New Yorkers Show Solidarity for Reality Winner, NSA Contractor Charged Under Espionage Act
New York, NY — The indictment of NSA contractor Reality Leigh Winner may be the opening salvo in the Trump Administration’s self-described war on leaks. Reality is facing a serious charge under the Espionage Act for allegedly sharing an NSA report on Russian attempts to compromise the 2016 US Presidential election. Concerned New Yorkers and political activists will show […]
US Withdrawal from Paris Climate Agreement is Yet Another Gift to Special Interests at the Expense of People and the Planet
Washington, DC — Global Witness has issued the following statement in response to reports that President Donald Trump intends to withdraw the US from the Paris Agreement: “If Donald Trump withdraws the US from the Paris Climate Agreement as reports suggest, he will give yet another gift to special interests at the expense of the public […]
Indigenous Activists will Confront Imperial Metals at Annual General Meeting
Vancouver, BC — Indigenous delegates and tribal allies will be confronting Imperial Metals at their Annual General Meeting at the Executive Plaza Hotel Coquitlam, 405 North Road, Coquitlam, British Columbia at 8 a.m. on Thursday, May 25, 2017. “It is clear that there are major human rights and Indigenous rights violations happening within Canada and within […]
Chelsea Manning Releases First Portrait of Herself on Social Media
Today, Chelsea Manning released her first full portrait image on social media. The posts on Twitter and Instagram follow her release from military prison yesterday. Chelsea’s photo can be found here On Twitter: https://twitter.com/xychelsea/status/865250670831702016 Okay, so here I am everyone!! =P https://t.co/NuyZlcWfd9#HelloWorld pic.twitter.com/gKsMFTYukO — Chelsea Manning (@xychelsea) May 18, 2017 On Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/p/BUPbwX0htrw/ Okay, so here I am […]
Chelsea Manning, Legal Team Confirm Chelsea’s Safe Release from Military Prison
Be sure to follow Chelsea Manning via her website: luminairity.com Today, Chelsea Manning was safely released from U.S. military prison in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Said Chelsea Manning: “After another anxious four months of waiting, the day has finally arrived. I am looking forward to so much! Whatever is ahead of me, is far more important than the past. […]
Statement from Chelsea Manning and Legal Team on Her Upcoming Release from Prison
Next week, Chelsea Manning will be released from U.S. military prison after serving a seven-year sentence for disclosing classified information that raised public awareness regarding the impact of war on innocent civilians. Manning, a transgender woman, was serving an unprecedented 35-year sentence for whistleblowing and was forced to serve her sentence in an all-male prison. […]
Will Peter King’s Latent Misogyny Lead Him to Dodge LI Women’s Town Hall?
Massapequa Park, NY — Constituents from New York’s 2nd congressional district hand delivered an invitation to Rep. Peter King (NY-02) to participate in a Women’s Town Hall on May 7 at the Dominican Village in Amityville. The Women’s Town Hall is being organized by New York’s 2nd District Democrats, the National Organization for Women – NY, and […]
New Leaks Show Shell Oil Executives at the Center of a Scheme to Steal $1.1 Billion from Nigeria’s People
Oil giants Shell and Eni knowingly took part in a vast bribery scheme for one of Africa’s most valuable oil blocks which deprived Nigeria and its people of $1.1billion, an exposé by Global Witness and Finance Uncovered reveals. New leaked internal emails seen by Global Witness and Finance Uncovered show that Shell’s most senior decision-makers […]
Oceti Sakowin Tribal Members Sue Trump Administration to Block Dakota Access Pipeline
Washington, DC — Civil liberties group RevolutionTruth along with lead counsel Bruce Afran filed an emergency lawsuit motion this evening in US District Court on behalf of nearly a dozen plaintiffs from several Oceti Sakowin (Great Sioux Nation) tribes. The plaintiffs in Jumping Eagle v. Trump demand an immediate halt to Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) construction beneath Lake […]
Leaked Trump Executive Order Easing Conflict Mineral Regulations a ‘Gift to Warlords & Corrupt Businesses’
Washington, DC — In response to reports that the President Trump is planning to issue an executive order targeting the US conflict minerals provision, also known as Section 1502 of Dodd-Frank, Carly Oboth Policy Adviser at Global Witness said: “Any executive action suspending the US conflict minerals rule would be a gift to predatory armed groups […]
Congress Votes for Corruption by Overturning Historic Transparency Law in Gift to Big Oil
Washington, DC — Today’s decision by the Republican-led U.S. Senate to overturn a rule designed to stop oil companies striking corrupt deals with foreign governments is a grave threat to U.S. national security and an astonishing gift to big oil, said Global Witness. The news comes just two days after Rex Tillerson, a longstanding opponent of […]
Trump uses First Days to Roll Back Oil Sector Regulations, Green Light Keystone XL & Dakota Access Pipelines
Washington, DC — The past 24 hours have seen an unprecedented number of gifts to Exxon and the oil industry, said Global Witness today. Yesterday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee approved former CEO of Exxon, Rex Tillerson, to lead the State Department. Today, it is expected that Republicans in the House of Representatives will introduce […]
Global Witness Responds to U.S. Senate Committee Vote on Rex Tillerson
Washington, DC — Today, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations voted in favor of making Rex Tillerson, former CEO of ExxonMobil, the most powerful diplomat in the U.S. Global Witness raised serious concerns that this appointment would pose a grave threat to both US and global security. On Mr. Tillerson’s watch, ExxonMobil was at the forefront of […]
President Obama Grants Commutation of Sentence to Chelsea Manning
WASHINGTON, DC — The Obama administration announced today the commutation of Chelsea Manning’s sentence for disclosing classified information that raised public awareness regarding the impact of war on innocent civilians. Manning will reportedly be freed in May 2017. “I’m relieved and thankful that the president is doing the right thing and commuting Chelsea Manning’s sentence,” said Chase Strangio, a staff attorney […]
Chelsea Manning Reportedly on President Obama’s ‘Short List’ for Commutation
NBC News is reporting that Chelsea Manning, who has served 7 years of a 35 year sentence, is on President Obama’s “short list” for commutation. Chelsea Manning’s attorney at the ACLU, Chase Strangio, said: “The Obama administration has done many commendable things to protect the rights of LGBTQ people, but in the case of Chelsea Manning they […]
100,000+ Supporters Urge President Obama to Commute Chelsea Manning’s Sentence
On Saturday, the 10th, the petition on the WeThePeople platform in support of Chelsea Manning accumulated over 100,000 signatures, four days before the December 14th deadline. The goal was reached in time to garner a response from the White House to their call for President Obama to act now to commute Chelsea’s sentence. Manning is in […]
ACLU and LGBT Groups Call on President Obama to Grant Clemency To Chelsea Manning
WASHINGTON, DC — The American Civil Liberties Union and over a dozen LGBT groups sent a letter to President Barack Obama today urging the commutation of Chelsea Manning’s sentence for disclosing classified information to the media to raise public awareness regarding the impact of war on innocent civilians. Manning is in the seventh year of […]
45 Organizations Form Growing Coalition Against Hate, Urge Trump to Eject Extremists from Inner Circle
Last week the Coalition Against Hate released the discriminatory records of individuals who have been raised as potential appointees or senior staff in a Trump administration with deep ties to racism, sexism, xenophobia, homophobia, anti-Semitism and Islamophobia. The Coalition urges Donald Trump to eject known extremists from his inner circle, such Senator Jeff Sessions, Representative Mike Pompeo, retired […]
Ahead of Bannon Visit 300+ MIT Faculty Sign Statement Upholding Values of Science and Diversity
CAMBRIDGE, MA — On the eve of Steve Bannon’s visit to nearby Harvard University over 300 MIT faculty and counting have taken a public stand
Chelsea Manning’s Lawyers Request Commutation of Sentence, Supporters Launch White House Petition
Washington, DC — Today, Chelsea Manning’s legal defense team released a letter sent to the U.S. Army and the Office of the Pardon Attorney, requesting the commutation of Ms. Manning’s 35 year court-martial sentence to time served and “a first chance to live a real, meaningful life.” The letter discusses the harsh and inhumane conditions […]
Community Control Over Police Surveillance Effort Launches with First Wave of Legislation in 11 Cities
NEW YORK — Local officials in 11 cities announced today that they are launching legislative efforts to bring transparency to the acquisition and use of local police surveillance technologies for the first time. The measures include mandating explicit city council approval and a public hearing process that maximizes community input into surveillance technology decisions. This […]
Joseph Buddenberg Sentenced to 2 Years in Federal Prison in Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act Case
San Diego, CA — This morning in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of California, Joseph Buddenberg was sentenced to two years in federal prison for Conspiracy to Violate the Animal Enterprise Terrorism Act. The sentencing follows his signing a non-cooperating plea agreement in which he plead guilty to conspiring to free thousands of […]
State’s Attorney Anita Alvarez Loses Re-Election After Tireless Campaigning from Chicago’s Black Youth
Chicago, IL — The following is a statement from Assata’s Daughters on their victory in #ByeAnita campaign: “Chicago Black youth have kicked Anita Alvarez out of office. Just a month ago, Anita Alvarez was winning in the polls. Communities who refuse to be killed, jailed, and abused without any chance at justice refused to allow her to […]
Imprisoned ‘Guantanamo Diary’ Author Granted Periodic Review Board Hearing
New York, NY — The American Civil Liberties Union announced today that a Periodic Review Board hearing has been scheduled for June 2 to review the detention of Guantánamo prisoner Mohamedou Ould Slahi. Slahi’s deeply personal memoir, “Guantánamo Diary,” climbed to the top of The New York Times bestseller list last year and has been translated […]