Six gay activists were arrested Tuesday
outside the White House protesting “don't ask, don't tell,” the
1993 law that bans gay troops from serving openly.
The activists were arrested by Park
Police after they handcuffed themselves to the White House fence in
protest of the policy which bans gay and lesbian service members from
revealing their sexual orientation at the risk of being fired.
Among the arrested were Lt. Dan Choi
and Capt. Jim Pietrangelo. The two men were arrested last month for
staging a similar protest. Both have pleaded not guilty to a charge
of failure to obey an officer in DC's criminal court. A hearing for
that arrest is scheduled for April 26.
“We are handcuffing ourselves to the
White House gates once again to demand that President Obama show
leadership on repealing 'don't ask, don't tell'. If the president
were serious about keeping his promise to repeal this year, he would
put the repeal language in his Defense Authorization budget,” Choi
said in a statement.
Also arrested were Petty Officer Larry
Whitt, Cadet Mara Boyd, Airman Victor Price and Petty Officer Autumn
Sandeen.
The crowd chanted “shame” as the
six activists were hauled away.
The action was organized by GetEqual,
the nascent gay rights group led by lesbian activist Robin McGehee.
The group is also behind a
Monday “don't ask” action that interrupted President Obama as he
spoke at a fundraiser in California for fellow Democrat Senator
Barbara Boxer.
According to GetEqual, the six
activists will spend the night in jail and will be arraigned
Wednesday afternoon in DC Superior Court.