Ellsberg at Berkeley Salute to US Soldier Accused of Aiding WikiLeaks

A benefit in Berkeley Thursday night for the defense fund of accused WikiLeaks leaker Army Pfc. Bradley Manning and for KPFA Radio will feature Daniel Ellsberg along with Patricia Ellsberg and a co-author a book about the Manning case.

The "Salute to Bradley Manning" takes place at 7:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Berkeley, 2345 Channing Way.

Manning faces military trial for allegedly leaking thousands of classified documents on the war in Afghanistan to the website WikiLeaks. Several were published by the New York Times and other publications.

Daniel Ellsberg first achieved international fame when he too was accused of leaking classified military information to the New York Times – the "Pentagon Papers" about the Vietnam War in 1971. The prosecution of Ellsberg, however, was tossed out following revelations of the break-in of his psychiatrist's office by the White House "plumbers" in the Nixon administration.

Ellsberg and his wife, Patricia, a former public radio reporter, have been outspoken advocates of social change, anti-war activists and critics of government abuse of power.

Appearing with them will be Kevin Gosztola, co-author of the book Truth and Consequences: The U.S. vs. Bradley Manning.

The program is being presented by KPFA and Courage to Resist. For ticket information, please see the attached poster.