Bradley Manning Organizing Kit

8/7/2019 Bradley Manning Organizing Kit

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BLOWING THE WHISTLE ON WAR CRIMES IS NOT A CRIM

BRADLEYMANNING.OR

Organizing ToolkitBaey Manning Spp Newk

baeymanning.g

May 20


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i www.bradleymanning.org H Organizing Toolki

Iniia acin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

If you have 60 seconds 1

If you have 20 minutes 1

Got another 20 minutes? 2

Other recommended actions 2

Raise awareness about Bradley Manning

at existing events 2

Tabling 2

Activism from home 2

Use social media 3

Donate 3

Volunteer with the Bradley ManningSupport Network! 4

Contact your government representatives 4

Een ganiing gie . . . . . . . . . . . . 5

Host a lm screening / house party 6

Steps for planning your screening 6

Host a public education event 7

Plan a demonstration 8

Finding help for organizing your event 9

During the event 11

Gie Wking wih he Meia . . . 13

Creating a media advisory 13

Pitching the story 13

The post-event press release 15

Cnacs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16

Bradley Manning Support Network contacts 16

Allied organizations 16

Places to nd and advertise events 16

Peiin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

TruTh is The foundaTion of democracy!

CoNtENtS

Bradley Manning Support Network Steering Committee: Gerry Condon, national co-chair of the Veterans for PeaceGI Resistance Working Group; Mike Gogulski, founder of bradleymanning.org; Bob Meola, member of War ResistersLeague National Committee; Jeff Paterson, project director of Courage to Resist; Loraine Reitman, privacy advocate;Kevin Zeese, co-founder and executive director, Voters for Peace.

Special appreciation to toolkit contributors Emma Cape and Melissa Roberts of Courage to Resist.

For additional toolkits, and other related Free Bradley Manning campaign materials, please contact:Courage to Resist484 Lake Park Ave #41, Oakland CA 94610 www.couragetoresist.org 510-488-3559


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Organizing Toolkit H www.bradleymanning.org

I y hae 60 secns

Sign he peiin ee Baey Manning!

Go to: standwithbrad.org

Please take ve minutes to e-mail the petition to friends,neighbors, and other members of your organizationencouraging them to sign as well

I y hae 20 mines

What you can do:Write the ofcials at Quantico and demand that they end theinhumane treatment of Bradley Manning

Background info:The Marine Brig at Quantico, Virginia, is using injuryprevention as a vehicle to inict extreme pre-trial punishmenton accused Wikileaks whistleblower Army PFC BradleyManning The 23 year-old has been held in solitaryconnement since his arrest last May.

David Coombs, Bradley Mannings attorney, has helped shedlight on the specics of his connement. Usually enforcedonly through a detainees rst week at a connement facility,or in cases of violent and/or suicidal inmates, the standingPrevention of Injury (POI) order has severely limited Manningsaccess to exercise, daylight and human contact for the pastnine months. He is allowed to exercise for only 1 hour a day,and he is only allowed to walk, not run. Additionally, Bradleyssleep is regularly interrupted. The militarys own psychologistsassigned to Quantico have recommended that the POI orderand the extra restrictions imposed on Bradley be lifted

On March 10, 2011, State Department Spokesman PhilipJ. Crowley called the treatment of Bradley ridiculous andcounterproductive and stupid. Two days later, Crowley hadto resign as a result of his comments. Nevertheless, the NewYork Times, the Washington Post, and the San FranciscoChronicle all issued editorials in March condemning Bradleystreatment

Note: This guide is intended as a startingplace for people who have limited time and

resources, or who prefer to be active as

individuals. If youre ready to be a leader

in the movement to Free Bradley, please

check out our Event Organizing Guide.

Sampe ee

Dear ______________I am writing to demand that you end the inhumane,

degrading conditions of Bradley Mannings pre-trial

connement and respect his human rights. Specically, Iask you to lift the Prevention of Injury (POI) watch order.

This would allow Bradley meaningful physical exercise,

uninterrupted sleep in night clothes, and a release from

isolation.

The United Nations (UN) Standard Minimum Rules for theTreatment of Prisoners (SMR), which are internationallyrecognized guiding principles, provide that Untried

prisoners shall always be offered opportunity to work

should they wish to undertake such activity (SMR SectionC, rule 89). The current treatment of Bradley Manning,

who has not demonstrated violence towards himself orthe other residents at Quantico, amounts to punishment of

a prisoner awaiting trial, which is expressly forbidden by

the UN SMR. The conditions under which PFC Manningis held appear to breach the USAs obligations underinternational standards and treaties, including Article 10of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights(ICCPR) which the USA ratied in 1992 and which statesthat all persons deprived of their liberty shall be treated

with humanity and with respect for the inherent dignity of

the human person.

Judging from numerous psychological studies of

prisoners in isolation, Bradley Mannings current

conditions pose a danger to his health and psychological

well-being and raise a number of legal questions about

the validity of any testimony he gives in trial. The fact that

this case has prompted investigation from the UN ofceon torture issues makes clear that Mannings treatment

is also damaging Quanticos reputation. In conclusion,

current circumstances must change immediately so that

Bradley Manning is treated like other inmates in Quantico,

in clear accordance with international law.

Sincerely,

_______________

t: Qanic

fcias

Blowing The whisTle on war crimes is noT a crime

ACtIoN GuIdE or INdIvIduAlS


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2 www.bradleymanning.org H Organizing Toolki

A sample letter is provided on previous page You can send acopy of your letter to each of the following addresses:

1Quantico Base CommanderColonel Daniel Choike3250 Catlin Avenue, Quantico VA 22134

2Quantico Brig Commanding OfcerCWO2 Denise Barnes3247 Elrod Avenue, Quantico VA 22134

Note that CWO2 Barnes replaced CWO4 Averhart on 24 January 2011

G anhe 20 mines?

The convening authority of Bradleys court martial will havethe nal say as to whether he will face the death penalty attrial. Simply stated, write to tell him, Do not try to kill Bradley.

1Maj. Gen. Karl R. Horst, CommanderUS Army Military Dist of Washington1400 Defense PentagonWashington DC 20301

ohe ecmmene acins

raise awaeness ab BaeyManning a exising eensLook for activist groups in your area (such as local members of Bradley Manning Support Network coalition partners) thatmay be holding an event, rally or march at which you can give a speech, or host a booth with information about BradleyManning. Ask if they can contribute volunteers and resources for Bradleys support. See our Contacts Page for moreinformation

Search independent publications in your city or town for listings. Most major cities have a free weekly paper containingentertainment listings, reviews, and local news not always covered by mainstream news outlets. Such papers often havesections which list opportunities for social action

Check event websites Many cities have popular event websites where relevant events may be advertised(See Contacts Page.)

tabingSet up a table at a popular community event/busy street corner/your campus with information about Bradley Manning andpetitions Hand out factsheets and talk to passersby to educate them and collect petition signatures

Aciism m hmeWe also encourage you to use the power of the written word to educate others about Bradleys situation.

Write letters to the editors of your local newspapers to help raise awareness about Bradley Mannings inhumane prisonconditions and the misleading nature of his charges. On the following pages you can nd sample letters that you canmodify and submit under your own name

Sampe ees(Remember to check newspapers word countrequirements for letters to the editor before sending

yours.)

Dear Editor,

I read your [date] article entitled [title] on the topicof Wikileaks. While I liked/had some issues with your

coverage of the controversy surrounding Julian Assange,I was very disappointed that you failed to mention the

other principal person involved in this controversy,

the American soldier Bradley Manning, without whomWikileaks would not be a household name. US Army IntelAnalyst Pfc. Bradley Manning is alleged to have releasedthe Collateral Murder video, the Iraq War Logs, the

Afghan War Diaries, and the US Diplomatic Cables.

Twenty-three year old Manning has been in solitary

connement in the military brig at Quantico, VA since lastMay. He is awaiting trial for a charge of indirectly Aidingthe Enemy, which may result in the death penalty. This

case is alarming not only because of the conditions of

Mannings pretrial connement, which have promptedinvestigations by Congressman Dennis Kucinich and

Manfred Nowak, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture, butalso because the charges imply that those who blow the

whistle on war crimes and government corruption via a

public source, such as a major newspaper, may now be

tried for indirectly Aiding the Enemy.

More sample letters on next page

t: meia ei



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use scia meiaIf you or someone you know has a well-read blog, youcan write about updates on the case, and provide linksto the petitions and information on other actions You canalso use facebook and twitter to post links to our website,bradleymanning.org, and our facebook page, savebradley.

dnaeThe Bradley Manning Defense Fund is hosted by Courageto Resist in collaboration with the Bradley Manning SupportNetwork With the increase in legal expenses due to the

death penalty charge, tax-deductible donations are urgentlyneeded Funds are split between public education andsupport activities, and legal costs. Donate online atcouragetoresist.org/bradley

Send tax-deductible checks payable to Courage toResist to: Courage to Resist, 484 Lake Park Ave #41,Oakland CA 94610. Please note Manning defense on thechecks memo line.

Or, to make a non-tax-deductible contribution to Bradleys legaltrust, send checks payable to IOLTA / Manning to: Courage toResist, 484 Lake Park Ave #41, Oakland CA 94610. The legaltrust is managed by Bradleys attorney David Coombs under

regulation of the Massachusetts Interest on Lawyers TrustAccounts (IOLTA) Program and the American Bar Association.All funds offset Bradleys legal expenses.

There are several organizations that are collectingdonations for the defense of PFC Bradley Manning The onlyorganization that is contributing funding to PFC Manningslegal defense is Courage to Resist, explains Bradleysattorney David Coombs

Sampe eesDear Editor,

I read your [date] article entitled [title] on the topic

of Wikileaks. While I liked/had some issues with your

coverage of the controversy surrounding Julian Assange,I was very disappointed that you failed to mention the

other principal person involved in this controversy,the American soldier Bradley Manning, without whomWikileaks would not be a household name. US Army IntelAnalyst Pfc. Bradley Manning is alleged to have releasedthe Collateral Murder video, the Iraq War Logs, the

Afghan War Diaries, and the US Diplomatic Cables.

In a chat log prior to his arrest, Manning said he

hoped the released cables would result in worldwide

discussion, debates, and reforms... because without

information, you cannot make informed decisions as a

public. Famed Pentagon Papers whistle blower Daniel

Ellsberg has compared Bradleys actions to his own,

both in intent and result. Of course, the War on Terror

has changed U.S. culture signicantly since the days

when Ellsberg was heralded as a hero for helping endthe Vietnam War. Nevertheless, international support forBradley Manning is building, and hopefully his name will

soon be as recognizable as those of Julian Assange orDaniel Ellsberg.

Sampe eesDear Editor,

I read your [date] article entitled [title] on the topic of

Bradley Manning, the US soldier alleged to have releasedto Wikileaks the Collateral Murder video, the Iraq War

Logs, the Afghan War Diaries, and the US DiplomaticCables.

You failed to mention the controversy surrounding the

conditions of Mannings pretrial connement. Althoughhe has not been tried or convicted of any crime, twenty-

three year old Manning has been in solitary connementin the military brig at Quantico, VA, since last May,without access to sunlight or meaningful exercise. He

is forced to strip naked before bed each night, and to

stand at attention naked the next morning. Accordingto Marine spokesperson 1st Lt. Brian Villiard, this is forPFC Mannings own protection. However, Brig forensic

psychiatrists have consistently maintained that there is

no mental health justication for the prevention-of-injurywatch imposed on PFC Manning.

The conditions of Mannings connement have promptedinvestigations by Congressman Dennis Kucinich and

Manfred Nowak, UN Special Rapporteur on Torture. TheU.S. was once regarded as an international leader forthe quality of our justice system and our fair treatment of

prisoners, but the shameful treatment of pretrial prisoner

Bradley Manning seriously calls that into question.

t: meia ei

t: meia ei



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vnee wih he Baey Manning Spp Newk!Your skills can make a difference. We need people writing articles, soliciting organizations forsupport, making YouTube videos, creating posters and working on our campaign. We needmany people to run this campaign. To get involved, please send an email explaining how youwould like to contribute to: rainey@bradleymanningorg Our needs include:

Local organizers to harness the energy within your communities

National organizers to help coordinate the national and international effort to freeBradley, and reach out to possible ally organizations

Writers to help write our material for websites, social networking campaigns, leaetsand media advisories

Online campaign contributors to help spread the word about our campaign

Graphic designers & artists to help create posters, music

Videographers & photographers to help document and promote our campaign

San Francisco Bay Area volunteers are needed to help with mail handling and petition processing in the

Oakland ofce of Courage to Resist most weekdays. Please call 510-488-3559 to RSVP.

Cnac y genmen epesenaies

Demand that the military stop the inhumane treatment of Bradley Manning and drop the death penalty charge of aidingthe enemy Let them know that you support Bradley Manning

Look up US Congress addresses and phone numbers for your state at house.gov

Email your staterepresentatives via the web--no email client required!--at

writerep.house.gov

Look up full contactinformation for your stateSenators, including linksto convenient web formswhere you can contact

them, at senate.gov

Send an email to President

Obama at whitehouse.

govWrite to PresidentObama at The WhiteHouse, 1600 PennsylvaniaAve NW, Washington, DC20500 Leave a commentfor President Obama by

calling 1-202-456-1111or faxing 1-202-456-2461Call the White HouseSwitchboard and leavePresident Obamaa message by calling

1-202-456-1414



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Organizing an eventis a key wayto educate community members, gathersignatures for the Stand With Brad Petition(standwithbrad.org), enlist other volunteersto take action, solicit media attention,and raise funds for the Bradley ManningDefense Fund Thank you for taking thiscrucial step!

To notify us of a planned public eventor if youd like assistance in organizingone, please contact us at [email protected]. Tell us the date, time and location of your event and well help promote it via website, social networksand afliates. Additionally, we can send you promotional materials such as stickers, info cards and buttons.

Wecme

dea Sppe,

If you have opened this guide, you have taken an enormous step towards direct politicalaction You have made a choice to support Bradley Manning by organizing an event inyour community This is a courageous action and we applaud you for it

You are not alone, and putting your event together does not have to be a monumentaltask, even if youve never organized a community event before. Weve put together afew helpful documents to get you started Even if only you and a few of your friendsstand together to support Bradley Manning, you are making a difference. You arestanding up for human rights for all You are standing up for the rights of all prisonerssuffering right this moment at the hands of a government that wants to silence themYou are standing up for all people who believe that the world should and can bedifferent, and will not be silent until it is, no matter what it takes. People like you havebeen changing things since the beginning of recorded history. Together, we can do itagain

Here are some ways to ensure you will receive the latest news, information and updates from the Bradley ManningSupport Network:

Sign-upfor weekly newsletter at bradleymanning.org. Enter your e-mail and click get updates.

Joinour Facebook page: facebook.com/savebradley

Followus on Twitter: twitter.com/savebradley

Subscribeto the BMSN Supporters Email Discussion List Send an email to: [email protected]

Participatein our online discussion forum: bradleymanning.org/forum

no secreT Trial for an american hero!

EvENt orGANIzING GuIdE


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Organize!Organizer kits are available without charge to activist group leaders E-mailemma@couragetoresistorg for more details

Also, Free Bradley Manning gearincluding: shirts, stickers, buttons, whistlesand more are available at couragetoresist.org/shop/bradley-manning.html

We hope this guide will help you as you take action to help save Bradley Manning

Our sincerest regards and thanks,

T Brdl Mannig Suport Nework

Hs a fm sceening / hse pay

You can host an event in your home and invite friends and family Or you can choose to make it a public event If you wantto open the event up to a larger crowd, it might make sense to request permission to use space in a local coffee shop, artspace or a public facility such as a library

Steps for planning your screening:We suggest using the Collateral Murder video of a U.S. helicopter gunship attack

that killed a dozen unarmed civilians in Iraq as part of your event Bradley Manningis facing court martial for leaking this video

1. Pan a necessay gisics.

Prior to the lm screening, visit collateralmurder.com/en/download.htmlto download the lm onto your hard drive. Choose a location for the lm screeningand make sure it is available on your desired date and time. Ideally, you will knowthe date, time, and location of your event at least two weeks ahead of time, so thatyou can mention specics when inviting others to join you. You will need accessto technology allowing you to show the lm from your computer for your crowd. Ifyoure using a projector, dont forget to also have a good audio system.

2. recimen

Set a goal for the number of event attendees youd like to have. A good rule ofthumb is that youll need at least twice as many RSVPs, because many peoplecancel at the last minute. See the pages with Recruitment Tips for some ideas tohelp you reach your goal Keep a list of all the people interested in coming to theevent, along with their contact information.

3. remines

Two to four days before the event, make reminder calls and send e-mails to all of your event attendees, with the eventdate, time, directions to the location, and your phone number in case they get lost.

4. Pepae iscssin pins ae he sceening

The Collateral Murder video often elicits strong emotions, so this is your opportunity to allow people to express whattheyre feeling, as well as to help them turn those feelings into positive action. Some suggested discussion questions andtalking points are provided on the next page

5. Pepae acin

Your event should, ideally, end with attendees taking some form of action. This should include having everyone sign thepetition and donate money towards the cause, writing letters to Quantico, and/or creating a committee of volunteers tohelp plan a larger event Decide what you want to happen and prepare the necessary materials prior to the day of thescreening itself

6. dcmen sccesses

At the end of your lm screening: take photos of your group in-action, and e-mail them to us!

Ciica cmpnens a sccess een:

well-planned event promotion an accessible and

comfortable location interesting speakers refreshments Optional: music/entertainment



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Hs a pbic ecain een

Organizing a structured public event can be quite effective foreducating community members and raising money for BradleyMannings defense.

1. Esabish an een agena

Ideally, you should start planning your event a month ormore in advance. In order to draw a good crowd, it helps tohave a few notable speakers, such as prominent activistsor community ofcials. Additionally, your event may includeentertainment or a full meal If you already know people whocould make ideal speakers or entertainers for your event,contact them right away to make sure they are available onyour desired date and time. Otherwise, you can make phonecalls and send letters to prominent community membersrequesting their service at your event

2. Cnsie gisics

Major areas to consider and plan for include: size of space orbuilding used, utility support needed, setup (tables and chairs,tents, portable toilets, parking, signage), coordination, cleanup,transportation

3. Bgeing an naising

The logistics of your event will depend somewhat on thebudget you have to work with If you can recruit multiplecommunity organizations to help sponsor the event, theywill hopefully be willing to contribute to your budget Localstores are often willing to donate supplies and food for charityevents if you explain the cause to store managers and offerto promote their establishment Chain businesses often haveestablished rules for donations, and require more advanced

notice than independent businesses If your event agendaincludes a substantial meal or entertainment portion, you maychoose to raise money by charging for tickets. Alternatively, toencourage a larger crowd you can host a free event and passaround donation jars at the end. Either way, dont be shy aboutasking for money and clearly explaining why it is needed!All funds collected, minus your expenses, should besubmitted to the Bradley Manning Defense Fund.

4. Pan pbiciy

Promoting a special event takes creative thinking balancedwith practicality

Brainstorm all the available media including marquees, schoolnewsletters, church announcements, social media, listservesof supporting organizations, popular event websites, and cableand commercial stations. Make a detailed list with names of whom to contact and when, and create event descriptionstailored to specic audiences. Begin promoting your event as early as possible.

Sampe iscssin pins fm sceening:

How are you feeling after watching this video?

Have you seen the video covered in news orhave your friends talked about it? How do youthink it has impacted other members of yourcommunity?

In 2010, the New York City Daily News listedWikiLeaks rst among websites that could totallychange the news Do you agree with this?

There is talk that Wikileaks has played a rolein the recent protests in the Middle East, inparticular those in Tunisia, because of thecorruption of the Tunisian government that wasrevealed in the US Diplomatic Cables In hissupposed IM (internet messenger) conversationwith Adrian Lamo, the hacker who reportedBradley to the authorities, Bradley states theinformation should be in the public domainbecause without information, you cannot makeinformed decisions as a public Do you agree?

Since May 2010, Bradley has been held insolitary connement, and subjected to physicaland psychological abuse through denial ofsunlight, meaningful exercise and regular humaninteraction The military may not have solidevidence linking Bradley to Wikileaks or JulianAssange and could have difculty proving theircase in court Since Bradley has not been proven

guilty, why do you think that he is being held insuch harsh conditions? (Hint: To set an examplefor future would-be whistle blowers Also theymay be attempting to gather information forcharges against Assange.)

If we had 60 seconds to communicate tosomeone who knew little about the Wikileaksstory, and explain to them that Bradley is beingtreated unjustly, what should we say?

How can we effectively reach out and educateother members of our community in a compellingway so that they see this issue as relevant to

them and want to take action?



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Pan a emnsain

Dozens of public events in support of Bradley Manning have alreadybeen held around the world

1. Geing sae

First, decide how many attendees you want at your event. Choosea location that is both easily accessible and highly visible to manymembers of your community. Remember, the more time you giveyourself for planning, the more likely your event is to be successful.

2. decie he ma y een

You can gather 10 or 20 people to hold signs with clear, simplemessages by a busy highway to educate people driving by. Or, if youhave more planning resources, you can rally a large crowd in the citysquare and invite speakers You can also have musicians perform atdemonstrations

3. Panne pbic esisance

Public resistance can take many forms Peaceful collective actions designed to grabattention by disrupting the public order often take place at the end of large ralliesSome of the most common include marches on major streets, picketing governmentbuildings or recruitment centers, and guerilla theater such as die-ins.(Note: If you are contemplating organizing a form of civil disobedience that mightresult in arrests, please check out United for Peace and Justices How-to Guide:unitedforpeace.org/article.php?id=112.)

4. Maeia pepaain

After you have envisioned your ideal event, you can work on creating eventmaterials:

5. recimen

Once you have created event descriptions and yers, you can begin getting theword out about your event. See Tips for Event Recruitment below for some specictactics that have proven to be effective

6. Meia imeine

(Download our Guide to working with the mediafor more information)

Three weeks beore your event: Have who, what, when, where, why down...and start telling folks!

Two weeks beore your event: Research

Conduct research to compile a list of local news sources and contact information forspecic reporters/editors who might be interested in your story.

One week beore your event:The Media Advisory

See media packet for sample media advisory Send out your press advisory to yourmedia list again two days before the event

Event yers

Press advisories

Colorful, largesigns and banners

with campaignmessaging

Petition clipboards

Educational fact

sheets

Catchy slogansthe group can

learn quicklyand chantloudly

Sgans:

* Blowing the whistle on war

crimes is not a crime

* Truth is the foundation of

democracy

* No torture, no death penalty for

accused whistleblower

* No secret trial for an Americanhero

* The people have a right to know

* Whistle-blowers are heroes

* Shine a light on war and

occupation

Chans:

Hey Obama dont you know?

Torturing Bradley has got to go!

Exposing murder is not a crime,

Bradley should not be doing time!

Bradleys conscience was his

guide,

We are here to take his side!

Hey Obama! listen to me,

Bradley Manning should be free!

Please set Manning free today,

Hes the greatest hero in the

USA!

Telling the truth is not a crime,

Bradley Manning is a hero of

mine!



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Three days beore your event: The Story Pitch

Come up with a 30 second pitch to reporters

Its best to pitch print reporters in the morning between 9-11am, before theyhave afternoon deadlines Radio reporters and News Editors are also easiestto reach in the morning. Pitch TV assignment editors anytime, a few daysin advance of a media event, or the morning of the event between 8:30-

9:30am, when they hold meetings to decide on coverage for the day.

The day ater your event: The Press Release

Early in the morning, send out press releases to your media list, both toany reporters who joined and to those who did not.

7. dcmen y een

Make sure to take photos and videos to show the world!

8. Ps-een w-p

Send us a story about your event, or email us and well interview youfor a story on our website. For help with your story, email rainey@bradleymanningorg

Send us your photos to share online Email logan@bradleymanningorg

Thank your organizing team, speakers and other helpers. Follow upwith phone calls, thank you emails, short notes or texts thanking themfor their help

ining hep ganiing y een

Gahe a eam

Working with a team to plan events, especially ones you hope to be wellattended, is highly recommended. Not only does working with a committeeallow you to share the work of planning the event, but for each new person

you involve in organizing, you expand the groups immediate social network.

Whee sa?

If you are not already working with an established organization, beginforming your event organizing team by talking to people you know: friends,family, fellow church and club members, etc. Remember, a face-to-faceconversation or a phone call is more likely to result in a positive responsethan an e-mail. After trying your personal network, you can give in-persontalks at meetings of related organizations. (See Outreach to Allies below)

When approaching people about taking a leadership role personalize yourask, so that others understand why you think it is important to organizean event to support Bradley Make sure potential team members are clearabout what youre asking them to do and what sort of time commitment is

involved. You can establish specic team roles based on individuals abilitiesand interest, for example Promotions Manager, Fundraiser/ DonationsManager, Materials Producer, etc.

Once event plans have been established and organizing tasks have beendivided up, your role as team leader is to maintain regular contact witheach of your team members, helping to remind them of when tasks needto be completed, and making sure they have all the resources they need toperform their role You should also show your continued appreciation fortheir work

Sampe een:

On February 24, 2011, Berkeley activistsorganized a speaking event at the

Unitarian Universalist Church, featuring

famed Pentagon Papers leaker Daniel

Ellsberg, which drew 40 attendees and

raised $3000 for the Bradley ManningDefense Fund.

Sampe een:

A student from Sonoma State Universitycreated a facebook event posting for

a Bradley Manning rally in a downtown

San Francisco park and invited theirfriends. Another organizer decided toshare the event link on a few local event

websites. Within a week, RSVPs for theevent grew to 50 people. On March 20,2011, a crowd met at the park and after4 people gave brief speeches about why

they cared what happened to BradleyManning, everyone moved with their signs

and yers to spread awareness near abusy street. Cars honked in support and

several new volunteers were recruited.

Sampe een:

Leaetting about Bradley Manning oncampus.



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To sustain a movement, the Bradley Manning Support Networknot only needs teams that help organize a single event, but alsolocal leaders who can continue organizing future events If you areinterested in being one of these local campaign organizers, pleasee-mail emma@couragetoresistorg After thanking other teammembers for their work, ask them to consider taking on a specicrole in helping organize future events as well

Inie pepe aen y een

Remember: When you are inviting strangers to a large event, onlya small percentage will actually wind up attending Start earlywith promoting your event, and think expansively. If you can writeadvertisements that relate your action to recent headline news,that may help you gain a wider audience

Begin by inviting friends and members of organizations withwhich youre active. Face-to-face conversations and phone callsshould be used, when possible, in addition to e-mail. Think of a 60second elevator speech explaining why participating in the eventis important, and then make personal calls. Your goal should be

concrete commitmentsSampe eea speech:

Bradley Manning is the young soldier who is alleged to haveleaked the famous Collateral Murder video to Wikileaks, alongwith documents detailing war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan,and diplomatic reports discussing corruption in a number ofgovernments. The effects of the release of this material havebeen far reaching and likely played a role in the recent celebratedpro-democratic protests in the Middle East. Bradley Manning iscurrently being held in a military prison and subjected to physicaland psychological abuse. We want to join Pentagon Papersleaker Daniel Ellsberg, U.S. Veterans for Peace, and a numberof other prominent peace leaders and groups in protesting theconditions of Bradleys treatment and his charges. Can you joinme on [date, location]?

oeach aies

Groups to contact:

National Organizations with Local Chapters - CodePINK, PeaceAction, Iraq, Veterans Against the War, Amnesty International,and Veterans for Peace

Local Organizations of All Stripes Most mid-sized or largercommunities have local peace coalitions. Its also worthcontacting progressive and libertarian wings of the Democratand Republican Parties respectively in addition to local branches

of third parties like the Libertarian and Green Parties

Traditionally Sympathetic Churches - For example, the Friends(Quakers), Peace Mennonites, or Unitarian Universalists.

College Organizations If you have a University in your town,contact some student organizations who can pass on the wordto other students and teachers

Sampe each ee

cmmniy gp aiesYour Name

Your AddressYour Apt. #Yourcity, ST 00000

Dear Mr./Mrs. Contact Name:

My name is [Your Name]. I am a resident of City, STand am writing to ask your organization to support

US Army Private First Class Bradley E. Manning, whois currently being held at the US Marine Corps BrigQuantico, VA, awaiting an Article 32.

A 22-year-old intelligence analyst, Pfc. Manning facesdecades in prison for allegedly leaking a video of a

US helicopter attack that killed at least eleven Iraqicivilians to Wikileaks. Among the dead victims weretwo working Reuters reporters. Two children werealso severely wounded in the attack. In addition

to this Collateral Murder video, Pfc. Manning is

suspected of leaking the Afghan War Diariestensof thousands of battleeld reports that explicitlydescribe civilian deaths and cover-ups, corrupt

ofcials, collusion with warlords, and a failing US/NATO war effort.

We only know these crimes took place because

insiders blew the whistle at great personal risk ...

Government whistleblowers are part of a healthy

democracy and must be protected from reprisal,

noted Barack Obama while on the campaign trail in

2008. While the President was referring to the BushAdministrations use of phone companies to illegallyspy on Americans,Pfc. Mannings alleged actions arejust as noteworthy. If the military charges against him

are accurate, they show that he had a reasonablebelief that war crimes were being covered up, and

that he took action based on a crisis of conscience.

If Pfc. Manning is indeed the source of these

materials, the nation owes him our gratitude.

However, since the charges, some rst brought bythe US Army Criminal Investigation Command (CIDC)in June 2010, Pfc. Manning has been held at theQuantico brig in conditions so torturous that they are

being investigated by the human rights organization

Amnesty International, and have been criticized bya member of the US State Department, assistantsecretary of state for public affairs P.J. Crowley.

As an organization known for [cite reasons why you

feel this organization would be open to supportingBradley], I feel that your public support for Pfc.

Manning would help shed light on his plight. I would

welcome the opportunity to speak to your organization

about this matter and join you in such an effort.

I appreciate your time and attention to this letter. More

information about Pfc. Manning can be found at the

website of the Bradley Manning Support Network(bradleymanning.org).

Most kind regards, [Signed]

[Mr./Mrs.] Contact Name

Organization Title

Org Address1City, ST 00000



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Ge signaes he peiin

Make copies of the included We stand with Bradley Manning petiton for your event. Ask everyone who attends the eventto sign the petition

Ask nains

The Bradley Manning Defense Fund is hosted by Courage to Resist in collaboration with the Bradley Manning Support

Network. With the increase in legal expenses due to the death penalty charge, tax-deductible donations are urgentlyneeded. Funds are split between public education and support activities, and legal costs. Donate online atcouragetoresist.org/bradley

Send tax-deductible checks payable to Courage to Resist to: Courage to Resist, 484 Lake Park Ave #41,Oakland CA 94610. Please note Manning defense on the checks memo line.

Or, to make a non-tax-deductible contribution to Bradleys legal trust, send checks payable to IOLTA / Manning to:Courage to Resist, 484 Lake Park Ave #41, Oakland CA 94610. The legal trust is managed by Bradleys attorney DavidCoombs under regulation of the Massachusetts Interest on Lawyers Trust Accounts (IOLTA) Program and the AmericanBar Association. All funds offset Bradleys legal expenses.

There are several organizations that are collecting donations for the defense of PFC Bradley Manning. The onlyorganization that is contributing funding to PFC Mannings legal defense is Courage to Resist, explains Bradleys attorneyDavid Coombs


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Organizing Toolkit H www.bradleymanning.org 1

Ceaing a meia aisy

Wha Is a meia aisy?

A media advisory alerts the media, in a concise manner, to upcoming events (like a press conference). Think of it as aninvitation that answers only the important questions: Who, What, When, Where, and Why. Have your media advisoryready to go a week before your event

Key eemens a meia aisy

-It should be brief and to the point

-It should contain a headline detailing the most important information

-It should include the ve Ws mentioned above.

-It should include contact information for reporters to get more information fortheir pieces and the contact information you would like to be published if this isfor a listing

the ma a meia aisy

-At the top left side of the page, write MEDIA ADVISORY.-Underneath MEDIA ADVISORY, include the date of your event; for example,For Sept. 19, 2011.

-At the top right side of the page, include your contact information.-At the bottom of the page, type # # # indicating the end of the advisory.

Piching he sy

When pich

Its best to pitch print reporters 2-3 days before the event, in the morning between 9-11am, before they have afternoondeadlines. Radio reporters and News Editors are also easiest to reach in the morning. Pitch TV assignment editors anytime,a few days in advance of a media event, or the morning of the event between 8:30-9:30am, when they hold meetings todecide on coverage for the day

reseach

You want to do your research and know your target Do a Google search to see what the reporter or news outlet haswritten about your topic or related topics in the past. Make sure theres not someone else at the same news outlet whois more sympathetic/likely to cover your story. If you can tie Bradley Mannings story to what that reporter likes to coverand atter them a little bit about their past work, you will be more successful. Some possible topics of focus: democraticprotests in the Middle East, Wikileaks, freedom of information, critiques of the justice system, anti-war public opinion

You also have to prepare yourself for the pitch by getting familiar with your talking points and having resources like FactSheets and background materials ready if reporters want more information

Hep ips caing a newswhy sy:

Localize it Your pitch should mention what is going on in your community and which community organizations are involved

The people have The righT To know!

GuIdE to WorKING WItH tHE MEdIA


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Conict- A story with a hard-fought conict makesnews Describe to reporters who the good guys and badguys are and how the struggle is playing out

Strange bedellows- We can often garnerincreased news coverage by building a coalition of strangebedfellows Try expanding your coalition to include partners

outside the traditional anti-war movement

Visuals- Striking images and locations can make newsas well as words that paint pictures Try to incorporateinteresting visuals into your event

Timely news has to be relevant to whats happeningnow. Connect your protest to major recent events,domestically or abroad, that have gained wider newscoverage

Pacice y pich

Tailored Ideally, you have done your research to nd

out what someone usually covers so your pitch shouldreference their past work and make the reporter feel likeyou are pitching them something that is right up their alley

Concise Pitches must be very short around 30seconds. Practice and time yourself ahead of time, becausethats about as much time as you get on the phone beforesomeone cuts you off and asks for an email Be conciseand pique their interest with the most exciting elements ofthe story, such as the newsworthy criteria mentioned above,VIP speakers, unusual event entertainment, etc. Beginpitches by asking Are you on deadline, or do you have aquick second? If they do not have time to talk, ask whenyou can call back later

Flexibleyou have to be ready to pivot or talk abouta new angle on your story, depending on the reportersresponse

Well-organized not just in your pitch, but have allthe necessary information prepared. Anticipate questions,and be ready to send follow-up information

eeback an w-p

A good way to end your pitch is: Does this sound like thekind of thing youd be interested in covering? If the reportersays no, that is a great opportunity for you to ask, Well,what kinds of stories are you interested in covering? andgure out if theres a different angle that works.

Tell the reporter when and how youre going to get in touchagain to help them cover your story. Be explicit, e.g., Great, so Ill send you X,Y, and Z, and the contact info for you to getin touch with A and B. Whens a good time for me to call back and follow up with you? OR Great. Well I hope to see youat the event on Wednesday, but Ill give you a call that morning to make sure you can make it. If you have any questionsor would rather set up phone interviews with A and B, please let me know.

Also beware of letting reporters off the hook if they ask for follow up via email, or claim that they havent yet seen themedia advisory or press release you sent. Agree to send an email, and get specic email address info (not a generalnewsdesk email), but also offer to set up a phone interview with key players, or set a time for you to follow up with them.

Sampe meia aisy

MEDIA ADVISORY FOR

[date of event ]

For more information, contact:

[your name and all phone number(s) at which the press canreach you ]

[Name of Town]

Rally in Support of Alleged Wikileaks Whistle-blowerPfc. Bradley Manning

Members of [name of supporting organizations] and other

residents of [name of town] will join activists across the

country on [date of event] to rally for the release of Bradley

Manning.

Bradley Manning, who is currently being held in inhumane

conditions in the Marine Corps Brig in Quantico, Virginia,is accused of releasing to Wikileaks the famous Collateral

Murder video, the Afghan War Diary, and the Iraq War Logs,which reveal war crimes in Iraq and Afghanistan, as well asthe U.S. Diplomatic Cables, which helped spark the Tunisianrevolution.

To protest the charges against Bradley, for which he faces

the possibility of the death penalty, an estimated 100people will rally with colorful posters and signs in support of

international democracy, government accountability, and the

humane treatment of prisoners.

WHO:

WHAT:

WHEN:

WHERE:

Our goal is to raise awareness about the U.S. Militarysattempts to suppress a whistle-blower. For more information

on the conditions surrounding Bradley Mannings charges

and imprisonment, please visit http://www.couragetoresist.

org/ and http://www.bradleymanning.org/.

###

Courage to Resist is an organization that supports the menand women of the U.S. armed forces who are speakingout about their refusal to ght in the wars in Iraq andAfghanistan.



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Organizing Toolkit H www.bradleymanning.org 1

the ps-een pess eease

Wha is a pess eease?

A press release has a different purpose than a media advisory. It should read like an article, with quotes and facts, tostimulate possible pick-up by small papers and to generate print and broadcast reports at larger outlets Whereas a mediaadvisory offers basic information, a news release creates an image and story that journalists can use alone or use as

background when writing a story

Key eemens a

news eease

-Your release should bewritten like an actualnews story, in the invertedpyramid style of newswritingwith a headlineand the most importantinformation at the top

-Your release should include

quotes from spokespeoplethe ma a

pess eease

-At the top left side ofthe page, write PRESSRELEASE

-Underneath, write FORIMMEDIATE RELEASE andunder that, the date.

-At the top right side of thepage, include your contact

information-Type and center # # #indicating the end of yourrelease (located at thebottom of the page).

Sampe pess eeaseFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEDate

Citizens Rally in Support of Alleged Wikileaks Whistle-blowerPfc. Bradley Manning

Subtitle

[Organization names] hosted a rally with [number] attendees at [location] on Saturday to callattention to the mistreatment of pretrial prisoner Bradley Manning, and the militarys attempts to

use him as an example to suppress war crime whistle-blowers. Currently 23 yr-old Bradley isheld in the Quantico military brig and denied access to sunlight, meaningful exercise, and the

ability to sleep through the night without interruption.

Bradley is accused of releasing to Wikileaks the famous Collateral Murder video depicting the

killing of journalists and wounded civilians by an Apache helicopter in Iraq as well as the AfghanWar Diary, the Iraq War Logs, and U.S. Diplomatic Cables. The documents contain informationabout war crimes and government corruption and have played a role in motivating recent

pro-democratic protests around the world, in particular the revolution in Tunisia. Wikileaks has

received much attention following the release of this material, with its director Julian Assangenamed Readers Choice Person of the Year for Time Magazine in 2010 and nominated for aNobel Peace Prize.

Daniel Ellsberg has compared Bradley Mannings intent and actions to his own when he famously

leaked the Pentagon Papers in 1971, exposing government lies and contributing to the endof the Vietnam War. The full charges against Manning, for his alleged role, were released onMarch 2nd, 2011. The tenuous charge of Aiding the Enemy means that he could face thedeath penalty and came as a shock to many who feel whistle-blowers are instrumental to holding

governments accountable.

Quote from local activist

Outraged activists gathered on [date] and [action] to raise awareness about the conditions of

Bradleys incarceration and to shed light on the militarys fear of transparency regarding facts of

the Iraq War.

There is concern among some prominent public leaders that the Obama Administrationstreatment of this event is damaging the U.S.s image abroad. The latest development in Bradleyspretrial treatment is that since release of the full charges on March 2nd, he has been stripped ofall clothing each night before bed and forced to stand naked at attention the next morning.

Is this Quantico or Abu Ghraib? Dennis Kucinich said in a March 7th statement. Thisnon-punitive action would be considered a violation of the Army Field Manual if used in aninterrogation overseas. The justication for and purpose of this action certainly raises questionsof cruel and unusual punishment, and could constitute a potential violation of international law.

For more information from two key activist groups on the conditions surrounding Bradley

Mannings charges and imprisonment, please visit http://www.couragetoresist.org/ and http://

www.bradleymanning.org/.

- # # # -

Courage to Resist is an organization that supports the men and women of the U.S. armed forceswho are speaking out about their refusal to ght in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

CONTACT: NamePhone #



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Baey Manning Spp Newk cnacs

For assistance planning events and campaign materials: [email protected] 510-488-3559

For assistance writing material: [email protected]

For assistance promoting your local activities online: [email protected]

For national press contact: [email protected] 202-640-4388

Funds raised at any event should be made out to Courage to Resist and mailed to Courage to Resist, 484 Lake ParkAve #41, Oakland CA 94610. Make sure to note Bradley Manning Defense on the memo line.

Aie ganiains

Courage to Resist (based in Oakland, CA): couragetoresist.org 510-488-3559

Veterans for Peace local chapters: veteransorpeace.net/chapter_contacts.html

Iraq Veterans Against the War: ivaw.orgclick on the Chapters button

War Resisters League local chapters: warresisters.org/localchapters

Code Pink local groups: codepink4peace.org/groups.php

Voters for Peace (based in New York, NY): votersorpeace.us

Firedoglake online news website: fredoglake.com

Paces fn an aeise eens

First, google.com is your friend. Try searching for [your city] events as well as more specic terms such as [your city]progressive events and [your city] activist calendar.

acebook.com

craigslist.org (Look in the community section)

meetup.com (anti-war, computers, LGBT, veterans groups are some suggestions for outreach)

Local ree weeklies(event calendar listings often require 3 weeks notice)

Community radio stations

no TorTure, no deaTh penalTy for accused whisTleBlower

CoNtACtS PAGE


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We stand for truth, for government transparency, and for an end to our tax-dollars funding endless occupation abroad...

We san wih accse whise-bwe uS Amy Pc. Baey ManningA 22-year-old Army intelligence analyst, Pfc. Manning faces decades in prison for allegedly leaking a video of a UShelicopter attack that killed at least eleven Iraqi civilians to the website Wikileaks Among the dead were two workingReuters reporters Two children were also severely wounded in the attack

In addition to this Collateral Murder video, Pfc. Manning is suspected of leaking the Afghan War Diariestens ofthousands of battleeld reports that explicitly describe civilian deaths and cover-ups, corrupt ofcials, collusion with

warlords, and a failing US/NATO war effort.We only know these crimes took place because insiders blew the whistle at great personal risk ... Governmentwhistleblowers are part of a healthy democracy and must be protected from reprisal, noted Barack Obama while on thecampaign trail in 2008. While the President was referring to the Bush Administrations use of phone companies to illegallyspy on Americans, Pfc. Mannings alleged actions are just as noteworthy. If the military charges against him are accurate,they show that he had a reasonable belief that war crimes were being covered up, and that he took action based on acrisis of conscience

After nearly a decade of war and occupation waged in our name, it is odd that it apparently fell on a young Army private toprovide critical answers to the questions, What have we purchased with well over a trillion tax dollars and the deaths ofhundreds of thousands in Iraq and Afghanistan? However, history is replete with unlikely heroes.

If Bradley Manning is indeed the source of these materials, the nation owes him our gratitude. We ask Secretary of theArmy, the Honorable John M. McHugh, and Chief of Staff of the U.S. Army, General George W. Casey, Jr., to release Pfc.

Manning from pre-trial connement and drop the charges against him.

Sincerely,

_____________________________________________ _______________________________________________Print name Signature

_____________________________________________ _______________________________________________Mailing Address City, State, Zip

_____________________________________________ _______________________________________________Title / Profession (optional) E-mail (optional to receive occasional updates)

Check one: o Publish my name/title oPublish my name/city oPublish my name only oDo NOT publicly use my name

Please return to:Bradley Manning Support Network, c/o Courage to Resist,484 Lake Park Ave #41, Oakland CA 94610

This letter will be mailed on your behalf to both Mr John McHugh and Gen Casey at the Pentagon

For additional petitions: www.standwithbrad.org For more info: www.bradleymanning.org

Bradley Manning Support Network H www.bradleymanning.org

PEtItIoN


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WHISTLE-BLOWERS ARE HEROES!

BRADLEYMANNING.ORG

We spp Baey Manning!God knows what happens now. Hopefully worldwide discussion, debates,

and reformsif not, were doomed as a species. I will ofcially give up on thesociety we have if nothing happens. I want people to see the truth... becausewithout information, you cannot make informed decisions as a public.

Thats an excerpt from an online conversation attributed toUS Army Intel Analyst Pfc. Bradley Manning, now chargedwith blowing the whistle on the Collateral Murder video, theIraq War Logs, the Afghan War Diaries, and many ofcialcables embarrassing to the US State Department The chat logreferenced above is both the only known evidence againstBradley, and the catalyst for an international campaign to savehis life

Its beyond ironic that leaked US State Department cableshave contributed to revolution and revolt againstdictatorships across the Middle East and North Africa, yetBradley Manning is threatened with executionor at least lifein prisonfor being the source Millions of Americansand farmore internationallyunderstand Bradleys contribution towardsnot only freedom of information, but literally freedom itself.We need your help to give Bradley aghting chance.

Jin s. BaeyManning.g

Bradley Manning Organizing Kit

Documents

Transcript of Bradley Manning Organizing Kit