OCA-NY is the lead advocacy organization seeking justice for Army Private Danny Chen, who killed himself last October after enduring weeks of racial hazing and abuse from fellow soldiers while serving in Afghanistan. Eight of Danny Chen's superiors, including one officer, now face one or more charges ranging from dereliction of duty to involuntary manslaughter and negligent homicide. Damn right.
OCA-NY is circulating a new online petition demanding that the courts martial of these eight suspects take place in the United States, in order to have access to the proceedings and to ensure a more transparent investigation. Here's some more information:
Petition For Court Martials in the United States for the Death of Private Danny ChenDanny Chen's family deserves answers, and they need to see those responsible -- the men who basically tormented their son to death -- face what's coming to them. And we, as a community, need to see justice served. Sign the petition on the OCA-NY website here.
Pvt. Danny Chen was a 19-year-old Chinese-American soldier who died from non-combat injuries after being deployed for only 2 months. He was found with a gunshot wound to his chin in a guard tower in Kandahar, Afghanistan on October 3, 2011. Army investigators have found that Pvt. Danny Chen was the target of racial slurs, physical hazing, and excessive exercises that quickly turned into abuse, on a daily basis for more than 6 weeks. Eight of his superiors, including one Officer, face one or more charges ranging from dereliction of duty, making false statements, assault, involuntary manslaughter, and negligent homicide.
Because of the suspicious nature of Danny's death and the army's history, we demand greater transparency. We, the undersigned, demand that any court martials be convened in the U.S. We must have access to these proceedings to ensure justice is served. It is only just for those charged to face the community that Danny belonged to and for which he was singled out. Danny's parents must be able to see and ask those who were responsible for the death of their only child, "Why did you do this to our son?"
We demand a thorough, transparent investigation and just prosecution of all suspects to the fullest extent of the law.