Pro-Bradley Manning Protesters Face Court Judgment Tomorrow

For Immediate Release                                                                       Contact: David Barrows, 202-543-4244;

July 14, 2011                                                                           Mark Goldstone, 301-3469414

 

Pro-Bradley Manning Protesters Face Court Judgment Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, DC – Thirty-two Bradley Manning supporters were arrested by Virginia State and Prince William County Police on March 20 adjacent to the main entrance of Quantico U.S. Marines Base, and the first two who went to court face judgment tomorrow in Manassas.

Beverly Rice of New York and David Barrows of Washington, DC are represented by attorney John Zwerling of Alexandria, Va. They have been charged with malicious obstruction of traffic and unlawful assembly. They will appear at the Prince William County Courthouse, 9311 Lee Avenue, at 10:30 a.m.

However, the protesters contend they were simply attempting to lay flowers at the miniature Iwo Jima statue near Quantico’s main entrance and facing U.S. Rt. 1, and did not break the law. This landmark is a war memorial which is always open to the public.

“They had already closed Route 1 and refused to let us pay our respects at the memorial,” said Barrows. “Of course we are going to stand up for our rights, and continue to demand that our country treat Pfc. Bradley Manning humanely and preserve his dignity, as someone who has never been found guilty of anything.”

The two protesters were on trial in Prince William County General District Court in Manassas on June 20^th, but the judge halted the proceedings after the prosecution rested its case and Zwerling presented a motion to dismiss. The judge wanted time to review extensive briefs from both the defense and prosecution, before either proceeding with the defense’s argument, or simply dismissing one or both charges against the defendants.

In addition to Barrows and Rice, there are a more than a dozen other protesters arrested at Quantico, approximately a month before Manning was moved to Ft. Leavenworth who will be going to court in Manassas. A few will be representing themselves pro se. They will also be represented by Zwerling and assisted by consulting attorney, Mark Goldstone of Bethesda, Md.

--
Pete Perry, MLIS

"Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned."
~Buddha