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Indybay Feature

Occupy SF - March and Rally to Free Bradley Manning

by Rubble
What’s next for Occupy SF, per corporate media propaganda and interested individuals? Saturday, December 17th, a rally at Justin Herman Plaza, followed by a Financial District street march with a stop and rally at a Financial District Wells Fargo, was held as part of the international movement to free Bradley Manning. Hear audio, including a healthier and very articulate Scott Olson. (38 minutes)
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The audio starts with a short talk from an Egyptian activist on brutal attacks on activists this week in that Country. Scott Olsen, the Occupy SF activist and ex-military member who was shot in the head during the military-style police attack on Occupy Oakland, spoke in front of Wells Fargo (while police fervently guarded the doors of the closed branch). Several other Veterans Against The War spoke and stood in support. Olson spoke well and marched energetically, wearing a full neck brace. One activist who has been at it from the start of Occupy SF gave a rousing speech about the things he is angry about politically and his inspiration to keep fighting for justice, before taking a bullhorn and leading the march back into the streets.

Marchers chanted “Free Bradley Manning” through the streets, and presented a birthday cake at a post-march rally at Sue Bierman Plaza, while also celebrating the three-month anniversary of both Occupy SF and Occupy Wall Street. We are the 99%!!

This case may be very difficult for the military. They are basically accusing Manning of treason for releasing these documents, with talk that he might even face a death penalty. His treatment in detention was brutal. As we learn growing up, these “treason” laws are supposed to be for people who release information to enemy states which can undermine U.S. security and undermine advantage in war. However, from what we keep hearing, the WikiLeaks documents expose unbelievable war atrocities by the U.S. military that, in effect, embarrass the U.S. government’s continued attempts to sell war and related policies to U.S. citizens and people all over the world. While military and other government people call him a traitor, supporters believe he is a hero for having the courage to do what he did to help us all.
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by Alan Kurtz
I realize Manning's Article 32 hearing just started and has a long way to go. But so far there's no hint that his attorneys will argue that Manning is, as Rubble puts it here, "a hero for having the courage to do what he did to help us all." Rather, they're nibbling around the edges at a gay defense—the idea that, since Don't Ask Don't Tell was then in effect, Manning felt so persecuted as a soldier undergoing a crisis of sexual identity that he lashed out at the Govt and the Army by becoming a source for WikiLeaks. Will it work? Who knows. But remember Dan White's Twinkie defense—that was even more idiotic yet got him off. So maybe DADT Made Me Do It will work for Bradley.
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