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|NEXT STORY »

Cop Suspended for Gates Slur Sues Over Civil Rights

By Harry Kimball| Posted Aug 4, 09 12:11 PM CDT|

(Newser) – The Boston police officer suspended for referring to Henry Louis Gates as a “banana-eating jungle monkey” is suing the city and the department for violating his civil rights, the Globe reports. The BPD, police commissioner, and mayor are “conspiring to intentionally inflict emotional distress” and interfering with Justin Barrett’s “property rights, due process rights, and civil rights,” the suit claims.

Though Barrett has tried to clear up his reputation on the national stage, the commissioner called his remarks “racist and inflammatory,” and the mayor said Barrett is “gone. G-O-N-E.” Barrett’s suit alleges that because of the publicly avowed decision to fire him, any inquiry into his case is tainted. He seeks payment for lost pay, pain and suffering, and punitive damages.

[Images (3)]

[Videos (1)]

Henry Louis Gates Jr in 2006. (AP Photo)

Boston Mayor Thomas Menino in 2004. (AP Photo)

Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (AP Photo)

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Barrett appeared on Larry King to clear the air. (CNN Video)

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26 comments

VIEWING:

Nwambe
Aug 4, 09 12:16 PM CDT

Wait, wait... So you called someone black a 'banana-eating jungle monkey', and you're angry because you got fired as a result? Riiiiiight... And that makes you come out smelling like roses. Next time keep your mouth shut, in e-mails or otherwise. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Cat-Lover
Aug 4, 09 2:19 PM CDT

The problem is that he didn't get fired, he got suspended with pay! That's like putting him on a paid vacation which to me smacks of a reward for his bigotry.

| 0 minutes ago

Reader60610265
Aug 4, 09 12:23 PM CDT

No freedom of speech here . But Gates can say anything he wants right? Sorry people I thought we were done with this one . Reply

-9

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Aug 4, 09 1:22 PM CDT

Clearly you don't want to be done with it -- any excuse to slander and malign Gates and spread the absurd claim that he said or did anything that was illegal, improper, or racist. There was absolutely no justification for what Officer Crowley did. Lucky for him that his prior record, his subsequent actions, the Department's decision to drop the charges, and the president's involvement have made any action against him unnecessary.

IN RESPONSE:

godawgs
Aug 4, 09 5:45 PM CDT

@KG there was a right for Officer Crowley to do what he did. Lucky for Prof Gates that he wasn't tasered and sent to jail and trail. No action should have been placed against Officer Crowely, not this guy on the other hand probably should at a minimum be suspended without pay.

IN RESPONSE:

So_Cal_Larry
Aug 5, 09 2:55 PM CDT

I don't believe we can be done with this until Professor Gates has the cajones to sue the Cambridge Police Department and its Sgt. Crowley for false and illegal arrest. The Professor is able to do this from a financial and power standpoint. Millions of poorer people who are subjected to these regular false arrests for disorderly conduct will never get past this when the elite do not fight for their and everyone else's rights when necessary.

IN RESPONSE:

Shannonals
Aug 7, 09 11:21 PM CDT

An Officer reflects the city/state, so the Officer in question is limited, as our Federal employees of what they say using state/Federal computers, as anyone who works for the State/Federal will tell you

| 0 minutes ago

Netstorm2k9
Aug 4, 09 12:32 PM CDT

That's the thing about free speech. Either it's all protected, or nothing is. I may loathe what you say, but I'll defend your right to say it. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Reader64481089
Aug 4, 09 12:38 PM CDT

sorry, his words are not protected under Freedom of Speech, they are slanderous and racist remarks and can only be viewed as such in any court in the land.

IN RESPONSE:

Fondue
Aug 4, 09 12:38 PM CDT

Just isn't so for public servants.

IN RESPONSE:

freethemall
Aug 4, 09 1:07 PM CDT

He can say (or think) what he pleases, but he has no business being a police officer. Similarly, a person may have the right to say they are sexually attracted to children, but they would have no business being a school teacher.

IN RESPONSE:

kokuaguy
Aug 4, 09 1:23 PM CDT

You shouldn't defend my right to yell "fire" in a theater, or a police officer's right to tarnish the image of all other officers with racist remarks. And FREE, your analogy is fantastic.

IN RESPONSE:

Serenity
Aug 4, 09 1:29 PM CDT

They are slanderous and wrong and completely based on his blatant stupidity, BUT they do fall under freedom of speech. They could prosecute for Obscenity or Slander depending on the state laws, but not for being stupid. They should have said he lost his job because he was no longer to look at the general populace objectively, supported by the racial statements that he said or something more professional. It’s like telling an employee that they are drunk instead of you think they are drunk. The former allows them to sue to get their job back because of slander, the latter is an opinion or something similar. Its all about the wording.

IN RESPONSE:

tazsugs
Aug 4, 09 1:35 PM CDT

good post....i agree

| 0 minutes ago

UrUndertaker
Aug 4, 09 12:36 PM CDT

This is so rich, Freedom of speech is one thing but that freedom does NOT allow one person to make disparaging or racily incensed remarks toward another and more especially a Police Officer to disregard his duty in such a manner then for him to claim "his civil rights" were violated....only in Racist America, this cop and so many others like him are a disgrace to both the Country as well as fellow officers although they may be few are honest and hard working Police, to bad they are outnumbered by the crooked police so badly Reply

| 0 minutes ago

objectivemind
Aug 4, 09 12:39 PM CDT

regardless of free speech...as if you actually think you really have that here in the US anymore.......the guy is a racist pig and there is no room for that in public service as a police officer nor as a human being. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Netstorm2k9
Aug 4, 09 1:55 PM CDT

Even scumbags like him have rights. Reply

IN RESPONSE:

Cat-Lover
Aug 4, 09 2:15 PM CDT

He has the right to saywhatever he wants, but he doesn't have the right to be on the public payroll with such racially sick ideas. He needs to be re-patriated to the human race before he should be able to re-apply for any salaried, public position and then, even then, his words should be used against him.

| 0 minutes ago

Cat-Lover
Aug 4, 09 2:12 PM CDT

Having listened to this jerk's "heart-flet apology," I'm more convinced than ever that he is a racist and should not be in the position of "public helper," as either a police officer or a member of the National Guard. He claims he never used these words before. Then how'd he know to use them? He's heard them but felt this is the right time for him to repeat them? Freedom of speech inherently precludes one from yelling "fire" in a crowded theater because of the threat to health and safety; it must also preclude a broad-based, racial slur that obviously represents long-held beliefs. This man must no be permitted to receive any recompense (salary or otherwise) garnered from the public sector. He's an insult to what America has strived to become. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

kokuaguy
Aug 4, 09 3:38 PM CDT

Mahalo Cat-:Lover for saying what I tried to say so much better here. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

jamerican
Aug 4, 09 4:35 PM CDT

Freedom is freedom and he should win the case for millions, even if you don't agree with what he said. He will win the case and he deserves to win. Reply

-3

IN RESPONSE:

Shannonals
Aug 7, 09 11:22 PM CDT

Not when he was using a State computer to make his statements.

| 0 minutes ago

youngblood
Aug 4, 09 8:00 PM CDT

See you want to screw around with cops when they stop you for a traffic violation, etc. This guy is a cop and a lunatic that you do not want to get angry if he stops you for something, just because they have a badge does not mean that you are dealing with a sane person, you could be dealing with a crazy racist pig who could possibly get crazy on your ass for nothing!! Reply

| 0 minutes ago

DarkFrancis
Aug 5, 09 12:46 AM CDT

Some of you do not understand 'freedom of speech' it seems. You cannot protect all speech, especially that which incites hatred. You cannot make false claims. You cannot slander. And in this case, you cannot make a racial slur when you have agreed to impartially undertake your duties. Calling someone this kind of name would certainly breach such an oath. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

BlahBlahBlah
Aug 5, 09 8:52 AM CDT

I was on both sides of the Gates / Crowley incident. What that cop said was incredibly stupid in every way conceivable. What a moron, they where on the news last night trying to drum up sympathy for that dumb dumb. If you want to be a bigot behind closed doors that is you choice. If you do it in the public domain you had better be ready to take what’s coming. Don’t look all shocked and amazed when you get put on suspension. You should have been fired on the spot. I don’t want people like this guy having the ability to wield a firearm. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

Fiskebolle
Aug 5, 09 4:30 PM CDT

The words "banana-eating jungle monkey" are slander and not at all free speech. Saying them makes you not a human. The words "corrupt, racist dumb dumb pig" are not at all slander and are protected by free speech. Not very consistent. On a side note, calling it slander makes you the racist, as you believe people can actually confuse black people with monkeys. Reply

| 0 minutes ago

View all 26 comments »

police • racism • mayor • suspension • civil lawsuits • racial slurs • Thomas Menino • Boston Police Department • Henry Louis Gates Jr • Justin Barrett

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