Aiming to lend financial support to transgender whistleblower Chelsea Manning's legal defense, the Gay Liberation Network ( GLN ) hosted a fundraiser May 4 at the home of GLN co-founder Andy Thayer.
During the event, Thayer spoke about Manning's refusal to answer questions before a grand jury convened to investigate Wikileaks and its founder, Julian Assange. The grand jury is seeking information from Manning relating to her 2010 information disclosure.
Commenting on Manning's work, Thayer explained, "Over and over again, we see Chelsea has exposed the kind of truths that were embarrassing to both the Obama administration as well as the George W. Bush administration."
Referencing Manning's incarceration, Thayer added, "These kind of human-rights crimes will continue unless people speak out."
After refusing to testify in front of a grand jury, Manning was held in civil contempt and taken into custody March 8, 2019. Referring to the grand jury process, Manning told press, "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."
According to Chelsea Resists, Manning's official legal fund, funds raised will go toward "legal fees, and legal costs such as court transcripts and travel, and commissary."
Editor's note: Manning had since been released from jail after refusing to testify about her disclosure of military/diplomatic secrets to WikiLeaks in 2010. However, she was sent back to jail on May 16.