Henry Louis Gates Jr.

Henry Louis Gates Jr., historian and director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University, has accused the Cambridge police of racism after being arrested, trying to get into his own locked home on July 16, 2009. The arrest and his accusation have since made national news, eliciting comments from everyone from the arresting officer to the president.

A bicyclist passes by the home of Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. in Cambridge, Mass., Monday, July 20, 2009. Gates has said he returned home from a weeklong trip to China, found his door jammed and asked his driver to help him get it open. A woman saw them trying to open the door and called the police.

This photo shows Henry Louis Gates Jr., center, as he is arrested on July 16 at his home in Cambridge, Mass. Cambridge police officers attending are, Sgt. James Crowley, right, and Sgt. Leon Lashley, front right. Police said Gates, 58, was arrested after he yelled at an officer, accused him of racial bias and refused to calm down after the officer demanded that Gates show him identification to prove he lived in the home.

This is Gates' booking photo from his arrest on July 16, 2009. Gates, a pre-eminent African-American scholar, is accusing Cambridge police of racism after he was arrested on a disorderly conduct charge after police said he "exhibited loud and tumultuous behavior." He was released later that day on his own recognizance and arraignment was scheduled for Aug. 26.

Police Commissioner Robert Haas speaks to reporters at Cambridge, Mass., police headquarters, Thursday, July 23, 2009, about the actions of Cambridge Sgt. James Crowley, who was criticized by President Barack Obama after arresting black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. in his Massachusetts home. Mr. Obama said the police had acted "stupidly" in the arrest of Gates, but later called his choice of words "unfortunate."

Cambridge Police Sgt. James Crowley, the officer who arrested Gates on July 16, listens to questions from members of the media at his home in Natick, Mass., Wednesday, July 22, 2009. Friends and fellow officers - black and white - say Sgt. James Crowley is a principled police officer who is being unfairly described as racist.

Cambridge, Mass., police spokesperson Kelly Downes, front, faces reporters as Sgt. James DeFrancesco, left, looks on during a news conference at police headquarters, in Cambridge, Tuesday, July 21, 2009. Prosecutors dropped the disorderly conduct charge Tuesday against prominent black scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr., who was arrested at his home near Harvard University after a report of a break-in.

Henry Louis Gates Jr., left, participates in a panel on CNN's live show "Moment of Truth: Countdown to Black in America 2," with Soledad O'Brien, right and Tom Joyner, center, Wednesday, July 22, 2009, in New York. Gates has said he wants an apology from Sgt. James Crowley, the officer who arrested him on July 16. Crowley has said he has no reason to apologize.

Henry Louis Gates Jr. participates in a panel on CNN's live show "Moment of Truth: Countdown to Black in America 2," Wednesday, July 22, 2009, in New York. President Barack Obama said the police had acted "stupidly" in the arrest of Gates, but later called his choice of words "unfortunate."

Henry Louis Gates Jr. joined the Harvard faculty in 1991 and holds one of 20 prestigious "university professors" positions at the school. He also was host of "African American Lives," a PBS show about the family histories of prominent U.S. blacks. In 1997, he was named by Time magazine as one of the 25 most influential Americans. He is seen here with former President Clinton in 1998.

Harvard professor Henry Louis Gates Jr. attends the Whitney Museum of American Art's gala on Monday, Oct. 20, 2008, in New York. Gates has accused the Cambridge, Mass., police of racism after being arrested trying to get into his own locked home on July 16, 2009.

Henry Louis Gates Jr., signs books moments before the screening of a segment of the Spike Lee documentary "When the Levees Broke: A Requiem in Four Acts," at the Old Whaling Church in Edgartown, Mass., Aug. 23, 2006. A pre-eminent African-American scholar, Gates holds one of Harvard University's 20 prestigious "university professors" positions.

This 1997 photo released by Harvard University shows professor Henry Louis Gates Jr., on the Harvard campus in Cambridge, Mass. Gates joined the Harvard faculty in 1991.

Henry Louis Gates Jr., historian and Director of the W. E. B. Du Bois Institute for African and African American Research at Harvard University, poses for a photograph in his home in Cambridge, Mass., Jan. 18, 2008. He has accused the Cambridge police of racism after being arrested trying to get into his own locked home near Harvard University on July 16, 2009.