A disturbance arose in the usually unruffled Harvard Square last Thursday, the 16th, when Henry Louis Gates Jr., a professor at Harvard University, was arrested for disorderly conduct. Accusations of racism and racial profiling surround the arrest of Henry Gates, who was approached by a police officer after struggling to get into his own home in Cambridge following a trip to China. According to police reports, a witness called to report a possible break-in at Gates’ house when she saw him attempting to force his front door in. When the police arrived, Gates was already inside his house. Two police officers asked to see his identification, at which point Gates apparently became distressed. After initially refusing to show his ID, he eventually provided his license and Harvard identification card. When the police continued to question his presence even after Gates showed identification, he became visibly upset and began to yell at the police officer outside his home. He was taken away in handcuffs after his confrontation with the officer, and remained in jail for 4 hours.
Colleagues are outraged over the racial implications of the confrontation, and the ensuing arrest. His friends and peers are dismayed and frustrated by the idea that Gates, one of the nation’s most prominent African American scholars, would be considered a suspect before a resident at his own home. Reverend Al Sharpton has promised to be at Gates’ side for his arraignment on August 26th, and vows he will put his full support and weight behind his friend.
The officer involved defends his actions, stating that he repeatedly asked Gates to speak with him calmly outside, which Gates refused to do. He claims that Gates was arrested only after exhibiting loud and tumultuous behavior. As of now, Gates has remained mostly silent since the arrest.
