Chelsea Manning Begins Hunger Strike to Protest Prison Treatment

FORT LEAVENWORTH, KS — Chelsea Manning, the whistleblower who is incarcerated in Fort Leavenworth for leaking classified government documents to WikiLeaks, has begun a hunger strike in prison as a response to what she described as "bullying" by the prison and U.S. government officials.

On Friday, Manning said she would not cut her or shorten her hair, consume any food or drink voluntarily, except for water and currently prescribed medications. She said she would continue to do so until she is given minimum standards of dignity, respect, and humanity.

Manning has said she has been denied care by the military for her gender dysphoria. In the statement Friday, she said her suicide attempt earlier in the year was due to the lack of treatment. The Army approved hormone treatment for Manning in 2015 but she has been asked to wear her hair at standard military length for male soldiers. She decided to transition from man to woman shortly after being sentenced.

"In response to virtually every request, I have been granted limited, if any, dignity and respect—just more pain and anguish,” Manning said.

Following her suicide attempt in July, her lawyers said she was facing charges in relation to the attempt and could face solitary confinement.

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"I learned late last night that Chelsea has begun a hunger strike today in protest of the ongoing denial of her medically necessary health care and the relentless scrutiny and abuses she has experienced in the years since her arrest. I am deeply saddened and very concerned for Chelsea’s well-being. The government has long been aware of her medical needs and continues to ignore them," Manning's lawyer at the American Civil Liberties Union, Chase Strangio said in a statement.

"When we filed our initial case against the Department of Defense in September of 2014 over Chelsea’s treatment related to her gender dysphoria, we made very clear that the lack of treatment put her at very serious risk of harm. They have known this for years. We are still in litigation over her treatment and are optimistic that justice will ultimately prevail but the government need not wait to be ordered to do the right thing and we hope they act promptly to treat Chelsea consistent with their constitutional obligations."

Manning was sentenced to 35 years in prison in 2013 for leaking government documents to WikiLeaks.

Manning has said she intends for her protest to be peaceful and expects that the ordeal will last a long time, something she said she is ready for.

“I need help. Please, give me help,” she wrote.

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