SF Pride board meeting ends amid chaos over Bradley Manning
Source: Bay Area Reporter
The San Francisco Pride board of directors faced off against an angry crowd of about 125 Bradley Manning supporters Tuesday evening at a meeting intended to hear public comments on its reversal of Manning as a Pride grand marshal. But the meeting came to an abrupt end after SF Pride CEO Earl Plante, noticeably shaken, said he had been assaulted and ordered his staff to call police for what he called a "riot."
Manning supporters, who gathered at SF Pride's offices and filled the hallway, were angry about a statement released by the Pride board shortly before the May 7 meeting that explained its "longstanding policy" that defined a community grand marshal as "a local hero (individual) not being a celebrity."
... About half the group crowded into a foyer on Pearl Street, attempting to get to the small upstairs room where the board was meeting. Two elevators of about 10 people were allowed up, including some former grand marshals and reporters. But dozens of others – including photographers and videographers for the Bay Area Reporter and KTVU – were shut out, prompting the protesters to chant, "Let the media in!" and "Stop the lies!" Many people expressed their frustration, stating that the issue was no longer just about Manning, but about the board's lack of transparency and failure to represent the LGBT community.
... Manning supporter and Pentagon papers leaker Daniel Ellsberg told the board 60 seconds was not enough time to make a serious statement in support of Manning. He said the April 26 statement from Williams that Manning "placed in harm's way the lives of our men and women in uniform" was false.
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