Manning, Assange, Snowden statue unveiled in Berlin
May 5, 2015 by the Chelsea Manning Support Network
On May 1st, a statue of Chelsea Manning, Julian Assange, and Edward Snowden was unveiled in Berlin, Germany. The statue, titled “Anything to Say?”, features bronze life-size portrayals of Manning, Assange, and Snowden standing on three chairs next to an empty fourth chair.
The fourth chair is left empty for the public, “It is for you.” says the sculpture’s artist, Davide Dormino. Dormino continues:
On May 1st, a statue of Chelsea Manning, Julian Assange, and Edward Snowden was unveiled in Berlin, Germany. The statue, titled “Anything to Say?”, features bronze life-size portrayals of Manning, Assange, and Snowden standing on three chairs next to an empty fourth chair.The fourth chair is left empty for the public, “It is for you.” says the sculpture’s artist, Davide Dormino. Dormino continues:
“I believe in acts. Public Art has the power to make people grow and change their point of view. The chair has a double meaning. It can be comfortable, but it can also be a pedestal to rise higher, to get a better view, to learn more. They all chose to get up on the chairs of courage. They made their move in spite of becoming visible and thus judged. Many think they are traitors and terrorists. History never had a positive opinion of contemporary revolutionaries. You need courage to act, to stand up on that empty chair even if it hurts.“The idea was conceived by American author Charles Glass:
“Thanks to Assange, Snowden and Manning, you know the limits of freedom. You know you are spied on every hour of every day. You know how governments kill and torture alleged enemies…. Chelsea Manning is serving thirty-five years in an American federal prison. Julian Assange has been confined in England for four years without a single charge brought against him. Edward Snowden is trapped in Moscow. We will honour their courage by erecting a monument, designed by Italian sculptor Davide Dormino… Most statues in public spaces commemorate warriors. The Dormino statue pays homage to three who said no to war, to the lies that lead to war and to the intrusion into private life that helps to perpetuate war. Manning, Assange and Snowden accepted their loss of freedom. While you remain free, thank them by erecting this reminder that we can refuse to collaborate with unaccountable power.”
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