HELPLESS

Chelsea Manning: ‘I Am Always Afraid’

“It is terrifying to face the government alone.”

Imprisoned U.S. Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning spoke to Amnesty International following her attempted suicide and possible related charges, and expressed deep fear for dealing with the government. Manning, who is serving out a 35-year sentence in a military prison over leaking secret U.S. documents, may face charges and even solitary confinement following the July 5 suicide attempt. "I am always afraid," she said. "I am still afraid of the power of government. A government can arrest you. It can imprison you. It can put out information about you that won’t get questioned by the public – everyone will just assume that what they are saying is true. Sometimes, a government can even kill you—with or without the benefit of a trial. Governments have so much power, and a single person often does not. It is very terrifying to face the government alone."