Chelsea Manning goes on hunger strike in prison over lack of gender treatment
By Will Stroude
Chelsea Manning has announced that she is on a hunger strike, according to The Independent.
In a statement released to the Free Chelsea Manning website, the former soldier cited a lack of support for her gender dysphoria as one of the motives behind her suicide attempt earlier this year, and has insisted that she will refuse food until she receives “minimum standards of dignity, respect and humanity.”
According to reports, she has also submitted a do-not-resuscitate request.
I have been asking for help. I have not been getting it. I need help. =(
https://t.co/w7G2hQcRQQ #hungerstrike— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) September 9, 2016
“I need help. I am not getting any. I have asked for help time and time again for six years and through five separate confinement locations. My request has only been ignored, delayed, mocked, given trinkets and lip service by the prison, the military, and this administration.”
“I need help. I needed help earlier this year. I was driven to suicide by the lack of care for my gender dysphoria that I have been desperate for. I didn’t get any. I still haven’t gotten any.”
“I needed help. Yet, instead I am now being punished for surviving my attempt. When I was a child, my father would beat me repeatedly for simply not being masculine enough. I was told to stop crying—to “suck it up.” But, I couldn’t stop crying. The pain just got worse and worse. Until finally, I just couldn’t take the pain anymore.”
“I needed help, but no one came then. No one is coming now.”
“Today, I have decided that I am no longer going to be bullied by this prison—or by anyone within the U.S. government. I have asked for nothing but the dignity and respect—that I once actually believed would be provided for—afforded to any living human being.”
“I do not believe that this should be dependent on any arbitrary factors—whether you are cisgender or transgender; service member or civilian, citizen or non-citizen. In response to virtually every request, I have been granted limited, if any, dignity and respect—just more pain and anguish.”
“I am no longer asking. Now, I am demanding. As of 12:01 am Central Daylight Time on September 9, 2016, and until I am given minimum standards of dignity, respect, and humanity, I shall—refuse to voluntarily cut or shorten my hair in any way; consume any food or drink voluntarily, except for water and currently prescribed medications; and comply with all rules, regulations, laws, and orders that are not related to the two things I have mentioned.”
“This is a peaceful act. I intend to keep it as peaceful and non-violent, on my end, as possible. Any physical harm that should come to me at the hands of military or civilian staff will be unnecessary and vindictive. I will not physically resist or in any way harm another person. I have also submitted a “do not resuscitate” letter that is effective immediately. This shall include any attempts to forcibly cut or shorten my hair or to forcibly feed me by any medical or pseudo-medical means.”
“Until I am shown dignity and respect as a human again, I shall endure this pain before me. I am prepared for this mentally and emotionally. I expect that this ordeal will last for a long time. Quite possibly until my permanent incapacitation or death. I am ready for this.”
“I need help. Please, give me help.”
Manning is currently serving a 35-year-sentence after being convicted in 2013 for leaking more than 700,000 secret military and State Department documents, which she has appealed against on the grounds that her actions were done out of naivety and a desire to bring the suffering that wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have caused to light.
The American whistle-blower’s plight has caused international outcry and garnered support from both trans groups and social justice organisations such as Amnesty International.