MEPs raise concerns about U.S. treatment of Bradley Manning

This morning saw a group of Members of the European Parliament (MEPs), representing the major European political parties, holding a joint press conference at which they raised their concerns about the conditions Bradley Manning has been held in since his arrest on 26 May 2010. The U.S. authorities have consistently refused requests by UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, Juan Mendez, to meet privately with Bradley Manning. The MEPs have expressed concerns that Bradley has been ‘imprisoned for an extended period in conditions of solitary confinement, nudity, sleep deprivation, and other psychological abuse’.

The enclosed clip is of today’s press conference. For further information there’s an article at the Guardian.

Bradley’s birthday protest!

A protest is planned for Bradley’s 24th birthday on Saturday 17th December from 2pm outside the U.S. embassy on Grosvenor Square, London.

They’ll be speakers, an open mic and music.

This solidarity event outside the U.S. embassy in London will happen on a day that many other supporters will gather outside of Ft. Meade and U.S. embassies worldwide.  We invite you to join us in London to demand freedom for Bradley Manning and an end to the wars.

If you can’t make it to London, we encourage you to hold a solidarity vigil for Bradley at your closest U.S. embassy or military base or instalation involved in the war on Afghanistan and Iraq.

(Closest tube: Bond St)

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Queer Friends of Bradley Manning launches on Google+

Please come and join us! Just click the image below.

Queer Friends of Bradley Manning in solidarity action at Occupy London Stock Exchange

Queer Friends of Bradley Manning this afternoon took a wander up to the Occupy London Stock Exchange action. We found a fantastic festival-like atmosphere and lots of people enjoying the warm sunshine. There were also plenty of city workers wandering around on their lunch breaks, chatting to occupiers and listening to a talk which was going on.

We were struck by how well organised it all was: there was a first aid post, canteen, a library, media centre and information point. Despite the cheerful atmosphere there was also plenty of hard work going on and a large group of people were meeting, deciding next steps, and running through a line-up of events that are going to take place during the coming days. There were a few police milling around and chatting but despite their presence all was peaceful.

Queer Friends of Bradley Manning wish the occupiers their very best wishes and offer their solidarity. Further visits will be taking place, do get in touch via email, Twitter or Facebook if you’d like to join us.

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Gareth Peirce keynote speech at Statewatch conference on ‘The war on terror’

We’re really glad this clip has finally appeared on the internet, it’s really worth watching all the way through. Bradley Manning’s situation is mentioned.

“Gareth Peirce, solicitor & author of Dispatches from the Dark Side: On Torture and the Death of Justice, speaking at Statewatch’s 20th anniversary conference: ‘Statewatching Europe – Civil Liberties, the State and the European Union.’ Held at Conway Hall in London, 25 June 2011.”

London Pride March successful

Our participation in the pride march today was a success and we handed out hundreds of leaflets and made many many people aware of Bradley’s situation. The reception from the crowds was warm with many people expressing great interest.

Italian Friends of Bradley Manning have a flickr photo stream of the day.

Also, librarian Boolean Berry posted on his blog here before the march.

Next year, we hope to be able to return with Bradley himself.

Still time to get involved on Saturday’s March

Please do get in touch if you’d like to join us on the Pride march. We’d love to have more supporters with us on the day.

Once you get in touch, we’ll let you know where we are meeting as we’ve been advised to assemble away from the march itself and then go as a group to the starting point because of numbers!

You’re welcome to bring your own placards and we’ve made a couple of our own as well as the banner.

Banner Making session @ Soho Square

Today, members QFBM met to make the banner we will be holding at the pride march next weekend. We enjoyed brilliant sunshine, chatter, food, drink and even a brief musical interlude. We also had a chance to hand out leaflets to a few of the other people enjoying the summer sunshine on the square.

Thanks to all those who helped today. Photos of today are below.

People are still very welcome to join us on the march and we would love you to join us and make our contingent more visible and help us hand out leaflets and engage people on the march.

Bradley Manning: Rich Man’s War, Poor (Gay) Man’s Fight (by Larry Goldsmith)

http://www.commondreams.org/view/2011/06/07-6

Well worth reading.

Queer Friends of Bradley Manning @London Pride 2011

We will be having a walking group in support of Bradley at Pride London on the 2nd of July 2011.

We will be getting together at midday but please get in touch if you want to be involved as we have, at the request of Pride London, given a specific number of people who will be part of the walking group itself.

Of course, any other support with banners, materials and supporters along the march route itself will be much appreciated.