Jul 21, 2009 7:46 pm US/Eastern
Harvard Scholar: 'I Would Like An Apology'
Charge Against Harvard Scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. Dropped
CAMBRIDGE (WBZ) ―
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Henry Louis Gates Jr. mug shot from Cambridge Police.
Cambridge Police/WBZ
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Henry Louis Gates Jr. (Dec. 2007 file image)
Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images
A prominent Harvard University scholar who was
arrested at his own home by Cambridge Police last week says he wants an apology.
Charges against
Henry Louis Gates Jr. were dropped by the prosecutors Tuesday, upon a request by Cambridge Police.
Gates, the nation's pre-eminent black scholar, was arrested at his home near Harvard University last Thursday after forcing his way through his front door because it was jammed. Gates was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge after police said he "exhibited loud and tumultuous behavior" when approached by police.
LOOKING FOR AN APOLOGY
"I would like an apology," Gates told WBZ by telephone from his Vineyard home Tuesday. "If he [the police officer] would give me a sincere apology and I believed it, I'd be prepared to forgive him."
'COOLER HEADS DID NOT PREVAIL'
In announcing that charges would be dropped Tuesday, police blamed both sides for escalating the conflict. "You had two human beings reacting to a set of circumstances and cooler heads did not prevail," said Cambridge police spokeswoman Kelly Downes.
"It was not Professor Gates' best moment and it was not the Cambridge Police Department's best moment."
"I think both parties were wrong. Our position is race did not play a factor."
JOINT STATEMENT
The city, the police department and Gates issued this joint statement just before noon:
"The City of Cambridge and the Cambridge Police Department have recommended to the Middlesex County District Attorney that the criminal charge against Professor Gates not proceed. Therefore, in the interests of justice, the Middlesex County District Attorney's Office has agreed to enter a nolle prosequi in this matter.
"The City of Cambridge, the Cambridge Police Department, and Professor Gates acknowledge that the incident of July 16, 2009 was regrettable and unfortunate. This incident should not be viewed as one that demeans the character and reputation of Professor Gates or the character of the Cambridge Police Department. All parties agree that this is a just resolution to an unfortunate set of circumstances."
THE POLICE REPORT
According to a police report, Gates had refused to come outside to speak with an officer, who told him he was investigating a report of a break-in.
"Why, because I'm a black man in America?" Gates said, according to the report written by Sgt. James Crowley.
Read: Was Arrest Racially Motivated?
Gates was held at the Cambridge police department for four hours and then released.
GATES' SIDE OF THE STORY
His lawyer, fellow Harvard scholar Charles Ogletree, told
WBZ Radio Tuesday that Gates gave an officer his driver's license and Harvard identification, but became upset when the officer continued to question him.
He disputed claims that Gates was yelling at the officer.
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SPIKE IN DAYTIME BREAK-INS
While there has been no discernible spike in reported house-breaks throughout the city of Cambridge, the area surrounding Gates' home did see an increase in burglaries this year.
Gates lives on Ware Street on the border of the "mid-Cambridge" and "Riverside" police districts.
Read: Cambridge Crime Report (.pdf)
According to Cambridge police, at least nine similar weekday break-ins were reported in this border neighborhood in the first quarter of 2009.
Police say most of these were in the daytime and the robbers got in by prying open front doors.
HARVARD'S STATEMENT:
Harvard President Drew Faust released the following statement on the incident late Tuesday evening:
"I am gratified that the charges against Professor Gates have been dropped and that all parties involved have recognized and reaffirmed his strong reputation and character. I feel privileged to consider Skip not just an esteemed colleague, but a friend. I have been in regular communication with him since Thursday and I was profoundly saddened to hear him describe what he experienced. I continue to be deeply troubled by the incident.
"Legacies of racial injustice remain an unfortunate and painful part of the American experience, and inform our views, our actions, and their consequences. As President Obama has remarked, ours is an imperfect union, and while perfect justice may always elude us, we can and must do better."
(© 2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
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