Rick Sanchez on Dan Choi’s arrest (video: YouTube)
[ updated: see below ]
Lt Dan Choi, Capt Jim Pietrangelo and Robin McGehee were arrested today at the White House after they left an HRC rally against the military’s Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell policy that featured comedian Kathy Griffin. Choi and Pietrangelo led a crowd of demonstrators to the White House and cuffed themselves to the fence.
Andy Towle has pix.
Rallies in support of the three activists are being staged around the country this evening. Here’s the info for San Diego:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 18, 2010SAN DIEGO STANDS WITH CALIFORNIANS TO DEMAND RELEASE OF DAN CHOI, JIM PIETRANGELO, AND ROBIN MCGEHEE
SAN DIEGO – Lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender activists will gather tonight at 6pm at the Hall of Justice at Broadway and State Streets in downtown San Diego to protest the arrest of Lt. Dan Choi, Infantryman Jim Pietrangelo, and California activist Robin McGehee. The three were arrested for participating in a non-violent act of civil disobedience. Choi and Pietrangelo chained themselves to the fence of the White House with McGehee’s assistance. They demanded full equal protection under the law.
LGBT Americans can currently be fired for who they love, and not just in the military. The Employment Non Discrimination Act, a comprehensive act that would extend employment protections to LGBT Americans, has been stalled in Congress for months. Activists in San Francisco and Washington DC are sitting-in at both of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s offices this afternoon, demanding that the bill come to a vote.
In San Diego, activists will gather at 6pm in front of the Hall of Justice to demand the release of Choi, Pietrangelo, and McGehee. This rally will be a peaceful protest in demand of full equality. Across the state, similar rallies will be held. In San Francisco, supporters will gather at City Hall at 6pm. Los Angeles and Sacramento are also holding rallies in solidarity.
Today’s nationwide actions are coordinated by GetEQUAL, whose mission is to create a movement of everyday people – lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and straight – who are dedicated to bringing about full legal and social equality. Their website is http://www.getequal.org.
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UPDATE (18 March 2010, 2:11 pm):
Here’s a statement from Lt Dan Choi on the action today:
Discharged U.S. Army Lieutenant Walked to the White House Demanding Full Equality and Gay Rights
Openly Gay Lt. Dan Choi Urged President Obama to Take Action Against Don’t Ask, Don’t TellWASHINGTON, D.C. – After participating in the Human Rights Campaign march on Freedom Plaza Thursday afternoon, former United States Army Lieutenant Dan Choi made a public statement and marched over to the White House to demand the Obama administration take a firm stance in repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
Joined by former U.S. Captain Jim Pietrangelo, honorably discharged in 2004 under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell, Lt. Choi made a public call to action in front of the White House. Their actions are a result of a general unrest among the LGBT community after Congressman Barney Frank confirmed this week that the White House has been “ambiguous” about repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this year.
The following statement was read by Lt. Choi outside Freedom Plaza before he set off to the White House:
“Hello. My name is Lt. Dan Choi. I am being discharged from the US Army because I am gay and dared to say it out loud.
Today, I am here on a mission with Capt. Jim Pietrangelo, and we are asking you all to join us. We’re calling you to action because we are at a turning point — a moment in time where talk is no longer enough, and action is required.
Equality is not going to happen by itself.
You have been told that the President has a plan. But Congressman Barney Frank confirmed to us this week that the President still is not fully committed to repealing Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell this year.
And if we don’t seize this moment it may not happen for a very long time.
Some may tell you that I am one of the lucky ones. I have been welcomed back by my unit with open arms. And it would be easy for me to stay quiet and hope that change will happen.
But what I was taught at West Point and learned in war is — hope is not a strategy. As officers, James and I both find it a dereliction of our moral duty to remain silent while thousands of our brothers and sister are not allowed to serve openly and honestly.
Capt. Pietrangelo was honorably discharged under Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell in 2004 and I will be subject to the same shortly. As officers we are here today fighting for those in the ranks, and we need our Commander in Chief to do the same.
Our fight is not here at Freedom Plaza, it is at the White House. We are walking to the White House right now to send the President a message. So…take out your cell phones and your cameras. Document this moment. Join us as together — we make history.”
