Free Bradley - The MN/IA Pool

Entrance sign into Leavenworth, Kansas

On Saturday, May 28th I woke up at 6AM to prepare for my fourth trip to Fort Leavenworth Military Base. After a night of mostly tears, I wake up saddened by the state and humanity and false patriotism encrusted in the United States. I come to Leavenworth not only to speak against the unjust detainment of Bradley Manning, but in solidarity with him; to continue informing the people of the crimes committed by the government and military we so naively trust, to remember the detainees who were tortured at Guantanamo Bay and the 771 who still remain indefinitely, to remember Namir Noor-Eldeen, 22-year-old Reuters photographer who was murdered by US Apache helicopters and his driver, Saeed Chmagh and the millions of soldiers and civilians who have been killed in the war.

Namir Noor-Eldeen September 1 1984- July 12, 2007

Four peace activists from Minnesota join me in this journey. They drive four hours to Des Moines to pick me up and another three and a half to Leavenworth. My spirit was immediately lifted as I join a team of driven, passionate, and intuitive souls.

We arrive in Leavenworth on a very calm afternoon. The town seems to be very desolate today as the traffic leaving through check point is minimal. The guys pose for photos in front of the sign. I warn them that military police will be outside within two minutes to tell us photos of the main gate are not permitted.

Ross refuses to show military police the photos he has taken.

Ross: Show me the law that states photos are not allowed.

Guard: Let me get back to you on that.He returns to inform us taking photos is not illegal.

He also says, "I can't say much because I'm in uniform right now, but I agree with The First Amendment."

We stood outside on Metropolitan Ave for a few hours before taking a break in the countryside like I always do. A break from city traffic is needed.

A woman pulled over into the parking lot to take photos of us. We warned her to not walk into traffic. She tells us she has good health insurance because she is enlisted. She continues to tell us that her father died while serving. She repeatedly tells us that we shouldn't protest outside the military base, that they are good, honorable people. I give her a copy of Collateral Murder.

Shortly after she leaves a soldier approaches us to ask us what we are doing. He has no opinions on Bradley Manning or Wikileaks. He states he just likes conversation. After listening to Roger he says, "It's up to people like you to vote."

Melissa notices a man taking photos of Roger's car which was parked across the street at The Armed Forces Bank parking lot. Ross confronts the man to ask him what he is doing. The man appears to think the empty lot should be for customers only.

We also found that the previously inviting 711 owner is now unhappy with us. After stepping six inches into the grass he informs us that we are on private property. He does not like Ross' camera bag sitting on the light post either.

Before returning to Minnesota, the gang decides to have a five minute protest at the nicest rest stop in Iowa.

The atmosphere is hostile in Leavenworth. I notice it gets better each time with bigger numbers. After explaining who Bradley Manning is to locals, they express empathy. However, I suggest watching your backs. Most of the town does not want us there.

For a video compilation of Saturday's event visit:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvvKhfxviEg

Haute Fort

On late Tuesday night a terrible feeling about the following day overcame me. I didn't want to go to Leavenworth again, but I couldn't leave Chris out there alone. Chris and I reached Leavenworth at noon again after, say an hour of Chris and I singing to Elton John.

Chris walked straight towards the main gate again. She said she was going to meditate and vigil on the prison grounds. I said, "I'll just stay behind over here." I stood on the sidewalk across from the gates with a RELEASE BRADLEY MANNING sign. Within ten minutes a police officer approached me asking for a permit.

Officer: I understand you're here for that (looks at my sign), but you have to have a permit for your demonstration and rally.

Me: Really? I have one sign. I need a permit for this?

Officer: Your sign is considered a protest.

He continues to explain the city ordinance and that he didn't write the rules, but he must enforce them. Well, you know, the whole spiel most cops give followed by, "Do you understand?" I used to ask my daughter if she understands a lot when she was learning to talk. I reply, "I understand, but it doesn't make sense. This imposes on my first amendment rights. This sign is freedom of speech."

He then tells me that it's a revenue based county. Little Ceasar's has to pay a fee for a permit to have their person walking around with a sign and people have to have permits to have a garage sale. I looked up the city ordnances. You only need a permit if you are having a sidewalk sale. I didn't want to stand around and argue because of my anxieties I had from the previous night. There were two more officers that were standing behind this guy for back up. The military police had approached Chris across the street. At least five of them. Because of the previous nights' anxiety, I silently walked away to return the signs to the car. I will play it cautious today.

When I came back the police officer told me he gave me bad information.

Officer: You can have your sign as long as you're on the sidewalk and not blocking traffic. You can walk across the street on the sidewalk in front of the gates. That's city property too. You can sit down on the sidewalk, you can sit on the grass as long as it's not on the side closer to the street. I'm sure the 711 owner won't have a problem with you sitting on the grass. Don't get run over.

Me: Who gave you this information?

Officer: My lieutenant. I gave you bad information earlier.

Me: Yes, I know there is a permit required for parades and rallies. I was just about to call my lawyer.

I stood there for a couple of hours with my sign while Chris walked up and down the sidewalks on the other side spreading good vibes. It was all negative responses today and I have to admit, I did not like standing there alone being verbally abused by Leavenworth. A woman walked up and told me my sign should say, "Shoot Bradley Manning." I didn't say anything to her or even laugh. We drove out to the country side again and sat outside until the showers cut our break short.

When we returned Chris sat meditating in the grass in front of the Leavenworth sign. I stood at the exit as many people were leaving the base. Military police and a van took their post again so I walked across to the 711 strip mall.

Three police cars stood in the parking lot watching me for about a half hour until they decided I wasn't a threat and that no one had driven by to shoot me yet.

Then, a Little Ceasar's employee asked me if I could move across the street because their girl who holds a $5 pizza sign needed to be on the sidewalk. I told her I will stand over here, I moved two feet over. She said that was fine and went back inside. A half hour later the employee came out again to ask if me to move. I told her I won't be moving because it's a public sidewalk.

Employee: That's fine, but she needs to be able to walk up and down the sidewalk.

Me: We can share.

Employee: We'll notify the police.

Moments later a different employee comes out yelling at us that we are terrorists and we support terrorism. If you support him then you are against the military.

Me: No, I don't support terrorism. I am against people killing innocent civilians. Have you seen the video Bradley Manning released? 11 civilians were killed including 2 Reuters reporters and children were wounded.

Angry employee: There are people fighting for you to be able to stand there.

Me: I am not able to stand here because of the military.

Angry employee: My friend got blown up to pieces in Iraq and I'm a marine veteran. We pay for these sidewalks and you can't be out here. You are for the terrorists.

She tries to get the other employee who was holding the $5 pizza sign to come inside. She tells her that she will spend the rest of her shift next to the Free Bradley Manning sign. The angry employee returns another time to give me my 5 minute warning about calling the cops as she yells at me that they are losing customers, because they think Little Ceasar's is with us as she yells in the parking lot that we are for terrorism. An older man asks us, "So what do you wanna' do, just free him?"

Yes, he should be freed. What should we do with people who kill civilians? He shakes his head and has nothing to say. So the cops came and talked to Little Ceasar's, but not us.

Sec. 78-10. - Use of streets.

No peddler shall have any exclusive right to any location in the public streets, nor be permitted a stationary location in the public street. No peddler shall be permitted to operate in any congested area where his or her operations might impede or inconvenience the public. For the purpose of this chapter, the judgment of a police officer, exercised in good faith, shall be deemed conclusive as to whether the area is congested or the public impeded or inconvenienced.

By now, it was 7PM. Chris and I decide to leave earlier tonight so she can drive back to Grinnell. She spent the night in her car last week to do her Die-In at the Senator's office instead of driving back. When we returned to the car we found eggs thrown at Chris' windshield then Chris mailed a letter to Bradley.

My two favorites: "He should go back to tossing salads," from a guy in camouflage and, "I'm for torture." *fist pump*.

Who is Bradley Manning

On April 20th, 2011 Bradley Manning was transferred from Quantico, Virginia to Leavenworth, Kansas.

"The order to keep PFC Manning under these unduly harsh conditions was issued by a senior Quantico official who stated he would not risk anything happening “on his watch.” When challenged by a Brig psychiatrist present at the meeting that there was no mental health justification for the decision, the senior Quantico official issuing the order responded, “We will do whatever we want to do.” Based upon these statements and others, the defense was in the process of filing a writ of habeas corpus seeking a court ruling that the Quantico Brig violated PFC Manning’s constitutional right to due process. See United States ex. rel. Accardi v. Shaughnessy, 74 S.Ct. 499 (1954) (violation of due process where result of board proceeding was predetermined); United States v. Anderson, 49 M.J. 575 (N.M. Ct. Crim. App. 1998) (illegal punishment where Marine Corps had an unwritten policy automatically placing certain detainees in MAX custody).

- David Coombs, attorney for Bradley Manning

On May 4th, Christine Gaunt and I travelled to Leavenworth. We arrived at the main gates of the military base at noon.

We left the car to cross the street and to check out the area. We did not have any signs with us, but we took photos of each other in front of the pretty gate as Chris has done this routinely at Fort Benning. Chris continued on towards the check point. I stayed behind close to the gate taking photos of the flowers and the platform. I don't know what those things are called when they have the history of a location on a plate. I took a photo of that and in doing so I had unknowingly crossed on to federal property. An MP approached me with clipboard in hand telling me I was on federal grounds and taking photos. He asked me questions such as my name and asked for a photo ID. He told me photos are not allowed. Another MP explained that taking photos like the one seen above of checkpoint is a breach of security. I expected to be warned and asked to leave the premises, however he continued to ask me more questions about my whereabouts; if I attend college, where do I work, what is my degree in, how did I meet the lady I am with. He repeatedly asked me how I know Chris or know about Bradley Manning. I'm sure he was trying to get me to say I belong to an organization. I took a vow silence.

We were questioned for an hour and a half by the MP and their advisers. Our photos were taken by the MP and apparently the photos taken by the MP weren't good enough so their boss had to take photos with his DSLR. They also informed us that the county sheriff has been notified about us since we were planning to vigil across the street on state grounds. He also showed up. We asked if we can't have take photos or have a vigil there, where could we go? We were told that if we were part of the "Recon mission on June 4th," we would need a permit from the county. To interrogate me and Chris, a pig farmer from Grinnell, there were four military police, two advisors and the sheriff. One of the MPs stood with me while I deleted the photos and video one by one.

The MPs were alright. They brought us a couple of waters and assured us they weren't just being mean. Just following rules.

We returned to the car and retrieved our "Free Bradley" signs and took post on the sidewalk across the street. It didn't take long for thumbs downs and middle fingers to wave a flare from trucks and Hummers. There was an employee from Little Ceasar's advertising $5 pizza on the sidewalk as well. She moved across the street. A jogger yelled, "Hold a Little Ceasar's sign. It's more productive." Sure, pizza is more important than justice. We received one, "We outta' kill that piece of shit!" He repeatedly drove back yelling more obscenities.

At 3:30 PM we decided to try to find a road that would lead us closer to the holding cells so that we could wave our signs for the prisoners to see, and pass the message to Bradley.

We found a gravel road, green hills, cows, and green trees, and an ugly prison surrounded by beautiful country. Leavenworth - where the Great West begins.

We also found holding cells. We were told by a local that is the federal prison. Bradley Manning is most likely being held in a prison that is located in the center. Access to the west entrance isn't open to the public. Despite that information we held our signs in front of the court yards and cells in hopes that someone would pass the message onto Bradley that we stand in solidarity with him.

We spent the rest of the evening back in front of the main gates on 7th & Metropolitan with our signs. A few drivers pulled over into the strip mall to ask who Bradley Manning is. Joggers and pedestrians also stopped.

Who is Bradley Manning? He's a 23-year-old Army intelligence analyst who allegedly shared classified documents with Wikileaks. The website most known for releasing footage of a US Apache helicopter attack that killed 11 civilians, 2 Reuters reporters and wounded two children in Baghdad. Bradley faces life in prison for blowing the whistle on war crimes while the military gets away with murder. He was transferred to your town from Quantico, Virginia a couple of weeks ago after having been in solitary confinement since June 2010 without trial. A man in his 30s who was born in Leavenworth and has spent his entire life there responded: He's a hero. Bradley Manning is an American hero to me. This town gets stuck in their ways because it's all military folk, but that's not right what they're doing to him. We need change.

We spoke to a number of locals who have all heard of Wikileaks, but didn't know who Bradley Manning is. After listening to us, they were supportive. Mixed in with the usual unfriendly comments were positives. The most uplifting reaction was from a man wearing a suit and tie who was leaving the military base. Glad to see someone leaving Fort Leavenworth who supports Bradley.

Bradley is now being held in Medium Custody at Fort Leavenworth. His attorney was able to meet with him there. He confirms that Bradley is able to have his personal items with him such as his cell phone, clothing, legal materials, letters and books from friends and family. He has a large cell that let's in natural light. He and his group are taken to the outdoor recreation area two hours daily. This portion of the battle has been won because 600,000 people wrote letters and signed petitions, thousands called the White House switchboard, and 300 of America's top legal scholars decried Bradley's pre-trial conditions as a clear violation of our Constitution's 5th and 8th Amendments. The fight continues on as his pre-trial date nears.

Leavenworth, Kansas population 34, 948, we'll see you again.

http://www.collateralmurder.com/en/download.html

Letters to Bradley:

Bradley Manning 89289 830 Sabalu Road

Fort Leavenworth, KS 66027