Rebel With A Cause Bicycle Tour & Bradley Manning Solidarity Weekend
A show of solidarity with Bradley Manning by A Ride Till The End
Who is Bradley Manning?
Bradley Manning is the accused Wikileaks military whistleblower who allegedly leaked US intelligence information exposing US war crimes, including the Collateral Murder video, the Iraq and Afghan War Diaries, and the trove of diplomatic cables known as Cablegate. Despite lack of criminal conviction, he has spent over 100 days in solitary confinement in a military prison and is still there as of now.
As a community of veterans, we view these as honorable, selfless acts, the ramifications of which we have yet to fully realize as they are just beginning to color and empower our communities' ability to hold our government accountable for its actions overseas.
We regard Manning as an American hero and will celebrate his alleged actions, raise awareness of his condition, and challenge his shameless mistreatment at the hands of the United States Department of Defense by dedicating a spring bicycle tour through the American South to honor Bradley Manning, tell his story, and raise funds for his legal defense.
March 21st - April 8th: The Rebel With A Cause Bicycle Tour
On March 21, 2011, we will embark on a 444 mile bicycle ride along the Natchez Trace beginning in Natchez MS and arriving in Nashville TN on April 8, 2011. We will be speaking and performing at dozens of places along the Trace, focusing on Manning's narrative and raising money for his legal defense.
The Ride is public, and we invite veterans, artists, and other supporters to join us for however long they wish. Potential participants should have a suitable bicycle, appropriate clothing, resources for food, a personal tent and sleeping bag, and the time. We will average 50 miles each day we ride and take a couple of days off in-between longer jaunts. We will be camping primarily between cities in the beautiful parks along the Trace.
April 9th & 10th: Bradley Manning Solidarity Weekend
If you are unable to ride with us, we encourage you to produce an independent event in your community on April 9th and /or 10th, the same weekend we arrive in Nashville, as part of Bradley Manning Solidarity Weekend (BMSW)!
BMSW is a call to socially conscious artists and organizers across the country and world to propel Bradley Manning to pop-culture status through artistic expression before he goes to trial. Bradley Manning is a national hero: a modern-day Daniel Ellsberg, and it is our responsibility to let our governments and communities know how we feel about his actions and that we support him!
Art is the primary tool and cornerstone of our organizing strategy, and we encourage art in all forms including, but not limited to, poetry, music, performance art, gallery exhibitions, and artistic public demonstrations. These dynamic displays of creativity have the potential to substantially challenge and reshape Bradley’s narrative in the eyes of the public while simultaneously raising awareness of the conditions under which he is being held and contributing to his legal defense fund. All of which helps him take the steps toward the freedom he deserves. Our goal is to put energy into something that will last longer than a protest on a street corner, so get creative! Open mics, concerts, plays, exhibits! Go outdoors! Go public! Go big! Bradley Manning and our country's future depend on it!
The Rebel With A Cause Bicycle Tour and Bradley Manning Solidarity Weekend are projects of A Ride Till The End (ARTTE).
ARTTE is a collective of veterans and artists who see art as an effective medium for healing and for facilitating palatable dialogue amongst dissenting voices on the occupations of Iraq and Afghanistan.
