Lt. Dan Choi and Capt. James Pietrangelo IIwho is being discharged and was let go under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" ( DADT ) , respectivelyopted to go to trial after being arrested March 18 for handcuffing themselves to the White House gates while protesting the policy, according to MetroWeekly.com .
Choi was speaking at a Human Rights Campaign ( HRC ) rally about repealing DADT when he asked HRC President Joe Solmonese if he would march to the White House. Chanting protesters clashed with police officers, who had surrounded the gates of the White House with yellow tape, Advocate.com reported.
D.C. Superior Court Judge Richard Ringell gave Choi and Pietrangelo two options March 19: pay a $100 fine and close the case, or to go to trial. Both selected the latter option, and the trial will commence April 26, MetroWeekly.com stated. ( ''I am not guilty, I am not ashamed, and I am not finished,'' Choi said while in chains." ) After the arraignment and outside the courthouse, Choi said, ''There was no freer moment than being in that prison."
Actress/comedian/LGBT ally Kathy Griffin, who was in D.C. to meet with federal legislators about repealing DADT, was also at the March 18 rally. Choi also asked her if she would march, to which Griffin replied, "Of course!" However, neither Griffin nor Solmonese went to the White House protest.
Activist Robin McGehee was also arrested after she had apparently helped Choi and Pietrangelo handcuff themselves to the fence. She was released that evening.
A statement from HRC sent to Windy City Times read, "Today HRC along with veterans and entertainer Kathy Griffin hosted a rally at DC's Freedom Plaza between the White House and Capitol Hill, calling for the repeal of 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell.' HRC President Joe Solmonese welcomed the crowd of more than 1,000 and encouraged them to take action and put pressure on the White House and Congress to end this discriminatory law NOW. More than 500 people signed up to become more involved in the fight to repeal DADT.
"Singer Tom Goss kicked off the event followed by the first American wounded in the Iraq war, retired Marine Staff Sgt. Eric Alva. Also speaking were Ben Mishkin of Servicemembers Legal Defense Network and Alex Nicholson of Servicemembers United. Finally, Kathy Griffin took to the stage, talking about her experiences this week in Washington, welcoming Lt. Dan Choi to the stage to make a few remarks and then calling for a moment of silence to honor our troops who serve in silence.
"There's been some confusion about Lt. Dan Choi's role in the rally. As Joe Solmonese was walking on stage Lt. Choi asked Joe if he could have a speaking role. Joe explained that it wasn't his sole decision to make on the spot given that there was already an established program that included Kathy Griffin, other organization and veterans. After Choi then spoke with Kathy Griffin, she agreed to bring him up on stage and speak to the crowd during her remarks.
"Lt. Choi in his speech called on the crowd to march on the White House. Joe Solmonese along with 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."
Rick Jacobs and Cleve Jones, both with the Courage Campaign, released a statement supporting Choi and Pietrangelo, saying, "Lt. Dan Choi and Capt. Jim Pietrangelo today demonstrated the growing frustration with the pace of change in Washington. History shows us that nonviolent civil disobedience can be a very effective tactic in the struggle for social justice. Lt. Choi is a friend of ours and of the Courage Campaign and we are proud of the action he took today."
In an interview with Windy City Times that ran in the March 17 issue, Choi classified DADT as a "hate crime." He also said that DADT denies "access to telling the truth. And, when you deny that access to people, to their own honesty, I think there is no greater poison to our moral fabric."