We’re excited to announce the first virtual conference for the FDL Membership Program: tonight at 8pm EDT, we’ll have a discussion about Bradley Manning’s conditions and the latest news surrounding his detention. The event will feature the following special guests:

  • David House, a friend of Bradley Manning who has visited Manning at Quantico several times in the last several months;
  • Ret. Col Ann Wright, a former Army Colonel and State Department official who resigned in protest of the Iraq War in 2003, and who was arrested at Quantico last month with Daniel Ellsberg while protesting Manning’s treatment
  • Marcy Wheeler, Firedoglake’s emptywheel, who has been reporting on Wikileaks and Bradley Manning for the last year, will lead the discussion.

Our call on tonight will allow up to 100 registered FDL members the opportunity to hear the latest news and analyses about Manning’s detention, as well as give those members who attend the chance to ask questions of our guests who have been at the forefront of this incredible story.

It’s because of the incredible support of FDL Members that events like this are possible. Scarecrow explained a little more about what to expect from these with these virtual briefings for members:

We’re about to launch a new feature for FDL Members. Very soon, we’ll begin offering our members internet conference events featuring FDL and other experts on timely topics. We’re planning sessions on Bradley Manning, mortgage foreclosure issues and lots more, and members will be asked to help select and shape future topics. Members will be able to log on and watch live presentations and participate directly via Q&A sessions. We’ll send Members notices via e-mail on how and when to sign up, and we’ll also provide reminders on the FDL front page to encourage our readers to join. We hope to say more about this in a day or two, so watch for it.

So to all our new members, a big “Thank You!” from the FDL team. And to those who haven’t joined yet and want to make sure you don’t miss out on the internet conference events, this is a good time to sign up.

The first 100 people to register for the briefing will gain access, and we’re more than half-full already.  If you’re already a member of Firedoglake, you should have received an email on Saturday evening will registration instructions. If you’re not a member yet, join today – your support is critical to keeping Firedoglake independent and sustainable for just $45 a year. We’ll send you instructions shortly for how to register for tonight’s briefing if you join today and if space is still available.

Tonight’s discussion about Bradley Manning is just the first of many events to come – so stay tuned.