Prison Officials Target Chelsea Manning [picture, Video]

Activists say charges of ‘disrespect’ and ‘disorderly conduct’ are a violation of Manning’s free speech as army insists its behavior is ‘fair and equitable’

lmost 40,000 signatures have been added to petitions calling on the US military to drop charges against the army soldier and Guardian columnist Chelsea Manning that could put her into indefinite solitary confinement for violations that include storing a tube of expired toothpaste in her military prison cell.

The charges, in which Manning is accused of “disrespect”, “disorderly conduct” and other violations under the rules of the brig in which she is being held at Fort Leavenworth in Kansas, have prompted an outpouring of anger from the public. The original petition posted by the internet freedom group Fight for the Future has gained more than 15,000 signatures, together with about 20,000 combined for petitions from Roots Action and Demand Progress.

“There’s been a huge response from the public,” said Fight for the Future’s Evan Greer. “Just by threatening Chelsea with solitary confinement for such clearly trivial charges, the military is attempting to silence her and violate her right to free speech.”

On Thursday the formal charge sheets were published for the first time, by Manning’s Twitter feed, @xyChelsea. Under the charge “Medicine Misuse”, the military authorities relate to a search of the prisoner’s cell on 9 July 2015.

“A tube of anti-cavity toothpaste, MKIC, was found in your possession past its expiration date of 9 April 2015. You are involved in violation of ACC Policy Letter 16, using, possessing, handling or storing of medicine, except as authorized by the facility medical staff. Failure to take medication as prescribed by medical staff.”

A further charge of “Prohibited property” says that “your cell was inspected and prohibited property was found in your possession. You are in violation of ACC Policy Letter 16, anything not specifically authorized by proper authority to be in a prisoner’s possession is prohibited.”

Manning has told supporters that the property that was confiscated from her cell included the memoir I Am Malala by Nobel peace prize laureate Malala Yousafzai, a novel featuring trans women called A Safe Girl to Love, the LGBT publication Out Magazine, the Caitlyn Jenner issue of Vanity Fair and a copy of Cosmopolitan that included an interview with Manning.  SOURCE