Four arrested after protest of military; Republican Sen. Collins calls for rexamination of ‘Don’t Ask Dont Tell’
“The only way this bill is going to be repealed is when the stories of gay people who want to serve get heard and when that causes people to move to action to demand change…. So I think it’s a very effective way of making this point clear. Plus, as any young person who wants to serve their country, I ought to be able to walk in there and make that attempt.”
Jacob Reitan, a gay Harvard Divinity student, who says he’s ready to serve in the military. He and some others were arrested on trespassing chages after staging a sit-in at an Armed Forces recruiting station in Portland, ME. The station’s commander, Sgt. First Class Otis McMillan, appeared to be understanding of the group’s efforts, but encouraged them to look to Congress instead. The incident appears to be part of a planned tour of protests that are said to include Washington, DC. [View video of TV report] (WCSH 6 Portland)
“There is evidence that it is causing otherwise very talented people to have to leave the service or to not be able to serve. And that troubles me.”
Susan Colins, a Republican Senator from Maine and a member of the Senate Committee of Armed Services, restating her previously expressed opposition to the US Military’s gay-excluding policy. [View video of TV report] (WCSH 6 Portland)
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