'Private Danny Chen Way' dedicated in Chinatown

Hundreds gather for unveiling of Manhattan street re-named in memory of local soldier



On Saturday in New York City, hundreds gathered in Chinatown to honor the memory of Pvt. Danny Chen. On Elizabeth Street, between Canal Street and Bayard Street, city officials unveiled "Private Danny Chen Way," a tribute to the local soldier who fell prey to the military's dark culture of bullying and hazing.

Street In Chinatown Renamed In Memory Of Private Danny Chen

Pvt. Danny Chen, who grew up in Chinatown, was found dead in October 2011 after enduring intolerable racial hazing and harassment from fellow soldiers while serving in Afghanistan. His death resulted in eight U.S. Army soldiers charged with various crimes, and highlighted the problem of hazing and discrimination in the military.

The city council approved the street re-naming last December. On Saturday's unveiling, Chen's mother was joined by family, friends and community members who vowed continue to remember the story of Danny Chen.

Soldier memorialized with "Pvt. Danny Chen Way"

Unveiling Saturday, May 17 at Elizabeth & Canal Street in New York City's Chinatown



Pvt. Danny Chen, the Chinese American U.S. soldier who was found dead in October 2011 after enduring intolerable racial hazing and harassment from fellow soldiers while serving in Afghanistan, will be memorialized at an event this weekend in New York's Chinatown.

A section of Elizabeth Street, between Canal and Bayard, will be co-named "Pvt. Danny Chen Way." The city council approved the re-naming last December. The street unveiling, preceded by a breakfast reception and march sponsored by OCA-NY and other community organizations, will take place on Saturday, May 17.

Here are some more details about the unveiling:

Chinatown street re-named for Pvt. Danny Chen

A section of Elizabeth Street will be co-named "Private Danny Chen Way"



This week in New York City, the City Council approved to co-name a Chinatown street "Private Danny Chen Way," memorializing the Chinese American Army private who was found dead in October 2011 after enduring intolerable racial hazing and harassment from his fellow soldiers while serving in Afghanistan.

City Council Approves Co-Naming of 'Danny Chen Way' on Elizabeth Street

A section Elizabeth Street between Canal and Bayard in Chinatown, where Pvt. Chen was born and raised, will be henceforth known as "Danny Chen Way." City Council member Margaret Chin called the designation's approval "a vote for tolerance, acceptance, and above all, respect."

Pvt. Danny Chen's life and death to become an opera

From playwright David Henry Hwang and composer Huang Ruo



The story of Pvt. Danny Chen, the Chinese American soldier who was found dead with a bullet to his head after enduring relentless hazing and racial harassment from his fellow soldiers, is set to become an opera from playwright David Henry Hwang: Victim of Military Hazing to Be Immortalized in Opera.

The Washington National Opera has commissioned a one-hour opera based on the life and death of Private Chen, entitled An American Soldier. Written by Hwang and composer Huang Ruo, the work is an attempt to fuse high culture with social awareness about the tragedy behind Danny Chen's death:

Candlelight vigil for Pvt. Danny Chen

Join OCA-NY for the two-year commemoration of Danny Chen's death



On October 3, 2011, 19-year-old Pvt. Danny Chen was found dead with a bullet to his head after enduring weeks of hazing and racial harassment from his supervisors. In the wake of his tragic death, community advocates fought for justice and to ensure that Pvt. Chen's legacy would never be forgotten.

If you're in New York City this week, join OCA-NY for a candlelight vigil commemorating the 2-year anniversary of Pvt. Chen's death. It's happening Thursday, October 3, 6:30-7:30pm, on Elizabeth St. between Canal and Bayard in Chinatown. Danny was a native of New York's Chinatown, and the location marks the upcoming street co-naming, "Danny Chen's Way," in his honor.

Attend the community meeting for "Danny Chen Way," June 25

Last week, I wrote about OCA-NY's efforts to drum up public support for the co-naming of a New York Chinatown street, "Danny Chen Way," in memory of the Chinese American soldier who was found dead after enduring weeks of hazing abuse while serving in Afghanistan.

On June 11, the Transportation Committee of Community Board 3 unanimously voted for the new name: 'Danny Chen Way' Street Renaming Wins Support from Community Board.

But there's more work to be done. The street co-naming still needs to be approved during Community Board 3's full board meeting next week. After that, it will go to the City Council for a vote.

If you can make it out, OCA-NY is asking supporters to attend the public meeting on Tuesday, June 25 at 6:30pm at PS 20, 166 Essex Street. For further information, email Ivy Pan at vypan94@gmail.com.

Support the effort to co-name a Chinatown street "Danny Chen Way"

For those of you in New York City, community members are leading an effort to co-name a Chinatown street after Private Danny Chen. OCA-NY invites supporters to attend a meeting of the city's Transportation Committee on Tuesday, June 11, where they'll present a petition in support of "Danny Chen Way."

Private Danny Chen was a Chinese American soldier who grew up in Manhattan's Chinatown. At at 19, he was found dead while serving in Afghanistan, after enduring six weeks of hazing and racial abuse. The case drew international and national attention to the problem of hazing in the military, and the street re-naming is an effort to immortalize Danny's legacy.

If you're available, please join OCA-NY at the Transportation Committee's meeting this week. It's happening Tuesday, June 11, 6:30pm at Confucious Plaza Community Room. Here are some more details:

Sign the petition seeking administrative discharge of soldiers convicted in Danny Chen case

Some unfinished business in the fight to seek justice for Private Danny Chen, who died after suffering weeks of hazing and abuse from his superiors and fellow soldiers in Afghanistan.

While all eight superiors faced court-martial and were found guilty, only four of them have been discharged from the Army. A coalition of Danny's supporters have begun circulating an online petition to the Commander in Fort Wainwright, Alaska to request that the four remaining soldiers be administratively discharged:

Next steps in seeking justice for Private Danny Chen

Are you still wondering you can do in the fight for justice for Private Danny Chen? After the courts-martial of all eight soldiers connected to his hazing and tragic death, four were ultimately discharged from the Army. And earlier this month, President Obama signed several anti-hazing provisions into law.

But this is not over. There's still unfinished business. If you're in New York, OCA-NY, which has been spearheading this campaign from the very beginning, is holding a planning meeting next week to discuss where the community goes from here in seeking justice for Danny Chen. The fight does not stop.

Next steps include an organizing campaign to co-name Elizabeth Street where Danny grew up in Manhattan's Chinatown, "Danny Chen's Way," and a petition to the Commander in Fort Wainwright, Alaska to request that the four remaining soldiers be administratively discharged from the Army.

It's happening Monday, February 4th, 7:00pm, at 20 Cooper Sq, NYU, 4th Fl, Rm 471. To attend, be sure to RSVP to Mackenzie Yang at myy2105@gmail.com.

Press conference on next steps in Danny Chen campaign

This is a bit short notice, but if you're in the New York City area on tomorrow morning, come to Chinatown, where there will be a press conference regarding the last of the eight soldiers charged in connection with Private Danny Chen's death and the next steps in the community's campaign for justice.

It's happening Tuesday, December 18, 10:30am at the Chinese Consolidated Benevolent Association. Here's the press advisory:

military legislation includes anti-hazing provisions

An important development in the aftermath of the Danny Chen hazing case... This week, the U.S. Senate passed the National Defense Authorization Act of 2013, which includes legislation to prevent and address hazing in the military: Senate Passes Anti-Hazing, Diversity In Military Legislation.

The provisions would require the military to report on their policies to improve anti-hazing, training and response. Another provision would require the Secretary of Defense to development of procedures to allow soldiers to anonymously report incidents of hazing.

Year after year, the National Defense Authorization Act always has controversial, debatable elements. Hopefully, the provision on hazing isn't one of them. The act must now go to conference in the House. Remember Danny Chen!

seventh soldier found guilty in connection with danny chen's death

This week, a seventh soldier was found guilty in connection with the death of Pvt. Danny Chen, who took his own life while serving in Afghanistan after enduring weeks of racial abuse at the hands of his fellow soldiers: Sgt. busted down in rank for his role in hazing Pvt. Danny Chen.

Jurors in the court-martial of 27-year-old Staff Sgt. Andrew Van Vockel found him guilty of hazing, as well as dereliction of duty and maltreatment of a subordinate. He was the so-called "ringleader" in the abuse, which included racist mocking and throwing rocks at Chen during training.

Van Bockel testified that his treatment of Chen was "corrective training." The rest of us prefer to call it torture.