Queenslander Julian Assange, in custody in the U.K., can take comfort from the many hundreds of people coming to his defence around the world, but especially in Brisbane, the capital of his home state. Today about 400 people from all walks of life took to the streets of Brisbane, stopping traffic in the CBD.
Protestors rallied outside the Department of Foreign Affairs in stifling heat, before marching through the city centre.
Former Senator and Greens candidate Andrew Bartlett spoke to the crowd of the inaction of the Australian government so far in protecting Assange in the light of calls for his assassination by an advisor to the Canadian PM and U.S. right wingers and threats of prosecution by others.
Bartlett, a long time supporter of independent media and community radio, said "Wikileaks isn't doing anything different from what a whole lot of media organisations have been doing for years." You can read more of Bartlett's thoughts on the Wikileaks fiasco here: http://andrewbartlett.com/?p=7728
Another speaker, Hamish Chitts of Standfast, and anti-war veterans organisation, called on the audience to remember that Private Bradley Manning, the man accussed of leaking the shocking helicopter civlian massacre video, is currently incarcerated in the U.S. and facing 52 years in gaol. "PFC Bradley Manning, is currently rotting in a US Marine prison cell in Quantico, Virginia. On December 17 Manning will be spending his 23rd birthday alone." Manning has a support group here: http://www.bradleymanning.org/
Chitts says, "Wikileaks has helped expose to a wider audience the lies our politicians keep repeating. The lie that these wars somehow make people here safer and the lie that these occupations improve the lives of the people occupied." Recent surveys place disapproval for the wars at 88% in Australia and 50% in the U.S.
"Julian Assange recently said, “If indeed it is the case, as alleged by the Pentagon, that the young soldier - Bradley Manning - is behind some of our recent disclosures, then he is without doubt an unparalleled hero,” said Chitts.
Rallies in support of Wikileaks and Assanage are underway around the nation.
You can read the entirety of Chitts speech here: http://www.facebook.com/#!/note.php?note_id=146616332056049&id=148487201...
http://indymedia.org.au/node/add/article
Pics: Courtesy of Andrew Bartlett
MS media stories & pics:
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/technology/technology-news/brisbane-prot...
http://www.news.com.au/breaking-news/hundreds-rally-for-wikileaks-founde...
http://news.theage.com.au/breaking-news-national/supporters-vow-ongoing-...
Brisbane rallies for Julian
http://www.westender.com.au/news/918
Comments
You tube footage of earlier Brisbane rally
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wesAGRYoOc0&feature=autoshare
Socialist Alliance coverage of BrisbaneRally
http://networkedblogs.com/bG7kB
Re: Hundreds take to streets for second wikileaks protest in ...
The Canadian PM did not call for anyone's assassination. A former adviser Tom Flanagan made a stupid comment for which he later apologized. There may be charges; police are investigating. Although the Canadian PM Harper has made no comment publicly and he should. There is probably damning information on Harper to come from the leaks (if he's seen as important enough to bother with). Go Julian!
Re: Hundreds take to streets for second Wikileaks protest in ...
oops, ok, changed that factoid. thanks for supporting Aust IMC!
Re: Hundreds take to streets for second Wikileaks protest in ...
Just a shout out from the U.S.; we are not all thick headed walking zombies strolling around Walmart with a Big Gulp in one hand and our collective dicks in the other. Some of us can not stomach what has happened to our country....that sound you hear? Underneath the caterwauling of the MSM...is the cry for freedom; rage at what is being done in our name with our children's blood. "71%?" of WHO? There isn't that much Kool-aide to go around.