Chelsea Manning’s event organizer announced on Tuesday that she won’t be allowed, to enter Australia for a speaking tour originally scheduled to begin on Sunday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">BREAKING : <a href="https://twitter.com/xychelsea?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@xychelsea</a> visa to Australia is under a cloud with organisers confirming Australia has issued a notice to consider refusal of visa on character grounds to Chelsea Manning tonight - she’s due to do a speaking tour<br> <a href="https://t.co/3Yddh9y377">https://t.co/3Yddh9y377</a></p>— Samantha Maiden (@samanthamaiden) <a href="https://twitter.com/samanthamaiden/status/1034742267464970241?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Think Inc. confirmed that it received a notice of intention from the Australian government denying Manning entry on Wednesday.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The Federal Government letter to Chelsea Manning saying it’s preparing to ban her from coming to Australia for a speaking tour. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/politicsabc?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@politicsabc</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/abcnews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@abcnews</a> <a href="https://t.co/AWke5HNhxJ">pic.twitter.com/AWke5HNhxJ</a></p>— Dan Conifer (@DanConifer) <a href="https://twitter.com/DanConifer/status/1034773172560621570?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The group, however, is not giving up hopes that the convicted classified document leaker will still be allowed to go to Australia for the speaking tour. The group is urging Manning’s supporters to lobby new Immigration Minister David Coleman to reverse their decision and allow Manning entry into Australia.
Think Inc. shared that it had provided the Australian government more than 10 letters of support from individuals and organizations who support Manning’s entry to Australia for the said speaking tour.
The transgender activist is scheduled to speak at the Sydney Opera House on Sunday and has subsequent events in Australia and New Zealand.
Think Inc. Director Suzi Jamil said in a statement that Manning’s speaking tour would have been good for everyone concerned by arguing that: “Ms. Manning offers formidable ideas and an insightful perspective which we are hoping to bring to the forefront of Australian dialogue.”
Manning can easily make an appeal to the Australian government, but chances for a decision reversal are slim given that past precedent suggests the verdict has already been made.
Australia’s Department of Home Affairs said all non-citizens entering the country must meet character requirements set out in the Migration Act. The reasons a person might fail the character test include a criminal record or a determination they might pose a risk to the community.
Manning was an intelligence analyst for the U.S. Army when she leaked military and diplomatic documents to WikiLeaks. She served seven years of a 35-year sentence before she was granted clemency by former President Barack Obama in 2017.
Manning lost a long-shot bid for a U.S. Senate seat in Maryland.
The decision of the Australian government to deny Manning’s entry has earned strong reactions on social media.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Australia moves ban alleged Iraq war whistleblower Chelsea Manning from entering the country days from her speaking tour. However, it granted a visa to convicted CIA head David Petraeus.. Australia, a junior member of 5EYES, also denies citizen <a href="https://twitter.com/JulianAssange?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@JulianAssange</a> his passport. <a href="https://t.co/tpHMk56DqM">pic.twitter.com/tpHMk56DqM</a></p>— WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) <a href="https://twitter.com/wikileaks/status/1034856021372686336?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">.<a href="https://twitter.com/DavidColemanMP?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@DavidColemanMP</a> I’ve been a barrister for over 25 years and am disturbed at the direction Australia is heading. Divisive and dangerous right wing figures get visas (as do au pairs if you know the right people) but not Chelsea Manning? You should grant her a visa to speak <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a></p>— Andrew Laird (@ReclaimAnglesea) <a href="https://twitter.com/ReclaimAnglesea/status/1034909372877426688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 29, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Chelsea Manning is a hero who speaks truth to power - no wonder the thought police are scared of her. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/auspol?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#auspol</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/politas?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#politas</a></p>— Andrew Wilkie MP (@WilkieMP) <a href="https://twitter.com/WilkieMP/status/1034998481545355264?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 30, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Source:
Twitter: #MAGA #KeepAmericaGreat! #StopTheBias #ChelseaManning #Australia #AustraliaDeniesChelseaManningEntry
