by William Hughes
A spirited rally was held in a park, on Sunday afternoon, August 8, 2010, in the town of Quantico, Virginia, to support Private Bradley Manning who is currently incarcerated in a prison at the Quantico Marine Base, which surrounds this town bordering on the Potomac River. Private Manning is charged with releasing a video showing “the killing of civilians and journalists in Iraq” by U.S. forces, according to a press release from one of the event’s sponsors. Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK, served as the moderator for the rally, which was entitled “Free Bradley Manning." Background on the alleged whistleblower Bradley Manning can be found at the website of the the Bradley Manning Support Network (BradleyManning.org). Speaking at the demonstration were: Jeff Paterson, Ellen Barfeld, Mike Marceau, Matt Southworth, Phyllis Bennis, Ray McGovern, Josh Stieber, Andrew Castro and the Rev. Lennox Yearwood. According to Medea Benjamin, Iris Tharp, the mayor of Quantico, granted, at the 11th hour, a permit to hold the demonstration because she is a “supporter of free speech.”