Russell Brand, celebrities declare support for Edward Snowden

Celebrities including Russell Brand and Susan Sarandon Monday declared their solidarity with Edward Snowden, a former NSA whistleblower.

Snowden, who is currently in Russia, was last year charged with three felonies over leaking sensitive information.
The celebrities released a statement in support of Snowden and some encouraged donations to Snowden’s 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 statement read.

“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.”

Other celebrities speaking out include Vivienne Westwood, Peter Sarsgaard, M.I.A. and Viggo Mortensen.

“As Albert Camus once put it, governments, by definition, do not have consciences; they have policies and nothing more. Therefore, it is up to all of us as free-thinking citizens to demand truly transparent democracy and high, unbiased moral standards from those who govern us,” Mortensen said in the statement. “I hope everyone can chip in to support Snowden and those patriotic whistleblowers that come after him.”

Russia recently extended Snowdeng's asylum for three years until 2017.