Pat Oliphant for July 27, 2009
Transcript:
Police Officer: O, pray forgive me, professor, for my insensitivity of mistaking you, a gentleman of color, for a common burglar, and in your own kitchen, at that! A thousand pardons, I beg of you. Harvard Professor Henry Gates: O, think nothing of it, my good man. We all know you brave officers are in no way racist, and are zealously performing your duty of serving and protecting we citizens of all colors. May I offer you a beer? Punk: Both yo mommas are waiting outside.
A police officer is trained to react in a proper manner and arresting a citizen after determinig the situation was safe was totally uncalled for. In Chicago or New York if every cop arrested every citizen who mouthed off the populations would dop dramatically. Crowley was too thin skinned. Try asking how many officers of color have to put up with racist language being tossed at them and they just walk away. Trust me, I have several friends in local law enforcement and I’m also a fed myself.