Free Imprisoned Whistle-Blower Reality Leigh Winner Stand-Out Davis Square MBTA Subway Stop-Davis Square, Somerville-5 PM – 6 PM Thursday April 19, 2018
We Will Not Leave Our Sister Behind-Don’t Prosecute The Truth
Ms. Winner has been charged under the Espionage Act, a 100-year-old statute originally designed for spies and saboteurs aiding foreign governments in time of war, for allegedly giving a document vital to the public’s understanding of potential Russian interference in U.S. election systems toIntercept, an on-line news organization. She faces up ten years and a $250, 000 fine. After having earlier this year been denied her appeal for bail by the federal 11thCircuit Court of Appeals Ms. Winner is now scheduled for trial in Augusta, Georgia in the fall of 2018. Ms. Winner arrested in June 2017 will have been in unnecessary pre-trial detain for well over a year despite an honorable military discharge from the Air Force after six years of service, no previous criminal record, no flight risk, parents ready to put their ranch as collateral, and not a danger to herself or others the normal legal standard for being bail-worthy before she has her day in court.
The charge against Ms. Winner is grossly disproportionate to her alleged offense, and is designed to create a chilling effect on investigative journalism by dissuading sources from sharing information that is critical to the public interest. We are dedicated to raising public awareness of Winner’s case in light of the U.S. government’s persistent abuse of the Espionage Act in this case and the recent case of whistle-blower Chelsea Manning to silence its critics and stifle journalism.
For more information-Goggle “Stand With Reality” or “Courage To Resist”. Also Google for an informative article on Ms. Winner’s life in the December New York magazine.
Attempting to make her case more widely known we frankly admit with everything else going on around Russian involvement with the 2016 American elections that it has gone under the radar. We are trying various spots and this month we will be in Davis Square, Somerville -Thursday April 19th5 PM to 6 PM for our seventh stand-out in defense of whistle-blower Reality Leigh Winner-The Committee For International Labor Defense-Smedley Butler Brigade -Veterans for Peace (labor donated)