to act like a jerk.

[lexanman]

85. screaming and shouting?

He asked for the officer's identification over and over. Is that acting like a jerk? And that is the whole point. Gates was falsely arrested and now it's going to court. Let's watch what happens. I predict Crowley will be thrown under the bus, the CPD pay a settlement and racism as usual will go on.

[Mimosa]

86. Oh, it was 'yelling'

Lexanman, on http://www.thesmokinggun.com/archive/years/2009/0723092gates2.html>page 2 of the arrest report posted on The Smoking Gun Crowley consistently describes Gates as 'yelling' at him. There is some indication that Crowley was leaving and Gates persisted in continuing the confrontation with accusations of racism. Officer Crowley may have had a psychological need to prove he was the dominant authority figure which relates to Gates having pulled 'status' over him.

I am not defending Crowley's actions or the arrest. I understand how this could have happened in a way which doesn't entail the cop being a 'racist' although race is clearly an element since (not because) Gates had introduced it into the interaction.

Gates and Crowley were both having a very bad day. Crowley should have apologised in a way which wouldn't make him vulnerable legally.

[lexanman]

97. yelling is not illegal

at least I hope it isn't.

[Fumesucker]

91. I had a family member, now deceased, who worked his way up through the ranks to become

A high ranking cop..

He told me that there are a great many people who shouldn't be cops for too long, that it changes a lot of people for the worse.

His "ideal world" test for a potential cop was to watch the applicant walk down a corridor and then give them a badge and gun and watch them walk down the same corridor, if they walked differently the second time he said he wouldn't hire them because they would probably end up being a bad cop.

I found that a very illuminating statement.

[Solly Mack]

75. and there it is

[crickets]

76. "...now that I know how educated he is."

Very telling. Sometimes people don't realize how much they reveal about themselves when they talk about others.

[nilram]

77. Jeeze, people are going to start talking about that "freedom of expression" crap

Honestly. If Crowley wanted freedom of expression out of you, he would have told you to talk dirty to him.

[EFerrari]

80. Then he'd need his special sheets. nt

[EmilyAnne]

79. And this is the man who was in charge of educating officers on how to avoid racial profiling?

WTF???

[saltpoint]

81. So then we need to know if any of us are like, you know, out at the grocery

store or someplace, whether there's anybody there who speaks in a troubling tone.

Certainly I would want to know if a troubling tone was about to occur from the throat of another person's mouth like, you know, when they're talking and stuff.

Actually I would want to know in advance if there was anybody at the grocery whose tone was troubling so that I myself would not be troubled by their tone when I'm just minding my own business buying bread and orange juice and Diet Squirt.

[EFerrari]

82. You know, Skip Gates may be guilty of intuiting what a jerk this guy was

before it was fully visible to other people. That happens.

[saltpoint]

83. Could be. Can't say. But I'm seeing the dustup between Gates and the cop as

a dispute of class disparity and not racial profiling alone.

That race is also a variable seems to me to reinforce the class discord.

As a young observer I tuned in to the tv news in 1968 when the Mayor's cops were beating peace advocates in the streets of Chicago.

This current case is not nearly as extreme in theater, but it may have the same transgressive authoritarian impulse.

Obama was right on this one.

[leveymg]

88. The cop's comments sound like a southern sherriff's deputy in1939.

Only, this could be the transcript from a Coroner's inquest after he shot the Black man.

[Starry Messenger]

89. (facepalm)

No Crowley, no. Stop. Now. You're not making it better.

[Aramchek]

98. he didn't like a black man who 'sounded' like he didn't respect Officer Crowley's authorita

[mzmolly]

99. I wasn't aware that there was an illegal tone of voice?

Huh.

[Critters2]

101. I'd like to know what the right tone of voice is. Cuz I'm planning to be in my own home

tonight, and don't want to be arrested.

[Critters2]

102. "Even more so, now that I know how educated he is"? Seriesly?

Wow. So, he didn't talk like a house negro? Is that the problem?

And the government gave this ass a gun. :crazy: