Gay Veterans Chain Themselves To White House Gate, Demand DADT Repeal (VIDEO)

For the second time in as many days, protesters targeted the office of the president demanding that the White House take quicker action to repeal Don't Ask Don't Tell.

A day after the president himself was screamed at by protesters during a fundraiser in California, a group of military-veteran activists handcuffed themselves to the northern gate of the White House, in silent protest of a policy that prohibits gays from serving openly in the army.

Lt. Dan Choi was the only one of six lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) discharged veterans to make a statement on Tuesday morning. Standing with his arms locked behind him, the still-active reserve member (who has become, in many ways, the face of the DADT repeal effort), called on Obama "to take bold action, to show firm resolve and real leadership" and "to make good on [his] promise" to repeal DADT.

"[H]e has the opportunity to transmit to Congress, through the Defense Authorization Bill, the repeal language," said Choi, who was arrested in a similar protest weeks ago and is awaiting a hearing for that arrest this Monday.

At one point during the protest, White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs walked through the crowd and was reportedly yelled at to support DADT's repeal.

Choi was joined in the protest by Capt. Jim Pietrangelo II, Petty Officer Larry Whitt, Petty Officer Autumn Sandeen, Cadet Mara Boyd, and Cpl. Evelyn Thomas, in an event that was orchestrated by GetEQUAL.org, a new LGBT activist organization. The same group was behind the protests at Obama's fundraiser in California on Monday evening, in which the president was interrupted on multiple occasions over his failure to move swiftly on DADT repeal.

"We were here over 30 days ago demanding that the president add repeal language into the Defense Authorization bill," said Robin McGehee, the co-founder of the organization. "He has not shown leadership to do that as of this time... [And] we don't believe that you need to be delaying the service members who are suffering under this policy any longer."

Asked whether Monday and Tuesday's protest was a harbinger of things to come, McGehhe, replied: "Absolutely. In our opinion we need equality all across the United States for all LGBT Americans. Service members are one group of people who are treated unjustly, but there are people who suffer..."

"At our national dinner he said: 'Pressure me,'" she added. "We're here to do it, That's what we're here to do."

The group of six protesters, adorned in their military uniforms, approached the White House closely at noon, after which they very casually chained themselves to the fence. Standing in silence for several minutes, Choi offered his statement. They then stood silently once more as the Secret Service cleared the area around them.

Roughly 45 minutes in, Secret Service agents began cutting off the protesters' handcuffs and placing each member into a police wagon. By 1 o'clock, everyone had been removed from the fence and reporters dispersed.

Watch the video:

Comments

[Kyo Hanakara]

06:13 PM on 05/02/2010

awesome work guys
i support you and you will get what you are asking for soon

[PitBull6]

02:50 AM on 04/22/2010

I'm wondering if LT Choi is falling on a grenade here. Not sure about his other arrest, but if he's 1LT Daniel Wook Choi out of NY, he appears to be a National Guardsman. I'm not up on my UCMJ, but I believe he's prohibited from partaking in political events in his uniform, whether he's on active duty or not. It would be ironic if he got punished for doing so to a degree that would end his affiliation with the Army.

[superstition]

04:06 PM on 04/24/2010

"It would be ironic if he got punished for doing so to a degree that would end his affiliation with the Army."

How is it ironic to protest getting thrown out for being gay?

[Peter007]

01:07 PM on 04/21/2010

There should be an investigation in why the secret service or Police removed everyone from the Park. I'm sure they will say it was for security reasons but I suspect that it was done for Political reasons to prevent any press from covering the event.
If the closing of the Park was done for political reasons, then a criminal investigation needs to be done .

Using police to further a political cause is illegal.

[comunsenze]

11:19 AM on 04/21/2010

Why aren't these dedicated protesters chaining themselves to Senator McCain's fence in front of his house? Sure you get more press when it's the White House but Obama is not the one you need to convince. Protest in front of the Senators and Congressmen homes who are blocking this reform. Go to the source.

[CHICAGOSTYLE]

10:29 AM on 04/21/2010

Where is the outrage from HP and MSNBC and KOZ and Media Matters over the DC Cops chasing off the media from covering this ?.... Imagine if DC cops stopped you guys from covering a code pink or this same demonstration two years ago

[QuietNetworker]

10:36 AM on 04/21/2010

Um, okay, Chicago. It's outrageous.

Anytime the police state tries to control, especially a valid fourth estate, it is horrible.

However, you're analogy seems odd to me. Are you thinking we favour Code Pink and thus want it covered buy opposed these service people from their civil disobedience and protest?

That is, they're both groups we support. So this attempt at suggesting some kind of equivocation seems poorly reasoned to me.

[mooph]

10:44 AM on 04/21/2010

Hmm ... nowhere in this article does it say DC cops chased off the media.

"By 1 o'clock, everyone had been removed from the fence and reporters dispersed."

Sounds like the media thought the event was over after the protesters (who were handcuffed to the White House fence) were arrested ... which was obviously the point of the demonstration -- get arrested for your cause, get media coverage.

[CHICAGOSTYLE]

10:47 AM on 04/21/2010

of course not,,, that wouldn't be prudent,,,,,, check out FOX NATION,... they have the video of the police shutting down the entire park, and journalists commenting that they had never seen this before,,,,,, I pay attention to different sites

[LARRYB28]

10:51 AM on 04/21/2010

Thats because this administration considers transparency as not letting reporters report
http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0410/Most_transparent_White_House_ever.html?showall

[TheInconvenientTruth]

09:33 AM on 04/21/2010

This is ridiculous! These folks should be thankful that we have a President that's even willing to entertain these issues, much less support them...yet they continue to beat him up. Maybe they should just stay home during the mid-term and 2012 elections and really show the Dems and the Pres they mean business. I'm sure the Republicans will be more sympathetic to their plight and move quickly to repeal DADT...

[AguynamedWayne]

10:19 AM on 04/21/2010

watch what you wish for.... you just might get it.

[TheInconvenientTruth]

10:29 AM on 04/21/2010

Sadly, you may be right...

[TheInconvenientTruth]

10:46 AM on 04/21/2010

...and what will that get you?

[QuietNetworker]

10:39 AM on 04/21/2010

There's a Mexican saying that goes; Only the person carrying the bag knows what's in it.

When you say "These Folks" you make it CLEAR that you're a hetronormative person. Further, the rest of the post seems to point out clearly that you feel the "Lessor" peeps (The gays) should be happy and thankful for whatever scraps and crumbs they get rather than be aggressive and focused on the key issues for their (our) community?

You seem to recognize that things will / can be harder even by 2012...and yet you condemn and fail to empathize with the urgency of NOW?

[TheInconvenientTruth]

01:12 PM on 04/21/2010

Fair point about my choice of terminology. And you're right, I'm not gay. I have no beef with gays or gay rights issues, but I do have a great deal of admiration and respect for our President. It's extremely frustrating to see a guy who's been busting his a$#! to tackle what is arguably the worst portfolio ever passed from one administration to another constantly demeaned and berated because he hasn't solved everyone's problems yet. In case you missed it, he's got a lot of s*&t on his plate and unfortunately (perhaps regrettably depending on your point of view) DODT is not the most pressing among them. Now we can agree to disagree about what the Presidents priorities should be, but I don't see how rudely interrupting him at public events or handcuffing yourself to the White House fence helps your cause. As we speak, right-wing lunatics are protesting on the capital about him taking their guns away; even whackier republican lawmakers are trying to incite a full fledged violent revolution against the federal government; Tea Partiers, with medicare cards in their back pockets, are going nuts about taxes and a government take over healthcare after they received a tax cut; Israel's whining; Iran's building nukes; China's making love to Venezuela; volcanoes erupting...it's his fault; Now you guys want to create a dust up when you should be focused on Congress/Pentagon. I'm sorry, maybe it's the timing, but it just looks like you're piling on.

[LaughALott]

08:38 AM on 04/21/2010

Not the full story, shortly after this video was taking the capital police shut down Lafayette Park and sent the press packing. All part of the most open administration ever I guess.

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0410/Most_transparent_White_House_ever.html?showall

[lorsavus]

08:25 AM on 04/21/2010

Everyone in this country who has an issue or cause that POTUS has not addressed to their satisfaction
should immediately go to Washington and chain themselves to the white house fence.

I has been so successful for GLBTs activists, right?

Well at least you will get some attention and face-time on cable chatter shows.

[Lone Hold Out]

10:09 AM on 04/21/2010

hehehe

[QuietNetworker]

10:43 AM on 04/21/2010

Lorsavus,

You are correct that that will be a lot of people. And as I see it, it started with 2. And this most recent time there were many more. How many do you think we need to have movement on Health Care in America... To have movement on Immigration? To have a progressive, and brilliant Justice?

Because I'm with you, let's increase the ranks....things don't work until they do. It's called a tipping point. So if that was your "tip" I ask you, will you come and be chained for your grievance next time?

[AguynamedWayne]

07:14 AM on 04/21/2010

Strange, but I was called a racist yesterday on this board because I said that a large number of Latino groups had become disenchanted with Obama over his lack of commitment to immigration reform. And here is yet another article pointing out the rising anger within the Latino Community.

http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_119/news/45397-1.html

So Obama has alienated the Gay Community by breaking his promises to them, now the Latino Community is considering sitting out the next election (just like many within the Gay Community)

Obama's broken promises are going to make the next few election cycles REAL FUN!

[AguynamedWayne]

07:21 AM on 04/21/2010

Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.), who chairs the CHC’s Immigration Task Force, said Tuesday. Specifically, he called on Obama to help round up the necessary votes to pass Senate legislation during the work period between Memorial Day and the Fourth of July.

“The president needs to begin to work harder and bring the people together so that we can get this process started in the Senate, and it must begin immediately,” Rep. Gutierrez, chair of the CHC’s Immigration Task Force, said.

Gutierrez went so far as to say he is holding open the possibility of urging Hispanic voters to stay home on Election Day if the White House and Congressional leaders don’t do enough to try to advance immigration reform in the coming months.

“Will I rule it out in the future? Absolutely not,” he said. If nothing else, Hispanic voters “can simply stay home, and that, to me, seems to be an option that is there” even without lawmakers’ urging, he added.

[elijah24]

08:03 AM on 04/21/2010

At the risk of sounding like an Obama-kool-ade-guzzler, there are two points that need to be made.
1. Not having done anything yet, doesn't mean promises have been broken. At a minimum, the man has a little more than 2 and a half more years in office, and big change doesn't happen over night.
2. He sees the game differently. He sees the whole board. We thought health-care was dead, but he didn't give up and it paid off. We thought the stim wouldn't get done, but he pushed it through. Every time we think he has been beat, he finds a way to win. I believe the same will be true here.
I have said (long before I knew who Barack Obama was) that an executive order is not enough. We need leigislation to go through congress. An executive order is overturned by the next republican president before the echo of "so help me God" dies on the Mall. Only an act of Congress will stand.
To be continued...

[elijah24]

08:03 AM on 04/21/2010

Continued
Of course I could turn out to be wrong, and if that happens, I will be the first to admit it. But im asking everyone to be patient. The President inherited a huge mess. And once he's done cleaning that up, Latino's want imigration reform, Homosexuals want DADT and the ban on gay marriage to end, Religious groups want a voice in government and non-religious groups want them kicked out. People in the middle east need to see that we dont hate them, people in Haiti need medical help, people in Michigan need a job, and people in about 100 countries (including this one) need a sandwich.
I get that you are tired of being told to wait your turn, and I don't blame you, but you aren't being put off so that he can watch American Idol. There are other important issues out there that require his attention too. And almost all of them are as worthy of it as you are. Not more. But as much. So please be patient.

[Jtt]

07:37 AM on 04/21/2010

Same here - I was called a whiner by the bots.

Racial Profiling has to end in the US.

[Slash14]

06:50 AM on 04/21/2010

http://www.politico.com/blogs/bensmith/0410/Most_transparent_White_House_ever.html?showall

The Base is cracking

[QuietNetworker]

10:53 AM on 04/21/2010

And how do you feel about that?

[Slash14]

11:47 AM on 04/21/2010

I feel bad that Obama is not living up to his pronise. But I feel good that he is being called out on it. Politicians need to start keeping their promises. This is why 80% do not trust the goverment

[Lone Hold Out]

04:26 AM on 04/21/2010

So you have a half dozen gay ex-military who chain themselves to a fence. I don't see how that could be contrued as a significant event enough to warrant concern, unless you now have to give some sort of notifcation of an intent to chain yourself to a fence....

But then again, after the drubbing Obama took from DADT opponents in CA, he or his handlers very well may have opted to close the park

I find a 45 minute delayed response in the actions of the Secret Service suspect, as if they too were awaiting instructions.

I mean, earlier this week the White House went ballistic over a blogger who said a Supreme Court hopeful was gay...

It would appear there is some conflicting ideology afoot.

[Jtt]

03:55 AM on 04/21/2010

This totally stinks:

When reached on Tuesday afternoon, Lt. Felt with U.S. Park Police told Metro Weekly, “We had an impromptu demo . . . When we got up there, we secured the area.” Asked why the south half of Lafayette Park was closed, Felt said, “You’d have to talk to the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division . . . I believe that was done prior to any of our arrival.”

Malcolm Wiley, with the U.S. Secret Service Uniformed Division, reached later, disputed Felt’s comments, “We're going to have to confer with them; I don't see how that’s correct.”

Explaining further, Wiley said, “We don't have the authority to do that.” In addition to not having the authority to do so, he added, “I don't have any information that we did shut the park.”

Later, Wiley added about the Park Police, “If they decided to shut it down and asked for our assistance, then certainly we would give them that. The Secret Service cannot give an order to shut down the park.”

U.S. Park Police Communications Shift Supervisor Loveland disputed Wiley’s comments, saying of the Secret Service, “They close it all the time; they’re giving the run-around.” Saying “they’ve got the authority in the city,” Loveland added, “Believe me, they take full advantage of it.” ( http://www.metroweekly.com/news/?ak=5098 )

[BoyInBOYCOTT]

03:46 AM on 04/21/2010

LGBT service members to Obama

lead, follow, or get the f*ck out of our way.

[QuietNetworker]

10:57 AM on 04/21/2010

Boy,

Remember this is a case of MOST service members, not just the ones directly effected by the policy.

It's interesting, I wonder if a movement could be done by the BI's ... Does DADT "address" or otherwise "limit" bisexuals from claiming to be BI?!

If so, I"d love to see a massive "bi" gone days party where a huge flock of folk come OUT as BI!

LOL

[elijah24]

03:54 PM on 04/21/2010

The reg uses the specific term: sodomy, which officially refers to any sexual intercourse other than man/woman in the missionary position. Of course it is only actually used in refrence to service-members involved in same-sex practices. So yes, it does also apply to bisexuals.

[YunekFlava]

03:29 AM on 04/21/2010

Hey, I say stay there, until someone has to use the bathroom.

[QuietNetworker]

10:57 AM on 04/21/2010

Meaning what?

[Jtt]

03:06 AM on 04/21/2010

When People protest THE LAST THING I WANT TO SEE FROM DEMS IS AN ATTEMPT AT CENSORSHIP AND CONTROL OF THE MEDIA.

Someone at the white house need to be fired:

UPDATE: According to AmericaBLOG, the White House has closed Lafayette Park to stop the media from covering the protest. The activists are still chained to the fence. ( http://www.dallasvoice.com/instant-tea/2010/04/20/breaking-6-activists-chained-to-white-house-fence-in-protest-of-dont-ask-dont-tell/ )

Closing the park and kicking the journalists out was unethical.

[Jtt]

03:09 AM on 04/21/2010

So bravo for interrupting his limousine liberal fund raiser.

[xlntcat]

03:27 AM on 04/21/2010

And you are absolutely sure that it was the WH and not the capital police as originally reported. But if you want to know who it appears to be the Secret Service and I for one am not interested in firing the entire Secret Service. The president was on Air Force 1 at the time flying back from the west coast. Since law enforcement for whatever reason decided that needed to do this, do you think that at least one reporter might have contacted them after the fact to inquire regarding their reason. Oh yeah, that would take a bit more effort than whining by the unethical, ineffective media and just look how they can get people to jump on board with no substantiated data.

[Jtt]

03:52 AM on 04/21/2010

No this is some thing else. A colossal error by a staffer or a huge red flag.

[QuietNetworker]

10:59 AM on 04/21/2010

Do you so trust the "Capital Polices?"

F'the police.