Jailed transgender soldier Chelsea Manning is facing "administrative offenses" related to her July 5 suicide attempt that could result in indefinite solitary confinement, her attorneys have said
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this is so awful :( I wish more people would take up her cause. I feel like I've seen more celebs standing up for Snowden, and like.. Snowden isn't locked up and being tortured every day.
I agree. I think, tragically, the one reason it's easier for folks to remember & stand up for Snowden is precisely because he is less vulnerable - we can see him & hear his voice, whereas Chelsea can really only communicate through her blog & lawyers. And then obviously people judge her more harshly because she's military, and then also a woman and trans.
The ones that really piss me off most are the people who were so on about Julian Assange and then just......... nothing for Chelsea Manning?
btw, I didn't want to editorialize in the post, but there's info on how to contact the Army Secretary about these charges here. (I recommend snail mail vs signing the petition since 1) no risk your email getting sold & 2) in general physical letters have a bigger impact)
I see the "military" argument all the time... like from people who are totally FINE with other whistleblowers, but not Chelsea, because she made AN OATH. It's like, what are we in, some weird fantasy movie where we value ~honor~ over what's right? Just because she pledged to serve the US, doesn't mean she vowed to look past casual murder.
But I think it's less about the military argument like people say and more about bigotry. Though it's frustrating, the major LGBT groups are ignoring her, even discouraging people from demonstrating for her at pride events. It's like the world wants to forget about her now that she's locked away. I'm glad there are still people dedicated to telling her story, as difficult as it is for her to communicate with the outside world.
On a semi-related note, I really wish we could get something through the courts striking down use of solitary confinement, which is abused so badly in our prison system and is definitely torture.
Yeah, I find it an odd/suspicious line of thinking as well. Especially since I think most people, if asked separately, would agree that soldiers should refuse and report orders/military actions that are manifestly immoral? And I'd like to think most people still consider torture immoral, but maybe that's naive.
I completely agree re: solitary confinement; it's so clear that the way it's used in the prison system is torture, especially when you look at people who are released after extensive confinement.
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The ones that really piss me off most are the people who were so on about Julian Assange and then just......... nothing for Chelsea Manning?
btw, I didn't want to editorialize in the post, but there's info on how to contact the Army Secretary about these charges here. (I recommend snail mail vs signing the petition since 1) no risk your email getting sold & 2) in general physical letters have a bigger impact)
Reply
But I think it's less about the military argument like people say and more about bigotry. Though it's frustrating, the major LGBT groups are ignoring her, even discouraging people from demonstrating for her at pride events. It's like the world wants to forget about her now that she's locked away. I'm glad there are still people dedicated to telling her story, as difficult as it is for her to communicate with the outside world.
On a semi-related note, I really wish we could get something through the courts striking down use of solitary confinement, which is abused so badly in our prison system and is definitely torture.
Reply
I completely agree re: solitary confinement; it's so clear that the way it's used in the prison system is torture, especially when you look at people who are released after extensive confinement.
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this is terrible
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Right now I just feel bad for Chelsea Manning due to how much transphobia she has to deal with.
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