Call To Action: Pardon Chelsea Manning

Yesterday, Private Bradley Manning was sentenced to 35 years in military prison for a crime he didn’t commit. As a whistle blower on the military’s illegal killing of civilians, Manning should not have faced any charges and those who he exposed should have been charged and hopefully convicted. To date, no one except for Manning has been changed much less convicted.

Manning faced up to 90 years, so 35 is actually a pretty positive sign that the Judge was at least trying to be fair toward him. But considering that he really didn’t do anything except expose the illegal actions of others, he shouldn’t have gotten any time at all. This is especially the case since the military decided to lock him in a hole for 3 years and pretty much tortured him without the due process of law. It really did take media and public outcry to even get him a trial.

Now that Manning has been sentenced and will be spending at least the next 8 years in a military prison before being eligible for parole, Manning has decided to go forward with transitioning to a female. Effective immediately, Bradley Manning will be referred to as Chelsea Manning and she needs your help.

If fucking Scooter Libby can get pardoned and serve zero jail time for exposing the identity of an active CIA officer, then President Obama needs to pardon Chelsea Manning. Of course, he isn’t going to do that just like he wasn’t going to support marriage equality for gays… until the public demanded it.

Obama is a politicians and he has no principles. He does what the money and voters tell him to do – mostly the money. So we need to show Obama that his legacy is at risk if he does not do the right thing here. We need to let him know that we will not support the Democratic Party if they do not support heroes like Chelsea Manning.

I also want to point out that Chelsea Manning is now a public figure and is increasingly visible to the media and public. She is also an atheist and a humanist. Pointing out her heroism will demonstrate to many that atheists are brave, moral, in fox holes, and believe in concepts greater than ourselves – like justice. She is one of us and we should be proud to have her in our camp.

Now we have to use our resources as a greater community of reason to support our own in the interests of our humanistic principles. Voice your opinion, contact your congress person and senators, e-mail the White House, do whatever you can. Demand that Chelsea Manning be pardoned. Thanks!

Sign the White House Petition