Isolation is torture

Hey, I just signed a letter to the Commanding Officer at Quantico Brig to end the inhumane conditions of Private Bradley Manning's detention as he awaits trial. Please join me in signing this important letter, and pass it on to your friends and family when you're done: http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/bradleymanning?source=share&subsource=email Thanks! ---BEGIN FORWARDED MESSAGE--- Hey Firedoglake Activist, Bradley Manning spent his 23rd birthday on Friday completely isolated, just as he has every day for the last 5 months months in his cell at the Quantico Marine Base. Manning is the Marine Private accused of leaking classified documents to Wikileaks. Since July, he has been held in cruel and inhumane conditions like violent, dangerous criminals in a Supermax prison. He spends each day completely isolated, with severe restrictions placed on basic activities like sleep and exercise. Yet he has not been convicted of any crime. The extreme isolation in which Manning has spent every day of the last 5 months is grueling. It's already taking its toll: Bradley Manning's physical and mental health are suffering, according to his attorney and friend who have seen him in prison. Bradley Manning deserves humane treatment while he awaits trial. Can you please add your name to our letter urging Commanding Officer of Quantico Marine Corp Base to lift the heavy restrictions of Manning's detention? http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/bradleymanning?source=share&subsource=email Bradley's friend, David House, will deliver your letter to the Commanding Officer at the Quantico Marine Base brig when he visits Bradley next month. While Manning is held in "maximum custody," the military's most severe detention policy, he is also under a longstanding "Prevention of Injury" (POI) order that adds additional restrictions beyond those of other prisoners. While POI orders typically last a week or two, Manning has been held under a POI order for more than five months. A day in the life of Bradley Manning is isolating, lonely, and frustrating. - Manning stays in his cell for 23 hours a day - Guards must check on him every 5 minutes, and he must respond each time - He is not allowed to sleep between 5am and 8pm - Substantive exercise is not allowed beyond walking, potentially in chains - Communication with other people in the brig is banned, and he cannot write to people outside beyond the few a list approved by the brig commander; any unapproved letters he receives are destroyed. - He has not been allowed to read newspapers or watch international news during TV time - Comfortable sleep is impossible; he must surrender his clothes each night, has only a heavy "suicide blanket" akin to an x-ray vest, and guards must be able to see his face at all times. - A psychologist has said Manning isn't a danger to himself or others, and the POI order is unnecessary. His lawyer has also been unable to remove the POI order. But it is clear that Bradley Manning has been subjected to undue, inhumane, and unnecessary punishment, and it must stop now. Stop the inhumane treatment of Bradley Manning. Please add your name to our letter urging the Marine Commander in charge of Manning lift the unnecessary POI order. http://action.firedoglake.com/page/s/bradleymanning?source=share&subsource=email No matter what you think of Manning's alleged acts, there is no reason to subject him to these extreme conditions. Thank you for standing up for human rights. Michael Whitney Firedoglake.com