50+ celebrities support Chelsea, whistleblowers in statement

November 10, 2014 by the Chelsea Manning Support Network
In a statement released on Monday, November 10th 2014, 50+ celebrities and public icons have come forward in support of Chelsea Manning, Wikileaks, Snowden, and whistleblowers. The statement reads:

We stand in support of those fearless whistleblowers and publishers who risk their lives and careers to stand up for truth and justice. Thanks to the courage of sources like Daniel Ellsberg, Chelsea Manning, Jeremy Hammond, and Edward Snowden, the public can finally see for themselves the war crimes, corruption, mass surveillance, and abuses of power of the U.S. government and other governments around the world. WikiLeaks is essential for its fearless dedication in defending these sources and publishing their truths. These bold and courageous acts spark accountability, can transform governments, and ultimately make the world a better place.

The statement has been signed by artists such as Susan Sarandon, MIA, Vivenne Westwood, Peter Sarsgaard, Russell Brand, Tom Morello and Viggo Mortensen.
Tom Morello on his support of whistleblowers:

Those courageous enough to expose the crimes of government and unmask corruption embody the spirit of democracy and justice. Rather than being celebrated as the truth-tellers and champions of accountability that they are, they are persecuted and find themselves the target of a draconian legal system that punishes them for the act of exposing crimes.

Viggo Mortenson:

As Albert Camus once put it, governments, by definition, do not have consciences; they have policies and nothing more. Therefore, it is up to all of us as free-thinking citizens to demand truly transparent democracy and high, unbiased moral standards from those who govern us.

The statement was released by the Courage Foundation, who run and accept donations for the official defense fund for Edward Snowden.  To view the full list of celebrity donors and to learn more about the Courage Foundation click here.

The Chelsea Manning Support Network has covered 100% of Chelsea’s legal fees.

Please contribute to help us fund Chelsea’s legal appeals today!