Press freedom and freedom of speech in under attack in the United States and throughout the world. Just last year, nearly 100 journalists were killed while on the job or because of the subject of their reporting. We cannot allow our local press organizations to publicly promote themselves as defenders of the first amendment all while not issuing statements in support of the most persecuted journalist in the world, Julian Assange.
Press freedom and freedom of speech is in under attack in the United States and throughout the world. Just last year, nearly 100 journalists were killed while on the job or because of the subject of their reporting. We cannot allow our local press organizations to publicly promote themselves as defenders of the first amendment all while not issuing statements in support of the most persecuted journalist in the world, Julian Assange.
Please join the initiative to write your local press organizations and clubs asking them to issue a formal statement in support of Julian Assange and in condemnation of the United States government’s decision to charge him with espionage and conspiracy.
TIPS/SUGGESTIONS:
- Prior to writing your letter, study the organization’s website. Read their goals, vision and mission statement.
- At the introduction of the letter address the points of similarity you share with your local press organization. (For example– promoting excellence in journalism, building a fellowship among journalists, etc.)
- Use their own statements on their website to cite why they should issue a statement in support of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks.
- Example: On the Press Club of Cleveland’s website, it reads “The Press Club’s vision is that Northeast Ohio always supports… professionals, products and platforms that defend and further the public’s right to have access to information.” Then explain to them that because they are an organization thatsupports professionals who defend and further the public’s right to know, they should issue a statement to support Julian Assange.
- Provide thoughtful evidence to support your claims.
- Make it short and get to the point. Avoid exceeding one full page.
- Remember, you are trying to politely convince an organization to act in a certain way.
- Explain to them why it is in their best interest to do what you are requesting them to do.
- Do not assume they will not accept your request.
- Conclude the letter by acknowledging that you look forward to hearing a response.
- For questions contact taylorhudak@protonmail.com.
SAMPLE LETTER
We are proud to announce a weekend of #Action4Assange. We will be in Chicago on Sat. July 13th and Sun. July 14th. We aim to spread a message of press freedom while providing supporters with information and resources on how to hold their own personal protests. We will also host a #Candles4Assange vigil in honor of journalist Julian Assange.
If you are unable to attend in person, please consider holding your own personal protest. Papering your local community with signs or distributing flyers is an effective way to become involved locally.
Printable Flyers may be found here.
Printable Signs may be found here.
Act, even if you act alone.
Sat. July 13th
11a.m. #Action4Assange Meet Up
Dvorak (Anton) Park
1119 W Cullerton St, Chicago, IL 60608
If possible please bring a staple gun/staples and signs or flyers.
These things will be available/provided on site if you cannot get them prior to this time.
3p.m. #Action4Assange Meet Up
Throop Park
1811 S Throop St, Chicago, IL 60608
If possible, please bring a staple gun/staples and signs or flyers.
These items will be available/provided on site if you cannot get them in advance.
6p.m. Table Outside of The Jimmy Dore Show
Thalia Hall
1807 S Allport Street Chicago, IL 60608
We will be passing out water bottles and taking donations for Chelsea and Julian’s legal defense.
11p.m. #Candles4Assange Vigil
Sidewalk corner in front of McDonald’s
1664 S Blue Island Ave, Chicago, IL 60608
Please bring a candle. Some candles will also be available.
Sun. July 14th
Noon #Action4Assange Meet Up
Seward Park
375 W Elm St, Chicago, IL 60610
If possible, please bring a staple gun/staples and signs or flyers.
These items will be available/provided on site if you cannot get them in advance.
3p.m. #Action4Assange Meet Up
Outside of the Chicago History Museum
1811 S Throop St, Chicago, IL 60608
If possible, please bring a staple gun/staples and signs or flyers.
These items will be available/provided on site if you cannot get them in advance.
6:30p.m. Table Outside of The Jimmy Dore Show
Zanies Comedy Club
1548 N Wells St Chicago, IL 60610
We will be passing out waters and taking donations for Chelsea Manning and Julian’s legal defense.
9p.m. Table Outside of The Jimmy Dore Show
Zanies Comedy Club
1548 N Wells St Chicago, IL 60610
We will be passing out waters and taking donations for Manning and Julian’s legal defense.
Please contact @action_4assange, @AndrewZigmund or @TaylorM_Hudak if you have questions.
by Taylor Hudak
Wednesday, July 3, 2019, became a day of international unification—a day where nearly 60 cities across six continents lit candles in honor of award-winning journalist, Julian Assange.
According to a Candles For Assange media release, birthday celebrations taking place in Wellington and Auckland, New Zealand, on July 3rd, Julian’s 48th birthday, have initiated a global movement — #Candles4Assange.
The roots of the movement date back to July 3, 2018, on Julian’s 47th birthday, when #FreeAssangeNZ configured a candle display reading “Free Julian.” The candles were placed on NZ Parliament lawn and an image of the display captured the attention of activists and Assange supporters world-wide.
Those involved in #FreeAssangeNZ chose to hold a similar event for Julian’s 48th birthday taking place this year. However, #FreeAssangeNZ invited other cities to organize vigils and join in on the #Candles4Assange global celebration.
Day after day, the hashtag-Candles4Assange was reaching dozens of cities, and soon the movement became viral within the free speech and free Julian Assange community.
According to the release, “Free Assange NZ supports the principle of press freedom, especially for a media whose mission is ‘to hold power to account.’”
A MESSAGE TO STAND FOR, AN IDEA TO DEFEND
Julian Assange is a man of and for the people. In addition, he is the embodiment of good journalism, making those in power feel uncomfortable. Assange and the WikiLeaks’ staff, through their work, have inadvertently forced the mainstream media to re-examine how good journalism presents itself.
Candles For Assange strongly advocates for these ideals — a free press and for the protection of free speech. Millions of people around the world align with the movement. And because of that, Free Assange NZ is challenging the New Zealand media to condemn the UK and US efforts to persecute and torture Julian Assange.
We too, at Action For Assange are calling upon the American media to condemn the behavior of its government toward journalist Julian Assange.
This sentiment is stronger than those within the powerful elite would like to believe. We exist, and we are here.
A DAY OF ACTION
Candles For Assange co-founder, Alex Hills asked organizers to take photos and/or video footage of their actions on July 3rd and send them and/or link them to @Candles4Assange, @GreenweaverArch or the Facebook group, #Candles4Assange.
“Many are singing Happy Birthday by Stevie Wonder on film for a compilation video of the final actions throughout the world made into a moral boosting singalong supporter video,” Hills said. “We are happy for anything no matter how big or small a gesture.”
Candles For Assange has also made extensive efforts to connect with Antarctica to ensure Julian’s day of birth is celebrated on all seven continents.
The promotional video for Candles For Assange may be found here. We strongly recommend watching this video.
We are stronger when we work together.
The fight to free Julian Assange does not attract the weak or faint of heart but rather the determined and the fearless.
And we are ready.
Happy birthday Julian – from your brothers and sisters around the world.
by Taylor Hudak
If one cares about free speech and a free press in America, do not vote for 2020 Democratic presidential candidate Michael Bennet.
According to an article published on World Socialist Web Site, Sen. Bennet signed a letter addressed to Vice President Mike Pence in June 2018 demanding the Trump Administration convince the Ecuadorian government to expel Julian Assange’s asylum.
According to the article, the letter exposes a clear hatred of Julian Assange and WikiLeaks among America’s political elite.
In addition to Sen. Michael Bennett, nine other Democratic senators signed the letter, including:
Robert Menendez
Richard Blumenthal
Joe Manchin III
Dianne Feinstein
Richard J. Durbin
Edward J. Markey
Christopher A. Coons
Jeanne Shaheen
Mark R. Warner
The letter signed by the above senators, including Sen. Bennet, cites Secretary of State Mike Pompeo’s statements on WikiLeaks when he was the acting CIA director. Pompeo referred to WikiLeaks as “a non-state hostile intelligence service.” This is the same man who admitted that the CIA is taught to lie, cheat and steal.
Furthermore, the letter portrays a clear intent on behalf of the United States government to restore amicable relations with Ecuador. What is disturbing is their method to restore relations—torture and prosecute journalist and WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
Perhaps these senators thought it would work well to play politics with foreign governments by finding a journalist and publisher to mutually hate.
But Why These 10 Specific Senators?
The majority of the senators who signed this letter were in some manner implicated by WikiLeaks publications.
Global Intelligence Files, Sony, Carter Cables 2, The Podesta Emails, Sony Emails, Hacking Team, Hacking Team Emails, Clinton Emails, Sony Documents, Carter Cables, DNC Email Archive, Berat’s Box, German BND-NSA Inquiry Exhibits, Cablegate, The HBGary Emails, Secret, Congressional Reports, Syria Files, Kissinger Cables, US Embassy Shopping List
DNC Archive, Global Intelligence Files, The Podesta Emails, Clinton Emails, Berat’s Box, Sony, Sony Documents, Syria Files, Plusd, Cablegate, Sony Emails, German BND-NSA Inquiry Exhibits
Global Intelligence Files, German BND-NSA Inquiry Exhibits, The Podesta Emails, Secret Congressional Reports, DNC Email Archive, Clinton Emails, Berat’s Box, Sony, Sony Emails, Hacking Team, Hacking Team Emails, Pulsd, Cablegate, Syria Files, Sony Documents, Kissinger Cables
Global Intelligence Files, The Podesta Emails, Secret Congressional Reports, DNC Email Archive, Plusd, Cablegate, Clinton Emails, Sony, Sony Emails, Sony Documents, Berat’s Box, German BND-NSA Inquiry Exhibits, Kissinger Cables, Syria Files, Carter Cables 2, Hacking Team, Hacking, Team Emails, The HBGary Emails
Global Intelligence Files, Plusd, Carter Cables 2, The Podesta Emails, Cablegate, Secret. Congressional Reports, Hacking Team, Hacking Team Emails, DNC Email Archive, Kissinger Cables, Sony, Sony Emails, German BND-NSA Inquiry Exhibits, The HBGary Emails, Berat’s Box, Syria Files, Carter Cables, Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement, Clinton Emails
Global Intelligence Files, The Podesta Emails
Global Intelligence Files, The Podesta Emails, DNC Email Archive, Sony, Sony Emails, Clinton Emails, Pulsd, Cablegate, Berat’s Box, German BND-NSA Inquiry Exhibits
MARK R WARNER
The Podesta Emails
by Taylor Hudak
(Oberlin, Ohio) – A free Julian Assange activist is facing a misdemeanor charge for hanging signs on public utility poles in support of the WikiLeaks founder.
Andrew Smith, 28, of Elyria was cited on Saturday afternoon June 29 for hanging signs reading “Free Julian Assange,” “Free Speech Free Press” and others with similar messages.
As Smith was stapling a free Julian sign to a utility pole in front of a convenient store, a police officer driving by slowed down and shouted at Smith to stop what he was doing.
With staple gun in hand, the 28-year-old turns to look at the officer and then continues to staple the poster.
The officer proceeds into the convenient store parking lot and orders Smith to empty his pockets. Meanwhile, two additional police cars arrive at the scene.
After a brief exchange concerning the law, the officer orders Smith to get into the back of the vehicle.
Meanwhile, a woman accompanying Smith, Taylor Hudak, 26, of Kent was told she may leave. However, Hudak remained at the site and took photographs on her cell phone as the incident unfolded.
While Smith was in the police vehicle, he continued to speak with the officer explaining to her his political ideology and reason for posting signs. The officer responded to him saying she did not understand.
After several minutes sitting in the police vehicle, Smith was issued a citation for violating Oberlin City Ordinance 503.02 Advertising on Public Property.
Smith appeared in Oberlin Municipal Court on Friday July 5 at 8:30 a.m. and plead not guilty. He will return to court for a pretrial hearing on Aug. 18.