BREAKING: Lt. Dan Choi chains himself to White House fence during DADT protest-Update: Choi Arrested

[kpete]

Source: Pams House Blend

Breaking: Lt. Dan Choi chains himself to White House fence during DADT protest;
arrested



by: Pam Spaulding
Thu Mar 18, 2010 at 13:17:47 PM EDT

UPDATE (2PM): Just amazing. Several bloggers are on the ground at the DADT events today and the demonstrations have reached the White House. @JoeSudbay from the scene:

Lt. Choi and Capt. Pietrangelo have been put into the police van. The crowd applauded. These guys are HEROES.

Dan Choi has chained himself to the WH fence, and yellow police tape is being put up around Dan --- Secret Service agents are standing with him. Follow @DCAgenda, @getequal, @JoeSudbay on Twitter.

DC Agenda says it "seems to be a standoff" between Dan Choi and security. No effort is being made to arrest Choi.

Two secret service officers are now interacting with Choi and Pietrangelo. It's not clear exactly what's happening.

Read more: http://www.pamshouseblend.com/diary/15573/lt-dan-choi-chains-himself-to-white-house-fence-during-dadt-protest

---

http://www.advocate.com/News/Daily_News/2010/03/18/Dan_Choi_Protests_in_Front_of_WH/

Breaking: Choi Arrested at White House Gates
By Kerry Eleveld and Advocate.com Editors
DAN CHOI WHITE HOUSE X390 (KERRY ELEVELD) | ADVOCATE.COM
Photos By Kerry Eleveld

UPDATE: Both Lt. Dan Choi and Jim Pietrangelo have been arrested after they handcuffed themselves to the White House gates on Thursday afternoon to protest "don't ask, don't tell."

Story developing...



In what appears to be an unscripted act of civil disobedience following a Human Rights Campaign rally for the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" in Washington on Thursday, Lt. Dan Choi has led a group of protesters to the White House, where he has handcuffed himself to the front gates along with former Army infantryman James Pietrangelo.

Police officers are blocking the gates of the White House with yellow tape and are pushing back about 100 protesters, who are chanting DADT repeal slogans and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

[Robb]

1. Led the crowd in the pledge of allegiance.

Awesome. K&R.

[bondwooley]

2. That guy shows how brave a soldier can be.

[Zenlitened]

3. GENUINE. AMERICAN. HERO.

I am in awe of, and overwhelmed with gratitude for, the principle and commitment this man demonstrates day in and day out.

:applause:

[Dappleganger]

6. He's a real hero!

WTG, Lt. Dan!

[David Zephyr]

20. Yes!

:applause:

[Arctic Dave]

4. I have a lot of respect for this guy. n/t

[rcrush]

5. wow this wasnt in the news?

Figures.

[kpete]

7. it is now

peace, kp

[mtnester]

8. I think it will be now

the lame ass thing it was before he chained himself to the fence would have been a 2 second blurb..now it will make the news and demands attention....from the White House for certain.

Smart guy..love him.

[Soylent Brice]

9. K&R

[mahatmakanejeeves]

10. not necessarily a good idea

He still maintains his commission, right? This will be enough for him to lose it, for "conduct unbecoming an officer." There goes a DADT challenge.

[Zenlitened]

11. I imagine he has considered the value...

... of standing up for our nation's ideals despite any personal costs.

[No Elephants]

17. So, you're saying he's not a member of Congress?

[waiting for hope]

62. I'm still wearing the tin foil ...

Choi's Back .. looks like the attempt to bring him back into the fold was met with some contention.

[David Zephyr]

13. You might consider the history of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns.

He is a hero. And who are you to judge his "idea"?

[mahatmakanejeeves]

84. "And who are you to judge his 'idea'?"

It's one of the disadvantages of having a brain. I get to think for myself.

[David Zephyr]

98. Yes, you get to think and speak for yourself. Your gratutious slight of Dan Choi says a lot.

The fact that you entered into a thread about Dan Choi's courageous actions and great personal sacrifice on behalf of an oppressed minority (my GLBT community) and the first and only comment you could muster was one that it wasn't a "good idea" was a very cheap shot and makes me wonder why that was the ONLY thing you could find within yourself to comment on.

[Aleric]

66. Not really

A clever lawyer can use this to enhance the DADT court challenge. Would an officer normally lose his commission for an act of peaceful civil disobedience/exercise of free speech? If not and he loses his commission over this then the argument will be that he was discharged under false pretenses to cover up an expulsion for being gay.

[tavalon]

71. Does he still have his commission?

It's an unfortunate problem that they can kick him out for conduct unbecoming. Because this is actually appropriate conduct for a citizen.

[David Zephyr]

12. American Hero! Like Alice Paul and Lucy Burns.

Bravo!

This man is a national treasure!

[Maat]

53. I love the story of Alice Paul and Lucy Burns.

My kid and I could watch "Iron-Jawed Angels" again and again, although there were some artistic liberties taken with the film.

[David Zephyr]

59. Then that means I like you a lot, Maat!

What's sad is how few know about these two amazing women. And yes, Ken Burns did them proud, didn't he? :)

[Maat]

79. Blessings to you, David.

We homestudy; we'll be covering Choi's courage tomorrow (I'll see to it).

That picture of him chained to the fence is so inspiring.

[suffragette]

76. Kindred minds

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=102&topic_id=4311374&mesg_id=4312021

[David Zephyr]

78. Thanks for those moving photographs, suffragette.

Kindred spirits indeed. :)

[suffragette]

89. Here's another one I think you'll like

http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/h?ammem/mnwp:@field(NUMBER+@band(mnwp+160029))
Item Title
The day after the police announce that future pickets would be given limit of 6 mos. in prison, Alice Paul led picket line with banner reading "The time has come to conquer or submit for there is but one choice - we have made it." She is followed by Mrs. Lawrence Lewis . This group received 6 mos. in prison.

Notes
Summary: Photograph of Alice Paul emerging from National Woman's Party headquarters holding banner, followed by Dora Lewis (with no banner). Unidentified women stand with a banner in doorway of building. Banner Paul carries reads: "The Time Has Come to Conquer or Submit, For Us There Is But One Choice. Have Made It. President Wilson." Paul is leading picket line from headquarters to the White House.
Title transcribed from item.

The spirit is, indeed, alive.

[Cherchez la Femme]

14. We don't support THOSE kind of American troops!

Jeebus Lawd.

[Solly Mack]

15. K&R

[Name removed]

16. Deleted message

Sub-thread removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[bushalert]

18. I am one straight guy......

in COMPLETE SOLIDARITY with Lt. Dan Choi!!!!!!

[atomic-fly]

54. me too! nt

[No Elephants]

19. Gee, where's Rick Warren when we really need him?

:sarcasm:

10 U.S. C. 12305, Mr. President. Suspend all DADT discharges now.

[atomic-fly]

21. Let the man serve openly!

I admire this man!

[QC]

22. I hope the president looked out the window and saw

what it looks like for someone to fight for what he believes.

[beac]

23. Bravo, Lt. Choi!

:patriot:

K&R!

[Green_Lantern]

24. where was he during the Bush years?

Why is he just doing this now?

[Iggo]

25. And where are the parents? Huh?

:crazy:

[Bluebear]

27. Why don't you write him and ask him, big talker?

[David Zephyr]

28. Can you believe this shit?

The comfort in which this sort of homophobic posting is done now is becoming a hallmark here.

[Green_Lantern]

38. how was what I said homophobic?

Nothing anti-gay in my post.

[No Elephants]

94. Your post was full of empathy, sensitivity and understanding for what gays must go through,

including if they want to serve our country.

[Green_Lantern]

29. big talker?

I never said I'd chain myself to the WH fence.

[No Elephants]

96. WTF?

[Brickbat]

30. Bush said he would repeal DADT?

I TOTALLY missed that!

[David Zephyr]

33. The "Bush" observation was pathetic, huh?

Thanks, Brickbat! :)

[Green_Lantern]

34. no but when did I say he did?

I'm asking why Choi didn't say anything about DADT when Bush was President?

[Brickbat]

36. I'm in a good mood; I'll spell it out for you.

Because it was clear to everyone Bush would not have repealed it. Obama made noises like he would. He didn't, Choi is mad and protesting.

[Green_Lantern]

39. fair enough...

nt

[No Elephants]

95. That makes sense and is probably true, but is it also what Choi said?

I would hesitate to describe the motives of another, even if my reasoning were solid and seemed self-evident.

Hell, I don't even always know all my own motives, let alone those of another.

[Fading Captain]

72. Ask him ...

Maybe he just finally had enough

But leave it to a Dittocrat to question his progressive agenda.

Dittocrats are doing a lot of that these days.

[dencol]

52. People come out when they are ready.

Unless you are faced with something like this, I doubt you could understand. Coming out is a big deal, and you seem to question somebody else's timing for doing so. Shame on you.

[No Elephants]

93. Obviously, he was trying his best to live a lie, just as our laws require of him, if

he wishes to serve his country, which he obviously does.


Meanwhile, human rights trump partisanship.

[Regret My New Name]

99. I'm guessing he probably knew it would have little effect back then

and now he knows he might be able to help make some changes... I'm, of course, just guessing here.

[DRex]

26. That's a REAL man...

with the courage of his convictions.

Respect.

[Divine Discontent]

31. President Obama - give a medal of honor to Lt Choi for fighting for rights despite an aggressive

attempt by many in power to make the plight of GLBT citizens go away.

THIS is a brave American hero - and he should be commended by our president.

[arcadian]

32. kick & rec

we need about 1000 more people to chain themselves to the Whitehouse. Thanks Dan & Jim!

[Taverner]

35. I hope it works

Anything to push this through

I don't mean to be crass, but if you are interested in Nat Security you want DADT gone

You are losing the brightest and best by not repealing it

And Lt Dan - he was a translator. Something we are really short on. Give him a MEDAL for this shit! Give him a promotion and have him find the best translators he can.

Trust me - that problem will be SOLVED


BTW: He wouldn't do this if he didn't want to SERVE

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

37. Daniel Choi was a man, yes a reeeeeeeeeeeeal man...

[Ishoutandscream2]

40. Equality now!! Good on Lt. Choi!!!

A true patriot who serves his country. God bless him!!!

[Kadie]

41. Fresno Bee: Fresno gay-rights activist arrested at White House

Fresno gay-rights activist arrested at White House
Posted at 01:14 PM on Thursday, Mar. 18, 2010
The Fresno Bee

A Fresno gay rights activist was arrested today in front of the White House during a protest against the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy, according to a national magazine's web site.

Robin McGehee was taken into custody after she had apparently helped two discharged soldiers handcuff themselves to a White House fence, The Advocate site reported.

Following a rally earlier in Washington, D.C., Dan Choi and Jim Pietrangelo led about 100 protesters to the White House, where the two handcuffed themselves to the fence, the web site said.


Read more: http://www.fresnobee.com/2010/03/18/1863983/clovis-gay-rights-activist-arrested.html#ixzz0iZDQWXJb

[saracat]

42. This is a hero but DC doesn't know what to do with heros.

[Omaha Steve]

43. K&R!

It is time to end don't ask don't tell. Allowing gays in the military is fine with me. No more dishonorable discharges.

[MindandSoul]

44. I agree! He is a hero. . .and I hope he puts many people to shame!

[Jamastiene]

45. k&R&tears

:patriot:

[Joey Liberal]

46. Choi and Pietrangelo are HEROES!

I salute them both!

[pinto]

47. Kick

:kick:

[undergroundnomore]

48. thank you Lt. Dan Choi

Thank you for standing up for what is right and good.

[GrantDem]

49. "Someone, somewhere stood up"

And because that someone stood up, a few more did. And then a few thousand. And then a few million. And together, they changed the world."
~Barack Obama

Thank you Lt. Choi and Capt. Pietrangelo...

[fascisthunter]

50. here's another kick (nt)

[Jefferson23]

51. Wow, good for you soldier! Very smart move imo.

[Ms. Toad]

55. This civil disobedience puts the tea bag rallies to shame.

Principled and dignified and willing to put his personal freedom on the line for something he believed in.

Reminded me of folks on the opposite end of the military spectrum who were peacefully jailed years during World War II and earlier, before the conscientious objector status was legally recognized - willing to sacrifice personal freedom for something they believed in.

My feelings about the military align far more with the latter than Choi - but I have absolute respect for his principles and the way he acted on them.

[David Zephyr]

60. Excellent observation!

:thumbsup:

[gimama]

56. Kick for Lt. Dan & ALL who SERVE w/Honor

:patriot:

also..
ck out:
www.couragetoresist.org

[Overseas]

57. K&R . //nt

[kestrel91316]

58. Pay attention, freepers: THIS is what true heroism looks like.

[madmax]

61. Bravo Lt. Dan k&r

[bullwinkle428]

63. Who says there are no more heroes in America? K&R!!

[AlbertCat]

64. I love Satyagraha!

[alp227]

65. DADT = nothing but a big[oted] flop

that even excludes potentially constructive members like Choi, who could translate ARABIC for crying out loud!

So it's noble to sacrifice national security and intelligence collection just to keep the military morally pure? Awesome. :sarcasm:

Let's hope that Choi gets out of jail, and the police pursues more important things than this one bold incident.

[hay rick]

67. K&R

[gimama]

68. pls. see other thread:WHERE is Dan Choi?

Reports he's being held in undisclosed location, without his being allowed his phone call.. :(

[xchrom]

69. Recommend

[comitted]

70. Hoonah Alaska police chief John Millan

Hoonah Alaska Police Chief John Millan, under the profile name chiefmillan, posts these disrespectful remarks in the policelink website about President Obama

"This is the kind of "community activist" Presidency we can expect for the next 3+ years. High taxes, gun control, gay agenda, retreat and defeat abroad and cop-bashing. Well news flash sports fans, this is the same ACLU lefty who refused to apologize for porta-potties on the police memorial, so what do we expect? Any sworn LEO who voted for this man, all I can say is SHAME."

http://policelink.monster.com/topics/63414-should-obama-have-criticized-the-cambridge-police-department-without-knowing-all-of-the-facts/posts?page=7

My question to Chief Millan is, What is wrong with a gay agenda?

I'm sorry but I am a military vet, a police officer. I am also gay. Guess what Chief? I voted for Obama. You need to take your hatespeech off policelink.

[gimama]

90. thank You for posting!

& welcome to du!:patriot:

[AsahinaKimi]

97. Welcome to DU

:thumbsup:

[suffragette]

73. I think they deserve a pin like this

American "Jailed for Freedom" pin with heart-shaped lock, awarded by the National Woman's Party to all women jailed for picketing the White House for the right to vote.

Or maybe someone can design a new one, with proceeds going to help them and to show support.

Reminds me very much of this.

[suffragette]

74. dupe

[readmoreoften]

75. K&R

[1776Forever]

77. What courage from an Iraq combat veteran who majored in Arabic language at West Point!

This brought me to tears!

Found this article - don't know if it has been posted on DU yet but thought it was very much worth sharing:

West Point grads form gay support group
By William H. McMichael - Staff writer
Posted : Wednesday Mar 18, 2009 6:30:25 EDT

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2009/03/military_westpoint_knightsout_031609w/

Thirty-eight graduates of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., came out of the closet Monday with an offer to help their alma mater educate future Army leaders on the need to accept and honor the sacrifices of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender troops.

“Knights Out” wants to serve as a connection between gay troops and Army administrators, particularly at West Point, to provide an “open forum” for communication between gay West Point graduates and their fellow alumni and to serve in an advisory role for West Point leaders in the eventuality — which the group believes is both “imminent and inevitable” — that the law and policy collectively known as “don’t ask, don’t tell” are repealed by Congress.

“We’re publicly announcing our sexuality, our orientation,” said 1st Lt. Dan Choi, a National Guardsman with the 1st Bn., 69th Infantry, based in Manhattan. “It’s just one part of who we are in saying that we are standing to be counted.”

In forming Knights Out, its 38 members are following the example of similar support and education groups formed by graduates of the U.S. Naval Academy and U.S. Air Force Academy, known respectively as USNA Out and Blue Alliance. Most if not all of these groups’ members also belong to the Service Academy Gay and Lesbian Alumni social network, a group that Knights Out claims includes some active-duty commanders serving in Iraq and Afghanistan.

(More at link)

.....................

This is the time for our country to acknowledge these brave men and women for what they are, heroes! Without question!

:patriot:

[Divine Discontent]

81. amen! and here's to the president setting Dan free if he really is being held by the military as it

seems to appear at this early hour. Hopefully in the morning we'll find out whether they did detain him or not - but initial reports are he has vanished. So that would mean the military has whisked him away for being in uniform protesting at the fence of the WH. I still commend him, greatly!!! There is NO guarantee at this point that DADT is going to be gone - so this peaceful action, even if deemed illegal on 1st view - is still socially conscionable! I hope if he's in a military cell, that the president stays on top of the situation and tells them to show leniency considering what it's for!

[Divine Discontent]

80. SET CHOI FREE, MR PRESIDENT! You are the Commander In Chief of the military, please, just have a

private talk with Lt Choi discussing the issue, and understand that without the Dan Chois of the world, we wouldn't be this far along with the military potentially removing DADT. Much like how people stood up against social injustice in the past!

Since Pres. Obama is a self-proclaimed, "fierce advocate", of GLBT people - I'm hoping he handles this himself. The president, after all, understands it's something that needs to be removed, and since he is taking a couple of years to (hopefully) get rid of it in the military, maybe he'll pursue a short court martial punishment for Lt Choi based on the fact he was not being permitted to serve his country merely because he is Gay. It's no different if the military found out you were Christian, Jewish, or atheist and kicked you out for being one of those - it's wrong.

I hope the president does the right thing. I support Choi in doing this, even if it appears to go against the grain of what APPEARS to be going on at the Pentagon/Congress/WH regarding DADT - but, you cannot assume DADT will be gone.

[Skittles]

82. K&R for Lt Choi

fucking AWESOME :thumbsup:

[asdjrocky]

83. Hero.

Are you listening President Obama? Do you hear these brave Americans?

[Starry Messenger]

85. k & r

Release Lt. Choi!

[ZombieHorde]

86. Recommended. nt

[Renew Deal]

87. That image makes me sad.

I wish that didn't have to happen.

[Shining Jack]

88. K&R

:patriot:

[gimama]

91. any news, yet?

sending Love & Light to these brave Ones,
& ALL the PEACE-makers gathering now.

[AsahinaKimi]

92. I saw him speak in SF

He was very impressive.

[Politicub]

100. He is my hero - What a brave man