3 March 2011

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WikiLeaks: Let's Make Sure Julian Assange Does Not Get Prosecuted!

Julian Assange, WikiLeaks, at New Media Days 09Image by New Media Days via Flickr


And I thought that only Gaddafi was a not forgiving kind of person... 
It looks like the US authorities are still after Julian Assange's blood.

The following is an email I've received today from WikiLeaksIsDemocracy.org...

As we have previously published emails from WikiLeaksIsDemocracy.org, Avaaz.org and Michael Moore regarding WikiLeaks, Bradley Manning and Julian Assange, we coudn't see any problem at all publishing another one on here and trying to help (in a small way, but still...) spread the word. 

All the best, and thank you for taking the time to read this post.

Loup Dargent


Julian Assange at New Media Days 09 in Copenhagen.Image via Wikipedia


The Email

Dear Loup,

Last week a court in the United Kingdom decided that Julian Assange can be extradited to Sweden to face questioning in a sex crimes prosecution. While this decision will be appealed it continues to provide the U.S. with an opportunity to extradite and prosecute him.

This is a critical time for people to urge Attorney General Holder to stop trying to prosecute Assange and others affiliated with WikiLeaks. Please write and call the Justice Department to tell them Julian Assange is a journalist who is protected by the U.S. Constitution.
Click here to write Attorney General Holder now and to call the Department of Justice at 202-514-2000.

Critical to the United States prosecuting Assange is for them to prove he is not a journalist. But if there were ever a doubt about whether the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange, is a journalist, recent events erase all those doubts and put him at the forefront of a movement to democratize journalism and empower people. The case is so clear that it would make any claim by Justice Department lawyers that Assange is not a journalist laughable. 

The list of WikiLeaks revelations has become astounding. During the North African and Middle East revolts WikiLeaks published documents that provided people with critical information. The traditional media has relied on WikiLeaks publications and is now also emulating WikiLeaks. See Julian Assange: At the Forefront of 21st Century Journalism.WikiLeaks is filling a void left by a traditional media that is no longer trusted and has given up its responsibility for being a watchdog of government and corporate abuse. 

There is no doubt that Assange is a journalist and WikiLeaks is a news outlet and both are protected by the First Amendment.

Thank you for taking action and thanks for your support.

Sincerely,

Kevin Zeese
WikiLeaksIsDemocracy.org

Julian Assange at New Media Days 09 in Copenhagen.Image via Wikipedia


The Letter

This is how it will look (with, obviously, your name instead of mine):

Subject:  Stop Investigating Julian Assange

Dear Attorney General Holder:

I am writing to tell you to stop investigating Julian Assange and WikiLeaks as he is a journalist protected by the First Amendment.

Julian Assange is the editor-in-chief of WikiLeaks which has been publishing for four years.  In the last few months it has become evident that he is at the forefront of creating a new democratized media for the 21st Century.

The list of WikiLeaks revelations has become astounding. During the North African and Middle East revolts in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Bahrain, WikiLeaks published documents that provided people with critical information. The traditional media has relied on WikiLeaks publications and is now also emulating WikiLeaks.  WikiLeaks is filling a void left by a traditional media that is no longer trusted and has given up its responsibility for being a watchdog of government and corporate abuse.

There is no doubt that Assange is a journalist and WikiLeaks is a news outlet and both are protected by the First Amendment.

Sincerely,

Loup Dargent


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