Julian Assange has been imprisoned for 1768 days
Dear Friends,
Julian Assange’s very last chance to escape extradition to the US will happen next week in the Royal Courts of Justice. Read this legal argument by Julian's wife Stella so you understand what is at stake.
We need everyone who can possibly come down to protest outside the court, on both Tuesday 20th and Wednesday 21st February. We’ll be there from 8.30am to the close of court business in the late afternoon. Do join us for as long as you can. But no matter how much time you have please come down and add you voice to those demanding a free press.
You’ll be in good company. MPs Jeremy Corbyn, Richard Burgon, David Davis, Apsana Begum and Zarah Sultana will be there. So will journalist Peter Oborne, Tim Dawson from the National Union of Journalists, and lawyer and member of the House of Lords John Hendy.
When the court session finishes on the second day we’ll be marching from the Royal Courts in the Strand to Downing Street. Please make a special effort to join us for that protest.
New Assange film, London premiere
Julian Assange's wife Stella, activist and writer Tariq Ali and WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristin Hrafnsson will be in conversion with the makers of a new film about Julian Assange, The Trust Fail, at its UK premiere. The showing is at London’s Rio cinema next Sunday 18 February. Get you tickets here.
Assange awards go on show at the European Parliament
A special exhibition of Julian Assange’s journalist awards has opened in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The exhibition was organised with the help of Julian Assange supporters among Europe’s MPs. Stella Assange traveled to Strasbourg to meet the MEPs and open the display.
Art for Assange
A unique artwork has been created to highlight the Assange case. The installation, a massive Swiss bank safe, is called Dead Man’s Switch. It contains donated artworks by, among others, Warhol and Rembrandt, which will be destroyed if Julian Assange is incarcerated in the US. You can read more on the controversial work here.
High profile calls for Assange to be freed
Former Guardian editor Alan Rushbridger and the UN Special Raporteur on torture have both made renewed demands for the end to the persecution of Julian Assange. You can read their words here and here.
Sign US House Resolution
Finally, US citizens are being urged to contact their representatives and urge them to sign House Resolution 934 which was introduced to the House by Arizona Republican Paul A Gosar and states that "Regular journalistic activities are protected under the First Amendment, and that the United States ought to drop all charges against and attempts to extradite Julian Assange." Link to resolution: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-resolution/934/cosponsors.
Stella Assange and Assange Defense present the 24 hr Countdown to Day X
In this countdown, we will be providing you with a complete overview of what Julian Assange is facing at the two day public hearing that starts on the 20th Feb at 8:30 am GMT.
We hope to see as many of you as possible on February 20 and 21 in London where we will make our voices heard - until then do all you can to spread the word amongst your friends, family, neighbours and others. The world needs Julian Assange now more than ever.
Free Assange Campaign
We need your help!
Support our campaign so we can organize the Day X protests to free Julian. You can also donate to our Crowdfunder. All donations go towards printing leaflets, banners, placards, logistics and other organizational purposes.
Undertaking the next step in the legal process and defending Julian in the High Court costs money. We cannot do it alone and we need your help. Support the UK extradition legal costs and donate to Crowdjustice.