Sunday, January 23, 2011

HOT: Blogger Jane Hamsher Being Detained at Quantico...

...as she attempts to deliver 42,000 signatures demanding humane treatment for Bradley Manning.

Developing...

UPDATE: Here's Hamsher's Twitter feed of what went down:
At Quantico w @DavidMHouse to deliver 42,000 sigs 4 Bradley Maning to brig. Holding us at gate, never happened before: http://t.co/zZS4ZxP 39 minute ago

Called Lt Brian Villiard of Quantico on Friday and again today as courtesy to say we were coming re: Bradley Manning, never called me back. 38 minutes ago

Demanding my social security number before they'll let me on Quantico base, but won't say why. Never happened before 37nminutes ago
 
Guess Lt Villiard better at reading FDL than returning phone calls. For first time, made us sign letter saying we won't deliver any pkgs. 25 minutes ago
 
Quantico guards say I'll be arrested if I go to McDonalds while @davidmhouse visits Manning. "That privilege has been withdrawn." 22 minutes ago
 
Now been here at Quantico gate for 30 min. Will not let us leave base, holding us. 22 minutes ago
 
Gunny Foster Military Police #1715 writing me ticket for not hving latest insurance card. Sorry to 42,000 people who signed Manning petition 20 minutes ago
 
Can't leave base, can't go 2 brig, can't get my driver's license, Gunt Foster threatening 2 arrest us. Haven't done a thing. 19 minutes ago
 
Now Quantico guards want @davidmhouse driver's license back for 2nd time. 19 minutes ago
 
I go 2 McDonalds every time we come 2 Quantico while @davidmhouse visits Manning @TheTonyLee bc guards told me 2. Now "tresspassing." 17 minutes ago
 
The guards absolutely knew we were coming @auerfeld & told to harass us. "This was what I was told to do" said Gunny Foster. 15 minutes ago
 
McDonalds wasn't trespassing any other time, but now it will get me arrested @UKFriendsofBM. Won't let us off OR on base. 14 minutes ago

We're literally being detained without any explanation at Quantico 40 min now. Won't let us leave 12 minutes ago

When Gunny Foster asked 4 my SS# I said "what if I refuse?" He said he's Military Police & he can arrest me. Is that true? 10 minutes ago

Now Military Police asking @DavidMHouse 4 his SS# AGAIN. 10 minutes ago

We've been coming 2 Quantico 4 months @, @ has official permission 2 visit Bradley Manning 9 minutes ago

We're at the guard gate @SundevilSal, but question is whether they can arrest us 4 refusing to provide SS# rather than let us leave. 7 minutes ago

Question not whether we can get on base @FirstTeamTommy, that is their discretion. They won't let us OFF & won't say why. 7 minutes ago

We gave SS# @JavaJoeX . They still won't let us leave OR allow @DavidMHouse 2 go 2 brig even though he is on visitor list 4 Bradley Manning 4 minutes ago

Gunny Foster towing my car bc they won't accept my electronic proof of insurance, demanding paper. 4 minutes ago

Escorting us off base, hooking my car up to tow truck now. 4 minutes ago
Update 2- More:

Me "you won't accept electronic proof of insurance." SGT: "has to be printed." Me: "it was printed off that." "Unless u have a printer."


Forcing @DavidMHouse 2 go 2 court. Wouldn't give ticket, gave him a summons 2 appear in court.
Quantico guards didn't give registration back 2 me, but demanding it again.

Now guards going 2 inventory vehicle.
Military police searching & impounding my car. Won't let @DavidMHouse on 2 see Bradley Manning, won't say why.

It's 28 degrees, forcing us 2 stand outside
Quantico Guard: "are u leaving anything in your car" Me: "I can't check when they're driving it on to tow truck."
I called Lt Villard on Friday 2 say we were coming 2 Quantico, give courtesy head's up we were coming. I guess I know he got the message.
Me: "Can I go 2 store I can see fm [from] here & print out insurance if u won't accept electronic?" Foster: "No." 15 min ago, could've had by now
Update 3-More:
In tow truck, waiting 2 b escorted off Quantico base. No idea how @DavidMHouse & I get back to DC.


Still holding us, my car on tow truck but Quantico guards still won't let us leave.


Even though @DavidMHouse on approved list 2 see Bradley Manning, Quantico guards refusing 2 let him do so w no explanation. Still detained.
Update4-More:
Some offers have now entered guard house.

Some officers have now entered the guard house & are talking 2 military police. @DavidMHouse & I detained w no explanation for 1 hr 20 min.
We tried to leave & they wouldn't let us @JPKalishek.
Update 5 Tweet from David House:
MPs looking for a reason to arrest us; brass arrives. The US government is like any animal: scare it and it will try to tear your face off.
Back to Hamsher tweets:
For whatever reason, Quantico Marine brass don't want Manning 2 have visitor now. Isolation & enforcement of solitary confinement complete.
On phone w Trevor Fitzgibbon @fitzgibbonmedia who is working w Bradley Manning supporters. @DavidMHouse calling Manning attorney.
U r right @fhionn, @davidmhouse has true courage, 1 of only ppl willing 2 put himself at risk 2 support Manning. That's why I help him.
Talking with my attorney, wants 2 know what why being detained: "Either u have clearance 2 b on base or you don't & they turn u away."
Nobody knows why Marines are holding Bradley Manning who is in the Army anyway. Manning attorney unable to get an answer.
Marines now say House can't walk to see House but can go off base, get a cab & come back on. But visitation over at 3pm.
Tow truck driver says we also have to pay 4 time he had 2 wait for Quantico marines 2 release us: $300.
Quantico Marine brass showed up PERSONALLY 2 make sure @DavidMHouse never got 2 see Manning. Next visiting period: next week.
CRYSTAL clear @tominwindsor: Marine top brass showed up personally 2 make sure Bradley Manning got no visitor this week.
David House tweet:
Finally released, right as visiting hours conclude. What's going on in the brig?

7 comments:

  1. Apparently citizens lose their rights when they enter government designated zones, like TSA security screening zones.

    I'm surprised Jane was able to Twitter, unless that was the message they really wanted delivered.

    Olberman gone, Hamsher detained for hours. What will her car have in it when she gets it back?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Mmmmkayyyy, if she doesn't get some support from groups like the ACLU, some libertarian Tea Party types, and the general anti-war left, then this issue will go nowhere. That would suck, since it's such an obvious power-play.

    I'm going to contact my libertarian, anti-war friends and tell them we need to make this a national media issue.

    Who's willing to pledge to do the same?

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  3. I guess I don't understand why people who are purposefully getting up in the state's face don't plan for events like this in advance. You know these thugs are going to screw with you. Show up in a taxi. Have somebody outside the event recording the situation. Have another person recording from a second location. Instead you end up just jumping through their hoops hoping you can just avoid being black bagged yourself, and nothing has changed.

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  4. Maybe the intent was for Manning not to be seen by outsiders. Quantico is the home for CIA training. What interrogation techniques do they now employ for people viewed as "enemies of the state"?

    The military can't have someone of sound mind make a cogent case that he exposed war crimes because the system refused to acknowledge them. U.S interrogators know how to break people's minds. How far are they into this process with Manning?

    ReplyDelete
  5. It would appear that compelling an individual to disclose a SSN within this context is a felony:

    42 U.S.C. 408(a)(8) -
    "Whoever...discloses, uses, or compels the disclosure of the social security number of any person in violation of the laws of the United States; shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction thereof shall be fined under title 18 or imprisoned for not more than five years, or both."

    ReplyDelete
  6. "Quantico is the home for CIA training."
    Wrong, jackwagon. Quantico is the home for FBI Training. I could tell you where the CIA trains, but then I'd have to.... well you know. Manning is a little bitch traitor and you belong in the brig with him.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Quit whining. You pulled a stunt on a military base and got called on it. Boo hoo.

    ReplyDelete