Anohni, Michael Stipe, Laura Jane Grace, Holly Herndon, More Celebrate Chelsea Manning Commutation

Anohni, Michael Stipe, Laura Jane Grace, Holly Herndon, More Celebrate Chelsea Manning Commutation

President Barack Obama has commuted the prison sentence of former army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning, The New York Times reports. Manning has been serving a 35-year sentence in a military prison for leaking classified information on WikiLeaks. She was scheduled for release in 2045, but will now be free on May 17, 2017. Holly Herndon, Michael Stipe, Laura Jane Grace, and more have celebrated the decision. See their reactions below. In a statement, Stipe said, “Incredible courage on the part of both Obama and Chelsea Manning!! What a thrilling day for true patriots!!”

In 2010, Manning produced classified videos that included a U.S. helicopter attack that killed a dozen Iraqis, as well airstrikes in Afghanistan. There were also uninvestigated reports of casualties, torture, and corporate interest in international diplomacy. Speaking about Manning’s case, a White House spokesperson said, “Chelsea Manning is somebody who went through the military criminal justice process, was exposed to due process, was found guilty, was sentenced for her crimes, and she acknowledged wrongdoing.”

In September, Thurston Moore released a song called “Chelsea’s Kiss” in support of the campaign for Manning’s release. Upon sharing her “Obama” music video, Anohni implored the president “to let Chelsea Manning out of prison.” Anohni’s latest statement thanks the president, adding, “Your gracious family and attendance to reason will be sorely missed.”

In five more months, you will be free. Thank you for what you did for everyone, Chelsea. Stay strong a while longer! https://t.co/PaLvJDvDbl

— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) January 17, 2017

CHELSEA IS FREE!!

— Holly Herndon (@hollyherndon) January 17, 2017

fuck yeah chelsea manning @xychelsea

— ZOLA JESUS (@ZOLAJESUS) January 17, 2017

High five, @POTUS https://t.co/O0O7flqQA7

— colin meloy (@colinmeloy) January 17, 2017

This is absolutely incredible. Thank you @POTUS #freechelseamanning https://t.co/w59ltSCCcG

— Laura Jane Grace (@LauraJaneGrace) January 17, 2017

OBAMA!!!! CHELSEA!!!!

A photo posted by @michaelstipe on Jan 17, 2017 at 1:34pm PST

shortening chelsea manning’s sentence gave me a parting piece of faith in humanity i havent felt in some time

— Himanshu Kumar Suri (@HIMANSHU) January 17, 2017

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