A big world shift like this isn’t easy. It has many moving parts, seen and unseen. Many of those parts are resting on Julian Assange.
Journalists all over the world are being careful. They are worried that the imprisonment and extradition of Julian Assange could mean the end of free press. That doesn’t bode well for a free democracy. News professionals worldwide are concerned that the laws that are being used against Assange could also be used on them and that his imprisonment is setting a dangerous precedent.
Julian Assange’s brother Gabriel Shipton and their father John Shipton have been advocating for Julian giving speeches throughout the world on the facts of Julian’s imprisonment. Julian’s wife, Stella Assange has also been educating groups about the facts of Julian’s case and what it means for journalists everywhere.
The latest: President Biden is receiving pressure to drop the charges against Julian Assange, see the article here. This does give hope because he is talking about respecting free press and AG Merrick Garland stated last October that “a free and independent press is vital to the functioning of our democracy” when the Justice Department revised their news media policy expanding protections for news media journalists. See article here.
Australia’s Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese has put pressure on the US government to bring the Assange matter to a close and appealed for his release. Brazilian President-elect Luis Inácio Lula da Silva called for an end to the “unjust imprisonment.”
International Human Rights Day was December 10th. There were vigils and demonstrations to see Julian Assange free. Here are photos from all over the world. There was a rally in front of the British Embassy in New York City, you can see photos here.
Also, New York Times, the Guardian, Le Monde, Der Speigel, and El Pais all wrote a letter to the US Department of Justice calling for them to drop most of the charges against Assange. They stated that prosecuting under the Espionage Act sets a dangerous precedent and that holding governments accountable is a duty of a free press in a democracy. Article here.
So there is a hopeful momentum building for Julian Assange. I do believe he is a linchpin for many other things leading to greater positive change. If you are willing to add your voice, please call and write your elected officials and tell them you want them to support freeing #Assange. Let them know your opinion. Let them know how you feel about this.
US Directory Here. UK MP Directory Here Australian Directory Here
Call them #FreeAssangeNOW
DOJ Comment Line:
(+1) 202-353-1555
DOJ Main Switchboard:
(+1) 202-514-2000
Eastern District of Virginia:
(directly handles Assange case)
(+1) 703-299-3700
White House Comment Line:
(+1) 202-456-6213
#FreeAssange #FreeAssangeNOW #FreeAssangeTODAY