Lakewood, Washington
Monday, February 6 – 7pm
Coffee Strong Cafe, 15109 Union Avenue Southwest
Contact: 253-581-1565

Bradley Manning, a 24-year-old Army intelligence analyst, faces life in prison for allegedly sharing the “Collateral Murder” video of  a US helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians and wounded two children in Baghdad, Iraq with the WikiLeaks website. Bradley has also been charged with blowing the whistle on the “Iraq War Logs”, the “Afghan Diaries”, the “Gitmo Files”, and embarrassing US State Department cables. All of the documents released have added significantly to public knowledge of war crimes, civilian casualties, government corruption, and the over-classification of information. No one has been harmed and the information has helped fuel pro-democratic protests globally.

God knows what happens now. Hopefully worldwide discussion, debates, and reforms… I want people to see the truth… because without information, you cannot make informed decisions as a public.
–an online chat attributed to Bradley Manning

Bradley Manning Support Network campaign organizer Jeff Paterson will provide a multi-media presentation to include:

• An overview of US v. Bradley Manning

• His report from the Fort Meade courtroom where Bradley had his first court hearing after 18 months of pre-trial confinement

• Updates on the international grassroots campaign

• An opportunity to make a tax-deductible donation to Bradley’s defense fund, which in addition to supporting public education efforts is responsible for 100% of Bradley’s legal expenses

• Introduction to the new Courage to Resist book, About Face: Military Resisters Turn Against War—from Army Lt. Ehren Watada to PFC Bradley Manning, and two dozen other stories. Published by PM Press, September 2011.

In August 1990, Marine artilleryman Corporal Jeff Paterson became the first of many US military personnel to refuse to fight in Iraq. Today, Jeff is the project director of Courage to Resist, an Oakland-based organization dedicated to supporting GI war resisters and conscientious objectors, and helps lead the campaign to support Bradley Manning.

“The campaign to free Bradley Manning” Pacific Northwest Jan/Feb 12 tour leaflet