A hero for our time: go thou and do likewise

Protesting for Bradley Manning

By Steve Leigh | September 22, 2010

SEATTLE--As part of a national day of action in support of Pfc. Bradley Manning, 50 members and supporters of Veterans for Peace and Iraq Veterans Against the War picketed outside the gates of Fort Lewis, 40 miles south of Seattle, on September 18.

Manning is accused of leaking military video and other documents on the U.S. war against Afghanistan to the muckraking Web site WikiLeaks. Manning is currently in a military prison in Quantico, Va., charged with the unauthorized use and disclosure of classified information. If convicted, he faces up to 52 years in prison.

Veterans for Peace feels that whoever leaked this information is a hero, since exposing the truth about the U.S. military's role in Afghanistan could help build even more opposition to a disastrous war--and ultimately save many lives.

To emphasize their support for whistleblowers, protesters blew whistles, waved to motorists and passed out leaflets in support of Manning and all whistleblowers. The response from motorists on the freeway below the rally was mostly very positive--in line with polls that show public opposition to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

In spite of attacks from the U.S. government and especially the Pentagon, support for Manning is growing around the U.S. and the world. The military brass say that the WikiLeaks report will endanger the lives of U.S. troops and supporters of the U.S. in Afghanistan. But what's really killing the troops and civilians in Afghanistan is the U.S. war itself.

For more information, visit the Bradley Manning Support Network Web site.