Stop the media blackout on Bradley Manning’s trial!
Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel
Despite the unprecedented and historic nature of Army whistleblower Bradley Manning’s trial, journalists have thus far been banned from recording the proceedings. Because Americans more commonly get their news through television than from any other media source, this presents a major barrier to the American public staying informed on a trial that will profoundly affect the future of our country.
It’s outrageous that the American public is being denied the right to view the trial of U.S. vs. Bradley Manning. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel was appointed by President Obama to ensure civilian oversight of the U.S. military.
Sign our petition demanding that he ensure journalists can record Bradley Manning’s court martial proceedings! When you sign our petition, our e-mail system will send a message on your behalf to the office of Secretary of Defense.
MORE INFORMATION
It’s a fundamental American principle that the legitimacy of our court system is bolstered through public and media access. This is not unlike how the legitimacy of our government itself relies on remaining accountable first and foremost to the American people who elect its leaders.
President Obama has been a proponent of transparency as fundamental to governmental legitimacy. On May 19, 2011 he said, “In the 21st Century, information is power; the truth cannot be hidden; and the legitimacy of governments will ultimately depend on active and informed citizens.”
As New York Times reporter David Carr wrote last month, the proceedings of US vs. Bradley Manning have been shrouded in a “veil of secrecy.” Neither court documents nor transcripts are being made publicly available until weeks after they are filed, if ever. The first step to improving the fairness and legitimacy of Bradley Manning’s trial would be to allow digital recordings by which journalists, scholars and the public can analyze and evaluate these unprecedented proceedings.
The Bradley Manning Support Network has worked to document the many injustices in the prosecution of three-time Nobel Peace Prize nominee Bradley Manning, including his unlawful pretrial punishment, denial of speedy trial, and the ridiculous charge of “aiding the enemy,” despite any evidence that Bradley’s actions damaged U.S. national security. While we continue advocating for whistleblower Bradley Manning’s rights in all areas, we believe that ensuring full media access to the trial will help immensely in promoting interest in the case among the general American public.
Signed!
same old government/same old hiding
We have a right to know, don’t keep us in the dark, we’re not mushrooms.
As citizens were have a right to know, and as an elected government you have an obligation to let us know!
Exactly! Thank you.
The treatment and accusations against Bradley Manning are a disgrace to AMERICA as a whole! Those responsible are not AMERICANS. They are to be closely examined and questioned as to their intentions with regards to preserving America’s Principles and not New World Order interests! I am a fairly highly decorated ex US Marine Corps Sgt. E-5, who did not go through 6 years active service and combat in Vietnam, to see Heroes of Dignity and Honesty like Bradley Manning treated like a terrorist! The one sitting in the White House demonstrates himself, and his regime, to be the real threat to America.
Your right about Bradley Manning, but you need to stop blaming the Pres. for these problems which were created by the “system”.
Well said, Sir, and thank you for your years of service to America.
Kindest regards,
Cheryl
As an army Veteran I agree completely with F.Gregg Meagher
Steve McCarthy
I cannot agree more with you! (I am an Aussie, and we don’t like the way America is heading)
Well said.
“The one sitting in the White House demonstrates himself, and his regime, to be the real threat to America.”
I agree with you, sir. Our president is not the kind of person, at all, that he advertised himself to be–and he is leading us down a path that is deadly to everything we have been taught to hold dear, starting with our Constitutional rights.
I’m beginning to wonder whether this election was a sham of another kind: run a GOP candidate against someone who actually agrees with, and signs on to GOP policy.
It is worrisome to me that so many people who voted for PBO don’t see the disconnect between his words and his actions.
HEAR HEAR!!!
It’s disgraceful just how many American people have absolutely no clue who Bradley Manning is, and what he has sacrificed to make this world a better place.
Thank-you all for supporting free speech and freedom for those who are oppressed.
The U.S. Government obviously intends to make an example out of Bradley Manning. It does not want the tax paying citizens of the U.S. to know what their government is doing. The U.S. tax payers are supposed to just pay their taxes and not question anything that their government does. We have become the slaves and the U.S. Government is our master. The U.S. Government obviously needs to be reminded that the people are in charge and not the other way around. Good luck to that!
Exactly! Best wishes…
There’s an obvious blackout of news regarding Bradley Manning. This is just plain wrong. In order for government to work, the governed have to be paying attention to controversies about how government works. Or doesn’t. As in, “It doesn’t work.”
A government based on secrets is antithetical to a freely self-governing people. I’ve heard the arguments about how the “modern world” is too complicated for free & open flow of information. That’s horse nonsense. Either the people govern. Or the people are controlled by those who think or pretend that they govern.
A judge has determined that most of the Bradley Manning proceedings are safe for the public to attend, and so it’s outrageous that journalists are not being allowed to record this historic trial in order that Americans everywhere can stay informed of what happens in the courtroom.
As the Presidentially appointed office responsible for civilian oversight of the U.S. military, the Secretary of Defense should take responsible for ensuring that these proceedings are accorded as high level of public accessibility as befits the historic and unprecedented nature of the proceedings themselves.
We therefore call upon Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel to act immediately to ensure journalists may use electronic recording in the press room.
Ours is a government of, by, & for the people, not of, by, & for the Pentagon. Open up the proceedings to public review; that’s the American way. Thank you.
Well spoken; good luck with that… The Pentagon already won when all our nation’s GNP and taxes goes to unlimited spending and no-bid contracts by the military for the last 13 years…they got what they wanted on 9/11 and passed the Patriot Act 1 and 2 in the darkness of night and robbed us of our rights. Time to fight back; Bradley manning is our greatest hero in recent times. Power to the People!
Bradley Manning is a heroic American that should be celebrated for his courage and honesty not subjected to the horrendous treatment he has received from his own Government. Shame on us for allowing Bradley Manning’s trial to be kept in the dark ….it is time to shine the light on the truth of who he is and what he has done for we citizens.
Come on, guys! Don’t be afraid to write on Bradley’s trial
Free Brdadley Manning, allow complete coverage by the press!
To me it appears that there is a gigantic double standard between the federal government’s assumption it can surveil the citizenry with impunity while Bradley Manning is subject to persecution for his courageous act in collaborating with Wikileaks in the publication of non top-secret communications. Manning should be considered by ordinary citizens as one of the bravest and most courageous Americans in recent decades. We are entitled to know what our government is doing with our tax dollars, and if its actions turn out to be unlawful or inhumane, i.e. the video of the helicopter mowing down innocent children and civilians in Baghdad while engaging in light banter, then so be it.
Thanks to the brave posting of info, the wars are ending sooner. Thanks Brad. Wars stated with lies, ending with truth.
Our government has devolved into being no more than the legal enablers of viscious corporate power. Our military for decades now is nothing more than the muscle for corporate interests that brutally oppress and steal resources from nations that have no ability to resist. All of the thuggish and murderous occupations have only one purpose: to ensure the safety of corporate profiteers as they pillage foreign nations of their natural or human-labor resources. That is the real military secret, perhaps even unknown by the enlisted people who are the guardians of the corporate brutality.
The politicians are hand-picked by corporate America to do as corporate America decides. Be that invade other nations to steal oil, or enact legislation that designates whistle-blowers as “terrorists.” The media is, ofcourse, also fully corporate and only passes on information that is beneficial to corporate power. Always remember the unanimous call to war from all of the media outlets prior to the murderous butchery that the U.S. unleashed upon Iraq. We are seeing the exact same play now regarding Iran. It is all lies and manipulations for the sake of corporate gain. I do not expect the media to cover the truth of who Bradley Manning is, or how he acted in the name of justice, anymore than I expect the media to give an honest account of America’s brutish oppression around the world. America does not fight tyranny and oppression; America is the source of tyranny and oppression, war crimes and trampling of human rights are corporate america’s Modus Operandi.
Mr. Manning is one of the few thousand real Americans left, funded by the SOIL , not your f’in precious pennies.
After many months of keeping PFC Bradley Manning in a dark hole; our government has sought to keep his court martial proceedings shrouded in darkness.
We ARE The People of these United States.
THIS is our order:
No more darkness . . . (!) END The Media Blackout(!!!)
Bradley manning is a hero. our country has become an overbearing scared paranoid bully to its citizens and the world at large. manning is as brave as they come. media blackouts and arresting truth tellers sounds like China. America has lost its way. thanks Bradley, you are not forgotten.
Yes, it disgraces America. But people need to realise that the US and it’s serfs are owned by The People Who Own Western Capitalism, who are demonstrably Psychopathic.
– we’re not ALL asleep.
Glad to see the Sec. of Defence number is swamped with calls
But here’s my action:
From: Allen Jasson [mailto:allen.jasson@rightofchoice.com]
Sent: 25 March 2013 23:02
To: ‘comments@nobelprize.org’
Subject: Nobel Prize for Bradley Manning
Dear Sirs and Madams of the Nobel Peace Prize Committee,
I write to urge you to give serious, positive consideration to the widely supported nomination of Bradley Manning for the Nobel Peace Prize.
There are, in my view, at least three important reasons why Bradley Manning should be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
• First and foremost, Bradley Manning has done a great service to the world in the cause of Peace.
As that great statesman, John F. Kennedy said “The very word “secrecy” is repugnant in a free and open society”.
Kennedy was so prophetic when he said in that speech “There is very grave danger that an announced need for increased security will be seized upon by those anxious to expand its meaning to the very limits of official censorship and concealment”. Indeed, we are now in the grip of this very development and the danger is not only very grave but very real.
Bradley Manning has struck a powerful blow against this process. Peace is conditional on the necessity that “man should be what he was born to be; free and independent”.
His was a great service to peace.
• Second, if this courageous act is not quickly given the support and endorsement of some credible institution, among which institutions such as the Nobel Prize is foremost in world opinion, then those who have most to hide, those who maintain this system of secrecy, who perpetrate the evils it conceals and have been starkly exposed by Bradley Manning will surely punish him to the most extreme measure available to them both to intimidate others who may consider following Bradley Manning’s example and as a desperate measure to preserve the falsehood that he has committed a serious crime against the state.
• Third, but I am sure not last, there is urgent need to sound some loud, awakening, trumpet blast of warning from an institution that stands for the rational, enlightened and constructive vision of human destiny, a sharp call that will help shake the sleeping masses from their complaisance in the “Disneyland” illusion cultivated by a corrupt and deceitful global media that all is well in the world; it clearly is not. In our world today the perpetrators of serious crimes against humanity and international law have it in their power, by corrupt abuse of the law itself, to punish those who expose their crimes. Ordinary people need enlightened leadership.
Ladies and gentlemen of the Nobel Prize committee, the time has come for you to stand true to the purpose of Alfred Nobel’s vision and to courageously stand with Bradley Manning.
It is widely felt across the world that your award of the Nobel Prize for Peace to Barack Obama, Commander in Chief of a standing army greater that all the world’s armies put together who has used this standing army to continue the crimes of his predecessor and who has chosen the course not to look back and punish those guilty of the most shocking crimes against Peace of this century was a mistake. You may still stand by this decision; many of us hope you have reflected and come to regret an error made, perhaps in the hope that it would support and encourage Obama to the better choices and the change he had so ardently promised. It clearly has not. Now is the time to put right that error, if you perceive it so, but if you do not, then at least give some comfort to those many among us of the “Free Bradley Manning” view.
Please: Award Bradley Manning your Nobel Prize for Peace; if for nothing else, then merely in the cause of Peace.
Yours Sincerely,
Allen L Jasson
Welwyn Garden City UK.
Extraordinary! Thank you.
Why is it that brave whistle blowers like Bradley and Daniel Elsberg suffer and are imprisoned for trying to expose war crimes while the actual war criminals walk around free? I do believe Brad’s courage helped to end the illegal and immoral Iraq War just as Daniel Elsberg’s courage helped to end the Vietnam War. The news blackout of Brad’s trail is criminal and the Obama administration should be held accountable for it.
No matter what else Obama may do, this crime will be a part of his legacy.
Why does MSNBC refuse even to mention Bradley’s name? A week or so back David Corn and Mike Isikoff were being interviewed. One of them started to mention the name, and noticeably caught himself.
Well, you know when push comes to shove, they are in the same game as the other corporate media—remember what they did to truth-sayer Phil Donahue, etc,etc, etc…. For real journalism, watch Bill Moyers Journal or Democracy Now on PBS, to name a few alternative news sources. Thanks for your comment–glad you can think and care.
Lets focus on the war crimes that Bradley so bravely tried to shed a light on!
War criminals like the individuals shooting innocents captured in the video that Bradley revealed to the world…along with Dick Cheney, John Yoo et al should be the ones on trial.
The world is watching, and hoping for the rule of law to triumph!
Done!
That phone # does not work
I really would like to see Bradley Manning win the Nobel Peace Prize. If he does not it says a lot about who is deciding and how they are influenced. I am glad to see that others are passionately supporting Brad and calling out for transparency, truth and justice. We need to support him not only in words but in deeds. You can send him a letter or book at:
Commander, HHC USAG
Attn: Bradley Manning
239 Sheridan Avenue, Bldg. 417
IBM-HH,VA 22211
I agree. If Bradley doesn’t receive a Nobel Peace Prize, the Nobel Committee will have lost all credibility.
This affects us all, is an historic event, and we have every right to hear the testimony first hand. Journalists from everywhere should be there!
What is this country in which peoples who denounce crimes are sued in justice? Is it Soviet Union? Is it China? What is this country in which war criminals are protected by the law against their denonciators? Is it Hitler’s Germany? What is this country in which peoples are kept without judgement and tortured during years in Guantanamo? Is it Saddam’s Irak? Is it Bachar el Assad’s Syria? No this is United States!! Incredible, no?
This regime is surely transparent alright…transparently sociopathic. Let the rest of the world soak up and glut their eyeballs upon just how much of a “freedom loving” country America really is….
I am Bradley Manning, you are Bradley Manning, we all are Bradley Manning! Blowing the wistle on warcrimes is NOT a crime and we are NOT the enemy!
The whole world has the right to know what’s happening in court!!!
I am writing from Australia, and you can be sure that people around the world are watching the Bradley Manning case.. The USA lost its moral so pass a long time ago. There is something so fundamentally wrong with your political system when people like Nixon and Bush, to name just 2, are able to occupy the top job and be responsible for the deaths of thousands of Americans, and Millions of people world wide without some sort of legal penalties being applied to them… Now we have a genuine hero stand out from the crowd and that same rotten system throws everything they can at him to demonise and punish him, and that is after throwing away the rule book which was supposed to guarantee him his rights…… The American people are NOT getting the government they deserve… Big money has taken over, evicted workers from their houses and jobs, created a financial disaster which workers will be forced to repay. What has your government done?….. Those responsible are still free to do more of the same…
The governments in other parts of the world have jailed the financial wizards responsible.
FREE BRADLEY MANNING, Stop the rot…. Take back your democracy and jail the fellons.
I just called. Out of the “options” which the automated recording provided, I chose “leave a comment.” I don’t know if there would have been a better way to make this contact. If so, please let me know so that I can follow through. My comments were my best attempt to reflect what we are, and have been, being informed of through your efforts over three years. Thank you for all you are doing for Bradley, modern citizenship in the USA, and standing up to power.
From the lack of any mention of Bradley Manning or his trial on the Internet (except for individual activists and their websites), someone ignorant of facts could conclude that there is no trial going on at all. I don’t watch TV so I don’t know personally what is going on there, but it doesn’t surprise me that mass media is doing the same there – supporting Gov by reporting virtually nothing about Bradley Manning.
If I may join to you all with my opinion (writing from Croatia). Several years ago (a decade) we were in the war, the post war period is even worse, for the soldiers and for the civilians. I was !!!_MANIPULATED_!!! (as most of the people here, the same situation is now) by those who promoted the war (the wish to transit the ownership of the property) and through the MEDIA. Now we have poverty, pain, hatred, etc…
____BRADLEY MANNING IS SO BRAVE____, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR ALL OFF US, NOT ONLY FOR AMERICAN CITIZENS TO SEE ___this PARTICULAR TRIAL___ OPEN FOR PUBLIC.
Besides, the USA government preaches about human rights all over the world, in every single country, and IT SO GOOD PRACTICE, so it would be nice and fair to apply the same principles homeland.
Thank you Bradley for your courage. I hope more and more Americans will fight for you now, ’cause you did the right and great thing for them. Doing so, they will fight for the peace in the world, ’cause you did it in your way and you did it right.
What happened to the First Amendment?! Is it still part of the United States Constitution, or was quietly removed?!
“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, OR OF THE PRESS; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”
Let the media into Bradley Mannings’ military trial and free him for the patriot he is and should receive the Peace Award, if given just moderate coverage to the public. Thank you.
5:30 PM April 9, 2013
The reason the government wants to keep this trial secret is that it is afraid Americans will learn how shamefully the war is being conducted and how shabbily Bradley Manning has been treated and how unjustly he’s being railroaded. If the trial were televised, or at least covered by the media, the American people would see that Bradley deserves a medal for bravery and honesty.
Almost eight hundred years ago, Magna Carta established the idea the governments must obey their own laws. To date, the proceedings against Bradley Manning are a denial of that principle, and a violation of President Obama’s own promises of government transparency and due process. The result is a secret show trial that weakens a centuries’ old tradition of rule under law. This cuts too close to dictatorship. So much for history, and so much for justice.
“It’s news, isn’t it?”
I am continually saddened at the path a once mighty country is going down. There seems to be one rule for the rich and another rule for the rest of the population. Nobody has been brought to justice for any war crimes, only whistle-blowers have been punished (punitively). Nothing has been done about the illegal activity by Wall Street which has ruined the economies of so many countries around the world, and subsequently ruined the lives of so many people who have lost their jobs and been plunged into poverty. Banks who have engaged in drug money laundering have not been prosecuted (HSBC). People like our ex-citizen Chairman Rupert Murdoch is allowed to spread lies and misinformation via his Faux News channels about everything from the economy to climate change.
Activists such as Aaron Swartz are hounded to suicide by the government prosecutors for trying to make the internet a more open and free medium while governments around the world are using it to spy on their citizens.
Education standards are slipping as it is much easier to keep the population in the dark, feeding us fertiliser like mushrooms, with bread and circuses (facebook anyone?) to keep our attention away from the freedoms and rights being eroded from under us.
What on earth can we do about this?
Provide FULL Media Coverage of everything associated with this case — every hearing, every motion, and the full trial. This case must have full disclosure. The US Military and US Government have already held this man in solitary confinement, illegally, and the American Public has had enough of this horrific secrecy and abuse of power. Do the right thing — make these proceedings open to the media.
Our nation was built upon free access to information to support public discourse. Permitting a full and open coverage of the Bradley Manning proceedings is at the core our American exceptionalism.
Particularly in this era of American history, when our first amendment rights are constantly at risk, the participation of a responsible citizenry in democracy requires full transparency. This especially true for the transgressions of public officials and squandering of national treasure exposed by the Wikileaks site. Those who suppress free speech have to be held accountable for the consequences of their actions.
America isn`t a democracy and the citizens=taxpayer of the US have not really rights,no real freedom,no democracy,no privacy same like in germany (and some other countries). We have (and still get more)censorship,dictatorship…. it`s time to fight back the fuc…. governments in our countries to get back our real freedom,privacy,democracy,freedom of speech….. We are the peoples,we are the taxpayers,we are the state,we are the country (citizen in every single country) ! Bradley Manning is one of us,he is a hero (even if he is a soldier)cos he is a human with conscience,dignity and Honesty, a fighter for real freedom and human-rights. I hope u can find the best attorney for him although the biggest crime is that fighters for freedom and human rights need a attorney. But at the moment thats the real life in many countries. With best greetings from germany,the most of us are with u,we will fight for u. “Free Bradley Manning” Bradley: for us u have already the Nobel Peace Prize.
Sven/germany
Televise the trial. Let us all see and hear the real State of the Union.
A genuine concern for the humanity, bravery and decency which resides in individuals who dare to shed light on those who believe they can operate in secrecy and with impunity above the law.
One heartfelt reason to support Bradley Manning.
And a genuine media discourse which says no to victimisation, abuse and scapegoating of the real whistle-blowers and yes to those with the courage to expose the shady, corrupt dealings, lack of accountability and crimes against people that set democracy back.
Its about justice and humanity – plain and simple.
A genuine concern for the humanity, bravery and decency which resides in individuals who dare to shed light on those who believe they can operate in secrecy and with impunity above the law.
One heartfelt reason to support Bradley Manning.
And a genuine media discourse which says no to victimisation, abuse and scapegoating of the real whistle-blowers and yes to those with the courage to expose the shady, corrupt dealings, lack of accountability and crimes against people that do a disservice to democracy.
Its justice and humanity – plain and simple.
this proves once more that the details of the most important and unprecedented case in history of whistleblowing, is been hidden from the public; glad B Manning did not think to hide what he knew the public need to know; all this shows that we do indeed eed wikileaks! else how will we know the truth?
I do believe that if the Nobel Peace committee doesn’t acknowledge Bradley Manning and revoke Obama’s disgraceful Peace(?) Prize’ then I would suspect that they have become corrupted as well.
PFC Bradley Manninng vs. OJ Simpson trial? What a state of affairs this country is in! One can only shake their head in disgust as a Private First Class who stood up and let the world watch what Legalized Murder (helicopter attack) in the name of “Freedom and Democracy looks like. They seek to kill the messenger for the truth may set us free. Noble prize? Give him Obama’s, he is more deserving.
I am curious. Just see it. Is the US a democratic country or not?
¨THE REAL HERO OF OUR PLANET ARE ¨BRADLEY MANNING + JULIAN ASSANGE…¨
These people are very important for everybody in this World. They did the work which everybody have to do, everybody have to think,If every single soldier will think like Bradley Manning then there will be no War in the world. These People are the symbol for Real Peace in our Planet. Thank you very very much Bradley Manning, Thank you very very much Julian Assange. You guys are Really Brave. Bradley Manning, Julian Assange must be free. FREE BRADLEY MANNING, FREE JULIAN ASSANGE!! I beg to everybody in our Planet please Support Bradley Manning, Julian Assange to make them freeeeeeeeeeeeeee.