Famed Don’t Ask Don’t Tell resister and gay activist Lt. Dan Choi was arrested at a pride parade in Moscow while the U.S. slept Friday night, along with 30 other people, The Boston Globe reports. In an unusual move, Choi and other arrested people were allowed to keep their cell phones with them while imprisoned. Choi used the
opportunity to live-tweet his arrest, and explain what happened.
According to the Globe, the crowd was arrested because they were demonstrating in favor of gay rights. According to Choi’s Twitter feed, however, six people were arrested “for being shirtless” and another was arrested simply “because she beautiful Russian woman.”
While officers led Choi away to the paddywagon, they held a hand over his mouth so he could not be heard. From the paddywagon, Choi tweeted that he was experiencing “right ear ringing small bleeding.”
According to Choi’s Twitter feed, he has been released, and is waiting at the jail until those arrested with him are freed as well.
Video of the arrest has surfaced. Choi, wearing a white shirt, was walking quietly, Chicago activist Andy Thayer, blonde, is seen with him. Suddenly, Russian police swarm them. Watch video of Choi’s arrest below (h/t AmericaBlog) embedded via YouTube.
