A number of musicians — including PJ Harvey, M.I.A., Thurston Moore andMoby — have joined the likes of Noam Chomsky, Russell Brand and Susan Sarandon in the fight for Edward Snowden and the Courage Foundationbehind his defense fund.
“We stand in support of those fearless whistleblowers and publishers who risk their lives and careers to stand up for truth and justice,” the group wrote in a public statement. “Thanks to the courage of sources like Daniel Ellsberg, Chelsea Manning, Jeremy Hammond, and Edward Snowden, the public can finally see for themselves the war crimes, corruption, mass surveillance, and abuses of power of the U.S. government and other governments around the world. WikiLeaks is essential for its fearless dedication in defending these sources and publishing their truths. These bold and courageous acts spark accountability, can transform governments, and ultimately make the world a better place.”
In a separate press release, Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello added, “Those courageous enough to expose the crimes of government and unmask corruption embody the spirit of democracy and justice. Rather than being celebrated as the truth-tellers and champions of accountability that they are, they are persecuted and find themselves the target of a draconian legal system that punishes them for the act of exposing crimes.”
