Support Bradley Manning outside Fort Meade main gate

Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore, 325 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD 21218 Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski at verizon.net

 

PRESS RELEASE-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   March 14, 2012

 

Contact: Max Obuszewski [410] 366-1637 or mobuszewski at verizon.net

 

SUPPORT VIGIL CALLS FOR DISMISSAL OF CHARGES AGAINST BRADLEY MANNING

 

WHO: Bradley Manning, the army private accused of leaking classified information to Wikileaks, after close to 600 days of incarceration finally appeared in a military court in December.  If indeed Manning released the documents, he is a hero for blowing the whistle on U.S. war crimes and government alliances with despotic regimes in the Middle East and elsewhere.  

The Pledge of Resistance-Baltimore, the Bradley Manning Support Network and other organizations first protested the private’s severe mistreatment while he was in the Quantico Marine Base Brig in Virginia.  On March 20, 2011, for example, thirty three activists, including Daniel Ellsberg who released the Pentagon Papers, Col. [Ret.] Ann Wright, and Max Obuszewski with the Baltimore Pledge were arrested outside the entrance to the Quantico Marine Base in Triangle, Virginia. The arrests took place on Route 1 after a rally condemning the torture of Pfc. Bradley Manning, then imprisoned in the Quantico brig.  Probably due to the protests, the political prisoner was moved to Fort Leavenworth in Kansas.   

WHAT:  During the motions hearing on March 15, it became clear that the government has failed to provide discovery as required to the defense.  In response, supporters intend to vigil calling for the dismissal of all charges against Bradley Manning.

 

WHEN:  Friday, March 16, 2012 from 7 to 10 AM

 

                        Motions hearing continues at 10 AM

 

WHERE: Fort Meade Main Gate, Maryland 175 & Reece Rd, Fort Meade, MD 21113

WHY:  As expected the U.S. military is refusing to turn over through discovery to the defense what is claimed to be “classified information.” Presumably the “classified information” is detrimental to the prosecution’s case or is embarrassing to the government.  Regardless, it can’t be a fair court martial unless the defense is able to see all evidence against Pfc. Bradley Manning.  So it seems Col. Denise Lind should dismiss all charges and release Manning as soon as possible.

Supporters were well aware of Manning’s mistreatment.  Recently the United Nations special rapporteur on torture confirmed what was long suspected. Juan Mendez, the special rapporteur on torture, has formally accused the US government of cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment towards Bradley Manning.  Mendez completed a 14-month investigation into the treatment of the soldier since his arrest in May 2010. Mendez told the Guardian: "I conclude that the 11 months under conditions of solitary confinement (regardless of the name given to his regime by the prison authorities) constitutes at a minimum cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment in violation of article 16 of the convention against torture. If the effects in regards to pain and suffering inflicted on Manning were more severe, they could constitute torture."

 

Mendez also told the Guardian that he could not reach a definitive conclusion on whether Manning had been tortured because he has consistently been denied permission by the US military to interview the prisoner under acceptable circumstances. Manning's solitary confinement came to an end on April 20, 2011 after he was transferred to Leavenworth,

 

Presumably at the motions hearing, a date will be selected for the court martial.  Regardless of what transpires at the court martial, the Pledge of Resistance–Baltimore and many other groups will continue efforts to Free Bradley Manning.  And these efforts are linked to the struggle to prevent Julian Assange, of Wikileaks, from being deported to the United States.  There is great fear that if Assange were brought to the U.S., he would be charged under the Espionage Act, which can carry a death penalty.

 

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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

 

Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center, 325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218.  Ph: 410-366-1637; Email: mobuszewski [at] verizon.net. Go to http://baltimorenonviolencecenter.blogspot.com/