Category Archives: Chelsea Manning

Happy Birthday, Chelsea Manning

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This week marked the 27th birthday of Chelsea Manning, the U.S. military whistleblower who currently sits in prison for leaking material to Wikileaks. Here are some birthday wishes for her from people who have spent time in similar circumstances.

The Guardian ran a feature yesterday of birthday messages for Chelsea Manning from 14 celebrity supporters, from Michael Stipe to Slavoj Zizek to Saul Williams. Random as hell, but thoughtful nonetheless. A few messages came in too late for The Guardian's deadline, and they were passed on to us. They're worth reading.

From Terry Anderson, a journalist who was taken hostage by Hezbollah militants in 1985:

Dear Chelsea,

I am a retired AP journalist and Marine Vietnam veteran. I am often these days ashamed of my country when its leaders blatantly violate not just our constitution, but our ideals and principles. I am always proud of those who, feeling the same outrage, sacrifice themselves to fight back. You have shown yourself to be more of a hero than many others who claim to be serving America, and done so with dignity, knowing and accepting the consequences. One day, hopefully soon, our country will recognize that heroism. Meanwhile, stay strong in yourself. I was held for seven years by Shiite radicals in Lebanon. I know how soul-shattering imprisonment can be. I also know it is possible to survive it.

With respect, Terry Anderson

From Murat Kurnaz, a resident of Germany who was held by the U.S. at Guantanamo Bay for five years before being released in 2006:

"Whistle blowers, who make state-crimes public, are heroes and not criminals. Their courage should be honored. This is the only way to avoid future crimes committed by officials. Chelsea Manning should be pardoned immediately."

From Talib Kweli, rapper:

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Happy Birthday, Chelsea Manning

Alexa O’Brien exposa el cas de Chelsea Manning al Parlament de Catalunya – Video

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Alexa O #39;Brien exposa el cas de Chelsea Manning al Parlament de Catalunya
Alexa O #39;Brien is a independent journalist. Her work has been published in The Cairo Review of Global Affairs, Guardian UK, Salon, The Daily Beast, and featur...

By: Jordi Salvia

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Alexa O'Brien exposa el cas de Chelsea Manning al Parlament de Catalunya - Video

Chelsea Manning: ‘Why speaking out is worth the risk’

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Chelsea Manning is serving a 35-year prison sentence for leaking classified US government documents to the website WikiLeaks. From her prison cell in Kansas, Chelsea tells us why speaking out against injustice can be a once-in-a-lifetimeopportunity.

Why did you decide to leak documents about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan?

These documents were important because they relate to two connected counter-insurgency conflicts in real-time from the ground. Humanity has never had this complete and detailed a record of what modern warfare actually looks like. Once you realize that the co-ordinates represent a real place where people live; that the dates happened in our recent history; that the numbers are actually human lives with all the love, hope, dreams, hatred, fear, and nightmares that come with them then its difficult to ever forget how important these documents are.

What did you think the consequences might be for you personally?

In 2010, I was a lot younger. The consequences felt very vague. I expected the worst possible outcome, but I didnt have a strong sense of what that might entail. But I expected to be demonized and have every moment of my life examined and analyzed for every single possible screw-up that Ive ever made - every flaw and blemish - and to have them used against me in the court of public opinion. I was especially afraid that my gender identity would be used against me.

What was it like to feel the full force of the US justice system and be presented as a traitor?

It was particularly interesting to see the logistics involved in the prosecution: the stacks of money spent; the gallons of fuel burned; the reams of paper printed; the lengthy rolls of security personnel, lawyers, and experts it felt silly at times. It felt especially silly being presented as a traitor by the officers who prosecuted my case. I saw them out of court for at least 100 days before and during the trial anddeveloped a very good sense of who they were as people. Im fairly certain that they got a good sense of who I am as a person too. I remain convinced that even the advocates that presented the treason arguments did not believe their own words as they spoke them.

Many people think of you as a whistleblower. Why are whistleblowers important?

In an ideal world, governments, corporations, and other large institutions would be transparent by default. Unfortunately, the world is not ideal. Many institutions begin a slow creep toward being opaque and we need people who recognize that. I think the term whistleblowers has an overwhelmingly negative connotation in government and business, akin to a tattle-tale or snitch. This needs to be addressed somehow. Very often policies that supposedly protect such people are actually used to discredit them.

What would you say to somebody who is afraid to speak out against injustice?

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Chelsea Manning: ‘Why speaking out is worth the risk’

Chelsea Manning Was Transgender “In Secret” While …

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At left, Chelsea Manning, then known as Bradley, leaving court in Kansas in 2013. At right, a recent portrait by Alicia Neal. (Photograph: Patrick Semansky/AP)

Excerpted from The Guardian: Chelsea Manning, the soldier jailed for her part in the Wikileaks affair, has revealed that she was transgender in secret while serving in the US army.

At the time of her May 2010 arrest over the leaking military and diplomatic documents, Manning was known as Bradley. Until now, very little has been known about Mannings history of gender identity, despite her very public legal battle with the US military over her civil rights the army private won the right to change her name, and her push for medical treatment while in prison has become something of a cause clbre for transgender rights in the military and even worldwide.

Writing for the Guardian from military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in a passionate essay about largely invisible discrimination against transgender people, Manning declares: Were banned from serving our country in the armed services unless we serve as trans people in secret, as I did.

In August 2013, Manning was jailed for 35 years, for passing files to Wikileaks. The following day, Manning said she would from then on be known as Chelsea. In April 2014, a Kansas judge formally granted her request to change her name.

Mannings request for clemency was denied, before proceeding to appeal. She has formally applied to President Barack Obama for a pardon or reduced sentence.

Separately, she is suing the US military over its denial to her of gender dysphoria treatment, despite defense secretary Chuck Hagel having approved the process in July.

In Mannings case, gender dysphoria refers to an innate sense of being female though her sex at birth was male. Treatment includes psychotherapy, hormone therapy and surgery to change her primary and/or secondary sex characteristics.

A hearing in the case, in which Manning is also seeking to be allowed to grow her hair long and use cosmetics, is scheduled for January.

Last week, in a case heralded by the American Civil Liberties Union, the US army fully recognised the new names of two transgender veterans from New Jersey. The decision cleared a path for the two, who were named only as Jennifer and Nicolas, to receive veterans benefits.

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Assange’s WikiLeaks: Give generously this Xmas – for STATUE of our DEAR LEADER

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Julian Assange has alerted Wikileakers to an important Kickstarter campaign that aims to create a bronze statue of the snowy-haired founder, billed as a monument to courage.

How the statue will look if they can get another 80,000

The proposed artwork, which needs 100,000 to be realised, will feature bronze idols of Assange, Chelsea Manning and Edward Snowden standing on chairs, with a fourth empty chair for members of the public to sit on so they can be shoulder to shoulder with the courageous trio.

According to the Kickstarter campaign, the sculpture is to be made by artist Davide Dormino in one of Italys most prestigious foundries in Pietrasanta in Tuscany. The funds will go only towards casting the bronze artwork and transporting it around the world for display.

The work wont just be a simple homage to individuals, but to courage and to the importance of freedom of speech and information, the campaign page said. Of course, none of that will be possible unless the campaign raises some cash, which may be why Assange used the official WikiLeaks Twitter account to point out the project a couple of times.

However, WikiLeaks took offence at the idea that its tweet of the campaign was evidence of Assanges heavy endorsement.

The Kickstarter had only managed to raise 19,361 of its goal at the time of writing, with just 21 days to raise the rest of the 100,000.

So how about that Chelsea Manning Defence Fund, eh?

Sponsored: Internet Security Threat Report 2014

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Assange's WikiLeaks: Give generously this Xmas – for STATUE of our DEAR LEADER

Chelsea Manning was transgender ‘in secret’ while serving …

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At left, Chelsea Manning, then known as Bradley, leaving court in Kansas in 2013. At right,

by Alicia Neal. (Photograph: Patrick Semansky/AP)

Chelsea Manning, the soldier jailed for her part in the Wikileaks affair, has revealed that she was transgender in secret while serving in the US army.

At the time of her May 2010 arrest over the leaking military and diplomatic documents, Manning was known as Bradley. Until now, very little has been known about Mannings history of gender identity, despite her very public legal battle with the US military over her civil rights the army private won the right to change her name, and her push for medical treatment while in prison has become something of a cause clbre for transgender rights in the military and even worldwide.

Writing for the Guardian from military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in a passionate essay about largely invisible discrimination against transgender people, Manning declares: Were banned from serving our country in the armed services unless we serve as trans people in secret, as I did.

In August 2013, Manning was jailed for 35 years, for passing files to Wikileaks. The following day, Manning said she would from then on be known as Chelsea. In April 2014, a Kansas judge formally granted her request to change her name.

Mannings request for clemency was denied, before proceeding to appeal. She has formally applied to President Barack Obama for a pardon or reduced sentence.

Separately, she is suing the US military over its denial to her of gender dysphoria treatment, despite defense secretary Chuck Hagel having approved the process in July.

In Mannings case, gender dysphoria refers to an innate sense of being female though her sex at birth was male. Treatment includes psychotherapy, hormone therapy and surgery to change her primary and/or secondary sex characteristics.

A hearing in the case, in which Manning is also seeking to be allowed to grow her hair long and use cosmetics, is scheduled for January.

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Chelsea Manning was transgender 'in secret' while serving ...