Oklahoma Peace March Held for 'Wikileaks' Crescent Soldier

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A local peace group hosted a march to "show support and solidarity" for a soldier from Crescent accused of leaking classified documents to the whistleblower website Wikileaks.

The Oklahoma Center for Conscience began the march at 8 p.m. Thursday about six blocks south of the state Capitol on Lincoln Boulevard. The group is supported by the Joy Mennonite Church, local Quakers and the Veterans for Peace.

"He didn't do it to be a trader or for fame or for money or anything like that. He did it because he thought it was the right thing to do," said Jordan Davis, Manning's friend.

Pfc. Bradley Manning is a 22-year-old intelligence analyst who grew up in Crescent. He's being held at the Quantico Marine Corps Base pending possible trial on charges he leaked dozens of diplomatic cables plus secret video of a 2007 U.S. helicopter attack on unarmed men in Iraq.

Center for Conscience spokeswoman Rena Guay said exposing war crimes is not a crime.

A website and several social networking groups are campaigning for Manning's release.

More: 

• Oklahoma School Administrator Says Alleged WikiLeak Source Was 'B-C Student'