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HUNDREDS OF JULIAN Assange supporters have protested in London against his potential extradition to the United States.
Assange, 48, is wanted in the US on 18 charges over the publication of US cables a decade ago and if found guilty could face a 175-year prison sentence.
He is being held in Belmarsh Prison in south-east London as he awaits the start of next week’s full extradition hearing.
His supporters marched through London on Saturday, beginning at Australia House in Holborn and ending at a rally in Parliament Square.
Many carried banners and placards with messages including “Don’t extradite Assange” and “Journalism is not a crime”.
Opening the speeches in Parliament Square, Assange’s father John Shipton said: “I look over the crowd and see many familiar faces supporting Julian and I thank you.”
He described the imprisonment of his son as “arbitrary detention” and urged those at the rally to fight to “free Julian from the Niagara of malice that emanates from the Crown Prosecution Service”.
Kristinn Hrafnsonn, editor in chief of Wikileaks, also took the stage and told the crowds of people that Assange was facing a “dark force”.
He added: “We must stop it. We must stop this force, this is not about left or right in politics, we can unite on this. It is a dark force against us who want justice, transparency and truth.”
Musician Roger Waters, economist Yanis Varoufakis, and fashion designer Vivienne Westwood also gave speeches in support of the investigative journalist.
Westwood walked out on stage wearing a paper halo with Assange written on it, before saying she was the “angel of democracy”.
Speaking to the PA news agency, Joseph Farrell, ambassador and board member of the Centre for Investigative Journalism, said everyone at the march believed the case was “outrageous”.
He said: “It will result in a lack of press freedom around the world – it will endanger, and it has already endangered, every journalist anywhere in the world.”
Supporter Sinthia Surace, 22, whose family were victims of the Sri Lanka civil war, said: “It took a lot of brave people to expose all the crimes impacting my community directly. That’s why I care about voices like Julian’s.”
“I don’t believe we should be punishing him for the wrongdoings of the US government. He always says privacy for the citizen but transparency for the government, especially when it comes to human lives.”
More than 40 international legal experts have written to Prime Minister Boris Johnson demanding the “rule of law be upheld” before Assange’s hearing on 24 February, claiming he has not had proper access to his legal team.
The letter was handed in to 10 Downing Street on Saturday and also urged the British legal community to act “urgently” to secure Assange’s release.
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Willing the day trump is brought to some kind of justice. But I won’t hold me breath.
So Trump was overvaluing his gaff? That’s the case?
I have no doubt he did it, he overestimates everything.
@v39e84kK: could be considered fraud if he secured loans on them
@Jim Buckley Barrett: Absolutely! It is serious fraud if he has secured loans based on false assessments.
@v39e84kK: he’s not overvaluing his gaff. His gaff cannot be overvalued. It’s the bestest and bigliest gaff in the whole world. Don’t listen to the fake news from the MSM trying to deny it. They’re SAD LÓSERS.
@Al Fresco: laughably shoddy banking to give loans based on what people tell you their property is worth too!
@David Bonner: yes, it is, but at the end of the day it’s still trumps responsibility to be honest.
Hopefully we will see trump being forensically examined in the same way as anybody else who was suspected of this kind of fraud.
How can he claim to be immune because he was President for one term?
@Al Fresco: Not going to lie Al Fresco loving yer profile picture.
@Al Fresco: It’s worth looking into how Trump gained a gambling licence for his casino. He shouldn’t have been able to get one, but my concern is as much with the people issuing the licence to him. While anything that would put Trump in jail (which I really doubt will happen now), or keep him from getting re-elected is good news, the American ‘system’ itself is compromised.
@Paul Gorry: it’s not my best look,.
@David A. Murray: you are right, questions need to be asked about the people who enabled this failed businessman to keep blustering forwards from one failure to the next.
The Bozo Lier Murderer Trump should be in Jail
Trump should be thoroughly investigated. If he has secured loans on the over valuation of security this puts the bank or loan company in a bad position.
Normally banks are diligent and forensically check offered security by clients especially post Financial Meltdown in 2008.
If Trump or his children do not cooperate with an investigation hey should face the consequences.
have your say