Powell: Harvard scholar might have reacted quickly
WASHINGTON — Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was mildly critical Tuesday of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., whose angry response to a Cambridge, Mass., police officer touched off a national debate involving President Barack Obama.
Powell, interviewed by CNN’s Larry King, criticized the way Gates dealt with Sgt. James Crowley, a white officer who responded to reports of a possible break-in by arresting the black professor at his home on a charge of disorderly conduct. The charge was soon dropped.
Gates “might have waited a while, come outside, talked to the officer, and that might have been the end of it,” said Powell, one of the nation’s most prominent African Americans.
“I think he should have reflected on whether or not this was the time to make that big a deal,” he said.
But, Powell said, Gates was just home from China and New York and “all he wanted to do was get to bed.”
When asked about the incident at a news conference, Obama said the police acted stupidly. The president subsequently toned down his criticism but not his denunciation of racial profiling generally.
Powell said he was the target of racial profiling many times and he sometimes got mad.
On one such occasion, he said, he tried to meet someone at Reagan National Airport “and nobody thought I could be the national security adviser to the president. I was just a black guy.”
Asked how he dealt with the situation, Powell said “You just suck it up. What are you going to do?”
“There is no African American in this country who has not been exposed to this kind of situation,” Powell said.
But, he said, “when you are faced with an officer trying to do his job and get to the bottom of something, this is not the time to get in an argument with him. I was taught that as a child.
“You don’t argue with a police officer,” Powell said.
Related News
Jody Powell dies, was White House press secretary during Jimmy Carter's presidencySeptember 14th, 2009 Former Carter press secretary Jody Powell diesWASHINGTON — A close associate says Jody Powell, who was White House press secretary during Jimmy Carter's presidency, has died. Powell, a Georgia native known for his deep Southern drawl, worked on Carter's presidential campaign in 1976 and served as the Carter's spokesman between 1977 and 1981.
Harvard scholar sends flowers, note to woman who called 911 in incident that led to his arrestAugust 1st, 2009 Gates sends flowers, note to woman who called 911BOSTON — Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. has sent flowers and a note to the woman who unwittingly sparked a national debate on race by calling police to report what she thought might be a break-in at Gates' home.
911 caller in Harvard scholar case to break her silenceJuly 29th, 2009 911 caller in Gates case to speak publiclyBOSTON — The woman who dialed 911 to report a possible break-in at the home of black Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. plans to speak publicly for the first time.
911 caller in Harvard scholar case says she chose her words carefully when she called policeJuly 29th, 2009 911 caller in Gates case hurt by racial disputeCAMBRIDGE, Mass. — The woman who reported a possible break-in at the home of black Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Colin Powell says Harvard scholar might have reacted too quicklyJuly 29th, 2009 Powell: Harvard scholar might have reacted quicklyWASHINGTON — Former Secretary of State Colin Powell was mildly critical Tuesday of Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., whose angry response to a Cambridge, Mass., police officer touched off a national debate involving President Barack Obama. Powell, interviewed by CNN's Larry King, criticized the way Gates dealt with Sgt.
Colin Powell endorses NYC Mayor Michael Bloomberg's 3rd-term re-election bidJuly 29th, 2009 Colin Powell endorses NYC mayor's re-election bidNEW YORK — Former U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell has endorsed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg's re-election bid.
911 call: Woman who reported break-in at home of arrested Harvard scholar doesn't mention raceJuly 27th, 2009 911 call in Gates case does not mention raceCAMBRIDGE, Mass. — A woman who called 911 to report a possible break-in at the home of black Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr.
Black Harvard scholar accepts White House meeting offer with Mass. officer who arrested himJuly 25th, 2009 Black scholar accepts White House meeting offerBOSTON — Black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. says he will accept President Barack Obama's invitation to visit him at the White House along with the white police officer who arrested the Harvard professor.
Obama stands by criticism of arrest of Harvard scholar, says he respects police challengesJuly 24th, 2009 Obama calls arrest of Harvard scholar unnecessaryWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama is standing by his assertion that police did not need to arrest a Harvard scholar who was trying to get into his own home. Obama said in an interview with ABC that he has "extraordinary respect" for the challenges and hardships that law enforcement officers face every day in their line of work.
APNewsBreak: Source says police recommend dropping charge against black Harvard scholarJuly 21st, 2009 AP source: No charge against black Harvard scholarBOSTON — A person with knowledge of the case against Henry Louis Gates Jr. says police are recommending that the charge against the prominent Harvard University black scholar be dropped.
Prominent Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. arrested at home over 'loud behavior'July 20th, 2009 Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates arrested at homeBOSTON — Henry Louis Gates Jr. has been charged with disorderly conduct at his home near Harvard University.
Top black scholar Gates arrested at home in Mass. and accuses police of racismJuly 20th, 2009 Top scholar Gates arrested in Mass., claims racismBOSTON — Henry Louis Gates Jr., the nation's pre-eminent black scholar, is accusing Cambridge police of racism after he was arrested while trying to force open the locked front door of his home near Harvard University. Cambridge police were called to the home Thursday afternoon after a woman reported seeing a man "wedging his shoulder into the front door as to pry the door open," according to a police report.
Colin Powell says Americans should celebrate Michael Jackson's art, not dwell on controversiesJuly 4th, 2009 Colin Powell: Celebrate Michael Jackson's artWASHINGTON — Colin Powell says Michael Jackson had controversy in his life, but in death his art should be celebrated. The retired general and former secretary of state said he was in Vietnam, Korea or stationed elsewhere during Jackson's heyday.
Human rights scholar Martha Minow to replace Elena Kagan as Harvard Law deanJune 11th, 2009 Martha Minow chosen as Harvard Law School deanBOSTON — A human rights scholar and Harvard Law School faculty member since 1981 has been named the school's new dean. Martha Minow's (MIN'-oh) appointment was announced Thursday by Harvard University President Drew Gilpin Faust.
Powell not sure whether torture of extremists worksMay 25th, 2009 WASHINGTON - Former US Secretary of State Colin Powell has said that he has "no idea" if the enhanced interrogation techniques used during the Bush administration were effective. "I have no idea.
Loading ...