Gates Getting Death Threats

Harvard Professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr., is contemplating moving from his home, after a racial profiling incident, at the hands of Cambridge cop, James Crowley, caused him to receive death threats.

Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Crowley's conduct has harmed many people, as the Associated Press pointed out last week, from his fellow black officers in Cambridge, to the 911 caller, Lucia Whalen, to officer Justin Barnett, outed as a racist via his own words.

James Crowley

Gates jokes: I offered to help officer's kids get into Harvard

Updated 8:39 a.m. EDT, Mon August 3, 2009 - BOSTON, Massachusetts (CNN) -- In his first public appearance since the "Beer Summit" at the White House, Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates joked about his controversial arrest last month in Cambridge, Massachusetts...

"I offered to get his kids into Harvard if he doesn't arrest me anymore," Gates said...

Gates was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly yelling at the officer and protesting his actions. But Gates, who is black, claimed he never raised his voice and accused Crowley of racial profiling. Charges against the professor were later dropped.

The tone at the book fair turned more serious when someone asked Gates how the arrest has affected him. "I'm still trying to figure that out and processing it. It was stressful. I was worried about my daughters."

Fortunately, he said, the press was not camped out at his family home like they were at the Cambridge residence, which is owned by the university. He admitted to receiving bomb threats and deaths threats and said the university is encouraging him to move. "I haven't been back to the Cambridge house since I got arrested so I have to make that decision."

He also said he has had to change his phone numbers and close his public e-mail account. "I received thousands of fan letters but some of the e-mails were from crazy wacko people who wrote 'You should die,' 'You're a racist" ...

http://www.cnn.com

Racist Cambridge Cop On Larry King

James Crowley's co-worker in the Cambridge Police Department, Justin Barnett, made an appearance on the Larry King show last night.

James Crowley

He and his lawyer, apologized, yet denied, Barrett, a 36-year-old police officer, is a racist, for referring to Harvard Professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr., as "banana-eating jungle monkey" which Rev. Al Sharpton stated is ridiculous.

Henry Louis Gates Jr.

It is indeed an oxymoron to apologize if you claim you did nothing wrong. Make no mistake, Barrett, used a racial slur in his email to Boston.com.

Attorney: Cop made mistake with 'jungle monkey' e-mail

(CNN) -- A Boston, Massachusetts, police officer who sent a mass e-mail referring to Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. as a "banana-eating jungle monkey" didn't intend to express bigoted views or cause pain, his attorney said in a statement Thursday night.

Attorney Peter T. Marano apologized to Officer Justin Barrett's "fellow police officers and fellow National Guardsmen, as well as to the citizens of Boston and the citizens of the United States."

"Regrettably, these words are the lasting picture people will see of Justin Barrett," Marano wrote. "Justin Barrett ... has made a mistake -- his poor choice in words is that mistake. His lack of thought into the possible outcome of using such words has caused this debate. Justin never intended for these words to bear such a racial connotation."

Barrett didn't intend "to inflame racial tensions, express prejudice or bigoted views, or inflict hurt and pain," Marano said.

Barrett, a two-year veteran of the Boston police force and a member of the National Guard, sent an e-mail to the Boston Globe and fellow Guard members in response to a July 22 Globe column about Gates' controversial arrest earlier this month....

http://www.cnn.com

Another Cambridge Cop In Racial Incident

More Cambridge Police Dept. Drama

Video: Police release 911 tapes from Gates arrest - WWLP.com

The Cambridge Police Department is not having a good month. Already under fire for racially profiling African-American, Harvard professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr., they are now facing another race based incident.

Gates Jr. and Crowley to meet with Obama tomorrow

Cambridge police officer, Justin Barrett, has been suspended for sending out a mass email, referring to professor Gates as a "jungle monkey" which is a very derisive racial slur for black people.

Justin Barrett

There is another unverified photo online of a Cambridge Police officer entering his vehicle with a racially tinged personalized license plate. These three incidents give off a very negative vibe about the Cambridge Police Department when it comes to race issues.

Henry Louis Gates Jr.

911 caller, Lucia Whalen, also spoke publicly today, denouncing the conduct of arresting officer James Crowley, who put words in her mouth regarding the wrongful arrest of Gates, stating she volunteered information about the race of the alleged suspects, when tapes later revealed she did not. Whalen has been threatened and harassed thanks to Officer Crowley's untruths. Poor lady.

James Crowley

The important thing to remember is there are many good cops out there, not just in America, but all over the world. However, it is rather sad when the actions of a few taint the badge.

Don't they look alike:

James Crowley	Michael Imperioli (actor)

Just like reporters are compelled to use truth in reporting, officers should be as well, as authoring false police reports is corrupt.

Officer suspended for Gates slur in e-mail

July 29, 2009 07:35 PM - An officer in the Boston Police Department was suspended yesterday for allegedly writing a racially charged e-mail about Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. to colleagues at the National Guard, a law enforcement official said. Mayor Thomas M. Menino compared the officer to a cancer and said he is "gone, g-o-n-e'' from the force.

The law enforcement official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Officer Justin Barrett referred to the black scholar as a "jungle monkey" in the letter, written in reaction to media coverage of Gates's arrest July 16.

Barrett, a 36-year-old who has been on the job for two years, was stripped of his gun and badge yesterday and faces a termination hearing in the next week, said police spokeswoman Elaine Driscoll. He has no previous disciplinary record, she said.

"Yesterday afternoon, Commissioner Davis was made aware that Officer Barrett was the author of correspondence which included racially charged language," she said. "At that time, Commissioner Davis immediately stripped Officer Barrett of his gun and badge, and at this time we will be moving forward with the hearing process." ...

http://www.boston.com

Caller Says She Didn’t Mention Race to Officer in Gates Case

July 29, 2009 - CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Lucia Whalen, whose 911 call led to the arrest of the Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. at his home, made her first public comments Wednesday, saying at no time did she ever mention race to the responding police officer.

Ms. Whalen, 40, her voice cracking, said she was deeply hurt by the reaction to the incident on July 16...

“When I was called a racist, I was the target of scorn and ridicule because of things I never said,” she told the reporters gathered in a park here at midday. She added, “The criticism hurt me as a person but also hurt the community of Cambridge.” ...

http://www.nytimes.com