The Uncommon Valor of Bradley Manning Blocked at Quantico Brig

21 comments »

• 
  Jonathan Toth from Hoth

  Thanks so much for helping Bradley Manning. I do political commentary and music. I just finished a music video about Bradley Manning called “America by Bradley Manning”. Please share with friends who care:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5vYFl0z9g0

  If any of you have any ideas for videos or songs, please hit me up. Let’s collaborate on some “Freedom of Press” activism. Whistle blowing is our patriotic duty to keep the “powers that be” in check. Please continue spreading the truth.

  2011-03-20 13:34
• 
  John Gish

  Sorry I could not be there with you courageous patriots. I’m too old and too far away, but I pass the torch of liberty as best I can from Key West.

  2011-03-20 16:18
• 
  stan.willis

  It astounds me that you applaud activity that results in arrest. It’s no wonder police are out in force at Quantico today. Peaceful assembly? I think not.

  2011-03-20 16:35
• 
  Jonathan Toth from Hoth

  If the arrest is unjust, all we can do is applaud it. No?

  2011-03-20 17:46
• 
  Michelle Tackabery (author)

  @stan.willis: The right to petition, in the form of speech-making, marching, and picketing, is guaranteed by the petition clause of the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. The petition clause states:

  People have the right to appeal to government in favor of or against policies that affect them or in which they feel strongly. This freedom includes the right to gather signatures in support of a cause and to lobby legislative bodies for or against legislation.

  Arresting protesters is actually a violation of the First Amendment, not what our protesters have done today. I am very sorry, as an American, that you feel that it is justifiable for the government to assign one fully-armed, masked and plastic-shielded riot officer for each peaceful protester.

  Photos in this post clearly show protesters peacefully sitting on the ground. This form of protest has been done in our country since before the Civil War.

  2011-03-20 17:52
• 
  stan.willis

  Yes, but the police told the protestors where they were and were not allowed to go. Instead, the protestors blocked an intersection. I don’t know if you were watching FDL’s stream, but the protestors were anything but peacful and cooperative.

  2011-03-20 18:02
• 
  Jonathan Toth from Hoth

  I humbly accept your opinion Stan, but I respectfully disagree with you. Those holding Manning are doing the bidding of those who were exposed for US Military war crimes.

  Is it so weird to think those in command, who Manning (allegedly) called out would be angry? I think they are pissed off at getting caught. They lied about the civilian death count of Iraqis…they lied by over 15,000 people…possibly more.

  Who better to take your frustration on then the boy who nailed them…and any protester who would attempt to defend him?

  2011-03-20 18:08
• 
  Jonathan Toth from Hoth

  What does that mean Tom?

  2011-03-20 18:18
• 
  Fester Clock

  The Virginia State Police and Prince William County Police were models of measured enforcement today at the protest at Quantico Marine Corps Base. KUDOS for their professionalism and their restraint!

  Even when dozens broke the law by setting down in the middle of the major highway outside the Marine Corps base or attempting to trespass on federal property, the police did everything to ensure their safety.

  Most of the protesters — those who understand civil disobedience — were also model citizens demonstrating their grievance. The wreath laying at the Iwo Jima Monument was a nice gesture too.

  Some protesters though were not interested in peaceably assembling. They were interested in causing a dangerous situation and looking for a fight. From my vantage, the protesters who broke the law are quite lucky the police didn’t break their heads.

  2011-03-20 20:55
• 
  karen stefanski-pascale

  It is all good, the civil disobiedience, th cops, the protestors were all fine…a couple of young kids were a bit juvenile in some name calling but other than that everyone was fine! Very successful rally!
  Hey Stan, it’s called protesting, get used to it, it’s just begun!

  2011-03-21 00:54
• 
  Davey

  As part of the March 19-20th Global Day of Action in solidarity with Bradley Manning a small group of protestors gathered outside the U.S. Embassy in Melbourne, Australia. Protestors expressed that if Bradley Manning is “guilty” of giving information to Wikileaks he is a hero not a criminal for revealing war crimes. The hypocrisy of the U.S. bombing Libya to support democracy whilst it tortures Bradley Manning was also pointed out. One participant highlighted that the 3 absolute human rights are: freedom from capital punishment, from slavery and from torture and that the U.S. was breaking two of these fundamental rights in regards to Bradley Manning as his current treatment is tantamount to torture and he is facing the death penalty. The small vigil was watched over by four members of the AFP and two Victorian police.

  http://www.indymedia.org.au/2011/03/20/melbourne-vigil-joins-global-day-of-solidarity-for-bradley-manning

  2011-03-21 04:50
• 
  The Blackbird

  Several photographs from the Vancouver (Canada) rally may be found on my Flickr photostream here:

  http://www.flickr.com/photos/blackbird_hollow/5545723764/

  2011-03-21 08:39
• 
  Shaun Bartone

  On Sunday March 20 at 2 PM Atlantic time members of Queers in Solidarity for Bradley Manning held a rally at Officers Square in downtown Fredericton, New Brunswick Canada. We held the rally for Bradley as queer solidarity because we are angry that to date no gay and lesbian human rights organization has come out in support of Bradley Manning or even officially recognized his situation. We are part of the Bradley Manning support network.

  Our rally was covered by the local press including the Daily Gleaner, and blogger Charles LeBlanc.
  http://charlesotherpersonality.blogspot.com/2011/03/free-bradley-manning-protest-in.html

  Video of interview with event organizer:
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0hFen7GwJT0&feature=player_embedded

  Our reason for support of Bradley is explained in detail in Fredericton Queery, a local online news journal covering the queer community in Fredericton.
  http://frederictonqueery.wordpress.com/2011/03/16/inqueery-bradley-manning-dont-ask-dont-tell/

  Queers in Solidarity for Bradley Manning stands in support of our gay brother to demand the immediate end to this torture and abuse, to demand that he receives a rigorous defence and is finally set free as a champion of truth and human rights.

  2011-03-21 10:23
• 
  Jonathan Toth from Hoth

  Wow. Great supporting guys. Thanks for believing in humanity first. Tyranny is old and boring.

  Remember tho, these soldiers are just doing what they’ve been ordered to do. Let’s not waste energy hating them or even their superiors who are only mad because they got caught giving terrible orders.

  Please also remember, any soldier who wants to come forward with testimony or evidence of more war crimes will be welcome with open arms, and will be considered a hero.

  Adam Winfield blew the whistle on his platoon in Afghanistan when his commanding officers suggested they killed Afghan civilians for sport, and they jailed him, attempting to use him as a patsy. He now has the attention of a judge who has seen his proof that he tried to get the word out about his orders:

  http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Judge-Soldier-can-show-he-reported-Afghan-plot-1223696.html

  Keep the faith guys, it’s not ALL the military, it’s higher ups in key positions who are only doing the bidding of those paying for the operations. Continue to love our troops, but keep passing good information their way about how to withdraw from an amoral, unethical killing machine.

  2011-03-21 12:01
• 
  Shaun Bartone

  Fredericton Rally in Fredericton Queery online news: http://frederictonqueery.wordpress.com/2011/03/21/rally-for-bradley-manning-fredericton/

  2011-03-21 15:08
• 
  MicheleMoore-Happy1

  Bradley Manning Support Rally – Union Square, New York City March 20, 2011 – Alex baked THE BEST CUPCAKES and shared them will all who attended. Photos:

  http://twitpic.com/4bk0dy and http://twitpic.com/4bk226

  2011-03-21 18:40
• 
  dan bouchard

  Getting some press in unlikely places.
  http://english.aljazeera.net/indepth/features/2011/03/201137125936219469.html

  This is interesting.
  http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2011/03/20113216812327175.html

  War crime is allowed but reporting is NOT?
  Blame the messenger?

  Keep up the good work.

  2011-03-22 01:26
• 
  James Lane

  WeAreChangeOklahoma – International Bradley Manning Action Day
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gfkkpbEGrto

  2011-03-22 09:25
• 
  Sandra Eagle

  I started this petition on change.org. please sign and help me spread it. if the link doesn’t work by clicking it, copy and paste it into your browser. any suggestions on how to spread it would be appreciated.
  thankyou, sandra

  http://www.change.org/petitions/end-the-torture-of-b-manning-create-legislation-to-protect-whistleblowers-in-the-military

  2011-03-22 11:05
• 
  Jonathan Toth from Hoth

  Great article Dan. I picked up that 2nd one yesterday. Adam Winfield is another whistle blower who tried to get word out about his platoon killing Afghans for sport, but they put him in the brig, claiming it was all his doing…now the sh*t’s hitting the fan, because the judge is allowing Adam’s FaceBook contact with friends and family as evidence showing he was seeking help.

  http://www.newstimes.com/news/article/Judge-Soldier-can-show-he-reported-Afghan-plot-1223696.html

  Unfortunately, that trial is becoming rigged as well:
  “In his email Friday, Judge Hawks revealed that he has been removed from Winfield’s case. Col. David H. Robertson appointed himself as trial judge. No explanation was given, and it was not immediately clear Sunday whether Hawks had also been removed from any other cases over which he has presided.”

  2011-03-22 11:10
• 
  Markin

  Reflections From The Quantico War-Zone- The March 20th Rally In Support Of Private Bradley Manning- Free Bradley Manning Now!

  Markin comment:

  I don’t have much occasion, or at least have not had much occasion recently, to be in Northern Virginia and certainly not in Triangle, Virginia the town attached to the Quantico Marine Base just off the Jefferson Davis Highway (that road designation named for the President of the defeated, or at least I assumed it was defeated, Southern Confederacy alone should tell everyone, every Northern everyone, that we are dealing with a different animal here). Nor would I, in the normal course of events, have occasion to be seeking parking space in the mammoth parking lot in front of the eerily-shaped Marine Corps Museum across from the base, although my late father proudly served in the Marines in World War II and saw battle in the Pacific. But as I have explained elsewhere (see below, Why I Will Be Standing In Solidarity With Private Bradley Manning At Quantico, Virginia On Sunday March 20th At 2:00 PM- A Personal Note From An Ex-Soldier Political Prisoner) today though, this day, this spring-like March day I am here on class-war prisoner business in support of accused whistleblower Private Bradley Manning who is being held in close pre-trial confinement here.

  And so Northern Virginia Confederacy legacy or not, spring-like weather or not, I am here with other like-minded spirits to show our support in this desperate struggle to gain Private Manning’s freedom. And the usual cast of such characters are present: old-time radicals who have not lost that flickering flame that drove them to the left in their youths; Veterans for Peace, male and female, ex-soldiers of half the modern wars fought by the American imperial state, who learned the hard way, the very hard way, but learned, the madnesses of war and are out to spread the news; CodePink women who have become a righteous mainstay of the anti-war movement and put a little sparkle in as well; assorted Quakers and other religious people who know right from wrong in that milieu and are willing to do something about it; little old ladies in tennis sneakers (New Balance of course), little old men in tennis sneakers (ditto on the sneaker brand) and others, younger others, out to protest the outrageous treatment of alleged whistleblower Private Bradley Manning. Righteous people all, although maybe just a little too politically naïve about the nature of the American state. But I will let that pass for now as we are in a principled united front here on the issue that counted- freedom for Private Manning.

  What was not present and, in the end to our regret, was anything like the Bolshevik Party of Russia in 1917. Or some great cloud of pre-World War I Industrial Workers of the World (IWW, Wobblies) descending on a Western town for a raucous Free Speech campaign where all hell was expected to break loose by both sides. Or even, closer in time, some Hippie-Yippie-Communist conflagration to shut down the streets of Chicago in the 1969 Days of Rage or the American government in the streets of Washington, D.C. in 1971. But someone forgot to tell the Virginia state/ Marine military intelligence officers who organized the security forces against the grannies and grandpas massed outside the Quantico base that this was not the intention, never was the intention, and could not possibly be the intention of those who sought Private Bradley Manning’s release this day. In the headline I called it the Quantico war-zone and that is what the governmental preparations were like- I swear I have not seen so many fully-armed, SWAT teams, so many horse-riding Cossacks, so many just plain police officers massed for a small demonstration in a while. Maybe I would have to go back to those shutting down the American government 1971 days but at least there we knew what we were up against, and were ready to take our chances. Needless to say with so much police presence the air was tense with expectation. And also with the inevitable police overreaction to every small gesture of resistance, no matter how non-violently posed. Like the fate of the American government was at stake in Triangle, Virginia that day. Everybody from Obama on down in that crowd should have egg on their faces from this one. But in the end the important thing was that we were there to support Private Bradley Manning, a righteous winter soldier. And we did so.

  Note: I did not want to overload what I wanted to write above about the March 20th Quantico war-zone with a lot of speculation about what that massive police presence meant so I will put it in this note. Obviously some 30 billion dollars spent on intelligence-gathering, if that is the right word, does not buy you what it use to. A simple informer’s report from the March 19th Veteran’s for Peace-led march in front of the White House would have told the authorities that a mass rising at Triangle was not in the offing. And while we are on the subject it is clear that the Quantico security satraps did not bother to check with their Washington brethren about how to handle finicky grandpas and fidgety grandmas who WANT to be arrested as acts of civil disobedience. There were probably about a hundred or so police (maybe less) acting as security in front of the White House, the WHITE HOUSE for christsakes, who had the situation in well in tow and without serious incident. Additionally, and I take no credit for this one, apparently those in charge of Quantico security are-metaphorically-challenged and seemingly took literally the notion that we were there to free Bradley Manning. Like this was some Weather Underground freeing of guru Timothy Leary in the old days kind of action. In any case stop reading that old stuff and update your files.

  2011-03-22 16:16

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