Welcome to the 180th week of Julian Assange Sydney Town Hall gatherings.
On Wednesday, of this week, it was World Press Freedom Day! The UN General Assembly first proclaimed the 3rd of May, as World Press Freedom Day, in 1993. Thirty years on, and governments around the world are happy to state they fully support press freedom, while blatantly persecuting journalists who publish information that contradicts government approved narratives! They do this by denying that real journalism is journalism!
In the UK, Multi-award-winning Australian journalist, Julian Assange, remains in solitary confinement in Belmarsh prison for publishing truthful information about the crimes of the US government. Julian’s extreme treatment acts as a deterrent to any journalist considering publishing evidence about the crimes of the US government. The US says that Julian’s publishing of US war crimes is espionage, yet Julian’s publishing fully matches the fundamental act of journalism, publishing information.
The harsh treatment of Julian is designed to instil fear, but if we succumb to that fear, and do nothing, we will help no one. We must face up to the truth! Carrying on in denial of the truth will also make things worse for everyone. Democracy cannot function in a climate of fear, denial, and government misinformation. We must establish unity of people around basic human decency! This is the way to rectify terrible injustice. This is the way to resist government and media narratives that work against us. We must grapple with the truth. We must recognise our diversity and our common interests. Transparent democracy is a common interest. Preservation of human rights is a common interest. A free press is a common interest.
We must take responsibility. We must come together. We must recognise the importance of freeing Julian Assange.
Free Julian Assange! Free Julian Assange! Free Julian Assange!