I am heavily involved in leading a demonstration this Sunday at Quantico in support of Manning. We have made incredible progress with the media coming on our side and with PJ Crowley, the spokesperson for U.S. foreign policy resigning over the mistreatment.
We have four veterans groups leading this effort with a lot of supporting organizations. There will be hundreds out there on Sunday. The climactic moment is for the vets to lead a flower laying ceremony at a replica of the Iwo Jima Memorial. The memorial is on base property but just off the road and open to the public. The marines are threatening to prevent vets from laying flowers at the memorial. Below is a letter I just sent to the commander of the base about the issue.
This could be a moment in history. There will be cameras and videos taken of the event. If the police and Marines block the vets from laying flowers at a war memorial it will be quite a scene. We will be totally non-violent but persistent in our effort to express our political speech. This is a moment when we decide — does the U.S. torture or does it not?
When I met with the local police I told them that the military in Egypt picked the right side of history, the police in Wisconsin did as well. Both were cheered for doing so. I hoped that the Virginia police did the same.
I also told them that the treatment of Manning has been an embarrassment to the president, his administration, the military and the Quantico base and that when they privately discuss this issue with the Marines that they should urge them to send it up the chain of command because I suspect the commander in chief will not want further embarrassment. I suspect the decision on how to treat us may actually be made in the White House. I will be calling the Marines and making the same point in my conversation with them.
It should be an interesting, historical day.
KZ
