Two Arrested For Chaining Themselves to the White House Gate to Protest Don’t Ask Don’t Tell Policy
EmailABC News' Steven Portnoy and Sunlen Miller report: An Iraq war veteran and vocal opponent of the military’s Don’t Ask Don't Tell policy was arrested by police officers after chaining himself to the front gate of the White House, in apparent protest of that policy.
Lt. Dan Choi, a gay Arab linguist whose case for possible discharge from the New York national guard is still under review, has long opposed this policy. A second soldier, James Pietrangelo II, a plaintiff in the case turned down in the Supreme Court last year, also chained himself with Choi to the White House gate and was arrested.
Choi and Pietrangelo will be charged with failure to obey a lawful order, the U.S. Park Police said.
Some 150 protesters were also in front of the White House, changing “Hey Hey Ho Ho Don’t Ask Don’t Tell has got to go,” and about 30 Washington D.C. police officers are lined up in a show of force there as well.
Choi, a West Point graduate,was discharged from the National Guard in April of 2009. In a letter to President Obama last year, Choi described his reaction to receiving the letter as “a slap in the face to me. It is a slap in the face to my soldiers, peers and leaders who have demonstrated that an infantry unit can be professional enough to accept diversity, to accept capable leaders, to accept skilled soldiers … My subordinates know I'm gay. They don't care," he said. "They are professional."
"As an infantry officer, I am not accustomed to begging. But I beg you today: Do not fire me," Choi wrote.
Choi, 29, announced he is gay during an appearance March 19 on MSNBC's "The Rachel Maddow Show."
Soon after, the army made plans to fire him, saying he had "negatively affected good order and discipline in the New York Army National Guard."
While Choi and Pietrangelo were protesting, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs was asked at his daily briefing if President Obama had plans to meet with Choi.
“I don’t believe there are any meetings scheduled today,” Gibbs answered.
He said that he was not aware that the White House was given any heads up about this beforehand.
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Never fear.
Obama calls himself a fierce advocate of gay rights. But not quite fierce enough to support gay marriage, or to repeal DADT in his first year–like he promised.
He’s set up a committee.
He will focus like a laser on DADT.
After reelection.
How’s that for courage?
Posted by: kyle | March 18, 2010, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm
Obama has better things to worry about.
Haven’t you heard all those sad stories he tells about the health care crisis.
Even though full benefits won’t help for 3 years.
Right now Obama is trying to save himself.
Everything else can wait.
Posted by: ollie | March 18, 2010, 2:26 pm 2:26 pm
I beg to differ this must be done before Dems lose seats in November Elections. Choi is a hero in my book for standing up for GLBT Rights. DADT must end and soon. Talk is cheap its time for action Obama.
Posted by: Jhonny | March 18, 2010, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm
Hey, do your homework. Lt Dan Choi is still in the National Guard, He has not been kicked out yet, his discharge is pending.
Please get your facts right!!!!
Posted by: Ken | March 18, 2010, 2:38 pm 2:38 pm
Come on ABC — check your facts. Choi was recently granted permission to return to duty.. it’s seen as an attempt to silence him. That’s part of the reason he went to the White House, because he believes that Pres has not fully committed to repeal of DADT. Go Choi! Time for repeal now.
And the person who made a violent threat against the gay community above needs to be identified and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Stop the hate.
Posted by: Whoa | March 18, 2010, 2:42 pm 2:42 pm
Obama has dumped DADT onto someone else like he does everything, so that he can rise above the fray.
DADT will be tied up in review for the next year, while gay soldiers continue to get kicked out.
Obama will toss a bone to the gay community just to keep the money flowing in.
Posted by: fran | March 18, 2010, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm
Ken, this is 2010. Why do you expect journalists to check facts?
Posted by: Zed | March 18, 2010, 2:44 pm 2:44 pm
Is the DADT policy chanse one of the biggest problems facing this country really?? Not in my mind.
Posted by: scurl | March 18, 2010, 2:46 pm 2:46 pm
3 were arrested!!! Robin McGehee also arrested. They didn’t chain themselves to the fence – she helped them. She is a hero.
Posted by: Laura Kanter | March 18, 2010, 3:10 pm 3:10 pm
If I were in the military again, I’d want DADT removed cuz I would wanna know precisely from whom I should separate myself. That way, they could have their army, or air force, or navy, or marines, and we could have ours.
Posted by: Mr. Incredible | March 18, 2010, 3:15 pm 3:15 pm
He’s not a real Infantry Officer anyway. Otherwise, he’d stop complaininging and get the job done. Big girls don’t cry, neh?
Posted by: viktor | March 18, 2010, 3:19 pm 3:19 pm
Stop the hate.
Posted by: Whoa | Mar 18, 2010 2:42:23 PM
—————————–
You go first.
Posted by: Mr. Incredible | March 18, 2010, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
The liberal elected the most social conservative there was!
If you fell for the bait n switch, sorry,
you should know better. Liberals are hypocrites who have zero interest in you. They want your money and the power you offer.
Didn’t the gay community go through this before – oh wait that’s right, DOMA signed into LAW by Clinton.
There are MANY MANY MANY MORE SOCIAL CONSERVATIVES ON THE LEFT, than there has even been on the right.
Maybe now people will start to loose the stupid notions, founded purely by the media’s love for liberal causes?
One can only hope!
Posted by: halo | March 18, 2010, 3:20 pm 3:20 pm
Right on! End this embarrassing DADT policy, now!
Posted by: Kyle F. | March 18, 2010, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
If those who choose to claim that they are homosexual wanna stay in the military, the military oughta provide separate facilities for them, just as their are separate facilities for men and for women.
Posted by: Mr. Incredible | March 18, 2010, 3:32 pm 3:32 pm
I think it’s important to remember that DADT cannot be repealed by Executive Order, meaning President Obama doesn’t have the authority to get rid of the law. Unless I am misinformed by all the information I’m reading, it can only be repealed by a vote from Congress – something they are gearing up for now from what I understand (studying, gathering facts & then a vote). President Obama is lending his support to the efforts but to make statements that paint the picture that he can wave a magic wand & all will be fixed isn’t supported by the facts.
Posted by: James E. Wright, PHR | March 18, 2010, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm
It’s obvious that ABC doesn’t support equal rights as my post were removed. All I did was state what should be done. Its no different than someone stating that rapist should be sent to prison. In that thinking you would have to say the person or persons that said that committed a hate crime.
Posted by: Joe | March 18, 2010, 3:46 pm 3:46 pm
why arn’t more people fighting like this? have we lost our will to live freely? and since when did it become illegal to protest in front of the white house? isn’t that partly what women suffragist did?
Posted by: josh | March 18, 2010, 3:55 pm 3:55 pm
He was discharged and he is in uniform. I hope they charge him with impersonating an officer too!
Posted by: lfrichar | March 18, 2010, 4:08 pm 4:08 pm
==since when did it become illegal to protest in front of the white house?==
When protesters chain themselves to the fence.
Posted by: Mr. Incredible | March 18, 2010, 4:10 pm 4:10 pm
James E. Wright, PHR —- Well they keep changing the rules for the health care vote..errr non-vote, so what makes you think Obama doesn’t have a trick up his sleeve for this? Look at the trickery they used in Massachusetts!!!
Posted by: lfrichar | March 18, 2010, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm
josh — As a 20+ year retiree, I can PROMISE you it is illegal to protest in uniform.
Posted by: lfrichar | March 18, 2010, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
Like I always say.. no use for POTUS to kiss up to the gays.. they have to vote for his team.
Posted by: DontGet818OnMeNow | March 18, 2010, 4:15 pm 4:15 pm
Regardless of where I stand on this debate, the fact is that DADT is in effect until it’s not, and Lt. Choi’s actions warranted dismissal. Is it right that he was dismissed? Maybe, maybe not. (As a servicemember, I wouldn’t have an issue with openly gay people being allowed to serve.)
But I ask you this: Given the military policy, how could the New York Guard do anything but dismiss him after he outed himself on national TV? His actions pretty much tied their hands.
Posted by: Chris | March 18, 2010, 4:22 pm 4:22 pm
Chris — Good post. I retired in 2003, but knew several gays serving, they just didn’t soapbox it. To be fair, I never soapboxed my hetro style either. I wouldn’t mind serving with gays, but the Generals are having to answer the question: Does throwing out this policy help the military in any way? Not really. Then they have to ask does removing this policy hurt it? Truth is, maybe in the short term, but I think it could work itself out. But, when you say it would affect morale in the short term, then the answer on whether to repeal is clear. IMHO
Posted by: lfrichar | March 18, 2010, 4:40 pm 4:40 pm
Unless it prevents anyone from entering, I don’t see why a person can get arrested to chaining themselves to public property.
It seems to me that too many people over-react to things these days.
Posted by: Wayne | March 18, 2010, 4:58 pm 4:58 pm
@ wayne
loitering
Posted by: lily | March 19, 2010, 6:04 am 6:04 am
I served in the Marines for many years and I am gay. Contrary to popular belief gays and lesbians aren’t interested in changing people. I had plenty of gay friends and we did our own thing. I was fortunate enough to be stationed in Southern CA so life for us was pretty normal. I think the problem with DADT is about sex. Dumb ass Americans hung up on sex that clouds their judgement. These churches (hate centers) only think about sex!!! Get over it America and just give people rights. Look back at all the hatred in this country and the underlying reason for so much fear is SEX!!!
Posted by: Raj | July 25, 2010, 6:43 pm 6:43 pm