Chelsea Manning: Whistleblower and Activist
Early Life and Military Service
Chelsea Elizabeth Manning was born Bradley Edward Manning on December 17, 1987. She served as a United States Army intelligence analyst in Iraq from 2009 to 2010. During her deployment, Manning became concerned about the conduct of the war and decided to leak classified documents to the website WikiLeaks.
Leak of Classified Documents
In 2010, Manning provided WikiLeaks with over 700,000 classified military and diplomatic documents. These documents revealed information about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, the use of drones, and the surveillance program PRISM. The leaks sparked international controversy and led to Manning's arrest.
Trial and Sentencing
Manning was charged with 22 offenses, including aiding the enemy. She was convicted in 2013 and sentenced to 35 years in military prison. In 2017, President Barack Obama commuted her sentence, and she was released in 2017.
Activism and Memoir
Since her release, Manning has become an advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, whistleblowers, and government transparency. She has written a memoir, "README.txt," which details her experiences as a whistleblower and activist.
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