PRESS RELEASE-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 8, 2011
Contact: Max Obuszewski [410] 366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net
Helen Gerhardt [412] 518-7387
BRADLEY MANNING SUPPORTERS HAVE THEIR DAY IN COURT
WHO: On March 20, 2011, thirty three activists, including Daniel Ellsberg who released the Pentagon Papers, were arrested outside the entrance to the
After the arrests, John Zwerling, a prominent
WHAT: In pre-trial proceedings, Obuszewski’s Motion to Compel Additional Discovery was dismissed. In similar cases, the pro se defendant has obtained information indicating the police had prior knowledge of protest plans and intercepted his private emails. For whatever reason, Judge O’Brien would not consider Obuszewski’s request for Indigent Defense Services. Since he was considering an appeal if convicted, he wanted to be qualified to obtain pro bono legal assistance.
Then opening statements were made by Citronberg on behalf of Athey, Zwerling on behalf of Wright, and by the pro se defendants. The prosecutor was reserved during these statements but objected to Obuszewski’s contention he had a
The prosecutor presented four police witnesses, who were then cross-examined. Each witness had a very faulty memory, and was unable to remember with much accuracy what the defendants allegedly did on March 20. A sergeant for the Prince William County Police Department did testify that Wright sat down on Route 1 after she was denied an opportunity to place flowers at the
A detective, for example, claimed Obuszewski was sitting down and was arrested at 4:05 PM. This testimony was incorrect. Both Zwerling and Citronberg made the point there was a permit until 4:30 PM, that one lane of Route 1 was part of the permitted area, that it was impossible for anyone to hear, amidst the chaotic scene, any dispersal order and that the police witnesses were unable to testify as to what Athey actually did and where she was arrested. After the government rested its case, Judge O’Brien dismissed the charge against Wright of “remaining at place of riot or unlawful assembly after warning to disperse,” finding insufficient evidence.
Obuszewski would be the only defense witness. On the witness stand he testified he sent a letter to Commandant Colonel Daniel J. Choike on March 16 seeking a meeting to discuss the treatment of Manning. Since he received no response, he tried to speak with the military personnel on March 20, but instead was arrested. On the witness stand, he argued he was compelled by the
The Commonwealth Attorney, arguing on behalf of the state, claimed that the defendants should be found guilty because they were engaging in civil disobedience. Drawing parallels to the civil rights movement, he argued that the defendants should plead guilty and accept punishment. Speaking in his own defense, Obuszewski clarified that the demonstrators at
In announcing her findings of guilt, O’Brien concurred that the case “does bring in larger questions” about the motivations of the demonstrators. Although she agreed that these larger issues are relevant, she felt that they “would not be appropriate for me to consider.” She disregarded the fact there was no evidence confirming the guilt of Athey, that Gerhardt had no intent to maliciously obstruct, that citizens had a
WHEN: Monday, November 7, 2011 at 2 PM
WHERE: Prince William Circuit Court, 31st Judicial Circuit of Virginia,
WHY: Speaking before the trial, retired U.S. Army Colonel Ann Wright explained why she felt obliged to speak out: “I felt the pre-trial conditions of solitary confinement and nudity that PFC Bradley Manning was subjected to in the Quantico brig for many months were outrageous and that public action by veterans and citizens to show their concern for the rights of this soldier was necessary.”
During the defense closing statements and in statements before sentencing, the police witnesses came back into the courtroom. Jean Athey, coordinator of Peace Action Montgomery (MD), said that her husband was retired military and that she was a grandmother of seven. She had great respect for a young soldier who is accused of exposing the truth. She was greatly moved after seeing the video COLLATERAL DAMAGE, which shows the
Veteran Helen Gerhardt told the court she was deployed for over a year in Iraq with a National Guard Transportation Unit that delivered water to Abu Ghraib. Because of her experiences in
Obuszewski pointed out that the unlawful assembly charge was dismissed because Manning’s supporters did not engage in violence. The malicious obstruction charge was added on and should have been dismissed as well. He also pointed out that Pfc. Bradley Manning was moved to the military prison in
Judge O’Brien was quite fair during the trial and explained carefully the procedures for the benefit of the pro se defendants. However, she was unable to find the courage to acquit the defendants. She lives in one of the most highly-militarized sections of the country. Her way of compensating was to fine the defendants fifteen dollars and order them to pay court costs. It was astonishing to discover the courts costs in
The water is already over the dam, but it can be speculated that twelve jurors may have had difficulty in convicting the Manning supporters of malicious obstruction of traffic on road where there was no traffic. Regardless, the defendants and their supporters agreed to continue efforts on behalf of Bradley Manning and Julian Assange, who may be deported to
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"The master class has always declared the wars; the subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs
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