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Veterans to Protest “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” at National Equality March
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2009
CONTACT:
Paul DeMiglio (614) 329-6541 / pdemiglio@sldn.org
Kevin Nix (202) 431-5796 / knix@sldn.org
Veterans to Protest "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" at National Equality March
SLDN Makes Case for Why Repeal Should Be Addressed Now
WASHINGTON, D.C. - Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN), along with veterans discharged under "Don't Ask, Don't Tell," is participating in the National Equality March on Sunday, October 11, in Washington, DC. The SLDN contingent will be meeting at a staging area at Farragut Square, 17th & K St. NW, at 11 a.m. The march begins at noon.
"This march will serve as a forum to make our case that DADT repeal needs Washington's immediate attention," said Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN executive director. "It is exactly at this time - during two wars - when repeal should happen to free up thousands of qualified service members, including linguists and intelligence analysts, to go fight and win these wars. We've been waiting 16 years for this law to go."
Sarvis added, "Yes, the President and Congress have a lot on their plate right now. But the plate will always be full. This President has not only campaigned on ending DADT but has said doing so is urgent. And the new Congress has been in business now for 9 months - it's time to see some movement on legislative repeal of the law."
The following veterans, including those discharged under the discriminatory law, will be at the SLDN staging area before the march and are available for interviews.
• Aubrey Sarvis, SLDN Executive Director, who can provide the latest legislative updates and discuss where the repeal effort stands in Congress, the White House and the Pentagon
• Bleu Copas, former U.S. Army Sergeant and Arabic language specialist who was discharged under DADT
• Brian Fricke, former Marine and Iraq War veteran, who resigned from the military in protest of DADT
• David Hall, former U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant, discharged under DADT
• Tony Loverde, former Air Force Staff Sergeant who earned two Air Medals for flying missions to Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, discharged under DADT
Each of the above will also be attending various DADT-related events Saturday, October 10:
• Noon: the Tomb of the Unkowns at Arlington National Cemetery as we honor the sacrifice of all of our patriotic service members.
• 2 p.m.: the Congressional Cemetery for a memorial service honoring Leonard Matlovich who appeared on the cover of Time in 1975 to stand up for the freedom to serve. The epitaph on his tombstone famously reads: "When I was in the military, they gave me a medal for killing two men and a discharge for loving one."
• TBA: Students for the National Equality March flash protest and rally calling for the repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell." Exact details of time and location will be announced to participants by text message the morning of the protest. Text "NEMSTUDENTS" to 313131 to sign up for the free text message alert.
Sarvis will be attending the Human Rights Campaign dinner Saturday evening at 7 p.m. and can speak to the movement and timing of DADT repeal in Congress, the White House, and Pentagon.
Also on Sunday at 8 a.m. is a 1-hour jog around the monuments. The jog will begin at the "Star Wall" at the World War II Memorial.
Former Air Force Staff Sergeant Tony Loverde will travel to the March this weekend in his car, which he has decorated to draw attention to the urgent need for repeal.
Click here for a map of the route.
Servicemembers Legal Defense Network (www.sldn.org) is a national, non-profit legal services and policy organization dedicated to ending "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
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