http://www2.insidenova.com/news/2011/mar/22/quantico-protesters-released-jail-ar-919929/

Published: March 22, 2011

Quantico protesters released from jail

By Keith Walker

The 32 people who were ar­rested Sunday during the pro­test outside Quantico Marine Corps base in support of sus­pected WikiLeaks whistleblower Pfc. Bradley Manning have been released, Prince William po­lice spokesman Jonathan Perok said.

The protesters marched down U.S. 1 from Anderson Road in Triangle to the U.S. 1 and Joplin Road intersection, which was closed during most of the pro­test which started about noon.

The 32 were arrested by Prince William County and state police about 4 p.m. after police said they stood in the middle of U.S. 1 and refused to move.

Those arrested were taken to the Garfield Police Substation in Woodbridge and charged with unlawful assembly and careless interference with traffic. One person was charged with as­saulting a police officer, Perok said.

The U.S. Park Police assisted the Prince William police mount­ed unit and the D.C. Metropoli­tan Police Department provided a specialized team, Perok said.

“They were called in for mu­tual aid. It's not uncommon for that to happen,” Perok said of the assistance.

Perok did not release the func­tion of the specialized metro po­lice unit.

Manning was charged in May 2010 with violating parts of the Uniform Code of Military Justice after officials said he gave classi­fied data to the exposé website WikiLeaks.

Manning is awaiting a court martial while being held at Quantico. He could get up to 52 years in prison if convicted.

Sunday’s rally was not the first for Manning near Quantico. Supporters, in much smaller numbers, have gathered there before.

The protesters were released after processing, Perok said.

Court dates and bond informa­tion were not available for those who were arrested, Perok said.

Demonstration organizers ex­pected 400 people. Police did not have an official count of how many showed up.

Senior reporter Keith Walker can be reached at 703-369-6751.

Staff writer David Pierce contributed to this report.

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