During the early hours of March 15, protesters from around Maryland, and other states as far as New Jersey, gathered for a vigil at the front gates of U.S. Army base Fort Meade to support Pfc. Bradley Manning, who was scheduled to appear in court for a motion hearing.
Protesters held ANSWER Coalition (Act Now to Stop War and End Racism) placards reading “End Pentagon War Crimes” and “Free Bradley Manning” as rush hour commuters passed Fort Meade waving and honking in solidarity.
Manning, accused of exposing U.S. war crimes in the Middle East, has been detained by the U.S. military since May 2010, and charged with 22 counts. Manning has been subjected to months of torture under the supervision of the Obama administration while being denied his right to a speedy trial.
Manning’s case is yet another example of the sham “justice” system in the U.S. At the motion hearing, Manning’s defense attorney, David Coombs, asked for the trial to be dismissed since the U.S. government failed to turn over documents and other evidence during the course of Manning’s detainment to prove that he was, in fact, guilty of leaking classified documents and cables.
Regardless of whether Manning leaked government cables, he should be set free immediately and recognized for standing up to the U.S. imperialist machine. The Empire’s criminal wars abroad are the greatest threat to humanity today and must be resisted by all people in the U.S. and around the globe.
