An interesting case. At first it sounded like open and shut racism / racial profiling by the policeman -- a prominent black scholar arrested in his own home for refusing to show ID. Then the other side came out, that Professor Gates had shouted at the policeman about racism. Accounts still differ about exactly what happened. It's a Rashomon for sure at this point.

Actually, what I heard was that a neighbor called the police because she saw 2 black men breaking into the house - which they were. Gates had forgotten his keys. Instead of going on the offensive, Gates should have co-operated and just shown the officer his ID. If he had not gone off the deep end, the matter would have ended there. The officer was just doing his job.