Local residents and activists departed Monday morning from Chinatown for Fort Bragg, N.C., where the first of eights soldiers this week will face court martial for Pvt. Danny Chen’s death.

The 19-year-old soldier shot himself at his army base in Kandahar, Afghanistan, on Oct. 3, 2011, after authorities said he suffered hazing because of his ethnicity.

The day marked a victory in a more than six-month battle for the soldiers’ cases to be tried. The first court date is scheduled for July 24.

“The importance of this trial goes beyond justice for Danny Chen,” said Elizabeth OuYang, president of the New York City chapter of Organization of Chinese Americans, an advocacy nonprofit that has helped move the case forward. “The outcome of this trial will recognize or turn a blind eye to the failure of leadership to stop or prevent Danny’s death. The chain of command failed Pvt. Chen but our justice system cannot.”

Shortly after his death, military officials reported Pvt. Chen had committed suicide, but a further probing into the case revealed the young man had been the repeated target of racism, bullying and physical abuse by fellow soldiers.

In letters written to family members at home, the private wrote of persistent harassment, much of it stemming from his Chinese American heritage.

The group of local organizers began rallying for the case shortly after the soldier’s death, with a petition of more than 6,000 signatures. Last December, local elected officials and community organizers visited the Pentagon to meet with high profile leaders to demand the trial to be held in the U.S.

At the press conference preceding the group’s departure, supporters held signs that read: “Hazing and racism must be punished,” “We are Danny” and “Road trip for justice.”

Among those attending the trial include OuYang and OCA board member Michael Wu, Vietnam War veteran Thomas Lee, several local journalists and documentarians of the city’s Chinese community, as well as members of the Chen family.

Councilwoman Margaret Chin, who has advocated for the family during the investigation, said she recognized the importance of the case for the community.

“All of us want to make sure that when we send our son and daughter to serve this country that they are protected among their comrades,” she said. “The army must report themselves, and they must have zero tolerance against bullying, discrimination and hazing.”

Source from Wall Street Journal

Check AsianInNY’s efforts in getting the voices heard to support Danny Chen:  http://blog.asianinny.com