PFC Bradley Manning is a 23-year-old US Army soldier accused of leaking classified information while serving as an intelligence analyst in Iraq. Manning has been in custody since May of 2010, and is currently facing multiple charges, including one that potentially carries the death penalty, "aiding the enemy."
Specifically, Manning is suspected of leaking the "Collateral Murder" video to the whistleblower web site WikiLeaks, which shows a US helicopter killing unarmed Iraqi civilians and Reuters journalists. He has also been charged with leaking classified Department of State cables, and is considered a person of interest in WikiLeaks' "Afghan War Diary".
The case has garnered much public debate, both supporters and detractors. Daniel Ellsberg, who released the infamous Pentagon Papers in 1971, has been quoted as saying, "If [Manning] has done what he is alleged to have done, I congratulate him." On the other side, a Republican US congressman has been calling for Manning to be executed if found guilty, and he has been smeared by anti-gay groups like the Family Research Council as proof that allowing gays to serve in the military undermines America's safety.
As of March 2011, Manning remains in solitary confinement at a military brig in Quantico, Virginia. He has been cut off from his family and friends, unable to even receive letters from his supporters around the world. Any prison is a frightening, lonely place- and Manning likely has a long ordeal ahead of him.
Whether ultimately found innocent or convicted of his charges, Bradley Manning is a brave young man who needs our support, and deserves to be freed. If he's innocent of all charges, he's a casualty in the Obama administration's war on whistleblowers, and if convicted, he's a hero for exposing war crimes and the true civilian costs of our wars in the Middle East.
This project was initiated by someone who has over a decade of experience with prisoner support and watching activist legal cases unfold, and the site has gained interest and input from other experienced organizers and activists. This site was set up specifically to provide people with real, tangible, individual ways in which they can personally get involved in helping Bradley Manning. This site is about getting active and creating a real, widespread movement of solidarity. No need to wait around for a protest to happen in your city- be the change you want to see!
If you would like to get in touch with this support site, email freebradley at freebradley dot org. If you would like to keep up on any important developments or be notified of new ways in which you can help, follow @FREEBRADLEYorg on Twitter.
If you would like to make a donation to the printing of "Free Bradley" stickers, you can send concealed cash or blank money orders to: FreeBradley.org, PO Box 20144, Seattle WA 98102. Every cent received will go directly to this outreach campaign, no "operational overhead" for a nonprofit foundation, no paid staff, no credit card processing fees. Plus, your donation to FreeBradley.org is anonymous, if that's a concern for you. If more money is collected than gets spent on campaign materials, it will be donated directly to Bradley Manning's prison commissary fund, directly to his attorney (if he ends up retaining paid counsel), or directly to Bradley himself if he is found innocent of his charges.
Do not make inflammatory statements about the case. You don't know if Bradley did any of the things he is accused of, or if he is the victim of overzealous prosecutors and a government desperate for a fall guy. People who want to support Bradley are damaging his shot at a fair trial by implying that he is responsible. (FreeBradley.org supports Bradley whether or not he is found to be responsible for the leaks.) As Bradley remains tied to a stake in the brig, please don't pour fuel on the fire beneath him by "supporting" him with sentiments that assume his guilt.
A San Francisco Bay Area attorney consulted about some of the messaging by Bradley's supporters thus far had this to say:
"It would be unfair to PFC Manning and prejudicial to his defense to make him the poster boy for a campaign defending WikiLeaks before anyone even knows whether he did what he is accused of. He has been segregated and sensory deprived, facing who knows what kind of interrogation and abuse on top of solitary confinement. Even if he confessed under such circumstances, I wouldn't place any stock in it. People may think that statements by third parties can't hurt PFC Manning, but that's naïve. In political cases, authorities opportunistically treat speculation and innuendo as fact. The government desperately needs a fall guy to divert attention from its own misdeeds. Prosecutors would happily exploit statements by Manning's self-styled defenders in this case."
Pay attention to what it being said in both the mainstream and alternative press.
To follow what's been included in Google News for the case, click through the list below of what they consider the top 8 stories. (This is mostly mainstream, big-name news, so it's a mixed bag.) To get the full picture of what's being said in the press, go to news.google.com and search for "Bradley Manning".
Sadly, even among liberal/radical news outlets, it's almost impossible to find an article that isn't written under the assumption that Bradley is guilty of everything (and more) that the US government has accused him of. So, read all articles with a grain of salt, and discuss them with sensitivity to his pending legal case. Bradley has not plead guilty or been convicted of any crimes, and even well-intentioned supporters are only harming his case by calling him a leaker or praising him for exposing war crimes.
Bradley is currently being held in a brig in Quantico, Virginia. However, he is only allowed to receive mail from approved senders. If you'd like to write to Bradley, make sure to include a return address on your envelope, and keep in mind that your letters will most likely be returned to you. In the future, we're hoping that Bradley's mail regulations will ease up, but until then, there are better ways for you to support him than by sending letters that will be sent back to you. If you'd like to try anyway, his mailing address is:
Inmate: Bradley Manning
3247 Elrod Avenue
Quantico, VA 22134
USA
When writing to prisoners, please keep in mind that all mail will be read by authorities, so you should not discuss any illegal activities, his case, or any other sensitive topics. Also, don't forget- Bradley is innocent until proven guilty, and you're hurting his chance at a fair trial to refer to him as a "leaker" or say things like "You're a hero for exposing war crimes". Bradley has made no public statements about his case, and you, as a supporter, must support him on the presumption of his innocence.
In general, when writing to prisoners, only send in plain paper- no stickers, glitter, or photos. You also cannot send in stamps, cash, etc. Bradley is able to receive books, but they must come directly from the publisher, and he and the facility must know ahead of time what the book's title and ISBN are, which you could only get to him if you're an approved sender. (Frustrating, yes.)
As soon as anything changes here, FreeBradley.org will let you know. Follow @FREEBRADLEYorg on Twitter to get any important updates about how you can help.
Follow @FREEBRADLEYorg on Twitter to get the latest updates and information about how you can get involved. Re-tweet!
Add a "FREE BRADLEY" banner to your Twitter icon. Go to our Twibbon page and simply click "show my support now." This way, you're getting the message out every time you tweet about the amazing sandwich you just ate or your latest Foursquare check in!
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If you would like to receive stickers to put up around your area, you need to send a self-addressed stamped envelope (SASE). If you live in the US, the return postage is a standard first class stamp for up to 8 stickers. If you are outside the US, it would be nice if you could include a bit of cash (any currency, though preferably US) to cover the return mailing costs, which are $1 USD for 8 stickers. Our mailing address is: FreeBradley.org Please note how many you would like, with a limit of 8 per 42 cent stamp. (Want 16 stickers? Put two stamps on your envelope.) Any donations to cover the cost of printing is greatly appreciated. Please only send concealed cash (preferred) or blank money orders. Your donations are anonymous and 100% of monies received go directly into this small campaign. |
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Print and distribute these half-page flyers anywhere that people might see them. You can stand on a busy corner and offer them to passersby, leave them in your local coffee shops, tack the up on bulletin boards, or anything else you can think of. The text of this half-page leaflet is copied directly from the introduction to this web site, and provides readers with basic information about the case and why they should support Bradley whether or not he is guilty of what he has been charged with. This particular version is current as of August 17th, and will be updated as needed. |
You can always hold a simple cardboard sign, but why not create a large banner that can be seen from further away? You can make a big cloth banner that can be held by just one person, so long as you add support to the top. (Of course, two person banner teams work, too, and the support at the top helps keep the banner straight and readable.) Depending on what kind of fabric and materials you use, you can make such a banner for around $50. Also, when you buy a length of cloth at a fabric store, it comes doubled-over, so buying 3 yards (9 feet) of fabric gives you enough material to make TWO banners. "Free Bradley Manning" banners make excellent gifts for your friends for all occasions!
Here's what you need:
* A large section of cloth, either new from a fabric store, or from an old sheet;
* A pencil, possibly a ruler for getting letters straight;
* Scissors;
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A sewing machine or permanent fabric glue (can be found at craft stores);
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A curtain/drape rod or other lightweight support to string through the top of your banner;
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Paint and a paintbrush, or several permanent markers.
* Optional: If you are going to be displaying your banner off an overpass or other windy area, you'll need to weigh down the bottom of the banner. You can do so with chain, rocks, screws, or for perfect straightness, another drape rod.
Here's how to put everything together:
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Cut your fabric to the size you want, and cut out a small area at the center for inserting a support pole, and a place for your hands to grip the pole in the middle. |
Make your banner rectangular again by folding the top over, towards the back of the banner. To create a pocket for your support pole in the top of your banner, either use a sewing machine or permanent fabric glue. Sew/glue up the ends of the pocket, too. |
Trace your text first in pencil to make sure it looks right, and keep it simple so it can be clearly seen from far away. |
Fill in your lettering with waterproof paint or permanent markers. You may want to put something between your floors and your banner to prevent staining. |
Insert your drape rod or other support in the top. (Optional for windy areas: make a second pocket for another drape rod, or glue in other weights at the bottom.) Your completed craft project is ready for deployment! |
If you have a blog, web site, or any other online presence, why not add a graphic to show your support? Below is an assortment of image sizes that can fit in any layout. Please link graphics to http://www.freebradley.org
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