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Story Updated : March 19, 2010 06:00:00 AM

Choi Arrested at White House Gates


DAN CHOI WHITE HOUSE X390 (KERRY ELEVELD) | ADVOCATE.COM
Photos By Kerry Eleveld

In an act of civil disobedience, Lt. Dan Choi and Capt. Jim Pietrangelo were arrested at the White House gates on Thursday while protesting the military's "don't ask, don't tell" policy.

Following a Human Rights Campaign rally for DADT repeal at Freedom Plaza in Washington, Choi and Pietrangelo led about 100 protesters to the White House, where the two then proceeded to handcuff themselves to the gates. Pietrangelo was discharged from the military under the gay ban, while Choi's discharge is pending. Choi is the founder of Knights Out, a West Point alumni organization supporting LGBT soldiers.

United States Park Police spokesman Sgt. David Schlosser told The Advocate that both men were taken to Park Police's Anacostia station for processing, where they were charged with failure to obey a lawful order. Choi and Pietrangelo will be held overnight and are scheduled to appear in D.C. Superior Court on Friday.
 
Paul Yandura, an organizer of the action, said via e-mail Friday morning that Choi and Pietrangelo had been moved from DC Central Cell Block to the D.C. Superior Court and are expected to be arraigned at 2:30 pm by a judge in room 115. The charges could not be verified, he said.

Meanwhile, news of a growing grassroots response in solidarity with the activists poured in, with a rally scheduled for noon Friday at the Times Square Military Recruitment Office in New York City, and a rally planned in Orlando, Florida.

Gay rights activist Robin McGehee was also arrested Thursday, apparently for helping the two discharged soldiers handcuff themselves to the fence. An officer who arrested McGehee said "I can't say anything" on why she was taken into custody. McGehee, who helped organize the action as part of GetEqual.org, was bailed out and released Thursday evening.

Choi was not originally scheduled to speak at the HRC rally but, upon arriving, requested to be a last-minute addition to the program.

"You've been told that the White House has a plan," Choi told rally attendees. "But we learned this week that the president is still not fully committed. ... Following this rally, I will be leading [the protest] to the White House to say 'enough talk.' ... I am still standing, I am still fighting, I am still speaking out, and I am still gay."

Choi then asked HRC's executive director, Joe Solmonese,  and comedian Kathy Griffin, who was in Washington at the behest of HRC to lobby members of Congress about DADT repeal, if they would also march to the White House. Griffin responded, "Of course!" from the stage. Solmonese reportedly gave a thumbs up sign from the crowd. Neither Griffin nor Solmonese attended the White House protest, however.

Once the two men handcuffed themselves to the fence, police officers blocked the gates of the White House with yellow tape and pushed back the protesters, who were chanting DADT repeal slogans and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

The HRC released the following statement on the rally: “Today more than 1,000 people showed up at a rally — 500 of which signed up to become more involved in the fight to repeal ‘don’t ask, don’t tell.’ Joe Solmonese along with [gay Iraq war veteran] Eric Alva and others felt it was important to stay and engage those at the rally in ways they can continue building the pressure needed for repeal. This does nothing to diminish the actions taken by Lt. Choi and others. This is the nature of social change and everyone has a role to play.”

Alex Nicholson, a scheduled speaker at the HRC rally and executive director of the gay veterans group Servicemembers United, did follow the marchers to the White House. He said he had "no idea" what they were planning to do and that civil disobedience wasn't really his style, but he added that he understood the anger mounting in many corners of the LGBT community.

"I used to be skeptical about these types of things especially when there appeared to be significant hope for some immediate progress on 'don't ask, don't tell,'" Nicholson said. "I think it's indicative of the frustration that's bubbling up right now."

DAN  CHOI WHITE HOUSE 2 X560 (KERRY ELEVELD) | ADVOCATE.COM

DAN  CHOI WHITE HOUSE 3 X560 (KERRY ELEVELD) | ADVOCATE.COM

More photos on next page...
 
Julie Bolcer contributed to this report.

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Reader Comments
  • Name: LCO
    Date posted: 6/5/2010 5:07:37 PM
    Hometown: brooklyn

    Comment:

    ok i do agree a soilder in uniform should not behave in such a manner but also what he does in his private life is nobodys godamn concern the military shouldent discriminate against anyone what happend to freedom? why does it matter if you are gay straight bisexual purple what the fuck ever you are if you want to serve your country then you should come as you are to serve. i love and respect our military very much but i have no clue why it matters if you are gay or lesbian. the dont ask dont tell crap they have going on should be lifted... i and alot of others believe that people of the GLBT community should not have to be discriminated in the military. in the decleration of independence it states we are all created equally. they legalized gay marrige in washington dc, our nations capitol! its only a matter of time untill it is legalized everywhere including the military. so why not just accept the fact that we are all people with different likes and desires and none of us are perfect?

  • Name: Jay Johnston
    Date posted: 3/30/2010 6:55:12 PM
    Hometown: az

    Comment:

    Time to kick LT Choi out of the military...and now they have reasons other then his being openly gay. He is a disgrace to his uniform and the Country he claims to defend.

  • Name: Jay Johnston
    Date posted: 3/30/2010 6:44:11 PM
    Hometown: az

    Comment:

    Now his unit can discharge him, not for being gay but for breaking his oath to the CIC to defend, support, and follow orders, and for public protest and civil disobedience. He has even managed to get arrested. Throw the book at him and toss him out on his neither region. He has brought shame to the Uniform he is wearing and to the Country he serves.

  • Name: Jay Johnston
    Date posted: 3/30/2010 6:37:20 PM
    Hometown: Arizona

    Comment:

    Mr Choi is a disgrace to the uniform and to this country. This is exactly why gays and lesbians should not serve because they have to make a statement about their sexual prefrences. Yes some serve now but most of those have good sense to not crap where they eat and keep it below radar. It is agains the UCMJ to donn the uniform of the Armed Forces when protesting. So now not only has he displayed conduct unbecoming an officer he has violated the reg stating that he cannot protest in Uniform. By doing what he has done here he has broken the oath to this country and his CIC. DADT should either stand as stated, or get rid of it and go back to the complete banning of gays and lesbians in the Military. Since when do we cater to the selfish needs of a minority over the wishes of a majority. Thats not the way this country works. You want to be gay fine no problem but don't serve in the military.

  • Name: Francis Dane
    Date posted: 3/27/2010 9:20:02 AM
    Hometown: Andover, MA

    Comment:

    It is a complete violation of military regulations for Choi to participate in a political demonstration in his uniform. He hasn't been kicked out of the Army yet [and I am not saying he should be], but this won't help him. In fact, he could be kicked out just for this violation. Shows contempt for the service. I don't think he really wants to remain in the Army.

  • Name: CC
    Date posted: 3/23/2010 7:59:24 AM
    Hometown: Republic of Korea

    Comment:

    I am a gay officer in the United States Air Force and am deeply disappointed at how the Lt and the Capt violated military reguilations and protested in uniform. The whole point of pursuing repeal is to demonstrate that gays and lesbians are just as qualified to serve and can live under the same conditions and same RULES as heterosexuals. As officers, these two made poor examples of themselves to the soldiers they lead and deserve to be punished. It pains me to write this because I actually admired Dan Choi as an active and vocal critic od DADT. This may not be a big deal to most, but it is huge in the military. Soliders, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines are punished everyday for failure to follow orders with punishments ranging from a fine to confinement. Ask yourselves, how would he have the integrity to potentially levy punishment on subordinates when he feels he deserves a pass for blatantly violating serious militarry regulations?

  • Name: Paul
    Date posted: 3/22/2010 9:16:06 AM
    Hometown: Boston, MA

    Comment:

    I'm not posting for or against "Don't Ask Don't Tell". I'm merely going to state that this is NOT civil disobedience. As you can see, he in uniform. That's not civil; it is military. Regulations specifically forbid one from being in uniform when making a political statement. These Officers are very much in the wrong. Whatever happened to military bearing and discipline? -Pissed off Infantry Sergeant

  • Name: doug
    Date posted: 3/19/2010 1:42:46 PM
    Hometown: vb

    Comment:

    Obama owes Dan Choi a lot- he only came out to help the Obama campaign, thinking they were strongly in favor of repaeling DADT...many gays weren't pro Obama at the time, Dan Choi's endorsement helped sway a number of us to follow this douchebag of a President. I consider it the very height of betrayal what Obama has done to Choi.

  • Name: Ed
    Date posted: 3/19/2010 1:23:26 PM
    Hometown: Houston

    Comment:

    It is outrageous for posters like "John" to state Lt. Choi has to "earn" equal rights. Hasn't he already? He fought in Iraq. While you sat on your ass blubbering here that any action is too radical.

  • Name: Dominick J.
    Date posted: 3/19/2010 1:23:00 PM
    Hometown: Cloverdale

    Comment:

    I'm proud of these two service men standing up for the rights of ALL Gay members of the military and all Gay men and women everywhere!!!

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