2010-12-08: Media release: Support Wikileaks rally called in Sydney, protests nationally

MEDIA RELEASE

December 8

Support Wikileaks rally called in Sydney, protests nationally

Supporters of the website Wikileaks will protest Friday, December 10 at 1pm Sydney Town Hall to protest the backlash, persecution and threats it is facing for its release of more than 250,000 secret US government cables. The protest will also call for the release of imprisoned Wikileaks editor-in-chief and award-winning Australian journalist, Julian Assange.

The rally will be addressed by independent journalist Antony Loewenstein, author of My Israel Question. A federal senator from the Australian Greens, Simon Frew of the Pirate Party Australia, Green Left Weekly co-editor Simon Butler and the editor of Wikileaks Central (wlcentral.org) will also speak.

The rally will demand the Gillard government cease backing the US persecution against Assange and Wikileaks, which is its backing despite being able to point to any Australian law broken by Assange or others at Wikileaks.

The rally date coincides with International Human Rights day. Rally spokesperson Simon Butler said: “The Australian government has failed to uphold the human rights of Wikileaks editor-in-chief Julian Assange.”

“The Australian government should be ashamed for its attacks on Wikileaks, which has been charged with no crime”, spokesperson Simon Butler said.

“Australia should not join the campaign to censor Wikileaks. Wikileaks has released evidence of government lies and duplicity — information that, as citizens, we have a right to know.

“We want the Gillard government to make sure Julian Assange has the same basic rights as every other Australian citizen.

Butler said community support for Wikileaks was very high. Within a day of a Facebook group for the Sydney rally being set-up, hundreds had said they would attend. Butler said more people are signing up to take part on Facebook constantly.

“There is a great deal of anger at what’s happening”, Butler said. “The bid to silence Wikileaks threatens the rights of everyone.”

Media contacts: Antony Loewenstein 0402 893 690; Simon Butler 0421 231 011

Rally information: [contact details redacted on request]

Email: rally4wikileaks.info@gmail.com

National rallies to defend Julian Assange and Wikileaks

Sydney: Friday, December 10, 1pm at Sydney Town Hall. Media contacts: Antony Loewenstein 0402 893 690; Simon Butler 0421 231 011. Rally information: [contact details redacted on request]
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=161656067211736

Melbourne: Friday, December 10, 4:30pm at the State Library Lawns, Melbourne. Contact: Vashti Jane 0423 407 910.
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=182297491780623

Brisbane: Thursday, December 9, 5.30pm Brisbane Square CBD & Friday, December 10, 12 noon at the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, 295 Anne Street, Brisbane CBD. (For December 10 action) Rally information: Liam Hanlon 0435 266 613. Media contact: Jim McIlroy 0423 741 734
Facebook page (December 9): http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=153885131325141
Facebook page (December 10): http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=153885131325141&index=1#%21/event....

Hobart: Saturday, December 11, noon at the Hobart Parliament Lawns
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=171620612868329

Adelaide: Sunday, December 12, 1:00pm at Parliament House.
Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=182236928453862