Thurston Moore is planning to release a new song in support of Chelsea Manning, the former U.S soldier and Wikileaks whistleblower, who’s currently serving a 35-year prison sentence.
The track, titled “Chelsea’s Kiss”, will be out October 8 for Cassette Store Day. Its cover artwork is based off of a selfie by Manning, and the tape includes a “Free Chelsea Manning” insert. Another track, “Sad Saturday” also features on the tape.
Some of the profits made will go towards the Chelsea Manning Support Network, which will fund her defence.
Thurston Moore was one of several high profile figures, alongside the likes of M.I.A. and PJ Harvey, to sign a huge petition in support of Manning in 2014.
Chelsea Manning leaked a series of classified documents to Wikileaks in 2010, and is currently serving a 35-year sentence at Kansas military prison for revealing state secrets.
Manning is currently being held with male prisoners despite identifying as a woman, and tried to kill herself back in June because of her long-neglected problems with gender dysphoria. She was reportedly charged with administrative offences for the suicide attempt, and now reportedly faces indefinite solitary confinement.
She called off her most recent hunger strike when officials finally conceded to gender transition surgery because of the military’s new transgender policy.
You can preorder the tape here.
