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Gates Arrest Not About Race But Free Speech
The New York Times ^ | November 19, 1997 | Deborah Sontag and Dan Barry

Posted on 07/23/2009 4:46:52 PM PDT by parsifal

After dropping her young daughter with a baby sitter, Taquana Harris rushed to her hostess job at the fashionable Bowery Bar one night last February, her leopard-print evening gown sweeping elegantly through the dark, icy streets of the East Village. Then a strange woman crudely grabbed her by the arm and demanded to know what she had done with the drugs.

Within seconds, Ms. Harris recalled, she found herself pinned to the steel grating of a bodega by two plainclothes officers engaged in a neighborhood drug sweep.

(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Government; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: blackkk; cambridge; danbarry; deborahsontag; demagogicparty; harrygates; henrylouisgatesjr; memebuilding; mrskippy; newyork; newyorkcity; newyorkslimes; newyorktimes; partisanmediashill; partisanmediashills; skipgates
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To: parsifal

Congratulations, you are living proof that ‘it is better to remain silent, and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt.’


81 posted on 07/23/2009 6:07:39 PM PDT by Cap'n Crunch (Rush Limbaugh, the Winston Churchill of our time)
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To: parsifal

Can alleging that someone is a racist, cause them great harm, ruin their careers and get them black balled and even cause harm to them and their families?


82 posted on 07/23/2009 6:08:00 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: parsifal
Yes, I want to live in society where I can insult the police, and the governor, and congressmen, and presidents.

Do it in an aggressive and belligerent manner with an audience. Make sure you film it. Watching them take you down will make a great documentary.

I do understand where you are coming from, but the charges were dropped. Gates can sue for false arrest and let a jury decide I suppose.

83 posted on 07/23/2009 6:08:35 PM PDT by listenhillary (90% of our problems could be resolved with a government 10% of the size it is now.)
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To: parsifal

Disrespect that becomes violent or aggressive can be illegal. Incitement to riot, for example. Disorderly conduct is another.

A typical statutory definition of disorderly conduct defines the offense in this way:

A person who recklessly, knowingly, or intentionally:

(1) engages in fighting or in tumultuous conduct;
(2) makes unreasonable noise and continues to do so after being asked to stop; or
(3) disrupts a lawful assembly of persons;
commits disorderly conduct. . .

Sounds like a good call by the LEO.


84 posted on 07/23/2009 6:09:06 PM PDT by narses (http://www.theobamadisaster.com/)
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To: Stentor

Great video! To serve and protect and TKYA at its best.

parsy


85 posted on 07/23/2009 6:11:14 PM PDT by parsifal ("Knock and ye shall receive!" (The Bible, somewhere.))
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To: parsifal

Can alleging that someone is a racist, cause them great harm, ruin their careers and get them black balled and even cause harm to them and their families?


86 posted on 07/23/2009 6:12:12 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: narses

Yep, and ignorance of the law is no excuse.


87 posted on 07/23/2009 6:12:30 PM PDT by Kirkwood ( O||||||O)
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To: elder5

I’ve watched Gates on PBS too, but to me he came across as racist and anti-America. For that reason I can believe he behaved as reported.


88 posted on 07/23/2009 6:14:07 PM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: narses

Its a catch all. The problem is that the cop let this escalate into an arrest. I posted the arrest report above. It’s a pretext based on my experiences.

Whichever, it isn’t about race.

parsy.


89 posted on 07/23/2009 6:15:27 PM PDT by parsifal ("Knock and ye shall receive!" (The Bible, somewhere.))
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To: dragnet2

Yes, but the lawsuit is going to be a problem for Crowely because he abused his power and made a false arrest.

parsy.


90 posted on 07/23/2009 6:18:57 PM PDT by parsifal ("Knock and ye shall receive!" (The Bible, somewhere.))
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To: parsifal
Can alleging that someone is a racist, cause them great harm, ruin their careers and get them black balled and even cause harm to them and their families?

Yes

So what is worse in your opinion, a simple arrest for disorderly conduct, or falsely accusing someone of racism?

91 posted on 07/23/2009 6:21:11 PM PDT by dragnet2
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To: dragnet2; parsifal
Was it not Obama that made this a race issue as he was speaking to millions of people?

A question that begs an answer.
92 posted on 07/23/2009 6:23:43 PM PDT by kenavi (Want a real stimulus? Drill!)
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To: dragnet2

The “simple” arrest brings the machinery of gov’t in the matter.

parsy


93 posted on 07/23/2009 6:32:29 PM PDT by parsifal ("Knock and ye shall receive!" (The Bible, somewhere.))
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To: narses
The Office of Professional Conduct canvassed the neighborhood, did interviews with witnesses and police officers, and said this was a good arrest.

Crowley explains the scenario and his many warnings to Gates, in this long interview.

http://audio.weei.com/m/25432556/sgt-james-crowley-cambridge-police.htm

94 posted on 07/23/2009 6:33:52 PM PDT by roses of sharon (It is not actual suffering but a taste of better things which excites people to revolt: Hoffer)
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To: listenhillary

LOL! I would never do it without witnesses.

parsy


95 posted on 07/23/2009 6:34:32 PM PDT by parsifal ("Knock and ye shall receive!" (The Bible, somewhere.))
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To: parsifal
"Suppose we all gather at the White House and yell and holler “Obama is a jerk! He hates white people” As long as we don’t start chunking bricks or teabags at people, we have a right to say it. "

Ha ha ha. Go to the White House and do that. I want to see how long it is before you are asked to leave, or picked up for creating a disturbance. Play your music too loud in your own home, have the cops come because someone complains, and you may be cited for disturbing the peace.

96 posted on 07/23/2009 6:40:03 PM PDT by mass55th (Courage is being scared to death - but saddling up anyway...John Wayne)
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To: parsifal

About the stupidest comment I have ever seen on Free Republic and over the past few days I’ve see a few of them...this has NOTHING to do with the constitution...you certainly cannot be saying this is a 1st amendment right...nor, in my opinion, is it about disrespect...

If you believe what you wrote to be true I beg you to walk up to President Obama, or a black representative or senator, and yell at them they are a racist SOB (and it doesn’t matter if you’re white or black). I guarantee you the charges wouldn’t be dropped.

The issue here is who controlled the situation...and it was clearly Gates...if he had walked out on the porch and had a controlled conversation...saying even the same things he allegedly shouted...he should not have been, and more than likely would not have been, arrested...but he didn’t.

That’s why they have “disorderly conduct” laws on the books...


97 posted on 07/23/2009 6:43:26 PM PDT by BamaBlue
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To: kenavi

I think Gates made it a race issue. Obama just called it stupidity, which it was. Once assured that Gates was the homeowner, the cops should have left.

parsy.


98 posted on 07/23/2009 6:45:50 PM PDT by parsifal ("Knock and ye shall receive!" (The Bible, somewhere.))
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To: parsifal
"Once assured that Gates was the homeowner"

Gates is NOT the homeowner. It doesn't appear that Gates was ID'd as "belonging" there was when the Harvard maintenance man showed up along with the Harvard popos.

99 posted on 07/23/2009 6:48:02 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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To: Paladin2

was when -—> was until when


100 posted on 07/23/2009 6:49:00 PM PDT by Paladin2 (Big Ears + Big Spending --> BigEarMarx, the man behind TOTUS)
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