On February 20, defenders of Julian Assange had possibly our largest rally in Chicago to date to Free Julian Assange. Over 50 people turned out at Chicago Tribune Plaza for our press conference and rally. (video of the event is here)  The event was sponsored by Assange Defense Chicago, and co-sponsored by Chicago Area Peace Action, Neighbors for Peace, Chicago Anti-War Coalition, Chicago ALBA Solidarity, Anti-War Committee Chicago, Center for Political Innovation- Midwest, Illinois Green Party, and Chicago National Lawyers Guild.

Even though three of us sent out a press release for the event, no corporate media turned out, not even allegedly liberal media such as WBEZ or In These Times. Clearly, the US government campaign to intimidate and censor Julian Assange has already had its effect on the media, who are on board with the national media blackout on Julian Assange. Our rally was to champion and defend the freedom of the press, but the very objects of the government attack, the media, refused to cover it.

Frank Lawrence, from Assange Defense Chicago and Chicago Area Peace Action, emcee’d the event. He said today’s significance is it is the first day of the two day hearing in Britain about Assange’s final attempt at appeal of his extradition order to US prison.

Kevin Gosztola, a journalist who has closely covered the case for years, and who wrote, Guilty of Journalism: The Political Case of Julian Assange, and Seth Stern of Freedom of the Press Foundation spoke at the press conference.

Kevin said the case today concerns Assange’s right to a final appeal hearing. If this is not allowed, he can be extradited at any time.

One issue Kevin raised was that previously the judge had not recognize that Assange was being targeted for his political opinions. “apex of criminality” when he released US war logs, the collaborative damage video of US war crimes revealed by Chelsea Manning, diplomatic cables, and detainee assessment briefs from Guantanamo prisoners. Gosztola stated, “US criminality was exposed on a massive and unprecedented scale which led to retaliation.” He emphasized that there are many valid legal issues for the British High Court of Justice to grant a full appeal hearing. He said in court on February 20, Assange’s lawyers made a “strong case” and Feb. 21 US lawyers present their case.

Seth said Freedom of the Press Foundation had recently put together a letter to President Biden from over 35 lawyers about the threats to press freedom in the Assange case. “Joe Biden and Merrick Garland know full well the risk they are creating by going forward with this prosecution of Julian Assange.” Even the Obama administration declined to prosecute Assange because they knew it can be applied to other news outlets and journalists because of the “New York Times problem” [which published many of the same materials as WikiLeaks]. He emphasized that Biden and the Department of Justice know full well that the charges, such as violating the Espionage Act, against Assange would also apply to other media and journalists who cover national security issues. Assange’s “crime” was that he received and published national security documents, and his prosecution would mean the Espionage Act could apply to any journalist covering national security issues.

Seth Stern noted that the government would have the capacity to start rounding up and imprisoning journalists for publishing materials they don’t want published. The government wants to stop journalists from publishing government secrets. He added that a number of presidents at least since Nixon considered prosecuting journalists under the Espionage Act, including Seymour Hersch.

He called on more press, members of Congress, important figures, and everyday people to speak up to oppose this prosecution.

Stan Smith, from Assange Defense and Chicago ALBA Solidarity, noted “the attack on Assange as the attack by the US government on the anti-war movement.” Remember what Assange revealed to the world about US war crimes in Iraq. What could have Wikileaks told the world about the present US wars in Ukraine and Gaza, through government documents about the agreement Ukraine and Russia signed in March 2022 to end the war, how the US and Britain blocked it, and about the US-Israeli collaboration to block a ceasefire, US agreements to keep funding the slaughter of Palestinians.

He then reviewed the Free Assange outreach work we have accomplished since 2012, participating in marches, rallies, leafleting at both small and mass events, forums in colleges, and Free Assange bannering over highways.

Elizabeth Marino said that we should all defend Julian Assange because our First Amendment rights and our right to publish are threatened. She brought up the present government frame-up attack on the Uhuru movement.

Neal Resnikoff emphasized, “Julian Assange is in jail and court now because of the Biden Administration. The Biden Administration has refused to drop charges of violation of an old U.S. law by this Australian journalist who has never been to the US.” Assange is being prosecuted solely for revealing US war crimes that the US did not want revealed. He has now been in confinement for 11 ½ years trying to avoid extradition to the US.  As Obama’s Vice President, Biden called him “close to a high tech terrorist”.

“The charges against Assange are under the Espionage Act of 1917. This law is for prosecution of anyone in the U.S. who “receives” or “retains” or “possesses national defense information.” The Espionage Act makes it a crime to “utter, print, write, or publish any disloyal, profane, scurrilous, or abusive language about the form of the Government of the United States.” “

There are 16 charges against him, totaling 175 years – against a person who has never been to the US. “Meanwhile, the U.S. perpetrators of the war crimes Assange exposed have not been charged with anything.” We need to link up with all other movements fighting against US government abuses.

Rich, from the Green Party national committee, said that the Greens have long supported Julian Assange, and that Assange spoke from the Ecuador Embassy to the Greens at their 2016 convention.

Caeli Kean from the Anti-War Committee of Chicago outlined some of what WikiLeaks has released, and declared, “Julian Assange’s main goal is to serve the people.” She observed Assange is not the only targeted journalist – “over 120 journalists have been assassinated by the US-backed Israeli apartheid government during the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza.”

Andy Thayer, long time anti-war activist and leader of the Gay Liberation Network, brought up the accusation that Assange is not a real journalist, yet Wikileaks got a lot more circulation than the Chicago Tribune. While Assange was not being formally charged until under President Trump, the Obama administration prosecuted far more whistleblowers than all previous presidents combined. He said Britain is the poodle of the US, and so is likely to grant the US desire to extradite him. This case exposes the lie of President Biden that he is standing up for democracy against Trump. If Biden wanted to stand up for democracy, “he could order his poodle to heal and drop all charges against Julian Assange.”