UPDATE: Eight American soldiers have been charged with manslaughter, among other crimes, in connection with the death of Private Danny Chen, who apparently died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound while serving in Afghanistan.
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Last week in lower Manhattan, friends, family and supporters marched and demanded answers in the death of Private Danny Chen, who died while serving Afghanistan after reportedly being subjected to "racially charged bullying."
Army officials said they were launching an investigation into Chen's death, but that was two months ago. No one has provided any new information: Chinatown Groups March for Answers in Soldier Death.
At the vigil for Chen Thursday night, his family ramped up pressure on investigators, reading aloud letters Chen had sent home, reflecting the state of isolation he was in from being harassed by his comrades and superiors.Danny Chen was placed in a hostile environment, hazed for being Asian, until he was ultimately found dead from a gunshot wound. What the hell happened? An online petition has been circulating, asking for a transparent investigation into the death Pvt. Chen. To sign, go to the OCA-NY website here.
"'Feb. 27, 2011: Since I am the only Chinese person here, everyone knows me by Chen,'" read Banny Chen, a cousin od Danny Chen. "'They ask if I'm from China a few times a day... They also call out my name Chen in a goat-like voice sometimes for no reason.'"
"'People crack jokes about Chinese people all the time. I'm running out of jokes to come back at them.'"
More here: Hundreds March In Manhattan To Honor Dead Soldier.
