The Marine Corps Times reports:

Military officials on Friday said they have decided to remove shackles put on seven confined Marines and one sailor whenever they’re outside their individual cells at the Camp Pendleton brig, a Marine Corps spokesman said.

The eight men, confined at the brig since May 24, were being held with “maximum” restraints based on their battalion commander’s decision following an initial investigation into the shooting. As of Friday, they were shifted into what’s called “medium-in” restraint in pre-trial custody, which does not require shackles to be worn, although they remain escorted anytime they are outside their cell, according to 2nd Lt. Lawton King, a base spokesman.

Under “medium-in,” they won’t have any personal restraint while inside the brig, but once outside – such as to go to a court hearing – each “is restrained with handcuffs attached to a leather belt … and their respective escorts carry along leg cuffs in the event they are needed,” King said.

The decision to lower the restraint level came after a June 15 review by the brig commander, he said.

Reader Christine B. writes that there will be another rally for the Camp Pendleton 8 tomorrow morning:

We are meeting at Camp Pendleton at the main gate at 10:00am pacific. I was wondering if you could help get the word out about our rally to show support for our men. The whole country needs to know what’s going on. Anything you could do would be appreciated.

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The Camp Pendleton 8
My 6/14/06 column