Human Rights Activists Protest 'Degrading Treatment' Of Bradley Manning

WASHINGTON -- Human rights activists on Saturday demanded a stop to the inhumane treatment of Bradley Manning, the Army private who has been imprisoned for nine months on charges of giving classified documents to the anti-secrecy group WikiLeaks.

The degrading treatment he has received, they say, “brings back memories of the abuses committed in Abu-Ghraib.”

In a letter to President Barack Obama and Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, top human rights organizations Amnesty International and the Center for Constitutional Rights joined with actors, musicians and activists such as Daniel Ellsberg in asking for immediate action to “stop the cruel treatment of an American soldier," who, earlier this month, was forced to sleep naked in a military jail after a commander of the brig in Quantico, Va., ordered his clothes be taken away for a full seven hours.

"It was a situationally-driven event, but to go into detail about it would be inappropriate because it would violate the detainee's privacy," First Lt. Brian Villiard, a spokesman for the Marine Corps base, told the Associated Press at the time.

Manning was also forced to stand outside his cell, in front of the rest of the clothed inmates, until he passed inspection and was given his clothes back.

He "has not even been tried, let alone convicted," wrote The New York Times in an editorial this week. "Yet the military has been treating him abusively, in a way that conjures creepy memories of how the Bush administration used to treat terror suspects. Inexplicably, it appears to have President Obama’s support to do so."

This weekend, activists from Washington to San Francisco and from Berlin to Montreal are holding rallies to protest his abuse.

Read the full letter below.

Dear President Obama and Secretary Gates:

We are writing today to ask for immediate action to address the inhumane and unjustified treatment of PFC Bradley Manning at Quantico Marine Base. Despite the recommendations of three forensic military psychiatrists, the Brig Commander at Quantico refuses to lift the POI (Prevention of Injury) status and change his confinement classification from MAX to Medium Custody In (MDI). As a result, PFC Manning has been kept PFC in solitary confinement for 23 hours a day for the past eight months.

On the evening of March 2, 2011 PFC Manning was stripped of all his clothing by the Quantico Brig and left naked in his cell for the next seven hours. His clothes were returned to him the following morning only after he stood to attention in front of the rest of the clothed inmates, still naked. The same thing occurred the following night and morning.

There can be no conceivable justification for this type of degrading treatment. It brings back memories of the abuses committed in Abu-Ghraib, which blackened the reputation of America's armed forces.

PFC Manning is already being monitored at all times, both by direct observation and by video. No other detainee at the Brig is forced to endure this type of isolation and humiliation.

We, the undersigned, demand an immediate investigation into the conditions of PFC Manning’s detention and urge you to order a stop to the cruel treatment of an American soldier entitled to the same human rights and constitutional protections afforded to all citizens. Every human being deserves to be treated with respect. Every human being deserves due process. PFC Manning is receiving neither.

Sincerely,

Rosanne Cash
Daniel Ellsberg
Shepard Fairey
Danny Glover
Jane Hamsher
Tom Morello
Viggo Mortensen
Jesselyn Radack, Government Accountability Project
Michael Ratner, Center for Constitutional Rights
Michael Stipe
Vince Warren, Center for Constitutional Rights
Angela Wright, Amnesty International

Comments

[sophiemaki]

07:54 PM on 03/21/2011

Bradley Manning has done nothing wrong.

[Rory Canfield]

03:44 PM on 03/21/2011

Bradley isn't getting half of what he deserves. After reading that little protest letter and it's signors, I'll have to toss out my movies with ole Vitto in it, shame he couldn't just do what he does best instead of signing his name to some half witted protest letter.

[Peabodies]

10:17 AM on 03/21/2011

What the Quantico commandants are doing is STILL "ridiculous, counterproductive and stupid" to quote Mr. P.J. Crowley.

Free Bradley Manning!

[KnifeEdgePass]

10:43 AM on 03/21/2011

He won't be freed. He gave U.S. classified material to a foreign entity. The Feds don't like that much. You shouldn't, either.

[Peabodies]

07:41 PM on 03/21/2011

Bradley Manning exposed WAR CRIMES, something he was morally obligated to do under the USCMJ.

[firstrax]

02:31 AM on 03/21/2011

Sleeping naked is not torture. Try jumper cables atached to your scrotum and nostrils with 400 volts with your exwife operating the switch.

[ChangeInTheAir12]

02:33 AM on 03/21/2011

THERE ARE DIFFERENT FORMS OF TORTURE.

BEING FORCED NAKED FOR OVER 7 HOURS IS SEXUAL AND MENTAL TORTURE.

CONVICTED FELONS TO NOT GET TREATED LIKE THIS AND THIS MAN IS INNOCENT.

PROPAGANDA S.O.C.K BE GONE!

[KnifeEdgePass]

10:44 AM on 03/21/2011

Just what do you maintain he is innocent of?

[Rory Canfield]

03:40 PM on 03/21/2011

FIRSTRAX .. now THAT is funny ;)

[firstrax]

02:16 AM on 03/21/2011

Manning is not a hero. He had a high level security clearance and abused it. He will spend 20 to life in a cell in leavonworth. Is anyone surpised that the Afgan war is going badly or the Paskistanis are playing both sides ?

[ChangeInTheAir12]

02:21 AM on 03/21/2011

HE WILL GO FREE!

THE REAL CRIMINALS ARE THE ONES ABUSING HIM RIGHT NOW! THE ONES THAT WERE LEAKED!

AND YOU SIDE WITH THE CRIMINALS!

HOW SICK!

[Djabout Mauren]

02:03 AM on 03/21/2011

I think Obama has some sort of weird thing where he's constantly trying to get the approval of the military--the great mediator who never villifies anyone--especially big shot power brokers like military higher ups. The fact is, while the judicial, executive, and legislative branches of government are theoretically set up with checks and balances, the military industrial complex has been able to hide any monstrosity/morally questionable act under "top secret' in the name of national security. Manning didn't release anything that betrayed military strategic info. It was a bunch of embarrassing footage and innocuous state dept. cables. The MIC is used to having the power of censorship so it could be free to pursue it's own questionable motives. I wish Obama would grow some balls. The Cold War is over.

[KnifeEdgePass]

10:46 AM on 03/21/2011

PFC Manning gave classified material to a foreign entitiy. Are you saying that you support this action?

[ChangeInTheAir12]

03:45 AM on 03/23/2011

allegedly...and even if he did...he leaked crimes to a journalist. The real criminals are the ones in power and you are sick enough to defend them.

[ThinkinPerson]

01:33 AM on 03/21/2011

yet, we can bomb another country in defense of human rights. We are much better than this, I feel kinda sick to my stomach to think we have all the legal resources in the world, all the military might in the world, yet, our very own military must stoop to such horrendous treatment of a man never even placed on trial? What a horrible image of our country and military. For the last ten years, we have allowed all kinds of excuses to violate our values. The information is out, action is being taken around the world, but we can't get this guy to a trial?

[ChrisHK]

01:50 AM on 03/21/2011

only for the last 10 years? try at least a 100...

[realitytrumpsbull]

01:21 AM on 03/21/2011

"Depends on what your definition of 'is', is."-Clinton

I say it depends on what your definition of torture is. Sounds to me like he slept bare nekkid and got no more exposed than you would in the high school locker room or being inducted into the military to begin with. Torture? Show me the whip marks, the cigarette burns, the dog bites, the bruises.

Manning 'F'ed up. He broke his orders, his Oath, and I think the military's pretty much out to hang him, at this point. Whether people like it or not, when you go, "I, (state your name)...", you're entering into the leading end of a contract of service with the US military, and the government. If you fail to hold up your end of the bargain, they're fully entitled to throw the UCMJ at you, full-force. Why? Because it's The Military. This ain't summer camp or weekend at Bernie's, this is the military, with guns and rockets and bombs and maps and people screaming on the radio, and all that jazz. And, it's also an all-volunteer force. 

I think that whatever else happens, they should consider the Manning Act, a piece of legislation that will put people through a no-nonsense orientation of what it means to sign one of those contracts, before they run right in there with the ballpoint pen, plus a subsequent 14-day cooling-off period, followed by a test, prior to signing anything.  That way, in the future, when people screw up and screw around and end up sitting in a military prison for 20 years for doing so, there's not a lot of head-scratching as to how the situation came about. If you're going to be in the service, there's some somber obligations involved, and if you're not prepared to live up to them, then you need to choose another profession, no matter how bad the job market is.

[FearlessFreep]

02:13 AM on 03/21/2011

How about this definition: If you yourself went through the same treatment, would you consider it anything other than torture?

[KnifeEdgePass]

10:48 AM on 03/21/2011

That clearly depends on a lot of things- the most important being one's mental state as assessed by the jailers. And their vote usually wins.

[Richbruin]

12:28 AM on 03/22/2011

Hmmm....my son says homework is torture. I find reading all the psychotic, inane crap by Changeintheair to be torture....do you think we should call Amnesty International?

[ChangeInTheAir12]

02:26 AM on 03/21/2011

HE OUTED WAR CRIMINALS!

NO OATH OR CONTRACT CAN MAKE YOU COVER UP CRIMES OR EVEN COMMIT THEM!

THIS A BASIC LAW CONCEPT!

YOU SIDE WITH THE CRIMINALS IN POWER! YOU ARE ON THE WRONG SIDE! GERMANY IN THE 30S AND 40S WAS FILLED WITH PEOPLE LIKE YOU.

[turbulence]

12:59 AM on 03/21/2011

Soldiers are protected by Constitution. The Supreme Court and U.S. COURT OF APPEALS FOR THE ARMED FORCES said so. He is NOT guilty since trial isn't held yet or we can say he is innocent at least before the trial, so now saying he is a traitor deserving that is nonsense.

The only purpose of detaining is to make sure his presence when trial is held, so his confinement is understandable. However, the military psychiatrists proved Manning is NOT suicidal. He is not violent either. We can say Manning is just a normal guy, mentally. Put he in POI watch violates the principle of proportionality and the Constitution. It invades his human right. Again, there is no reason to put him under POI. Psychiatrists also say the solitary+POI is actually degrading his will. What military does is feeding him anti-depression pills with side effects. Isn't this a torture? What a shame!! Move him away from POI!!! If other people are in the same condition of Manning and in POI+solitary, we should remove them at least from POI, not keeping Manning under POI.

In current stage, it is an issue about human right protected by the Constitution and judicial justice. Hero or traitor is something after his trial.

How can we count on people who discard the Constitution to protect the Constitution?

[KnifeEdgePass]

10:51 AM on 03/21/2011

You should pose your question to Pres Obama, he of the Costitutional Law background, and current Commander in Chief.
Last report I heard is that he was none too happy with PFC Manning, who willingly gave up classified materials to a foreigner. Are you happy with Manning?

[turbulence]

11:15 AM on 03/21/2011

Apparently you don't care about the the whole judicial system nor the Constitution. You only care about "are you happy with that" and the "that" is something not being proven. This also suggest that you think the president and the military has any right to do anything they want depend on their mood. How sick it is!

The whole thing has nothing to do with "am I happy" or "are you happy" or "does Obama happy". It's just the problem of human right given by the Constitution and judicial justice.

It dose not matter whether I am happy not not. I only know if the war crime likely thing that someone want to cover it up forever wont to happy about this leak. Again, the person or people who leak it is not proven to be Manning.

Finally, yes, I do wrote to Obama.

[sarrasine]

12:52 AM on 03/21/2011

I think we should respect the innocent until PROVEN guilty idea that has been a foundation of western legal systems for hundreds of years.

[KnifeEdgePass]

11:14 AM on 03/23/2011

Aren't we "respecting" Manning, by preventing him from committing suicide, as assessed by his jailers?
I'm sure you don't think Manning is a flight risk; fortunately, your vote doesn't count, and he'll stay in pre-trial confinement.

[Titanshanks]

12:25 AM on 03/21/2011

My comment got taken down, of didn't go up. So I believe that Democrats and Republicans are a happy family with equally good ideas. Why, just today Pubby taught me that in the US, we only give trials to innocent people. And we also have the option of violating some human rights. I'd never known that.

Very impressive thinking on both sides.

[ChrisHK]

01:59 AM on 03/21/2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Lai_Massacre ...for your information... "In the end, of the 26 men initially charged, Calley's was the only conviction....President Nixon made the controversial decision to have Calley released from prison, pending appeal of his sentence. Calley's sentence was later adjusted, so that he would eventually serve four and one-half months in a military prison at Fort Benning."

[ChrisHK]

02:03 AM on 03/21/2011

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ernest_Medina
In August 1971, Medina was ultimately found not guilty of all charges relating to the deaths of more than 500 South Vietnamese civilians in the massacre.[3] His trial deliberations lasted approximately 60 minutes. Nevertheless, his military career was finished and Medina resigned from the U.S. Army shortly thereafter.
Lieutenant William Calley, a platoon leader serving in Medina's company during the massacre and who claimed he was following orders from Medina, was found guilty of various crimes. Calley ultimately served 3½ years of house arrest in his quarters at Fort Benning, Georgia and was released in 1974 by a federal judge.

So If you call house arrest to be justice... then there is something very wrong with you...

[ChangeInTheAir12]

12:17 AM on 03/21/2011

“OBAMA HAS AUTHORIZED THE USE OF A.SSA.SSIN­ATION FOR US CITIZENS LIVING ABROAD SO WHY IS EVERYONE SURPRISED THEY ARE TORTURING A TRUTH TELLER?”

[KnifeEdgePass]

10:55 AM on 03/21/2011

You've got a twisted way about you, my friend.

[ChangeInTheAir12]

04:15 PM on 03/21/2011

You are so low information it isn't even funny:
http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/04/07/assassinations

[ChangeInTheAir12]

12:04 AM on 03/21/2011

OBAMA AUTHORIZES THE A.SSA.SSINATION OF US CITIZENS LIVING ABROAD SO WHY ARE PEOPLE SURPRISED THEY ARE TORTURING A TRUTH TELLER?

[BushBites]

11:31 PM on 03/20/2011

I'm not a fan of Manning's, but they should clear the air about this naked stuff.

I'm sure they had a reason. Whether it makes sense or not is another issue.

Anyway, if he's talking about it, he obviously doesn't have any privacy concerns they should worry about.

[chickenNgravy]

11:35 PM on 03/20/2011

I thought I read he threatened to use the elastic waistband on his underwear to hang himself.

[ChangeInTheAir12]

02:16 AM on 03/21/2011

You are what is wrong with America....you have become an anti-american f.ascist!