Chelsea Manning: Soldier of Humanity

Chelsea Manning Receives Cash Prize for Exposing War Crimes

Chelsea Manning, the former U.S. soldier imprisoned for leaking U.S. diplomatic cables and copious evidence of war crimes, has been awarded a cash prize in recognition of her “sacrifice and bravery,” it was announced Monday.

“The award recognizes the exceptional importance of the disclosures by Manning in revealing the illegal practice of torture and detention, and in increasing the public understanding of the impact of war on civilians,” said a press release from Blueprint for Free Speech, which presented the award at the offices of the Thomson Reuters Foundation in London. The group also recognized John Kiriakou, a former CIA officer who revealed the illegal use of torture, and Dr. Raj Mattu, a British cardiologist who exposed unsafe conditions threatening patients’ lives at state hospitals.

The three winners will split a cash prize of 15,000 British pounds, or US$7,200 per person....

I was at a documentary festival in Toronto last week and saw a public pitch for a film on Chelsea. I hope they can fund it.

Whistleblower Chelsea Manning Freed From US Military Prison After 7 Years

https://www.rt.com/usa/388678-chelsea-manning-released-prison/

"...A media spokesperson for the Fort Leavenworth military prison confirmed to RT that Manning was released in the early hours of Wednesday morning around 2 am. The spokesperson did not comment further as per regular inmate release policy."

That is wonderful news. Free at last. I hope that supporters have seen to measures to ensure her safety. And while I'd love to hear about her ordeal and her struggles, I hope she is able to take a good holiday now somewhere quiet and calm, in nature. If I recall, she spoke of wanting to be by the sea. 

She published a photo of herself on Instagram.  I know there's lots of more important stuff to discuss, but TBH, she's looking pretty good!  It's nothing like that one smudgy photo that every news agency has used for everything for the past 7 years.

ed'd to add:  here's that pic

Refusing To 'Snitch': Whistleblower Chelsea Manning Becomes Two-Time Political Prisoner

https://t.co/3AaTAvzHop

"I will not participate in a secret process that I morally object to, particularly one that has been historically used to entrap and persecute activists for protected political speech..."

"As CIA whistleblower John Kiriakou commented to me on Wednesday after Chelsea's motion to quash her subpoena in the same district he faced prosecution in was denied, the 'Rocket Docket' overseers are making sure Chelsea pays for refusing to cooperate..."

https://twitter.com/RealAlexRubi/status/1104141093694816256

Edward Snowden on Chelsea Manning

https://twitter.com/Snowden/status/1104198688358973440

"I agree with Daniel Ellsberg and admire Chelsea's courage. Compelling sources to testify against the journalists with whom they've worked threatens the independent function of the free press, in an open democracy. She must be released."

TRNN: Chelsea Manning Jailed For Refusing To Cooperate With WikiLeaks Grand Jury (and vid)

https://therealnews.com/stories/chelsea-manning-jailed-for-refusing-to-c...

"Chelsea Manning said her testimony before her court-martial is all she has to say, standing by her resistance to secret grand juries as her activist ancestors did before her. Kevin Gosztola, Managing Editor of Shadowproof, discusses the case."

Defying WikiLeaks Grand Jury, Chelsea Manning Goes to Jail

https://twitter.com/kgosztola/status/1104068895340707840

"A federal judge sent Chelsea Manning to prison for refusing to testify before a grand jury that is investigating WikiLeaks. 'I will not comply with this or any other grand jury,' Manning declared in a statement."

The Jimmy Dore Show

https://youtu.be/bTqVNKXZYAY

"Chelsea Manning Jailed Again For Protecting Journalism."

Unsealed Documents Shed Light on State Conspiracy Against Chelsea Manning

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/03/22/mann-m22.html

"On Wednesday, US Eastern District Court of Virginia unsealed several filings concerning Chelsea Manning's legal challenge to the subpoena attempting to force her to testify before a grand jury involved in fabricating charges against Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange.

The censored documents shine a light on the desperate measures to which the US government has resorted in pursuing a legal pretext to prosecute Julian Assange. It also exposes the fact that Chelsea Manning has been the target of an endless campaign of intimidation and conspiring in violation of her democratic rights.

The Trump administration intends to make examples of both Manning and Assange and threatening any future journalists who report the truth about the crimes of American imperialism and its criminal military and intelligence operations around the world..."

Chelsea Manning on WikiLeaks, Transpolitics and Data Privacy

https://youtu.be/l_g2WjE2Ifo

"Meet one of the truly extraordinary changemakers. 2018 Interview." 'We live in a domestic military occupation...'

Chelsea Manning Released From Alexandria Detention Center After Grand Jury Lapses

https://www.sparrowmedia.net/2019/05/chelsea-manning-released-from-alexa...

"Earlier today Chelsea Manning was released from the William G Truesdale Adult Dention Center in Alexandria Va. Chelsea's release follows the expiration of the terms of the EDVA Grand Jury that previously demanded her testimony. Chelsea was in jail [this time] for 62 days after she was found in contempt of court for her refusal to give testimony.

'Unfortunately, even prior to her release, Chelsea was served with another subpoena. This means she is expected to appear to face a different grand jury, on Thursday, May 16, 2019, just one week from her release today. It is therefore conceivable that she will once again be held in contempt of court, and be returned to the custody of the Alexandria Detention Center, possibly as soon as next Thursday, May 16..."

Too few taking on too much for too many who choose collaboration and silence instead.

Chelsea Manning Jailed Again After Refusing to Testify Against WikiLeaks

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/05/17/chel-m17.html

"The persecution of Assange and Manning comes amid a frenzied war fever, as the Trump administration simultaneously threatens Iran and Venezuela and escalates its trade war with China. Hand in hand with an intensifying campaign to censor the internet, the effort to silence Assange and Manning is aimed at crushing dissent and preventing the development of a mass antiwar movement..."

Seems to be working like a hot damn here too.

Chelsea Manning's Lawyers: 'It is up to the press to stand up for themselves, to stand up for the practice of journalism and to stand up for Chelsea in the same manner she has courageously stood up for the press."

https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/1129164453721907201

Chelsea Has Been Placed into Federal Custody - Here are Her Statements and Important Info

https://www.aaronswartzday.org/chelsea-latest/

Updates

Lawyers Say Chelsea Manning Lacks Financial Capacity To Pay Fines

https://www.sparrowmedia.net/2019/06/lawyers-say-chelsea-manning-lacks-f...

"...I do the work I do for the same reason I do everything: because I want to make a difference. Now my work has been totally interrupted by my incarceration. I definitely feel the costs of these sanctions, but I never expected to have a comfortable life, and I would rather be in debt forever than betray my principles..."

Free Chelsea! Imprison the War Criminals!

Chelsea Manning Must Not Be Forgotten!

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2019/12/18/pers-d18.html

"Yesterday, December 17, whistleblower Chelsea Manning spent her 32nd birthday alone in a prison cell in Alexandria, Virginia, where she has been locked up for nine months for refusing to testify in a grand jury proceeding against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The illegal imprisonment is the product of a conspiracy involving the entire political establishment, covered up by a deafening silence from the corporate press. The New York Times, which published many of Manning's leaks in 2010 has not written about her imprisonment since May..."

Chelsea Manning Attempted Suicide While in Jail for Refusing to Testify Against WikiLeaks - Lawyers

https://on.rt.com/aclj

"Former US Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, jailed a year ago for refusing to testify before a federal jury investigating WikiLeaks, has attempted suicide ahead of a court hearing, her lawyers said..."

Nils Melzer: UN Special Rapporteur on Torture

https://twitter.com/NilsMelzer/status/1238086155205324800

"After speaking to Chelsea's lawyers: Her state was critical but stable now. Such acts of desperation are typical for the confusion, dehumanisation and suffering deliberately inflicted through prolonged psychological torture."

Manning/Assange's barbaric public mistreatment sends a message loud and clear to all contemplating similar public service whistleblowing. Don't. You'll be defamed, prosecuted, persecuted, forgotten or turned on, by the same wimpy liberal know-nothing-believe anything -do-nothings and 'alternative media' that once cheered you on until the NYT, Guardian etc said you worked for Trump/Putin etc and now hate you instead, and  refuse to support you in your hour of need. Why the continuing silence on this Rabble.ca?

Thanks Mobo2000.

Chelsea Manning RELEASED From Jail After Suicide Attempt, Still Must Pay $256k Fine - Judge

https://on.rt.com/aco7

"...US District Judge Anthony Trenga' order comes just a day after Manning attempted suicide inside the Alexandria Detention Center in Virginia, reportedly by using a bed-sheet to hang herself. The grand jury that Manning was summoned to testify before had concluded its work and was discharged on March 12, Trenga wrote in the order, therefore her appearance is no longer needed and 'her detention no longer serves any coercive purpose.' However, Trenga declared that the $1,000-a-day fine he imposed on Manning last year, in addition to her imprisonment, was not punitive, 'but rather - necessary to the coercive purpose of the Court's civil contempt order,' and will therefore be payable immediately - all $256,000 of it.

It is unclear whether Manning will be jailed again if she fails to pay the fine, given that the year-long imprisonment has deprived her of income as well. When Trenga convened the grand jury to investigate WikiLeaks in Feb 2019, Manning was summoned to testify - but refused. 'I would rather starve to death than to change my opinion in this regard. And when I say that, I mean that quite literally.' Ex UK MP George Galloway described 'the US government's persecution of Chelsea Manning as medieval punishment, the cutting out of tongues, the murder of truth."

"Federal Judge Anthony Trenga ordered Chelsea Manning to be released from jail. He concluded the grand jury no longer needs her to appear for testimony. Sadly, this did not come before she attempted suicide. But Chelsea is free."

https://twitter.com/kgosztola/status/1238213968394694662

Courage Fundraiser For Chelsea Manning's Legal Appeal

https://www.couragefund.org/appeal-fund

"On the day that heroic WikiLeaks whistleblower Chelsea Manning walks free...Courage is partnering with Reporters Without Borders and the Wau Holland Foundation to kickstart a much needed fundraiser...."

I feel like history will exonorate Mannings actions but it's sad to read what she's going through now.