Thirteen activists arrested last fall for chaining themselves to the White House fence in opposition to the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy are scheduled to appear in federal court Friday.
The group — including gay rights leaders, a Catholic priest and eight veterans discharged for breaking the ban on openly gay and lesbian troops — were arrested Nov. 15 and previously declined to plead guilty to violating the orders of a federal law enforcement officer. The charge carries a maximum six-month jail sentence.
It’s the first time since at least 2006 that protesters have faced the charge, according to Bill Miller, a spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia.
Mark Goldstone, the group’s attorney, said his research suggests it’s the first time prosecutors have ever used the charge against protesters at federal sites anywhere in the District.
“Of all the locations to get arrested at in D.C., one would think that the White House location would be where you’re most likely to get prosecuted,” but prosecutors are more likely to press charges against protesters outside the Capitol or Supreme Court, Goldstone said Thursday.To be honest, this shouldn't be a surprise. I remember them citing MLK as they were bound to the fence. Well, MLK got arrested lots of times during his protesting days. So if they are found guilty, they can say they are in jail for justice.Source URL: https://americanendeavor.blogspot.com/2011/03/dadt-protesters-may-go-to-jail.html
While not unusual, arresting protesters for chaining themselves to the White House fence is not as common as other First Amendment exercises on federal property in the District, according to the U.S. Park Police. Protesters are more commonly charged with violating regulations pertaining to the area, number of participants, and size of signs used in demonstrations, according to Sgt. David Schlosser, a Park Police spokesman.
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