U.S. President Barack Obama has commuted transgender U.S. Army private Chelsea Manning's sentence for leaking hundreds of thousands of documents to Wikileaks in 2010, after Manning served more than six years of a 35-year sentence.
Manning, 29, will be released May 17. The commutation reduces Manning's sentence but is not a pardon.
Incidentally, May 17 is the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia.
Manning twice attempted suicide last year at the male military prison where she is being held at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. She also went on a hunger strike.
Various individuals and organizations expressed their pleasure with the development. "President Obama has a strong record regarding the humane treatment of prisoners and a long commitment to LGBTQ equality," said HUman Rights Campaign Communications Director Jay Brown in a statement. "The decision to commute Pvt. Chelsea Manning's remaining sentence—after she served nearly seven years for her crimes—reflects that record. We hope Pvt. Manning soon can access the care and treatment that she, and every transgender person, deserves."
"I'm relieved and thankful that the president is doing the right thing and commuting Chelsea Manning's sentence," said Chase Strangio, a staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union's LGBT Project representing Manning, in a separate press release. This move could quite literally save Chelsea's life, and we are all better off knowing that Chelsea Manning will walk out of prison a free woman, dedicated to making the world a better place and fighting for justice for so many."
Even singer Michael Stipe weighed in, saying, "Incredible courage on the part of both Obama and Chelsea Manning!! What a thrilling day for true patriots!!," according to a press release from Fight for the Future.
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange had reportedly agreed to be extradited to the United States if President Obama grants whistle-blower Chelsea Manning clemency before his term ended Jan. 20. Assange's lawyer, Melinda Taylor, said that he's "standing by" what he had said.
Locally, Gay Liberation Network co-founder Andy Thayer praised Manning in a statement, saying, "While quick to make excuses for the failings of their political allies, the long years of LGBTQ non-profits' silence about Chelsea's often torturous imprisonment showed their bankruptcy as agents of genuine progressive change. The courage of Chelsea Manning stood in stark contrast to the political cowardice of the NGOs."
However, not everyone agreed with Obama's decision. "President Obama has upended the entire military-justice system," Veterans of Foreign Wars national commander Brian Duffy said, according to The Hill. He called the commutation "offensive to everyone who has ever honorably served in uniform."
Obama also commuted the sentence of Oscar Lopez Rivera. Lopez Rivera, 74, is a Puerto Rican independence activist who is considered to be one of the world's longest-serving political prisoners, having been incarcerated for 35 years. If his sentenced had not been commuted, Lopez Rivera would have had to serve time until 2023.
Former Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders and Archbishop Desmond Tutu were among those who had lobbied for Lopez Rivera's pardon.
Earlier item at the link: www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/President-Obama-Grants-Commutation-to-Chelsea-Manning/57778.html .
