Gates Getting Death Threats

August 3. 2009

Harvard Professor, Henry Louis Gates Jr., is contemplating moving from his home, after a racial profiling incident, at the hands of Cambridge cop, James Crowley, caused him to receive death threats.

Crowley's conduct has harmed many people, as the Associated Press pointed out last week, from his fellow black officers in Cambridge, to the 911 caller, Lucia Whalen, to officer Justin Barnett, outed as a racist via his own words.

Gates jokes: I offered to help officer's kids get into Harvard

Updated 8:39 a.m. EDT, Mon August 3, 2009 - BOSTON, Massachusetts (CNN) -- In his first public appearance since the "Beer Summit" at the White House, Harvard University professor Henry Louis Gates joked about his controversial arrest last month in Cambridge, Massachusetts...

"I offered to get his kids into Harvard if he doesn't arrest me anymore," Gates said...

Gates was charged with disorderly conduct for allegedly yelling at the officer and protesting his actions. But Gates, who is black, claimed he never raised his voice and accused Crowley of racial profiling. Charges against the professor were later dropped.

The tone at the book fair turned more serious when someone asked Gates how the arrest has affected him. "I'm still trying to figure that out and processing it. It was stressful. I was worried about my daughters."

Fortunately, he said, the press was not camped out at his family home like they were at the Cambridge residence, which is owned by the university. He admitted to receiving bomb threats and deaths threats and said the university is encouraging him to move. "I haven't been back to the Cambridge house since I got arrested so I have to make that decision."

He also said he has had to change his phone numbers and close his public e-mail account. "I received thousands of fan letters but some of the e-mails were from crazy wacko people who wrote 'You should die,' 'You're a racist" ...

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