Jan. 12 CODEPINK Berkeley Rally: Close Guantanamo; Support Bradley Manning & Wikileaks

January 12 Berkeley Rally: Close Guantanamo; Resettle Cleared Detainees in Berkeley; Support Wikileaks and Bradley Manning
by Cynthia Papermaster and Holly Harwood, Golden Gate Codepink

Berkeley, CA. On a rare sunny day Codepink Golden Gate Chapter held a press conference at Berkeley's Old City Hall, followed by a procession in orange jumpsuits to the Marine Recruiting Station, and a rally at the MRS. We called for Obama to keep his promise to close Guantanamo Prison, for the City Council of Berkeley to pass the Resolution to Resettle Cleared Guantanamo Detainees in Berkeley (passed by the Peace and Justice Commission in December), for the military to treat Bradley Manning humanely, for wide support for whistleblowers and Wikileaks, and for the Marine Recruiting Station to close. Speakers included former Senator Mike Gravel, Bradley Manning Advisory Group; Bob Meola, Berkeley Peace & Justice Commission, Bradley Manning Steering Committee and Courage to Resist; Cynthia Papermaster, Berkeley No More Guantanamos, National Accountability Action Network, Codepink; Ann Fagin Ginger, Meiklejohn Civil Liberties Institute; Holly Harwood, Golden Gate Codepink Chapter Coordinator; Janet Weil, Codepink, who read a poem by a Guantanamo detainee; Toby Blome, Codepink anti-drones activist; Miguel Cavallin, Argentina Torture Survivor and human rights activist; Susan Harman, Progressive Democrats of America Accountability Issue Team; Leeza Vinogradav, East Bay Codepink Chapter Co-coordinator; Cynthia Johnson, Berkeley Fellowship of Unitarian Universalists Social Justice Committee; Nate Pitts, activist; and others. Singer-songwriter Vic Sadot performed "Courage to Resist", written especially for our event, praising Bradley Manning and other military who courageously resist these illegal wars of occupation. The fabulous brass band Musicians Action Group (MAG) played at the press conference and rally, and led the procession, along with Toby Blome who provided a solemn cadence on her beautiful drum. We had a wonderful turnout for this event by Codepink, Veterans for Peace, the Berkeley Peace and Justice Commission, Courage to Resist, the BFUU, and more. Thanks to everyone who made this action a success!