The Progressive

NewsWire

A project of Common Dreams

For Immediate Release
Contact:

Nancy Mancias, codepink.nancy@gmail.com
Alli McCracken, alli@codepink.org, (860) 575-5692

CODEPINK to Stage Creative Action on the Eve Of WikiLeaks Whistleblower Bradley Manning's Court Martial

WHEN: Saturday, June 1, 2013 4:00pm

WHERE: Llewellyn Ave, just west of US 175

***VISUAL OPPORTUNITY***

WASHINGTON

WHEN: Saturday, June 1, 2013 4:00pm

WHERE: Llewellyn Ave, just west of US 175

***VISUAL OPPORTUNITY***

(Ft. Meade, MD), The peace group CODEPINK will join the efforts of the Bradley Manning Support Network in a march and rally outside Ft. Meade where the WikiLeaks whistleblower Bradley Manning is scheduled to face court martial on Monday, June 3, 2013. They will dress as Lady Justice, blindfolded, with togas and scales, in front of a huge mural depicting Manning with a Medal of Honor, the military's highest award. They will speak out about how Manning's revelations have contributed to the group's work for peace and justice.

Private Bradley Manning, a 25 year-old US Army intelligence analyst, stands accused of leaking the largest amount of classified information in American history to the whistleblower website WikiLeaks.org. CODEPINK activists have been standing in support of Bradley Manning's action since his imprisonment three years ago. When State Department spokesperson P.J. Crowley was forced to resign after criticizing the Pentagon's treatment of Manning, calling the treatment "ridiculous, counterproductive, and stupid!", CODEPINK activists stripped their clothing to symbolize how the prison guards had taken away Bradley Manning's clothing.

Bradley Manning has been held in prison without charges for years. On Monday, June 13, 2013, Manning will finally face court martial for "aiding the enemy," a capital offense. Manning's actions exposed U.S. war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, and exposed abuses of other governments that helped spark the democratic uprisings in the Middle East, also known as the Arab Spring. That's why Manning is a hero to many people around the world, people who believe that transparency is the hallmark of democratic governance.

CODEPINK is a women-led grassroots organization working to end U.S. wars and militarism, support peace and human rights initiatives, and redirect our tax dollars into healthcare, education, green jobs and other life-affirming programs.

(818) 275-7232