Comments on: Bradley Manning supporters face judge for attempting to lay flowers outside Quantico marine base

By: C. Antonio Alvarez-Moreno

C. Antonio Alvarez-Moreno — Sat, 10 Mar 2012 21:34:03 +0000

Sorry for my late entry to this discussion. I’m slow at reading all my emails.
This story is misleading. I know because I was one of the 34 or so arrested at the Quantico protest.
Everyone was released with a summons to appear in District Court for trial. Mine was the first on June 6, 2011. I was found guilty. At the trial two police officers lied about what had occurred at the protest, including the circumstances of my arrest, in order to make it look like it was a violent protest; which it was not. I was found guilty and I immediately went to the Clerk’s window just outside the courtroom and filed an appeal to Circuit Court requesting a jury trial. I later got a trial date of November 6, 2011 at a first appearance hearing in Circuit Court.
I appeared on that date to be informed that my charges and those of about nine others were being dismissed. Unbeknownest to me, the Commonwealth’s Attorney (prosecutor)had decided to proceed with the prosecution of only a handful which they had identified as the leaders. I’m not sure what that means because no one was leading me.
I stayed for the trial which was to a judge without a jury. As you reported three persons were found guilty and given a $15.00 fine. One person asked for community service instead and the judge agreed to that.
My disagreement with your article has to do with your assertion that we were arrested because we were upset over their refusal to let a small contingent lay a wreath at the Iwo Jima statue at the base entrance.
I knew beforehand that there was going to be civil resistance. The whole wreath thing was a convenient pretext, if they had let us lay the wreath it would have made no difference.
On their way back from the statue the contingent sat down on Route 1, which runs in front of the base entrance. At that point others came out from behind the barriers, where they had been ordered to be, and came out onto the roadway. We were arrested.
Whoever told you that it was about a wreath or flowers pulled your leg. It may sound more patriotic, that we were just trying to lay a wreath at a war memorial, but its not true. When we lie and mislead we are engaging in the same tactics that the police in my trial engaged in. Dishonesty and dishonor.
Rather than resort to their tactics, which we who care about peace and justice are always pointing to and complaining about, let’s speak the truth to power. Be the example. No lies.
Those police officers probably felt justified in what they did because we do it to. Where does that get us all?
Break the chains. Be honest and tell it like it is; don’t sugar-coat it. We went there to RAISE CAIN and we succeeded. Their treatment of that young man in the full glare of the day’s sun, in front of the entire world, treatment which they didn’t even deny, gave us the obligation as fellow citizens to rise up. I’m only sorry that there weren’t a hundred thousand of us.
Bradley Manning is an American Hero. He will be remembered in that way by posterity, long after the current war making shitheads at all levels are forgotten.

Bradley Manning is AWESOME !! VIVA!!

By: Monica Kennedy

Monica Kennedy — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 09:04:35 +0000

One reason a citizen might choose civil disobedience is to produce conscience-directed change: to hope that the people’s motivations will be heard in court, that obscurity will be brought to light and so impact the rule of law that better law will emerge. I will be praying for that to happen regarding Bradley Manning’s case.

Civil disobedience is an act of submission to the law as we know it, as well as a simultaneous witness to a higher law. An act of civil disobedience committed with serious intent compels us to examine our laws in the light of higher principles. Manning’s case, as far as I can tell, was an act of civil disobedience, although he has not been able to speak to the public to say so. If Manning did intend civil disobedience, then he should face legal consequences. I would hope to see his case in court: individuals who commit acts of civil disobedience usually want to have their day in court anyway. (I don’t pretend to be able to speak for Manning in any way.)
Every American should be shaken to the core by the Stalin-like treatment of Manning by the U.S. military. Manning’s treatment includes extreme, cruel and unusual punishment which exceeds both moral and legal definitions of torture. This cruel and extended sadistic torture, perpetrated by our own military, has been sanctioned by the Obama Administration. [This violation of many of our most sacred American traditions began with the sadism of the previous administration, which planted the seeds of Abu Ghraib. Only individual citizens can reverse the situation.]

We cannot afford to look the other way. What has happened to Bradley Manning has happened to all of us.
I call on each American reading this to reaffirm his or her own birthright today, a heritage perhaps riddled with contradiction yet still grounded in humanity’s fundamental progress. Speak out for the rights of Bradley Manning and by doing so proclaim the rights of all Americans, rights safeguarded by an eroded but still living U.S. Constitution. Exercise citizenship by contacting Senators, Congresspersons and the President of the United States to protest the practice of torture especially in the Manning case. Remind them that they safeguard the United States Constitution. Demand that Manning be afforded no more and no less than the rights he is guaranteed under the U.S. Code of Military Justice. And please, don’t forget to call upon members of the media for unbiased coverage of the Manning situation and legal case.

Most of all, American citizens, review history to see that every free Republic has been vulnerable to people who used the tactics perpetrated, sadly, by some elements within our own government, on a very young soldier named Bradley Manning.

When enough citizens become aware, and participate in defending the constitutional rights that our fathers died defending, surely the rest will take care of itself.

By: GXJ

GXJ — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 23:31:39 +0000

But is that all end? He is an American Hero but not like McCain! Bradley is real McCain shown his face in Libya and Mideast! But why is it so hard for Republicans special the teaparty to see. He done all of it to protect Uniform+Responsebilaty in USA for all not US civilien outside in that world came that an Miracle like. Hand bag and hope all veterans that now produced are not end like other before.

By: John

John — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 16:03:23 +0000

People in prison are zero. Bradley Manning is a hero. Bradley Manning is in prison. Something doesn’t match up here.

FREE BRADLEY MANNING FREE BRADLEY MANNING FREE BRADLEY MANNING He is one out of the millions who stood up and exposed the truth. FREE BRADLEY MANNING American national hero.

By: F Gregg Meagher

F Gregg Meagher — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 06:01:23 +0000

Barry (aka Obama) knows very well what is happening to Bradley! He (Barry aka Obama – Imposter)is the decision-maker! Look deep into who brought down the Twin Towers and who keeps covering it up… with this administration. Just facts!

By: Sami Thompson

Sami Thompson — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 14:41:59 +0000

This entire situation is appalling and I cannot believe it is STILL going on. I voted for President Obama and I support many of his policies, but I’m disappointed that he hasn’t “cleaned house” in this area. Bradley should be freed immediately AND paid compensation. The perpetrators of the “helicopter murders” should be prosecuted asap. War or no war, this was wrong and they damn well knew it – which is why it was hidden away.

By: Doug Nicholson

Doug Nicholson — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 06:41:01 +0000

An expression of respect from Australia. We both have great people governed by slimy hypocritical political leaders. We live in pretend democracies.

By: Pat

Pat — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 21:57:16 +0000

We love you Bradley!
You courageous young man- who gave all (as alleged leaker of human rights abuses) so that we could live in a more enlightened nation.
I entreat Amnesty International, Congressman Dennis Kucinich, and Mr Mendez, Un Rapporteur on Torture to INSIST once again on visiting Bradley at Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas, where he has been since April 2011 with NO credible reports of his well-being. His acquaintance David House was knocked off his visitors’ list in April and has not gone to see him in Kansas. Please write the President at whitehouse.gov – and call Congressman Kucinich at Capitol Hill (202) 224-3121 and ask him to go see Bradley. I have no way to reach Amnesty International or Juan Mendez at the UN.

I wish to thank these wonderful activists for the sacrifices they have endured to honor and defend Bradley.

By: nellie

nellie — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 01:34:24 +0000

oo mr obama let that man free he has been punishd enough and for what????????

By: Gordon Rowland

Gordon Rowland — Thu, 10 Nov 2011 22:37:48 +0000

Yes, and how about the helicopter gunship murderers? Why aren’t they imprisoned and facing charges, like Bradley?

Or rather, why aren’t they imprisoned and facing charges, instead of Bradley?