911 Caller in Gates Case Left Out in the Cold
While the Professor and the Sergeant head to the White House today to make nice-nice over a beer the woman who’s phone call started the whole Gates-gate racial profiling controversy remains on her own.
Hey! Where's Her Beer?
Lucia Whalen finally stepped forward yesterday to explain what prompted her to make the 911 call about a possible home break-in – and WHAT SHE ACTUALLY SAID to the emergency operator. Whalen says she was pained to be wrongly labeled as a racist. So how come SHE wasn’t invited to the healing-ceremony at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue?
With a trembling voice, Lucia Whalen, 40, said she was out walking to lunch in Gates’ Cambridge neighborhood near Harvard University when an elderly woman without a cell phone stopped her because she was concerned there was a possible burglary in progress.
Whalen was vilified as a racist on blogs after a police report said she described the possible burglars as “two black males with backpacks.” Tapes of the call released earlier this week revealed that Whalen did not mention race. When pressed by a dispatcher on whether the men were white, black or Hispanic, she said one of them might have been Hispanic. “Now that the tapes are out, I hope people can see that I tried to be careful and honest with my words,” Whalen said. “It never occurred to me that the way I reported what I saw be analyzed by an entire nation.” via 911 caller in Gates case hurt by racist label.
Wonder what Whalen’s situation will do to others who pick up the phone to call 911. Maybe they won’t even bother to get involved now.
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Yes it’s very sad that police weren’t satisfied with just victimizing Prof Gates. The fact that the police lied about what she says pretty much says it all, don’t you agree Diane?
Diane, So true she should have been at the White House! She was called a racist and was very affected emotionally ! I don’t think the President should have ever answered the question!No comment is always best until you have the facts! He is president as he always points out .He is no longer a community leader!
When presidents no matter race or gender get involved in race relations on a local issue they have crossed a dangerous line!
Renee
Diane,
One added thought we need to remember everything he does the world not just us are watching! Someone said last night he isn’t leading this country! That’s where americans are disappointed in him . He isn’t a leader!
Renee
Two sides to ever story! Racism will never end if people keep playing the victim they will be the victim!
Renee