Bradley Manning Support Network
bradleymanning.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact
Jeff Paterson, Media Relations
press [at] bradleymanning [dot] org
+1 (202) 640-4388
Legal Fund Established to Fight Imprisonment of Accused WikiLeaks Whistleblower
Washington D.C., July 27, 2010 – At 4PM EST on July 27, the Bradley Manning Support Network (bradleymanning.org) will begin accepting online donations for the legal defense of Private First Class Bradley Manning.
The Network, a grassroots initiative formed to defend and support accused whistleblower Pfc. Bradley Manning, has partnered with Courage to Resist, a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting military objectors.
Manning, a 22 year old intelligence analyst stationed in Iraq, stands accused of disclosing a classified video depicting American troops shooting civilians from an Apache helicopter in 2007. Eleven adults are killed in the video, including two Reuters employees, and two children critically injured. The video, available at www.collateralmurder.com, was published by WikiLeaks on April 5, 2010. No charges have been filed against the soldiers in the video.
Bradley Manning faces up to 52 years in prison if convicted of the charges against him.
While news sources have speculated about Manning’s involvement in a new leak of over 90,000 secret documents (collectively known as the Afghanistan “war logs”) made public by WikiLeaks on Sunday, no charges regarding this recent breach have been filed.
As of this writing, Manning has not yet chosen a civilian attorney to defend him in the expected trial. While several news sources had previously indicated that funding for Manning’s legal counsel was already arranged, the Bradley Manning Support Network states that there is an immediate need for donations to his legal defense.
Legal defense in this case will be particularly expensive because any legal team will most likely need a background in military law and the flexibility to travel overseas for the trial as well as secret security clearance.
“We have heard from the family and the military lawyers assigned to Bradley that the cost of his defense will be significant,” said Mike Gogulski, an online activist and founder of the Bradley Manning Support Network. “We are also concerned that Bradley may choose his legal counsel based on his available funds. If he fears his family will absorb the cost of the trial, he might choose a less experienced, less expensive attorney. We’re very concerned about the ramifications of such a decision.”
The Bradley Manning Support Network passed a resolution on July 12, 2010 to begin fundraising for Manning’s legal defense. At this time, the Network estimates between $50,000 and $200,000 in legal fees and expenses will be needed to mount a vigorous defense on behalf of Manning. They have also indicated that WikiLeaks, who published and promoted the Collateral Murder video, has promised a significant donation to Manning’s defense.
“If Manning is the source of the video, then he did what he had to do to expose a possible war crime. So regardless, he’s wrongly imprisoned and we want to do everything possible to support him,” said Jeff Paterson, Project Director of Courage to Resist. “I know from past experience working with military objectors that public support and the right civilian defense team can be the difference between an administrative separation and years in the stockade.”
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@ TOM
” could lead to the deaths of countless American and coalition Soldiers.” COULD. WHen you can prove the link – let us know. Right now, he has PROVEN they put US in danger with their behaviour over there. No wonder kids there dream of blowing up America… I don’t approve, Im just not surprised.
Yeah, DreamHost, who sponsors this site AND Draw A Muhammed day, are Islamic extremists =facepalm=
I hope more info will be leaked. Common guys, lets put the Pope and Bush in jail!
These actions themselves put other soldiers in jeopardy. The people in Iraq & Afghanastan know the things the US is doing. The only ones who don’t are the American people until now. Thanks Bradley!!
@Illusioned1: To clarify, DreamHost does not “sponsor” this site, but merely hosts it for me as a paying client.
Damm… sorry :-/ I meant, the domain is hosted through them. I am not sure what “as a paying client” means though…
It is absolutely shocking to see US soldiers with no sense of humanity and appears to be nothing but cold blooded killers. How can we say ‘God bless America’ when America is capable of committing such evil deeds.
I don’t see where there was anything so damaging to lives of US soldiers. Just like during the Viet Nam war…there were many candid photos of the war…I want to know how our troops are treating the Iraqi people. Why should that be hidden…I heard a video of soldiers laughing while they shot an ambulance trying to pick up injured people. This media silence of the war is not for security…it seems to be a mask over the activities taking place…smile
I am a navy brat…. I believe in our country and what our country is doing for us…. I was shocked to see this…. My father was killed in 86 at great lakes navel base…. To see something like this brings back how there is such little reguard for life… And how much hate there is in some people…. I feel sorry for the families of the men killed….. America didn’t do this, people (with hate in there hearts)did this…..
[...] Please help contribute to his legal defense here. Washington D.C., July 27, 2010 – At 4PM EST on July 27, the Bradley Manning Support Network (bradleymanning.org) will begin accepting online donations for the legal defense of Private First Class Bradley Manning. [...]
EC Boy: Really? is it really that chocking? i mean. everyone know what took place in vietnam, 6 MILLION vietnameise people killed. do you think all of them was soildiers? Anyway, welcome to the real world. and congratilations to you “awakening”
Victors write history unless and until their treacheries and treason finally see the light of day by authenticated documentation that truly stands the test of time, as in theory. It is the power of belief and intestinal fortitude (moral courage) of maintaining that information against the PTB which truly overturns the haste of fabrication coupled with the once unattainable suppression of exculpatory evidence which compels researchers and scholars to admit their misdiagnosis which further erodes the position of governments, dynasty’s and empires. “Give me liberty or give me death” is but one example. The “round earth believers” is but another. Pearl Harbor and 911 truths stoke the fires of belief that governments are inherently evil led by evil men for evil purposes. Those of us who stand against the false prophecies of dictators and fascists are the balance of truth which cannot be refuted. Since we are here for but a short time our positions on truth and against tyranny guide us and give strength and momentum to those who follow.
In this day and age, the Internet provides truth seekers with the opportunity to blast ideas across and around the planet with insatiable speed and volume, much to the angst of so called “world leaders”.
The exposure of some 90,000 secret documents baring the truth about the conduct of the war in Afghanistan is yet another tool for truth. Governments and dictatorships have fallen over much less. Now that CIA has admitted falsifying the so called ‘bin Laden tapes’, the primary “justification” for the preemptive attack on Afghanistan lies mute and focuses on what are truly war crimes, Crimes Against Peace and Crimes Against Humanity. The erroneous assertion of the presence of Weapons of Mass Destruction ‘theory’ also crumbles thereby adding the same war crimes to the preemptive attack on Iraq. All of this takes us back to those who are responsible for the Mass Murder carried out on 911 by those evil men running evil governments for evil purposes. That is truly undeniable.
Bests,
John McCarthy
Los Angeles, CA 90066
http://johnmccarthy90066.tripod.com/id48.html
http://johnmccarthy90066.tripod.com/id1.html
vpocvs@gmail.com
[...] a word with negative meanings, but I think it applies here). WikiLeaks and its backers are now heading the legal defence of Bradley Manning, in a case compared to the Pentagon Papers, the New York Times leak that played a key role in [...]
I hope his defense lawyers could make the judges understood that avoiding more killings on innocent people and its consequent hatreds substantially increase the safety, but not dangers of American people and their soldiers, and Manning’s disclosure is apparently an attempt to this direction. The speakers of the govs doesn’t seem to understand this logic or they don’t really care the safeties. I hope the court do. Good lucks.
This young Brave Soldier is the type of person I want representing us in any War or Conflict we could ever be involved in. He has both Courage, and Humanity, which gives him the ability to know right from wrong. This WAR that we have been dragged into by a Maniac on a mission for oil, and family Shame, has been hidden from the American people for far to long. I am Greateful to Bradley Manning for his recognition of the need to get this out to the viewing public. Without this type of Bravery who knows how long this War will go on. It’s going to take allot more Brave people to get the proof out to STOP this Crime Against Humanity.
Bradley Manning needs his day in court, and every American needs to hear why he took his (alledged) actions.
Good luck manning,you are in the rigt place.
From spain
You are a real hero
I don’t have any money today but will contribute on my next payday. Thanks for setting this up. Support the Troops!