Update 4/5/14: Today marks the fourth anniversary of the release of Collateral Murder

It has been four years since the public became witness to Collateral Murder, the shocking video which exposed the murder of innocent civilians and two Reuters journalists, and which was released by Chelsea Manning and then published by WikiLeaks on April 5, 2010. On this anniversary please sign the petition urging President Obama to pardon Chelsea Manning, who is now serving a 35 year sentence for revealing the truth about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan in hopes of exposing government lies and to motivate worldwide debate and reform.

Help us raise funds to cover 100% of Chelsea Manning’s appeal. Please consider donating to the Chelsea Manning Support Network.

In a pretrial statement recorded Feb 28th, 2013, Chelsea comments on the brutal realities of assymetric warfare which were revealed in the Collateral Murder video: 

“…While saddened by the aerial weapons team crew’s lack of concern about human life, I was disturbed by the response of the discovery of injured children at the scene. In the video, you can see a bongo truck driving up to assist the wounded individual. In response the aerial weapons team crew assumes the individuals are a threat. They repeatedly request for authorization to fire on the bongo truck, and once granted, they engage the vehicle at least six times.

Shortly after the second engagement, a mechanized infantry unit arrives at the scene. Within minutes, the aerial weapons team crew learns that children were in the van. Despite the injuries the crew exhibits no remorse. Instead, they downplay the significance of their actions, saying quote ‘Well, it’s their fault for bringing their kids into a battle.”

The aerial weapons team crew members sound like they lack sympathy for the children or the parents. Later, in a particularly disturbing manner, the aerial weapons team crew vocalizes enjoyment at the sight of one of the ground vehicles driving over one of the bodies…”

You can listen to Chelsea discuss the incident in her own words which were recorded inside the courtroom and leaked to the Freedom of the Press Foundation here.

Also check out Laura Poitras and Jenny Perlin’s short film “Providence” which incorporates both Chelsea’s leaked audio statement and the Collateral Murder footage:

Free Chelsea Manning!
Sign the petition urging President Obama to pardon Chelsea at http://www.chelseamanning.org/pardonpetition