On June 3, about 150 anti-war activists gathered at Buckingham Fountain in Grant Park to protest the trial of openly gay Wikileaks whistle-blower Private Bradley Manning.
In attendance was Cindy Sheehan, whose "Tour de Peace" cross-country bike caravan team is traveling from the West Coast to Washington, D.C., to protest the continuing U.S. war in Afghanistan and drone wars in Pakistan, Yemen and Somalia as well as threats of military action against Syria and Iran.
Chicago is among a number of cities and seven other nations protesting Manning's incarceration. The protests were timed to coincide with the start of his trial, which Also began June 3.
Among the speakers were Andy Thayer of the Gay Liberation Network (GLN), Jay Becker of Chicago World Can't Wait, Nick Egnatz of Northwest Indiana Veterans for Peace, Mike Lynn of Chicago Area Peace Action, Bob Schwartz of the Gay Liberation Network, Ted Aranda of Occupy Chicago, Newland Smith of The Anti-War Committee, and Sheehan.
In his remarks, Thayer thanked Manning for his activism and announced that the GLN will have a "Free Bradley Manning" contingent marching during the Chicago Pride Parade.
"When we found out we were going to be in Chicago on the same day that Bradley Manning's trial started we thought it would be perfect to be in solidarity with Bradley because my son Casey and millions of others have already gotten death sentences," said Sheehan. "I already got my life sentence, a life without my son [due to multiple wars]. … So when we get to Washed Up [Washington, D.C.] on July 3, we will be encircling the White House and staking out our demands."
GLN, Chicago World Can't Wait, Northwest Indiana Veterans for Peace, Chicago Area Peace Action and The Anti-war Committee sponsored the protest.
