SF - Bradley Manning - Post Sentencing Rally - Rainey Reitman
"Stomach doing somersaults every time we think of Bradley's sentencing today. Preparing for the worst but also preparing for the fight ahead." @BMqueerfriends
Nervous tweets such as this went out before learning of the sentencing outcome of Iraq and Afghan war whistle-blower Bradley Manning. Over on Facebook, the "Bradley Manning Support Network" was working to turn the energy into something positive...outreach:
"Bradley Manning's sentence will be read tomorrow, Wednesday, August 21. Judge Lind noted that she expects to do so in the morning. Take action in your community!"
Protests were planned for nearly 15 cities, including San Francisco, Washington DC, FT Meade, Las Vegas, Minneapolis, New York, Seattle, Boston, Denver, and overseas in Brisbane and London.
Just after 7am PST on the 21st of August 2013, Judge Denise Lind handed down the sentence of PFC Bradley Manning. One of a small handful of journalists who tirelessly covered the trial, Alexa O'Brien, quickly shared Judge Lind's findings via twitter:
"Pfc. Bradley #Manning sentenced to 35 yrs (w 1294 days credit). Reduced E-1. Forfeit of all pay & allowances. Dishonorably discharged." @carwinb
Former Gitmo chief prosecutor Col. Morris Davis quickly did the 'math' on how much time that should mean for Bradley Manning actually in custody:
"#Manning sentenced to 35 years. Means he'll likely serve about 8 to 8.5 yrs more in confinement and be out by the time he's 33 or 34" @ColMorrisDavis
"The Center for Constitutional Rights" after the sentencing:
"This show trial was a frontal assault on the 1st Amendment, meant to send clear warning to potential whistleblowers & journalists." @theccr
In San Francisco, about 80 people gathered in "Bradley Manning Plaza", a name used for the Ferry Plaza area by activists. The tone of this rally was notably different from those over the last few years. The reality of the sentencing was just setting in as Manning's Bay Area supporters gathered and spoke, and a somber tone found it's
way to the surface. Without fail, however, the speeches found their way to familiar defiance and resilience:
"I feel so much older, and feel like I'm hurt and beaten down, but the young people to have the moral courage to do this...YES YES YES...I LOVE YOU! I'm so proud of you! And we will STAND WITH YOU UNTIL YOU ARE FREE!!!"
Among the speakers was Rainey Reitman from the 'Bradley Manning Support Network':
"I really wanted to be able to come up here today and say we had victory, but instead I have to say that the fight is still going."
The Bradley Manning Support Network has joined up with Amnesty International to create a petition for President Obama to pardon Manning. " It's time for President Obama to pardon Bradley, and focus on preventing human rights violations instead of punishing whistleblowers." http://pardon.bradleymanning.org/
From a representative from 'World Can't Wait':
"Bradley, any shame or guilt you feel should be lifted off your shoulders and laid at the feet of those who govern over us. Blood is on their hands not yours. To me and millions around the world you are forever our courageous whistle-blower and we will
always be grateful." http://www.worldcantwait.net/
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For audio from this event: / forabitmorecontext
http://morecontext.net