Free Bradley Manning Rally in Leavenworth June 4th - pictures

[proud2BlibKansan]

The day began with a rally at a local park overlooking the MO River.




There were lots of wonderful signs. This was my favorite:










There was a film crew from a Japanese TV network recording the events.




This is Bradley Manning's dad being interviewed by a local reporter. He had gone up to the base with the Japanese film crew early Sat morning and was detained for 45 minutes.




Code Pink being interviewed.




Cops were EVERYWHERE. This helicopter flew overhead about every 15 minutes all day long.






A group of activists who had been at Camp Casey with Cindy Sheehan gathered for a picture.




Leaving the park for the march to the base.




On the way we passed by a Sonic and the employees took pictures. One of them told us it was the first protest he had ever seen.




Approaching the base.




At the gate.




Across the street.




Counter protesters. Note the police protection. No cops ever joined our group or stood by us or walked with us. But they were there to protect the group across the street.




This was the strangest thing I saw all day. A guy dressed like a knight in armor was escorted up the street by cops and stood with the counter protesters. He had a sign on his shield that said FRY BRADLEY MANNING. The funny part is that in the 95 degree heat, he was the one who was going to fry.




Standing in front of the base.

[Smarmie Doofus]

1. Outlandishly great. Thanks, MWers and Proud2BLib. K and R

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. I love those tall yellow and orange banners.

I'd like to try to duplicate those for our teacher march.

[JonLP24]

3. K&R

Always love your activist photos.

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. Thank you

[EFerrari]

5. That guy in the armor is weird.

lol

Who brought the rainbow flags?


Thanks for the great pictures!

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. There was a gay rights group there

One of them spoke and he was great.

That armor guy was just bizarre. The cops escorted him and stood close to him so we wondered if he was a cop? :shrug:

[EFerrari]

7. I went around and around with GetEqual about this.

In a friendly way, though. Hopefully more support will be coming from that direction.

[proud2BlibKansan]

8. Good for you

[Cid_B]

10. Not really something they would want to associate themself with...

Do you think it is in their interest to hold up a blatant violator of UCMJ as their posterboy?

[proud2BlibKansan]

11. Yes. The group here yesterday was very supportive of Bradley.

Their representative gave an absolutely wonderful speech.

[Cid_B]

13. Lordy... that's just dumb

As a side note I was talking to some guys on the other side of the fence there and they said it was indeed hot as hell.

[proud2BlibKansan]

14. You're entitled to your opinion. I choose not to tell others who they should and shouldn't support.

There were several active duty military people participating yesterday. And cops too. I appreciated having them there.

We also felt sorry for the troops assigned to stand at the base entrance and watch the march. They were in direct heat in uniform. They had to be sweltering.

[Hippo_Tron]

22. While I don't really think of Bradley Manning as heroic nor would I have joined this protest

Why should a gay rights group be any less hesitant to support a cause that they believe in than any other group?

[Cid_B]

23. Mostly...

... because it is an important time for that group to try and make the smoothest transition possible into the new DADT era. One would think they would highlight and support the best gay Soldiers they could find and not associate a scumbag like Manning with their cause.

[Hippo_Tron]

26. One gay rights group does not represent the entire gay community

[Cid_B]

27. Absolutely.. by why even one?

:shrug:

[EFerrari]

29. Because supporting a gay American that was bullied in the military

and whose human rights are right now at risk is their mission?

[Hippo_Tron]

30. I think you misundertood my point

I'm not a fan of Bradley Manning but I think this gay rights group ought to be supporting any cause they believe in, just like any other group would support any cause that they believe in. I was calling the person above me out on the assertion that "It's bad for gays to be associating with someone like him".

[Hissyspit]

9. Nice job!

[hfojvt]

12. is that Schollenberger in the picture?

Did he march? I recognize Ben from the last picture.

Mahoney isn't exactly local, although they drive up here from time to time and the coverage for this rally was pretty widespread on the local TV - Fox 4, KCTV 5, KMBC9. The only ones missing were PBS and channel 41.

I saw that big van in front of the Dog and Cat clinic, but I didn't think there were as many police as the time some anarchists had a protest here.

I thought it was beastly hot and humid. I was melting from the hour I was out there, and I didn't do any walking.

[proud2BlibKansan]

15. Yes he asked me to take that picture!

I didn't realize Leavenworth had a TV station. I figured KC would be the nearest local station. Forgive my error.

[hfojvt]

17. nah, the TV is all KC, it's just not very 'local'

A real local reporter would be with the newspaper. Leavenworth doesn't even have an FM radio station and even little Richland Center with 5,000 people had one of those. I think you lose a lot of local services by being an exurb. No local radio, the newspaper is worse, no airport, and so on.

Then again, Manhattan doesn't have much of a paper either. Maybe they are too close to Topeka.

[proud2BlibKansan]

18. The Star doesn't have weekend reporters anymore

They just use AP reports.

[Starry Messenger]

16. k&r

[EFerrari]

19. Kick

[sabrina 1]

20. Those are great photos!

The knight might have been a cop. A police escort for one protestor?

I do like the irony of him frying inside that suit of armor considering his sign! :rofl:

[proud2BlibKansan]

21. Thanks Sabrina!

Yes that knight was just bizarre.

[proud2BlibKansan]

24. Kick

[proud2BlibKansan]

25. Kick

[AuntPatsy]

28. Good to know he is not alone, so few realize the good he has done and how

He needs to be herald not prosecuted