Thursday, May 16, 2013

Getting to Ft. Meade to support Army whistleblower Bradley Manning

To date, nearly 1,000 people have RSVPed to come to the June 1st demonstration at Ft. Meade. We look forward to having you join us! Below is some information to make planning your trip to Ft. Meade easier…
Buses
Charter buses are scheduled to Ft. Meade from the following cities: NYC, Washington DC, Baltimore and Hartford, CT.
Find directions from airports to charter buses OR from Amtrak and Greyhound stations to charter buses in Baltimore, DC and NYC using public transit.
If you’re arriving at the BWI Airport on June 1st, there is also a regional bus from the airport to Arundel Mills Shopping Center (Bus 017), from which you can then take the CTC K to the Main Gate. The entire trip is approximately 45 minutes. For a Google Maps public transit view of this option: http://alturl.com/3ehis
Still interested in organizing a bus or van from your city? We’re offering small grants to help.
brad300Driving to Ft. Meade
From most locations, driving will be the quickest way to access Ft. Meade. If you plan to fly into the area and rent a car, priceline.com and hotwire.com are two useful sites for finding budget rentals.
Free parking has been arranged at Meade Heights Elementary School, 1925 Reece Rd, Fort Meade, MD 20755. This parking lot is only half a mile (11 min. walk) from the the Ft. Meade Main Gate.
Additional parking is available at Van Bokkelen Elementary School, 1140 Reece Road, Severn, MD 21144. This parking lot is one mile (24 min. walk) from the Ft. Meade Main Gate. We’ll try to shuttle folks along Reece Road.
There are a small number of unrestricted parking spaces along US 175; however, do not park in the the mini-shopping centers or the Weis Market near Blue Water Blvd.
Housing options
Search Priceline for hotels near Ft. George G. Meade, MD
View a list of other hotels in DC, MD and VA.
Mass housing options
There are also two campgrounds in the area, Cherry Hill Park near Washington D.C. and Greenbelt Park in Greenbelt, MD. The campground fee is $16.
Navigation
Google maps usually has up-to-date road and public transit information. You can also download apps and links for navigation in the DC area, MD and NYC
Carpooling
If you are able to offer rides to others, please e-mail emma@bradleymanning.org with your planned departure date, time, location, and how many seats you are offering. Carpool information for those looking for rides will be posted on this page as it becomes available.
Ft. Meade Security
Our event on June 1st will take place outside the Fort Meade Main Gate at 175 Maryland and Reece Rd. However, if you plan to stay to attend Bradley’s court martial, which begins June 3rd, you’ll need to be prepared to go through security checkpoints.
To enter Ft. Meade, you’ll need a government issued ID, such as a state issued drivers license or passport. Non-US passports are accepted. Be prepared to remove any shirts or buttons that show support for Bradley Manning while on base.
The courtroom is located 1 mile past the main gate, and maps are available at the Visitor Control Center immediately inside the gate and to the right. There is parking by the courtroom, space allowing. To drive onto Ft. Meade:
  • Have your up-to-date vehicle registration
  • Have your up-to-date vehicle insurance (printed copy–not a electronic version on your mobile phone)
  • Obey posted speed limits (they are strictly enforced by military police–especially for “special visitors”)
  • Be prepared to cover “political” bumper stickers on your vehicle with tape
Unlike most trials, the government is refusing to release any official transcripts of the trials. It is up to the public to attend, and comment on, what happens inside the otherwise secretive court room. Thank you for your support and please join us at Fort Meade!

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