I think the cop was overzealous.

[Joe Fields]

A disorderly conduct charge is a very nebulous charge. It really depends on the cop on the scene. I can tell you from personal experience that it takes an awful lot, at least in my neck of the woods, to get arrested for disorderly conduct. I'm certainly not proud of this fact, but in my life there have been three circumstances where I was literally standing face to face, yelling, sometimes screaming at a cop (on one occasion it was completely justified) and I was never arrested.

Now, we have a situation, a rather ticklish situation, in the story of professor Gates. He is nothing like me. By the rest of society, I may be considered poor white trash. He, however, is a distinguished Harvard professor, who is African American. Tell me that there isn't racism involved, when you juxtapose myself against Mr. Gates. A white suburban young man, who, on more than one occasion has stood toe to toe screaming at cops and has gotten away with it, against a black man who was arrested by white police officers in his own home, just because he got upset at them for running him through the mill in HIS OWN HOUSE!!!

Those cops should have given professor Gates plenty of slack. If that cop who arrested him really does teach racial sensitivity courses, then he must know, or at least have an inkling of the daily slings and arrows that African Americans suffer at the hands of us white folk. If that cop had ANY understanding at all, there would have been no arrest. There would have been no arrest, even if it is true that professor Gates went off on the cop.

One more thing. I can also speak from past experience that cops lie like rugs sometimes on their arrest reports. I found eleven instances of inaccuracies or outright lies on one arrest report against me. I'm not saying that this is the norm, but it does happen, and I'm sure with more frequency than anyone would imagine.

[marybourg]

1. Agree. nt

[bsd13]

2. Go to Cambridge and...

stand "toe to toe" screaming at a cop and see how fast you get yourself arrested. I don't care what color your skin is. They will hook you up and drag you in. I can't help but wonder if a black cop had been the arresting officer would this have gotten any attention at all? Even one tiny bit of attention...?

[Joe Fields]

3. you couldn't drag me to Cambridge...

[bsd13]

4. Ha!

I used to say the same thing

[BuyingThyme]

5. But he said bad things about his mother.

That means he gets to arrest him.

[TorchTheWitch]

6. I don't care what you think

Nor do I care what anyone thinks about any situation they are unable to make an unbiased determination about.

Carry on.

[Joe Fields]

7. If you don't care, then why reply?

[bobbolink]

11. Because it pretty much demonstrates the cop mentality.

How's that...?

:hi:

[bobbolink]

8. They are supposed to have sensitivity training in cases like this.

Looks like the training is a rousing success.

Need I add: :sarcasm:

[Joe Fields]

9. No need. We know what the score is...

:hi:

[Life Long Dem]

10. Raising your voice in public is enough here.