John,
<<My own judgment call is not based on which is true. But rather, no matter how badly each behaved--Gates and Crowly--none of that rose, in any recounting, to the level of arrestable behavior. So, if you wish, accept the narrative that puts Gates in the worst light, he is still a middle aged black man in his own home, and all accounts say Crowley was satisfied that was the case, and walking with a cane. I don't see an arrestable bit in that narrative.>>
I would agree that we won't know what happened but it would be interesting if someone talked to the civilians in the area at the time of the arrest to get some idea about who may be telling the truth or not.
Several thing I will point to that I don't know if it will make a difference in the way you look at this event. According to the police report(and I understand the bias that can be there) and putting Gates in the worst light possible, you do realize that he followed the officer outside of his house and continued to yell at him, calling him a racist? And that when he was arrested, he was no longer in his house but outside? And from the police report, it appeared that the officer tried to leave after Gates established that he lived at the house and Gates continued on with his bad behavior?
I can see why Gates would be upset by the incident but I can also see why the officer would be upset as well. I think this is a well written piece that can advance the discussion here.
cnn.com
Neal |
