We don't know how long it will be until Julian Assange's right to speech and his ability to communicate with his family will be returned to him.
What I can say very clearly is that it is incumbent upon all legitimate independent media to view the silencing of Julian Assange as a direct attack upon us, and on our continued ability to inform the public based on Wikileaks as a journalistic publisher, and based on Assange's leadership of the journalistic enterprise.
This author intends to use all platforms available to advocate for Assange's right to speech every single day until his communication with the outside world is restored. Whether on Steemit, Youtube, D.tube, Disobedient Media or interviews with other outlets, this is the only situation worth focusing on until it is remedied.
For that reason I am writing this Steemit exclusive article today, to continue speaking about the injustice of silencing Assange. I am not the only writer to keep up this written and spoken variety of vigil.
Journalist, Wikileaks supporter and friend of Assange, Cassandra Fairbanks took to Periscope earlier today to combat the repetitive narratives used to attack Wikileaks and its Editor-in-Chief.
Likewise, staunch Wikileaks and Assange ally Caitlin Johnstone writes, 'The Persecution Of Assange Proves Him Right', where she deftly illustrates the sad reality that Assange is a political prisoner under a true military siege in the literal sense of the term. She writes:
"The online Oxford dictionary defines the word siege as a “military operation in which enemy forces surround a town or building, cutting off essential supplies, with the aim of compelling those inside to surrender... This is precisely the strategy that is being employed against Julian Assange."
Though there is little news that can be gleaned from the silence that has descended over the Ecuadorian embassy, much can be said about the bravery and heroism of the small group of human beings who have chosen to stand for hours, days, nights, and even during holidays, to stand outside the embassy both in solidarity with Assange and to witness any illegal attempt to abduct the journalist from the Ecuadorian embassy.
Among those activists, Ciaron O'Reilly posted images via Twitter of solidarity vigils continuing right through Easter Sunday, including Catalans who have come to stand with Assange thanks to his staunch advocacy for their right to self-determination.
Those who cannot travel to the embassy to stand vigil have nonetheless continually posted supportive sentiments on Twitter and other platforms using the #ReconnectJulian tag.
Meanwhile, Wikileaks has pointed out via is Twitter account the absurdity of the idea that a single person's Twitter posts could constitute 'interference in a state.'
It remains to be seen as to when Ecuador's government will finally stop blocking Assange's communications, access to visitors and the outside world.
What is not in question, is that Wikileaks and Assange's supporters will not stop speaking out on the matter, standing outside the embassy in solidarity with Assange, and raising general hell on the subject every single day until Assange's freedom of speech is fully restored.
It is enraging and heart breaking to see what Assange is being put through. Not only do I hope he is soon freed, and exonerated, but I hope those who unjustly persecuted Assange face repercussions.
#FreeAssange
Agreed on all points.
Today its Assange...tomorrow it is you
#FreeAssange
Very true.
Curated for #informationwar (by @truthforce)
Relevance: Free Julian
Our Purpose
Thank you!
The problem is that there's a shift in power in South America, and that benefits some people from here. The rejection of Rafael Correa by most Ecuadorians made Lenin Moreno adopt some policies that clearly affected Julian Assange indirectly.
Hope this gets solved for him soon.
Very good point, and I hope so too!
Rafael Correa was not rejected, he was ineligible to stand for a further term of office.
He was rejected by the electorate by a recall in his efforts to keep having an option to nominate himself as a candidate to get a second reelection. The constitution was amended by the will of the people on elections.
He was strongly campaigning against that amendment and he lost. Hence, he was rejected.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2018/02/05/a-referendum-in-ecuador-is-another-defeat-for-south-americas-left-wing-populists/
I think that wikileaks and this whole thing is a distraction. Its about keeping us off the trail of something much bigger than Vault 7 or Bradly Manning.
Think about it folks we see lots of breaking news that reveals more of what the deep state is doing every day. What does it change? How has it helped us overcome the oppressive governments we all suffer under?
I think it has only distracted us from something much much bigger, that so far they have successfully hidden from most of us.
What can people do who are not in London?
Sign the petition, write articles. What other options are out there.
I wonder how people would react if Facebook went down for a couple of days, and they are not even locked in an Embassy...
Great question! We can speak up as loudly as we can on every platform available, speak to our own family, friends and acquaintances about what Assange is going through and why it's so important to fight for him and Wikileaks. We can donate to Assange's legal defense fund, and if we are strapped for cash, we can retweet and share Wikileaks' material and pro-Wikileaks/ Assange material across social media of every kind, especially using the #ReconnectJulian tag.
Thanks for these tips!. If anybody has more suggestions please keep adding.
I still would have to believe that this is some sort of human rights violation. I hope, when the dust settles, he legally takes as many of these people, organizations and departments to the mat as he can.
Solidarity ✊🏿
Indeed, agreed on all counts.
This happens everywhere in the world. There is not much needed and we will be in the same situation.. we all should join and fight this now. I will forward/share this message where ever I can.
I hope so too. Definitely seems to be a massive human rights violation and a breach of the Ecuadorian constitution as well.
If it comes to human rights I have big doubts they do exist at all and not only Ecuador did violate them
What is the timestamp of the photo in this story? I have been waiting to see proof of life.
Oh... yep! Just saw this. Basically commented the same thing as you.
I still can't get over this treatment. When was that photo taken btw? Do you know? Interested to see if there's photographic evidence of him being alive and well.