Julian Assange’s High Court fight against extradition Crowd Justice campaign
Julian Assange's partner Stella Moris has sent out an important update about the extradition case on Crowd Justice fundraising appeal. The update came after the US prosecution submitted their arguments to court last Friday, to appeal a UK magistrates court ruling from January 4, that it was unsafe to extradite Julian because to do so would likely result in his death.
"The next step in the legal case is that Julian’s legal team will respond to the US grounds for appeal. Julian's lawyers are hard at work. Julian's team has asked the High Court to give them more time to consider whether to lodge a cross appeal in order to challenge parts of the ruling where the magistrate did not side with Julian and the press freedom arguments. A cross appeal would provide an opportunity to clear Julian’s name properly."
Earlier in the week a coalition of major human rights and press freedom groups have signed a letter asking Biden's Department of Justice to drop the indictment against Julian Assange. The letter initiated by Freedom of the Press Foundation was signed by leading rights groups including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, the American Civil Liberties Union, and Committee to Protect Journalists.
Julian Assange remains on remand in the high security Belmarsh Prison where he has been for over 500 days. The most pressing problem for Julian is that conditions in detention continue to obstruct his ability to prepare his legal case, a case on which his life depends.
Please keep sharing this fundraising appeal with friends, family, colleagues and anyone else who might be able to donate.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
Support Here
==================================
20 February 2021, 2pm GMT, 9am EST, 1am AEDT
District Judge Vanessa Baraitser has blocked Julian Assange’s extradition! While her ruling adopted the U.S. government’s extremely dangerous arguments undermining press freedom, the judge found that because U.S. prison conditions are so deleterious, it would be unjust and oppressive to extradite Julian. Almost immediately the lawyers representing the U.S. announced their intent to appeal that decision.
Two days later, the same lower courtjudge denied Assange’s bail application, meaning he will remain in the freezing cold, COVID-infected maximum-security HMP Belmarsh prison in London as he waits for the appeal process to unfold. That process could take weeks, months, or longer if the U.S. refuses to drop the case altogether.
Online meeting hosted by Bristol branch of Don't Extradite Assange campaign.
Speakers:
Kerry-Anne Mendoza - journalist, editor-in-chief of The Canary;
John Rees - Academic, writer, national officer of Stop the War Coalition;
Claudia Webbe MP - British politician;
David Miller - Prof of Political Sociology, Director of Spinwatch;
Suzie Gilbert - Film maker;
Tim Lezard - NUJ NEC Representative
=======================================
Julian Assange Appeal & the First Amendment
Monday, February 22nd 2021 | 12pm PT / 3pm ET
Assange Defense teams up with United National Antiwar Coalition
An online panel discussion on the persecution of Julian Assange. A British judge has recently blocked his extradition from the UK to the US, where he would face unprecedented charges that aim to criminalize basic journalistic activity. The US is appealing that decision, but the indictment against Assange was drawn up during the Trump administration, and the newly elected Biden DOJ should take a new look at the case and drop the charges.
Our panel will give an overview of Assange’s case, the threat his prosecution poses to the First Amendment, and the latest on his legal proceedings in the UK.
Speakers:
Alice Walker: Pulitzer Prize-winning author
Mumia Abu-Jamal: political prisoner
Nathan Fuller: Director, Courage Foundation
Joe Lombardo: National Coordinator, United National Antiwar Coalition (UNAC)
Moderator:
Jeff Mackler: Director, The Mobilization to Free Mumia Abu-Jamal/Northern California and Steering Committee, AssangeDefense.org
=============================================
Tuesday, 23 February 2021 from 18:30 UTC-20:00 UTC
The excellent news that the extradition of Julian Assange to the United States has been rejected by a judge at the Old Bailey was a hard fought victory for the campaigners and activists who have worked tirelessly for Assange’s release. Congratulations is due to everyone involved in this success.
However, the fight does not end there. The same judge also unjustifiably refused to grant Assange bail in view of the US appeal against the decision.
Find out more about the ‘Don’t Extradite Assange’ campaign here: https://dontextraditeassange.com/
The meeting will discuss the background to the case and the next steps in the campaign to free Assange. It is now even more important to demand his immediate release from Belmarsh Prison.
Organised by Newcastle Stop the War Coalition and Tyne & Wear County Association of Trades Councils
Speakers:
Tariq Ali, writer, journalist, historian
Yvonne Ridley, Journalist, author & TV presenter
Alan Mardghum, secretary Durham Miners Association
David Baines, Newcastle National Union of Journalists branch chair
Chaired by Daniel Kebede, vice-president National Education Union