Iraq war veteran Scott Olsen speaks with fellow activists & press after leaving the ‘Free Bradley Manning’ sit-in inside the Obama campaign office in Oakland, CA. On the evening of 8/16 in Oakland, CA, many attending the ‘Free Bradley Manning’ rally in Downtown Oakland were surprised to learn that after the rally, they’d be marching over to Obama’s re-election office in Oakland. Once there, they demanded the freedom of Bradley Manning, the Army private accused of leaking government secrets to WikiLeaks. Of the approximately 60 protesters who rallied at the Obama office, seven (including representatives from “Iraq Veterans Against the War”, “Code Pink”, and “World Can’t Wait”) decided to stay inside until the letter they’d written on Bradley Manning’s behalf ( pastebin.com ) was faxed to President Obama’s national office. The seven were met with a brief physical push-back from Obama staffers (including shoving and “chair wielding” – via video taken by Iraq Vet Scott Olsen – youtu.be ), but eventually sat down and refused to leave. Oakland PD sealed of the rear entrance to the offices and had several officers inside with the protesters & staffers, attempting to get the protesters to leave. After several hours, the sit-in group decided Scott Olsen should leave w/out arrest. The message to President Obama was eventually sent to his national campaign office & the remaining six protesters were voluntarily arrested. At this time all but one of those arrested are free. The …