Phoenix - HERO is
holding a rally and march to call for the repeal of the failed “Don’t Ask,
Don’t
Tell” policy. This is in coordination with Get Equal’s DC rally on the same day,
May 2 at 1 p.m..
They will
gather at Desert Storm Park in Phoenix, where the McCain Five* were released after being arrested by Phoenix
Police and removed from in front of Sen. McCain’s office last Monday.
After
rallying at the Park, Desert Storm Park 1700 E. Colter Street, the protesters
will march the two blocks to Sen. John McCain’s Office, where they will stage a
sidewalk protest of his flip-flop on repealing DADT.
Over 13,500
service members have been fired under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell since 1994 costing
tax payers between $290 million to more than half a billion dollars. When the
McCain Five* (Lonnie Allen Howard-Stidham, Jimmy Gruender, Meg Sneed, Luisa
Valdez and Lee Walters – so dubbed by national press) tried to speak with Sen.
McCain about his position on the repeal of DADT, they were eventually arrested
and removed from his office for trespassing.
Now is
the time to step up the pressure. Shortly, Congress will have to pass the
Defense Authorization Act. When they do, we must ensure that the repeal
language for DADT is included in that legislation. This is the year, now is the
time, to repeal Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.
