30k petitions protesting inhumane conditions to be delivered this weekend
By Courage to Resist. Select images above for larger versions of Bill Perry’s photos.
Quantico, Virginia (January 17, 2011) – Over 150 concerned citizens risked arrest today at the gates to the Marine Corps base at Quantico in order to protest the inhumane conditions that accused WikiLeaks whistle-blower Army Pfc. Bradley Manning has been held in for seven months and counting. Supporters marched towards the base front gate chanting “Free Bradley Manning!,” approximately a mile from the brig where Bradley has been held in solitary confinement for the last five months, before being stopped by Marine MP’s. CodePink activists had collected a care package for Bradley that included a blanket, a Snuggie, cookies, books and music. Unfortunately and unsurprisingly, it was rejected by the Marines. Earlier in the day, many of these activists rallied outside FBI Headquarters in Washington DC to protest the September raids on anti-war organizers in Chicago and Minneapolis.
- UPDATE: Manning subjected to two-day suicide watch following Quantico rally by supporters; attorney files complaint, calls action punitive (bradleymanning.org), January 21, 2011
- Lawyer for Bradley Manning, Army figure in WikiLeaks case, alleges prison mistreatment (Washington Post), January 21, 2011
Also, photos of recent rallies in support for Bradley Manning in Santa Cruz, and San Francisco.
Meanwhile, the website Firedoglake.com will be delivering over 30,000 petition signatures this weekend to Quantico urging that Bradley Manning be treated humanely. There is still time to add your name today here.
These actions were organized by a wide range of organizations, including: the Defending Dissent Foundation, WarIsACrime.org, Bradley Manning Support Network, DC Bill of Rights Coalition, Progressive Democrats of America, World Can’t Wait, DC National Lawyers Guild, CodePink, Peace Action, United for Peace and Justice, Witness Against Torture, Backbone Campaign, Courage to Resist, and others.
New highlighted articles
- Courage to Resist and Bradley Manning
Interview with Jeff Paterson. January 18, 2011 - Manning walking in the footsteps of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
By Kevin Zeese, Voters for Peace. January 18, 2011 - How Is Bradley Manning really being treated?
By David Swanson, WarIsACrime.org. January 15, 2011
“I fully support the right of US military personnel who, in acts of conscience, refuse to go to a war of aggression, a war crime. … I proudly support those who take such a stand.”
