Chelsea Manning “Honored” To Be First Trans Woman Disinvited From Harvard

Chelsea Manning has responded to a Harvard dean’s decision to rescind her invitation to join the university’s John F Kennedy School of Government as a visitng fellow. Predictably, she seems less than pleased.

First, she said she was “honored” to be the first trans woman disinvited from Harvard, which she accused of repressing marginalized voices.

honored to be 1st disinvited trans woman visiting @harvard fellow ???? they chill marginalized voices under @cia pressure ???????????? #WeGotThis https://t.co/7ViF3GaSec

— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) September 15, 2017

…Then she questioned why Sean Spicer and Corey Lewandowski would be allowed in, but not her?

so @harvard says @seanspicer & @Clewandowski_ bring “something to the table and add something to the conversation” and not me ???????????? #WeGotThis

— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) September 15, 2017

…Before accusing the CIA of influencing “what is and isn’t taught” at America’s oldest and most prestigious university.

this is what a military/police/intel state looks like ????????????? the @cia determines what is and is not taught at @harvard ???????????? #WeGotThis https://t.co/09xIJGlhgf

— Chelsea E. Manning (@xychelsea) September 15, 2017

Remember, while President Obama commuted her sentence after Manning served nearly seven years in prison, she remains a convicted felon.

* * *

Less than two days after former army private and transgender activist Chelsea Manning was invited to serve as a visiting fellow at Harvard’s John F Kennedy School of Government, the school has withdrawn the invitation after former CIA Director (and vocal Hillary Clinton supporter) Mike Morrell resigned in protest, according to the Hill.

“We are withdrawing the invitation to her to serve as a Visiting Fellow — and the perceived honor that it implies to some people — while maintaining the invitation for her to spend a day at the Kennedy School and speak in the Forum,” Douglas Elmendorf, dean of the John F. Kennedy School of Government, said in a statement.”

Former CIA Acting Director Michael Morell announced Thursday that he would resign as asenior fellow saying he couldn’t be associated with an organization “that honors a convicted felon and leaker of classified information.”

Manning’s previous academic achievements including spending one semester studying History and English at Montgomery Community College in Maryland.

After stealing a bunch of classified documents, leaking them to WikiLeaks, getting convicted of espionage and serving 7 years in prison, Harvard was supposed to be the next step in an already illustrious career…

…but unfortunately for Manning, the school has decided it can’t afford to alienate a legion of senior advisers, faculty and advisers, many of whom – like Morrell – have threatened to walk in protest.

Given the number of people I’ve heard from at Harvard and elsewhere, this from Pres. Obama’s Deputy CIA Director could open the floodgates. https://t.co/4Q1LHWoWRC

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) September 14, 2017

Manning would have joined former White House press secretary Sean Spicer and Hillary Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook, who were both also announced as fellows on Wednesday. Former Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski was also announced as a fellow earlier this month.

Here’s Morrell’s resignation letter:

Former CIA Deputy Director @MichaelJMorell resigns as Senior Fellow at Harvard Kennedy school over their hiring of Chelsea Manning pic.twitter.com/JORdp4ysHR

— Mosheh Oinounou (@Mosheh) September 14, 2017

Former presidential candidate Mitt Romney tweeted his disapproval…

Well done, Mike. And abject shame on Harvard. https://t.co/SfI1HxDpdD

— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) September 14, 2017

According to Harvard’s website, Manning’s talk would have centered around “issues of LGBTQ identity in the military” – a hot-button issue as the Department of Defense is currently studying whether it should allow 15,000 transgender soldiers to continue serving.