The media and blogs have discussed in depth the effects on Gates and Crowley but NOT Lucia Whalen.
How bad has it gotten for Lucia Whalen, the 911 caller in the Gates case?
- Boston Media swarmed her home on day of incident, scaring the bejesus out of her elderly parents who live above her. They are Portegese and speak very little English so they were very truly frightened b/c they did not understand what reporters were asking them.
- A shy woman Walden came home to that circus, was totally overwhelmed and begged to be left alone. Instead of respecting her pleas for privacy, Boston media continued to hound her via phone, including tracking down relatives, in-laws and co-workers to get dish on HER. Was she racist? Did she have a history of problems with black, etc. They even showed her home in Malden on TV, great job WCVB inviting whackos to visit.
- A Belmont lawyer felt so bad watching her get tarred and feathered on the news and blamed for "two big black men with backbacks," approached her family to offer her help PRO BONO.
- Co-workers at Harvard at furious on Gate's behalf and blaming HER, calling her a racist.
Just how bad has it gotten for her?
What the media has not reported, the cost to this innocent person:
After several years doing a good, quiet job at Harvard, suddenly they have turned on her. Harvard has told Whalen to stay home from work (with pay) for 2-4 weeks until the controversy dies down b/c her presence was so disruptive.
She doesn't get invited to White House not even after 911 tape proved HER side of the story.
Not even after 911 clearly backs up her defense to co-workers she didn't see Gates' face, had no idea it was Harvard professor, and that she never ever said two black men with backpacks, but a possible burglary not sure b/c there's luggage out front but a neighbor is worried, can you check it out. She didn't panic and scream OMG black men B&E in progress like made out in the media.
And did media apologize for defaming her? No.
I cannot tell you how upset I am for this poor woman. I'm honest enough to admit it's b/c I am hearing first hand accounts of her unfair treatment... but it gives me pause to think how we're so used to folks who cash in on 15 minutes of fame, that we forget there are good folks who don't, who just want to get back to their lives asap... and can't.