As the first week of Julian Assange’s extradition hearing ends, it is more obvious than ever that this process has nothing to do with legality and the law but is nothing more than a show trial. The Wikipedia definition of a show trial reads: 

“A show trial is a public trial in which the judicial authorities have already determined the guilt, and/or innocence, of the defendant. The actual trial has as its only goal the presentation of both the accusation and the verdict to the public so they will serve as both an impressive example and a warning to other would-be dissidents or transgressors. Show trials tend to be retributive rather than corrective and they are also conducted for propagandistic purposes.”

In other words this trial is a textbook example of a show trial! No matter how eloquent the arguments of Assange’s lawyers, the UK judiciary is playing its part in railroading Assange to jail in the US or an early death, whatever comes first. They should not be allowed to continue with this trial – we need to intervene with the political message it must be shut down!

 This was emphasized by those who directly observed the court this week.

Craig Murray wrote:
There were moments today when I got drawn in to the court process and achieved the suspension of disbelief you might do in theatre, and began thinking “Wow, this case is going well for Assange”. Then an event such as those recounted above kicks in, a coldness grips your heart, and you recall there is no jury here to be convinced. I simply do not believe that anything said or proved in the courtroom can have an impact on the final verdict of this court.

Wikileaks Editor Kirstin Hrafnsson stated on Thursday:
“The week has now come to an end on this bleak note and it does not give us any hope that there is any fairness to be found in this court.”

Whilst John Shipton, Julian’s father stated:
"The trial, I firmly believe, is a fraud upon the court."

Julian's mother, although not present directly, also stated:
There is nothing fair about what my son Julian is facing.His hands are bring tied behind his back.He cant even hear, or participate in his own trial. I just want him treated fairly 

Of course the most damning testimony came from Julian himself who on the second day of the hearing, could not remain silent any longer and launched the following protest:

““I cannot communicate with my lawyers or ask them for clarifications without the other side seeing….The other side has about 100 times more contact with their lawyers per day… What is the point of asking if I can concentrate if I cannot participate?....I’m as much a participant in these proceedings as I am a spectator in Wimbledon.”

So what should we do? This is a call out for a global day of action on the first day of the second half of Julian Assange's hearing on May 18th. It is time for a call out for more than just protests. We have already seen successful occupations and pickets of British Consulates in Brisbane and Melbourne in Australia. We have seen direct actions at the gates of Belmarsh/Woolwich Court by Yellow Vests.  We all need to wear our Yellow Vests on the day too! Imagine scenes of Assange protesters linking arms and chanting "Stop the showtrial - Free Assange"  from London, Melbourne, Berlin, Wellington, Washington and all four corners of the globe on May 18th We need to make this strategy global!

This action is not under any specific groups banner  and people and groups around the world can get involved in this shut down of the show trial! Each group can organise and work under whatever banner they wish. It’s a simple call out though that has the potential to unite many groups. People are distressed at how this trial is unfolding  and will be looking for a bold way to fight back.

The petition that I created demanding Julian be moved out of Belmarsh and  now signed by over thirty thousand people was an expression of the outrage of the mistreatment of Assange at the hands of the UK state in Belmarsh. This mistreatment continues and the petition remains valid and relevant. However the petition was only ever meant to be one tool in building a large international mass based progressive campaign to free Julian Assange. We must use May 18th as a rallying cry in continuing to build our growing international movement!

CALL TO ACTION:
SHUTDOWN THE SHOWTRIAL! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH! FREE JULIAN ASSANGE!WEAR A YELLOW VEST! OCCUPY AND PICKET!

 On May 18th,  Julian Assange extradition hearing will continue at Woolwich Court in London, effectively within the grounds of Belmarsh prison. Julian Assange has committed no crime. This is not a legal trial but a political show trial with the outcome predetermined. We cannot allow this travesty to continue. We are therefore calling for people both in London and around the world to shut down not only the court but British Embassies and Consulates around the world on this day using tactics of civil disobedience such as pickets and occupations. We should all wear Yellow Vests as we protest to show our international unity against fascism and dictatorship!  

It is time for us to intervene directly and show the UK government that we will not stand by whilst it hounds Assange to prison or an early death. So start organising a shut down in your city!

MAY 18TH - SHUT DOWN THE WOOLWICH COURT AND BRITISH EMBASSIES AND CONSULATES WORLDWIDE!

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