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  • Peter

    I just contributed $25 after I heard Michael Moore had given $5000. Congratulations for setting a good example, Michael!

    A few weeks ago I sent Bradley a letter of support c/o his first place of internment but it was returned without having been opened. I would like to forward it to him, but according to the website it appears that Bradley is not receiving mail sent to the address given.

    Inmate: Bradley Manning
    3247 Elrod Avenue
    Quantico, VA 22134
    USA

    Does anyone know the name/address of his military advocate so I can send my letter of support to Bradley through his attorney?

    Thank you.

    2010-08-21 15:57
  • Mike Gogulski

    @Peter: As far as I know, the JAG attorneys won’t do that. We’re hoping to establish a bulk forwarding service to him, after clearing up a few things.

    2010-08-21 15:59
  • Monica Benderman

    Someone confined in a military brig can receive mail from anyone they have personally agreed to accept mail from. All persons to whom this applies are placed on a list prepared by the person incarcerated. Any mail not on such a list will be returned until it reaches a point at which there is so much mail that the prison will not pay for the time it takes to return it. If this happens, it is possible that the prison can coordinate with the person incarcerated to have all letters sent to them forwarded to an address of the inmate’s choosing. This would be done at the inmate’s expense – and again, it would be the decision of the inmate if such an action were to occur.

    This is not an attempt by prison officials or military to keep information from an inmate. This is designed as a way to protect the privacy of the inmate, and to ensure all inmates are treated fairly.

    I realize that it is frustrating – It took almost two months before any sort of arrangement was able to be made in the handling of mail sent to Kevin in the Ft. Lewis Brig. Even his military defense attorney could not have access until Kevin had completed the paperwork necessary, and the prison had performed background checks on the attorney with Kevin’s permission. This was a Major in the US Army — and he still had to go through protocol.

    2010-08-22 10:36
  • JMB

    Monica said: “This is not an attempt by prison officials or military to keep information from an inmate. This is designed as a way to protect the privacy of the inmate, and to ensure all inmates are treated fairly.

    I realize that it is frustrating – It took almost two months before any sort of arrangement was able to be made in the handling of mail sent to Kevin in the Ft. Lewis Brig. Even his military defense attorney could not have access until Kevin had completed the paperwork necessary, and the prison had performed background checks on the attorney with Kevin’s permission. This was a Major in the US Army — and he still had to go through protocol.”

    My response: No, I completely disagree. The mail system in military prisons is patently unfair and unconstitutional. The military claims it is to protect the privacy of the inmate, but that is B.S. That is a tangential issue at best.

    The fact that it took 2 months for mail arrangements to made for Kevin is a criminal act on the behalf of the Army. That is why we had to go bat on the Travis Bishop case to fight with them on the mail issue (also at Fort Lewis). We still weren’t able to get things opened up as they should be, but we were able to get some concessions from them.

    2010-08-23 23:44
  • Monica Benderman

    There are a lot of crazy people out there. While Bradley Manning may have many, many supporters who want to write to him, he also has that many more who want to see him punished severely for what he is accused of doing.

    We had a public post office box set up to receive the mail that Ft. Lewis forwarded — 20,000 plus letters. There were many angry, hostile letters that I was glad Kevin never saw during his confinement. I could read him the letters of support, but his morale needed to remain positive and the letters of hate could be tossed without affecting him.

    For every side – there is another side.

    In the end, it is up to the inmate what mail they receive, and the protections are in place so that the inmate is able to receive mail from those he knows and trusts. They, in turn, will be able to share as many letters of support as they can with the inmate – and discard those that could do serious damage to someone whose psyche is already darkly affected by their situation.

    2010-08-31 00:14
  • JMB

    Monica,

    I’m surprised that this was Kevin’s experience, because most of the other imprisoned resisters I have spoken to also received hundreds, even thousands of letters. Of those, the overwhelming majority were positive.

    I certainly understand the wisdom of holding back those letters that the inmate doesn’t want to receive (I have told clients when they received such letters to put the writer on their “do not accept” list), but in most cases the problem is the opposite.

    And I certainly do NOT trust the Army to make that judgment at all. We had issues with Travis Bishop, of even letters from his own mother not getting through. There were also issues with funds not arriving in a timely manner that were sent by mail. I don’t trust Army corrections system mail at all.

    2010-08-31 02:02
  • JMB

    sorry for a lack of clarity, when I said “the opposite,” I meant that most prisoners are not getting mail that they want to receive.

    2010-08-31 02:12
  • Monica Benderman

    I didn’t say how many hostile letters were received.

    Even one hostile letter is enough to adversely affect the psyche of a soldier who is faced with the severe consequences someone like Bradley Manning faces.

    I strongly urge people to remember this in Bradley Manning’s situation. I have read that he has requested that mail not be sent to Quantico. It would be wrong to simply assume this is due to pressure from the military. The severity of the consequences pending is something he alone will have to deal with – and he should have the right to assure that his attorneys and others he trusts are able to provide him with the best guidance possible in the way forward, separate from any influence of “support” that may not offer the best consideration of outcome in this situation.

    I believe letters of support should be delivered in any way possible after the outcome of the case has been determined. Prior to that – it is important that people remember it is Bradley Manning’s life in the balance.

    I am reasonably sure his legal defense team will be competent in the ways of publicity when it comes to what Bradley Manning and his case require.

    I am well aware of the levels of emotion this roller coaster ride can inspire for the soldier. It is important that people and organizations not forget the soldier comes before the possibility of furthering an agenda at the expense of the soldier’s personal well being.

    Letters of support can be just as effective if sent to an external source who can then bring them to the soldier’s attention, and afford the greatest opportunity for a balanced perspective when most needed.

    2010-08-31 10:54
  • Reiko Gregory

    I also got a returned letter of support to Bradley Manning today (9/2/10) in my mail. Please let me know where I can send it to him. It’s just a letter of encouragement, which we were asked to do by an email I received.

    2010-09-02 18:06
  • 2010-09-04 23:27
  • Monica Benderman

    The best way to support Bradley Manning and any other soldiers who take a risk of speaking out against war, military protocol, corruption… is not to stand in the streets shouting to free them when imprisoned.

    The best way to support those who speak out against the system is to work to change the laws that allow their imprisonment, and to help educate those who serve to know their rights while serving.

    By empowering members of the military through an understanding of their rights, change within the military is possible.

    Many “resisters” have gone to prison for speaking truth from within the military – but nothing will change until the laws that govern military justice change.

    Bradley Manning is in prison because the laws exist that allow him to be imprisoned, just as many other resisters have been imprisoned.

    Work to change the laws so that soldiers are better able to serve by their conscience without fear of retribution.

    2010-09-09 09:32
  • 2010-09-21 01:28
  • Communists to Be Welcomed at Progressive March in DC

    [...] Veterans for Peace (VFP) is an official part of the Bradley Manning Support Network. [...]

    2010-09-23 20:32
  • RG

    We need to learn to question laws, government and to act to change laws to protect heroes. Who said laws that we have are right laws?”

    Is it wrong to break law if you are trying to protect innocent children? Is it really wrong to give out military videos if you are trying to protect those who cannot protect them selves?

    Bradley Manning, you may be thought of as of a criminal now, but the truth will prevail and someday you will be thought of what you really are, a HERO WHO RISKED HIS OWN FREEDOM TO HELP PROTECT LIVES OF THOSE WHO COULDN’T PROTECT THEMSELVES!

    I am bad at writing, so the above lines basically summarize what I wanted to say for those who don’t want to read the whole stuff bellow.

    Unfortunately, laws do not consider “reason”. Unless some miracles happens (presidential pardon, or some other miracle) Bradley will most likely be convicted. If law allowed for “reason”, such as it would be lawfull to break law and distribute classified information in order to help prevent killings of civilians then obviously he would be found innocent or even not charged or imprisoned. But as of now, the sad truth is that this hero may be found guilty, I would say he will most likely be found guilty. Maybe some day laws will be changed so heroes will be protected in cases like this since they are acting in order to save innocent lifes. But as of now, even though many of us feel that he is a hero, many others will say that he broke military laws and released classified information, they’ll say that he did something bad because he broke law. I was borned and raised in a communist country. Many people fought against the communist government. Many of them were imprisoned, tortured. My uncle (R.I.P.) was imprisoned and tortured just for the fact that he was in my home country’s underground army during World War II, fighting to free my home country from Germans. After World War II, Russian tyrany was ruling my country and the underground army members were thought of as enemies of the country. They were imprisoned, tortured, often sentected to death. Many civilians thought of them as of criminals because the law said that they were fighting against my home country. After the fall of communism, these soldiers became heroes. There are no more laws saying that they were the bad guys. This is the change that is needed right here, right now. Laws need to be changed so if someone acts to prevent killings of innocent, they will not be prosecuted or imprisoned. This hero here did not sell any military information that would endanger the U.S. army or the American nation. He did not sell or give out plans on how to build nuclear weapons to terrorists. The laws that the army is using against him were raised to protect the army and the American nation. He did not do anything to put the army or the nation in danger. Unfortunately, someone forgot to put some additional clauses in law, so to protect people who give out non safety related army information that would help save civilians, to not imprison or trial those people. It seems that the people in charge in the army are simply having revange on this hero, just because they could find a paragraph that would put him in prison. At first when I watched they video of those civilians being killed I thought “oh well, it’s war, it’s not like they meant it” (even thought they laugh at the dead and take pride of “good shooting”). But this made me think, what if we had a war here in United States, what if lets say we had a civil war and army happened to sometimes kill civilians. What if it was my children? Or my neighbours? The thought is very chilling….. even though I don’t have children. Someone may say “well, if you’re not a terrorist you got nothing to worry about”. My uncle was not a terrorist either when he jump out of a window to commit a suiciede while being tortured by the communist. He was thought to be, be the government back then, but not by the current government. Many will say that this hero did something wrong, he broke the law, but……. was he really wrong to do that when he tried to save innocent?

    2010-12-05 20:16
  • Homero Mattos Jr

    Dear Manning, let your foes to know that “You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time.” Abraham Lincoln
    And for the most zealous one, direct them to Luke, 12,2

    2010-12-08 15:15
  • Tom Parsons

    You are a patriot. Unfortunately for you, and for us, true patriotism is seen a an impediment to corporate power. I respect you.

    2010-12-14 23:59
  • vanpeer

    Dear All,

    I have just read about the plight of Bradley Manning in the Flemish newspaper DE MORGEN in Belgium, and am shocked at the conditions he is kept in (as I am shocked also for the reason of his arrest). I guess he is not allowed to receive email? If so, I would be glad to correspond with him.

    I have searched your website and responded to several pages, but what seems to be worrying to me is that about 4 or 5 of my emails came back as ‘undeliverable’. Are we being sabotaged already??

    All good wishes with your fight, which I am prepared to join – have donated 100 $.

    Professor Dr. Willie van Peer
    Belgium

    2010-12-20 06:10
  • peace

    free bradley manning

    italy

    2010-12-29 22:12
  • da'i

    justice for bradley manning.
    stop support war in iraq, afghasnistan, anywhere else.
    educate ourselves.

    2011-02-07 23:10
  • Daniel S.

    Bradley Manning you really are, a HERO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    IN THE CAUSE OF JUSTICE
    Freedom for Bradley Manning!!!!!!

    Stop War in the World!
    http://www.arbeiterfotografie.com/galerie/reportage/index-2002-09-28-london-stop-the-war-5.html

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eucYe9O82JM&feature=player_embedded#at=22

    2011-02-10 18:10
  • Michele A.

    Bradley, you are a champion.

    2011-02-15 06:53
  • Michele A.

    When you knew that soldiers were torturing people, shooting unarmed civilians etc, you realised your conscience would not allow you to remain silent. You have bravely made a stand for freedom of information and for human rights and have risked your own freedom in doing so. It is indeed courageous and you are not alone. Hopefully your supporters, who are growing in number, will give you comfort and will hound the powers that be to work towards your freedom. A full transparent sharing of information is also important for our historical records. The record needs to be as complete as possible to prevent the historical revisionists from manipulating the truth to further their own agendas.

    2011-02-15 07:13
  • Melissa Fitzgibbon

    Coming from a legal background (Australia) I have to admit that I find Bradley being kept in solitary and tried behind closed doors (military proceedings), disturbing. I think the public should demand that he have a fair trial and a public trial. I am probably showing an idealistic faith in the legal system here but if Bradley Manning is tried in public then the government has to produce evidence that what he did was illegal and convince a jury that what he did was not for the good of the public.
    I admit that I am not familiar with American legal proceedings relating to espionage but surely the credibility of the legal system is at stake here too. As an American citizen, as well as a military man, is Bradley Manning entitled to go beyond whatever justice the military gives him and access the wider American legal system under the American Constitution?
    I think Bradley deserves a fair trial and I hope enough people demand a fair trial that the government takes notice.

    2011-02-15 21:47

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