Bradley Manning is a 25-year-old United States Army soldier who has been sentenced to 35 years in prison for espionage and releasing military information and documents to an unauthorised source.

 

This has caused a major uproar worldwide with many arguing that Manning is being ‘crucified’ by the U.S. government for his ‘brave’ act against crimes that have been committed by the U.S. government.

 

Just like any other human being, he went through many struggles growing up and those may have played a huge role in defining who he is today. His parents’ divorce, the adjustment of moving to Wales and the bullying he received for being from the States in high school may have conjured up a whole new wary personality in Manning.

 

Many individuals testified as character witnesses in court… including Manning’s father, who testified that his son was ‘good in computers as a teenager’ as he started his first website at the age of 13. He added that Manning had ‘strong views about religion and didn’t believe in Christianity’.

 

We only learnt about his double life as a transgender after his court case. Manning has won the hearts of many around the world who sympathise with him after he revealed his sexuality publically.

 

At night, he would dress up as a woman and call himself ‘Chelsea Elizabeth Manning’. This has caused concern among Gay Rights activists as they fear that his life will be difficult in prison. During his court case, Manning testified that he sent one of his military superiors an email with a photo of himself posing as a woman.

 

According to The New Yorker, Manning has been seen as one of the most unusual revolutionaries in American history. Manning has overnight become a WikiLeaks ‘hero’, although some people see him as a ‘traitor’.

 

An anonymous U.S. citizen said: “He has helped a lot in shedding some light in many cases of human crimes that have been committed by America.” Some journalists have said that the U.S. president should be taken to the International Crimes Court for how this case has been handled.

 

Manning has been sentenced to prison, dishonourably discharged and demoted from the rank of private first class to private. He was also ordered to forfeit all pay and benefits.

 

Check this video out from Bradley Manning’s famous supporters: