By Marty van Duyne
For PotomacLocal.com
Triangle, Va. –– An assembly that attracted about 200 protesters from all four corners of the U.S. on Sunday saw the arrest of 35 people outside the main gate at Quantico Marine Corps Base.
The crowd gathered to demand the release of Army Pfc. Bradley Manning who is charged with tampering with government-owned computers by installing software to extract classified information. Facing 22 charges, including aiding the enemy, Manning since July has been held in the brig at Quantico awaiting a trial date that has not been set.
For several hours the crowd chanted, sang, and shouted to drivers and passengers in vehicles traveling along U.S. 1. Drivers in the area were delayed as police reduced the highway down to two lanes.
As they passed, drivers were greeted with waves and peace signs. But at least one driver shouted back that “[Manning] broke the law.”
There was a major county and state law enforcement contingent on site to help maintain the peace. And for the most part, it was a peaceful demonstration organized by the Bradley Manning Support Network and supported by organizations such as Courage to Resist, Veterans for Peace, and Code Pink.
Several hours into the rally the protesters marched south on U.S. 1 toward the intersection of Joplin Road, never being allowed on the roads or on federal government property.
Organizers requested that a small contingent be allowed to place flowers at the base of the Iwo Jima Memorial outside the base gate. The police agreed and escorted the small group across the street, but once the flowers were left on the sidewalk the peaceful protest became confrontational.
One member of the group who had remained quietly reserved throughout the afternoon started to chant “free Bradley now” as the flower bearers’ linked arms and sat down in the intersection.
Some of the crowd flowed out from behind the barricade into the roadway and joined in the chanting and many more took their place on the pavement. Police in riot gear moved into the intersection to keep the crowd contained.
That’s when the arrests were made, said Prince William police spokesman Jonathan Perok.
As the arrests were made, a blood-curdling scream rang out as a protester seemed to drop to the ground.
Gretchen Elsner of Athens, Ga. continued to scream as police restrained her hands behind her. She went limp as the officers tried to escort her to a bus then wrapped her legs around the leg of one of the officers.
After going limp across a Jersey Wall, two officers lifted Elsner and carried her to a bus while she kicked and screamed obscenities at them.
A second group of officers moved into the intersection forming a u-shaped wedge with the other officers to help reinforce the line.
A man beat a drum for the next hour while the crowd gathered around the sit-in on U.S. 1 alternately chanting support for Manning, or demands to close Guantanamo.
During the next 90 minutes other protesters were also walked to the bus where they were searched and their personal belongings inventoried and cataloged.
Except for a man that decided to lie down in protest while being searched, all other people being arrested stood respectfully during the process.
One officer carried a man’s backpack and white cane as he slowly guided the man to the processing area while holding his elbow.
An attendee watching from the hill across the street taunted the police shouting, “How many blind people have you arrested.” But the rest of the crowd did not pick up his cry.
Prior to the march that precipitated the sit-in, one protester lamented that she couldn’t join the others in getting arrested because she had children at home.
Demonstrating in front of the White House the day before, protesters Sunday brought their message to Quantico. Some sang peace songs dating back to the Vietnam era while others sat silently.
Korean War Veteran Walter Ducharme, 82 of Cambridge, Mass. arrived in the area Saturday for the protest in Washington. He believes the Manning situation is illegal and immoral.
“I got arrested,” said Ducharme as he stood in silent protest wearing an orange jump suit with a black sack over his head.
Seventy-two year old Army Veteran Jules Orkin of Bergenfield, N.J. was similarly garbed but sat cross-legged on the ground.
He said he supports Manning because he doesn’t agree with the conditions under which Manning is being held.
“He’s in solitary, being tortured, and not being allowed to get proper sleep,” said Orkin.
Both men are members of chapters of Veterans for Peace in their respective states.
Kirk Anthony and his son former Marine Cpl. Mark DuFord of Gainesville, Fla. arrived in the area Saturday with 11 other individuals.
DuFord, who served four years, including two tours in Iraq, says there is no evidence that Manning leaked the information, but even if he did, he believes his actions were justified.
He said as a member of the military, “We have a duty not to carry out unlawful orders.”
And he believes Manning’s actions of exposing war crimes is no different than refusing to carry out an unlawful order.
Former Marine Capt. David MacMichael, whose last assignment before resigning his commission in 1959 was as commander of Headquarters Company at Quantico, is Manning’s staunch supporter.
He addressed the crowd saying, “We sympathize with his motives for doing this.”
He allowed that one must accept the consequences for civil disobedience. But he reminded the crowd that the law requires a prompt trial.
MacMichael also said the conditions under which Manning is being held are highly unusual and break both U.S. and international law. Like others in the crowd, he also took aim at President Barack Obama saying the public spent a lot of dollars to get him elected, but have received very little change in return.
“I will oppose your re-election,” said MacMichael as the crowd cheered. “The lesser evil is not a good enough reason to hold Manning.”
Former Army Col. Mary Ann Wright who retired from her position as a State Department official in protest of the invasion of Iraq and other U.S. policies traveled form Hawaii to show her support. She told the attendees that Manning needed to be freed and given a fair trial.
“Pentagon Papers” leaker Daniel Ellsberg was also on hand to speak and helped lead the march.
Anthony said the State Department is sending the documentary “The Most Dangerous Man in America: Daniel Ellsberg and the Pentagon Papers” around the world as a means to show people in other countries what America is like.
Anthony was there to support his son, but also believes Manning is being mistreated.
“I’m a psychiatric nurse and I’ve taken care of suicidal people,” said Anthony.
Given his professional background, he is concerned that Manning is being forced to wear only underwear based on comments that he is possibly capable of hurting himself.
Manning is in custody while awaiting trial by Court Martial.
Marty van Duyne is an award winning independent photographer and journalist.
