The world responds: Obama cuts Chelsea Manning’s jail time
In one of his final acts as president, Barrack Obama reduced the sentence of US Army private, Chelsea Manning.
Manning will be freed on May 17 instead of in 2045.
She was sentenced to 35 years in 2010 after she leaked over 700,000 secret governmental and military documents and videos to Wikileaks.
Delighted to see #chelseamanning's sentence has been commuted. Obama has bravely recognised that love for your country can take many forms.
— GeorgeMonbiot (@GeorgeMonbiot) January 18, 2017
The leak was one of the biggest breaches of classified material in US history.
The transgender female army intelligence analyst has tried to commit suicide twice in the last year, while she has been serving her sentence in a men's military prison.
Obama also granted a reduction sentences to 209 other people, and a further 64 pardons to others.
Today, Obama donated $500m to a climate change fund and commuted Chelsea Manning's sentence.
Trump was sued by a woman he sexually assaulted— Colette Browne (@colettebrowne) January 17, 2017
Julian Assange, founder of Wikileaks, said: "Thank you to everyone who campaigned for Chelsea Manning's clemency. Your courage & determination made the impossible possible."
There have been mixed reactions to Manning's reduced sentence, and her transgender identity has been the target of critics and online bullies.
Obama will never pass up an opportunity to display his hatred for America or his love of trannies! #ChelseaManning #BradleyManning pic.twitter.com/DUBPRtHqt2
— Erika~America First! (@ms_erika74) January 17, 2017
Chelsea Manning is lucky she has Trans-Privilege or else Obama would have let her rot in prison for 35 years if she was a regular person.
— Mark Dice (@MarkDice) January 17, 2017
However, other are showing their support for Obama's decision.
Chelsea Manning risked EVERYTHING & has languished in prison for 7yrs cause she chose 2 reveal documents about the lies that led to Iraq War
— Michael Moore (@MMFlint) January 17, 2017
