The GoFundMe campaign launched on January 7th by Chelsea Manning’s friends and family is trying to raise $100,00 for the whistleblower’s homecoming.
Manning, a 29-year-old transgender woman who was sentenced to 35 years in prison for treason after leaking classified files to Wikileaks. Her sentence was commuted by Barack Obama earlier this year. She is expected to be released in May and the campaign is meant to cover Manning’s living expenses to make sure she can “safely transition into the free world.” So far, the campaign has raised more than $25,000.
“Funds raised will be used to pay for Chelsea’s rent, utilities, health care, clothing and other living expenses for the first year after she is released,” the fundraising page explains.
The campaign says the money would allow Manning to “live freely as her authentic self, to grow her hair, engage with her friends, and build her own networks of love and support.”
Liberal journalist Glenn Greenwald, who calls Manning a hero, tweeted: “Go Fund Me page for a true hero, Chelsea Manning, to help her get settled once she’s finally released from prison”.
The campaign raised $20,000 in one day.
News about Manning’s commutation was welcomed by her supporters including former NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden. “Let it be said here in earnest, with good heart: Thanks, Obama,” read his Twitter post.
Donald Trump was among those who decisively disagreed with Obama’s pardon, blasting Manning as an “ungrateful TRAITOR who should never have been released from prison” .