How Bradley Manning Disappeared From the SF Pride Parade

[marmar]

via truthdig:



How Bradley Manning Disappeared From the SF Pride Parade
Posted on Apr 27, 2013


The stern rejection of Army whistle-blower Bradley Manning as a grand marshal of the San Francisco Pride Parade combined with the event’s uncritical embrace of sponsorship by law-breaking corporations reveals how liberal causes can be corrupted by business-backed authoritarianism, writes Glenn Greenwald.

In a letter from Lisa L. Williams, president of the board of SF Pride, we learn that Manning was prematurely announced as a grand marshal by a renegade “staff person” and that the culprit “has been disciplined.” She then accuses Manning of “actions which placed in harms way the lives of our men and women in uniform,” a false claim that was spread by top U.S. military officials and that has since been extensively debunked. Finally, she announces in draconian tones, that “even the hint of support” for Manning’s action “will not be tolerated by the leadership of San Francisco Pride.”

Greenwald points out that the parade is sponsored by numerous corporations that have broken the law and either are or were being pursued by the criminal justice system. Backers AT&T and Verizon enabled illegal spying on U.S. citizens by the Bush administration in the mid-2000s and were shielded from the consequences upon being retroactively immunized by Congress. Bank of America is being sued for $1 billion by the U.S. government for allegedly engaging in a systematic scheme of mortgage fraud. And Clear Channel, the media company owned by Bain Capital, a finance firm founded by Republican Mitt Romney, broadcasts the radio programs of Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity and Glenn Beck—men who are not friends to the LGBT community. ............................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.truthdig.com/eartotheground/item/how_bradley_manning_disappeared_from_the_sf_pride_parade_20130427/

[roody]

1. How can Manning be marshall

if he is incarcerated?

[DRoseDARs]

2. Same way anyone who is the Grand Marshall of a parade can be, but not attend.

In name. Same way a child dying of cancer can be named Grand Marshall of an event to bring awareness to childhood cancer. They aren't going to trot the child out on the street, she's going to stay in bed at the hospital.

I'm not getting into a pissing match of Yay Manning Boo Manning, just stating the logistics of in absentia.

[Luminous Animal]

4. Daniel Ellsberg was going to stand in his place.

[randome]

3. Other than a picture of Manning holding an 'Equality' sign, I've seen nothing...

...that qualifies him as a 'grand marshal'. It's not up to me to speak for the LGBT community, but I think someone who has been more active in that community should have a better shot at being Grand Marshal.

[Sheldon Cooper]

7. Well, he is actually gay, so I think he would meet the minimum

qualifications. I don't speak for that community either, btw.

[Luminous Animal]

9. Yeah. Like Kamala Harris. The straight women who replaced him.

Or Charo! A Grand Marshal in 2008.

FYI, Bradley was as active as he could be under the restrictions of Don't Ask Don't Tell... showing up in public at protests and once anonymously interviewed:

In November, he made the hour-and-a-half drive from Fort Drum to the Syracuse city hall for a rally against Proposition 8, the California ballot initiative that overturned a state supreme court decision allowing same-sex marriage. At the protest, Brad was interviewed anonymously by a student reporter. “I was kicked out of my home, and I once lost my job,” he told her. “The world is not moving fast enough for us at home, work or the battlefield.” He went on, “I’ve been living a double life….I can’t make a statement. I can’t be caught in the act. I hope the public support changes. I hope to do that before ETS ( Expiration of Term of Service, when an enlisted soldier finishes his commitment in the army ).”

No link because it is from the book, "Private: Bradley Manning, WikiLeaks and the Biggest Exposure of Officials Secrets in American History."

[randome]

10. I did not know all that. Thanks.

[Luminous Animal]

11. You are welcome, randome.

[geek tragedy]

5. It's not a Wikileaks or Julian Assange Appreciation event. nt

[Luminous Animal]

6. When Roberta Achtenberg was GM, did that make it a Bill Clinton event?

[arely staircase]

8. i think he is busy

nt

[AnotherDreamWeaver]

12. I was going to post about this and found your post

Here is another story link:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/27/bradley-manning-sf-gay-pride

[Luminous Animal]

13. The former Grand Marshal, Joey Cain, who nominated him has details....

http://dissenter.firedoglake.com/2013/04/29/former-san-francisco-pride-grand-marshal-who-nominated-bradley-manning-discusses-boards-capitulation/

Michael Thurman of Courage to Resist, which organizes the Bradley Manning Support Network, called him ( Joey Cain ) soon after the vote. He told Cain that Joshua Smith of San Francisco Pride had contacted him and informed him Manning had been elected by the college of former Grand Marshals.

A couple hours later, Smith called back to say there was a mistake. The Board would be asking for an “audit of the votes” of the “college” of Grand Marshals. According to Thurman, Smith told him the results were looking like it could turn out different and Manning would not be Grand Marshal.

Cain thought this “sounded very suspicious.” He contacted Smith, who is a “personal friend,” and previously “served on the Board of Directors with him.” He also called Williams.

Smith called him back and, according to Cain, would not detail what had happened but took responsibility.

“This looks really bad for Pride,” Cain said to Smith. “You need to do something to rectify this.”

Lots of good info in the article.

I'll be at the SF Pride headquarters this evening protesting the boards cowardly capitulation.

[FreeState]

14. All pride organizations are whacky IMO

They tend to be a small group of self important people who think they know whats best for the community. THe one in San Diego is as corrupt as any.

[Luminous Animal]

15. Ellsberg spoke at the rally today...

Given that we were able to rally about 100 Manning supporters at the last minute, our Pride Parade is going to be huge!

Ellsberg says that he will march with us. I am very happy and excited about that!