Thursday 25 July 2013

PRESS RELEASE   PRESS RELEASE  PRESS RELEASE
Contact: Giorgio Riva (Payday) 07803 789 699 and Anne Neale (Queer Strike) 0207 482 2496

 
FREE BRADLEY MANNING
Gay whistleblower who has revealed governments’ crimes to Wikileaks

Saturday 27 July 2013 , 2-4pm
Vigil at St Martin in the Fields, WC2N 4JJ London
(Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross tube)
Part of the International Day of Action. All Welcome. Other actions in the UK

The trial of Private Bradley Manning started on 3rd June in Fort Meade , US . Ever since, protests and support have never stopped inside and outside the Court. In particular, Bradley has been celebrated in countless Pride marches internationally and was awarded the Sean MacBride Peace Prize (US). Hundreds including Queer Strike and Payday have signed a statement published in the New York Times on 25 July.
The U.S. government concluded its case against Bradley having provided no real evidence that he had “aided the enemy” by passing documents to WikiLeaks. In response, Bradley’s defence presented four motions for dismissal on the most serious charges, but these were refused by the judge.
As the judge is expected to pronounce a verdict very shortly (there is no jury),the Bradley Manning Support Network is calling for an international day of action on Saturday 27 July.

Over 70 supporters packed the courtroom and overflow trailer on July 8, 2013
So far, actions are planned in 13 countries  Australia,Belgium, Canada, France,Germany (over 20 cities),IrelandItalyNetherlands,ScotlandSouth Korea, Turkey, UK  (several locations) and dozens of US cities. 

Thanks to international whistleblower Bradley Manning, now we know about:
● The “collateral murder” video of a US helicopter gunship crew killing Iraqi civilians  The officially sanctioned cover-up of rape and other torture in Iraq and Afghanistan  The extent of drone strikes  The US government attacks on popular government & movements in Haiti and Venezuela  ● Corruption by Tunisian dictator Ben Ali, which spurred the 2011 revolution ● Israel consulting with Egypt and the Palestinian Authority before invading Gaza ● etc

Edward Snowden’s exposé of global snooping by the US has caused outrage around the world, as did the US re-routing of Bolivian President Evo Morales’ plane, especially in Latin America. The work of Wikileaks and its founder Julian Assange has been crucial in spreading Bradley Manning’s evidence of governments’ crimes and brutality, and for organizing against US persecution of Edward Snowden. The event will therefore demands:
FREE BRADLEY MANNING - DEFEND ALL WHISTLEBLOWERS – ASYLUM FOR ASSANGE AND SNOWDEN!

San Francisco Pride: 2,000 for Bradley
London Queer Strike contingent

Payday men’s network payday@paydaynet.org  www.refusingtokill.net US:215 848 1120   UK : 020 7267 8698