“Today, I have decided that I am no longer going to be bullied by this prison – or by anyone within the US government”, Manning said in a statement released by her attorneys, according to CNN. I applaud them for that.
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A lawyer for Manning, the ACLU’s Chase Strangio, spoke with Manning on Tuesday after she was informed of the military’s decision.
After years of mistreatment in prison, Chelsea Manning is doing what she can to take matters into her own hands, even if it kills her.
Manning’s treatment will begin with a surgery that was recommended by her psychologist in April, the ACLU, which represented Manning, said in a statement.
According to the American Civil Liberties Union, she has been denied treatment related to gender dysphoria and been forced to live in an all-male prison, CNN said. Also, why were such drastic measures needed?
“I need help. I am not getting any”, Manning said in a statement. “It was the government’s refusal to provide her with the necessary care that led her to attempt suicide earlier this year, and it was all the more troubling when she became subject to an investigation and possible punishment in connection with the suicide attempt”.
On Friday, Chelsea Manning announced that she’ll refuse food and all beverages except water until she is “shown dignity and respect as a human” in prison at Fort Leavenworth.
Manning, convicted in the massive leak of national security secrets that propelled WikiLeaks to prominence, is serving a 35-year sentence at the Army’s prison at Ft.
Thankfully the government has recognized its constitutional obligation to provide Chelsea with the medical care that she needs and we hope that they will act without delay to ensure that her suffering does not needlessly continue.
Strangio added, however, that Manning was told that she must continue to keep her hair short, as required under male grooming standards, until she receives the surgery.
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The decision ends a hunger strike that Manning began on September 9, but it does not, at this point, end a hearing scheduled for Manning on September 20 relating to charges resulting from Manning’s suicide attempt earlier this summer.
