You Can Take the Boy Away From the Baptist Church, But You Can’t Take the Baptist Away From the Boy: The Trial of Lt. Dan Choi

Lafayette Park...where's your traffic cone bullhorn sir, yes, sir!

Washington, DC – I was one of about 40 people who showed up to support Lt. Dan Choi at his trial today. Lt. Dan and I have developed an odd relationship this month ever since he was looking for interns to help with his legal defense and I wanted to help. When I received the application, I refused to fill it out. It seemed like an application for an internship on the Hill. I’m too old for that crap. I march to my own drummer, much like Lt. Choi. So I think because I am not in the military it drove him kind of nuts because I wouldn’t take orders and we both had our own synergistic civil disobedience thing going on.

I was at Choi’s rally sponsored by an unnamed civil rights group with Kathy Griffin to repeal Don’t Ask Don’t Tell in March of 2010. He and his Army compatriots handcuffed themselves to the fence at the White House, were arrested and quickly posted bail and were released. This rally occurred after his coming out on The Rachel Maddow Show and being discharged from the Army. Later, at another protest in November 2010, Lt. Choi was arrested again, for handcuffing himself to the White House fence, yet ended up spending the night in jail - on a cold metal bench.

All Lt. Choi wants is to be reinstated in the Army. Of course, singling him out as a gay soldier raises the issue of Civil Rights and the Reverend C.T. Vivian, friend of the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., was one of Lt. Choi’s witnesses as he was defending himself. The prosecutor from the Department of Justice, Angela George, had no questions for the Reverend on cross-examination. I found this perplexing. NOT.

Then it turned out that the case was less about Choi being an openly gay soldier, but all about violating the rules of the DC park police. One witness, in my opinion, lied on the stand when he stated he had no previous knowledge of Choi’s rally with Kathy Griffin in March of 2010. First of all, I kind of doubt you can hold any event in “Freedom Plaza” without a permit from the park police. Secondly, one of Choi’s friends called the officer who held the post of “Public Information Officer” at that time to complain about Choi’s plight, yet the officer “did not recall off the top of his head” ever having received such a phone call. Choi’s friend John Alexander Nicholson III was unavailable to testify, but phone records could have been hunted down to prove the conversation took place. Again, Prosecutor George had no questions for the new n’ improved Ronald “I do not recall” Reagan clone from the park police.

Pause here while my head nearly spins around like a top and pops off when Judge John M. Facciola refers to Lt . Choi and Lt. “Kim.” With all due respect your honor, Korean Americans have a large number of surnames.

The second park policeman who testified also suffered from CRSD: “Can’t Remember Shit Disease,” but was a little more credible. Of course PTSD is the disease we should be more concerned with and there was plenty of post traumatic stress in the courtroom today.

There was a lot of talk about “selective prosecution” and “vindictive prosecution” and Choi made another motion to dismiss the charges. The judge asked Choi to please clarify his defense, but then I believe he didn’t catch the answer because he went back to playing his game of Angry Birds.

Choi was the exception to the rule that anyone who acts as their own attorney has a fool for a client. He’s eloquent, brilliant, and a force to be reckoned with; a force for peace, love and democracy. Launching into a tirade in Arabic didn’t win him friends with the judge however. I think Facciola’s hands covering his face was probably my first clue.

They're back.......

What was most surprising to me, as the park police kept insisting that they had NO KNOWLEDGE that the protests would be over the unconscionable Don’t Ask Don’t Tell, it turns out that Lt. Choi actually was being prosecuted, at least according to them, for “failure to obey” the rules of NOT BLOCKING THE TOURISTS’ VIEW OF THE WHITE HOUSE. You can walk on the sidewalk in front of the White House, but you can’t stand still with a protest sign. That’s why I danced with my sign today complete with jazz hands.

Buy a f*cking postcard people so our government will leave our American heroes alone.

When the trial resumed after the lunch break Choi walked into the courtroom looking sad and solemn and then turned back to us all and said, "Don't be so dramatic!" This guy is one hell of a firecracker.

Lt. Choi was found guilty, but did not receive a jail sentence. He was fined, but insists he will not pay it!

Good luck, Lt. Dan!  Been a pleasure arguing with you!!

P.S.: My sign won most creative among the protestors.  Too bad the Feds confiscated them.

 

And here... here's an original photo I took of the White House from Lafayette Park.  Feel free to use it if your view ever gets blocked (Angela George).

BTW, you can't bring handcuffs into Federal Court. You can also get busted for eating (chocolate in my case). But if they haven't caught me yet...for anything...(yeah, I'll still push my luck).