Anna Leach (Gay Star News) reports, "Rallies in 70 cities around the world marked the 1,000 day that Bradley Manning, the gay US soldier who allegedly released hundreds of thousands of confidential army documents to Wikileaks, has been held in prison by the American government." The Voice of Russia notes that rallies took place in the "US, UK, Canada, across Europe, and as reaching as far as South Korea and Australia." David Lin (Washington Square News) explains, "On Tuesday in Fort Meade, Md., a judge will decide whether to dismiss the Manning case based on lack of speedy trial." In an opinion piece, Erin Niemela (Las Vegas Informer) argues, "Give Bradley Manning his due process – that’s the least of what he deserves. Better yet, free him. Show the world that America stands for accountability, integrity, and human rights. Unlike depriving a person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, whistleblowing is not, and should not be, a crime."
Monday April 5, 2010, WikiLeaks released US military video of a July 12, 2007 assault in Iraq. 12 people were killed in the assault including two Reuters journalists Namie Noor-Eldeen and Saeed Chmagh. Monday June 7, 2010, the US military announced that they had arrested Bradley Manning and he stood accused of being the leaker of the video. Leila Fadel (Washington Post) reported in August 2010 that Manning had been charged -- "two charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The first encompasses four counts of violating Army regulations by transferring classified information to his personal computer between November and May and adding unauthorized software to a classified computer system. The second comprises eight counts of violating federal laws governing the handling of classified information." In March, 2011, David S. Cloud (Los Angeles Times) reported that the military has added 22 additional counts to the charges including one that could be seen as "aiding the enemy" which could result in the death penalty if convicted. The Article 32 hearing took place in December. At the start of this year, there was an Article 32 hearing and, February 3rd, it was announced that the government would be moving forward with a court-martial. Bradley has yet to enter a plea and has neither affirmed that he is the leaker nor denied it. The court-martial was supposed to begin before the November 2012 election but it was postponed until after the election so that Barack wouldn't have to run on a record of his actual actions. Independent.ie adds, "A court martial is set to be held in June at Ford Meade in Maryland, with supporters treating him as a hero, but opponents describing him as a traitor."
Liisa Wale (Arizona Community Press) reports on a local rally (text and photos) noting:
Here in Arizona rallies in support of Manning where held in Tempe and Tucson. The Tempe rally took place at the corner of Mill and University following the Local to Global Forum on Saturday. There was chanting “Free Bradley Manning” and some horn honking by passing traffic. It was a spirited rally and provided an opportunity to educate and provide updates to those that stopped to talk.
CBS St. Louis notes that local Veterans for Peace members held a demonstration and quotes Reese Forbes stating, "He violated regulations, but that was for a higher purpose. The time served now is enough." Tess Scheflan (Activestills.org) has a photo of the Boston action Saturday.
I'd hoped to highlight more but that's really about it -- in terms of coverage. I'm sure more took place. And if it sounds like I'm biting my tongue, I'm saving something for a blistering piece on the anniversary of the start of the Iraq War.
Bonnie reminds that Isaiah's The World Today Just Nuts "Sequestration" went up last night. On this week's Law and Disorder Radio, an hour long program that airs Monday mornings at 9:00 a.m. EST on WBAI and around the country throughout the week, hosted by attorneys Heidi Boghosian, Michael S. Smith and Michael Ratner (Center for Constitutional Rights) topics addressed include a new book entitled Priests of Our Democracy, The Supreme Court, Academic Freedom and the Anti-Communist Purge with author Marjorie Heins (the book focuses on the academic freedom fight in NYC colleges at the middle of the 20th century) and then they re-air the interview with Barbara Blaine about abuse by priests -- attorney Pam Sprees is part of the interview as well. The priest segment first aired in March of 2012, if I remember correctly.
The e-mail address for this site is common_ills@yahoo.com.
iraq anna leach gay star news independent.ie the washington square news david lin the las vegas informer
erin niemela arizona community press liisa wale cbs st. louis tess scheflan
wbai
law and disorder radio
michael s. smith
heidi boghosian
michael ratner
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