The latest expression of support for Assange was the 2,000 strong Night Carnival protest in London. The carnival was led by Lady Justice followed by artists and campaigners dressed in costumes carrying lanterns, placards, flags including samba bands marching along the crowd.
Symbolically it began at Lincoln’s Inn Field. Famously, this is the place where Charles Dickens novel Bleak House pictured the legal fog which kept cases going for years being at its thickest and most lethal.
The carnival aimed to shine a lot through this fog and illuminate Julian Assange’s case. Its slogan was ‘Light into Darkness’, using the age-old subversive nature of carnival to shine a light on this very dark corner of the political and legal system.
The carnival concluded with an indoor rally at the Emanuel Centre with various speakers supporting Assange. Ben Westwood, son of legendary fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, opened the rally expressing the importance of facts for a functioning democracy with words “The world needs Julian.” Ben brought a scarf made by Vivienne Westwood, the text bulletpoints the violations and injustices against Julian.
Jeremy Corbyn spoke second at the rally explaining the work and importance of campaigning for Assange: “Julian spoke out for the innocent victims all around the world of unaccountable military power”
“It’s a reminder that in the midst of all that cruelty, there is a world of kindness that does believe in justice” We heard an incredibly moving story from Richard Ratcliffe, husband of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, who was reunited with her family after six years in detention in Iranian jail.
Kristinn Hrafnsson was one of the many speakers at The Emmanuel Centre where people rallied together in defence of the freedom of Julian Assange.
“So much for this to just be a legal case. It’s a political persecution! You have it in black and white. You have it admitted by the former Secretary of State”
Kristinn Hrafnsson
Julian Assange’s wife Stella Assange ended the rally speaking about the unjust imprisonment and incarceration of her husband.
“Julian’s imprisonment is an attempt to punish the messenger for uncomfortable truths”
Stella Assange
In other news, Andrew Cockburn has written a feature piece ‘Alternative Facts’ stating how the media ignored or misrepresented “key information about Julian Assange’s plight”.
You can read the whole article in Harpers: https://harpers.org/archive/2023/03/alternative-facts-how-the-media-failed-julian-assange/
The Belmarsh Tribunal will convene in Sydney, Australia on 4 March with range of expert witnesses – from constitutional lawyers, to acclaimed journalists, parliamentarians and human rights defenders. The Sydney chapter of the Tribunal will add a uniquely Australian voice to the global demand to free Julian Assange.
Some of appearing will include Stella Assange, John Kiriakou, Jennifer Robinson, Yanis Varoufakis, Kylie Moore-Gilbert, Mary Kostakidis and many more hosted by the Progressive International.
To find out more follow this link: https://act.progressive.international/belmarsh-tribunal-sydney/