Bradley Manning rally at Ft. Meade, MD

Bradley Manning

On the eve of his court-martial at Ft. Meade, MD, hundreds gathered on Saturday to show support for Bradley Manning, a whistle-blower who has been nominated again this year for the Nobel Peace Prize. Manning is being tried for releasing documents and videos to Wikileaks including a video which he found especially revolting of an American airstrike in Baghdad which killed at least 12 unarmed Iraqi civilians, including children, and the Americans can be heard laughing about it. 

 

The documents revealed evidence of torture of detainees, participation by an American contractor in child trafficking, and 15,000 more Iraqi civilian deaths than the military previously reported.  Bradley Manning thought the people of the United States should know the atrocities their government kept hidden.

 

On Saturday the most unpopular name heard during the afternoon was President Barack Obama's.  His administration has targeted government whistleblowers twice as much (6) as all past presidents combined (3).  (Mr. President:  Rather than spending so much time on whistleblowers who seek to inform the citizenry, why don't you spend time on gun control, closing Guantanamo, getting your judicial appointments confirmed, reducing sexual assaults in the military, and breaking the blockade in Congress?)

 

Although the Sixth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution provides that

 

"[i]n all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy . . . trial . . . ." The Clause protects the defendant from delay between the presentation of the indictment or similar charging instrument and the beginning of trial," (Wikipedia)

 

Bradley Manning has been imprisoned for three years, including solitary confinement and stripped of his clothing ("fear of suicide") in conditions deemed torture by the United Nations.

At the Fort Meade main gate at Highway 175 and Reece Road/Patricia Leslie

 

At the Fort Meade main gate at Highway 175 and Reece Road/Patricia Leslie

 

At the Fort Meade main gate at Highway 175 and Reece Road/Patricia Leslie

 

A billboard for Bradley Manning at the Fort Meade main gate at Highway 175 and Reece Road/Patricia Leslie

At the Ft. Meade main gate at Reece Road and Highway 175/Patricia Leslie

Listening to speakers at the Bradley Manning support rally.  The temperature neared 90 degrees/Patricia Leslie

Code Pink, United for Peace and Justice, the Bradley Manning Support Network, Veterans for Peace, Iraq Veterans Against the War, Courage to Resist, and the ANSWER Coalition were some of the groups which participated in the Bradley Manning support rally at Ft. Meade Saturday/Patricia Leslie

At the Fort Meade main gate at Highway 175 and Reece Road/Patricia Leslie

The mile march for Bradley Manning along Highway 175 which borders Ft. Meade. The group was about three times the size of the March, 2011 rally for Bradley Manning at Quantico, Virginia/Patricia Leslie

The mile march for Bradley Manning along Highway 175 which borders Ft. Meade/Patricia Leslie

A rolling drum set the tone for chants: 

We will

We will free you.

Brother, sister,

Do not hide,

We've got truth on our side

A Ft. Meade guard rode a motorcycle up and down the fence line, following the marchers and kicking up dust/Patricia Leslie

A police escort along Highway 175/Patricia Leslie

These Bradley Manning supporters walked more than a mile along Reece Road to reach the Ft. Meade main gate.  With permission they had parked their cars at a school/Patricia Leslie

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Crosby, Stills & Nash at Wolf Trap

Crosby, Stills & Nash at Wolf Trap/Patricia Leslie

The sold-out audience loved it all, every bit of the two+ hour show which began shortly after 8 p.m. when the stars came out to shine and were not preceded by an unknown group.

Hallelujah

It was Crosby, Stills & Nash all night and none other.

Crosby, Stills & Nash at Wolf Trap/Patricia Leslie

They sang the old favorites and some new ones, too ("Love the One You're With," "Just a Song Before I Go," "Our House," "Name of Love," "Radio"), and the mostly 50+ white audience sang with them sometimes, and the second half was the best.

Crosby, Stills & Nash at Wolf Trap/Patricia Leslie

An occasional breeze cooled the sweaty throngs whose enjoyment was interrupted intermittently by lightning streaks which lasted most of the night. A harsh rainfall poured on the lawn crowd which fled to the overhangs at the beverage and food counters, but many stayed put on the grass, determined not to miss a note at Wolf Trap. 


When Graham Nash announced they were going to sing a song to Bradley Manning, scattered boos were heard from a few males in the crowd, and David Crosby shouted at them:  "You haven't even heard a f---ing word yet!  Talk about pre-judgment!"

Amen, brother

When "Almost Gone" ended, Nash screamed:  "The
f---ers who are responsible for killing millions are free, and he's in jail for telling the truth!" The people cheered and clapped, and no counter voices were heard, and those who sympathize with the soldier, who may have assisted in the release of documents which could have saved countless lives had they been released years earlier, were grateful.

Graham Nash at Wolf Trap/Patricia Leslie

Crosby, Stills & Nash have been around for 40+ years, but like fine, aging wine, their music has not weakened, and the people stood and wildly applauded the entertainers, happy to be present for celebrations of singular artistry and talent.

An usher said it was only the third sell-out of the season (Dolly Parton and Garrison Keillor were the others) and most Saturday nights at Wolf Trap have seats available since the "big" stars prefer larger venues for weekends.  He said the sound is actually better on the lawn.

Stephen Stills at Wolf Trap/Patricia Leslie

Another reason to spend a night in the grass at Wolf Trap and hear Seal on Tuesday night.

Attention, seniors:  If any tickets remain 30 minutes before show time, they are available for purchase at half price at Wolf Trap for you and you only, which may be the only advantage to moving up.  At least, at Wolf Trap.

Before the rain at Wolf Trap Tuesday night/Patricia Leslie

After the rain at Wolf Trap Tuesday night/Patricia Leslie

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