Edward Murillo
Newspaper La Jornada
Monday, July 4, 2022, p. 13
Members of the Colectivo #24F Coalición Vida y Libertad a Julian Assange demonstrated in front of the US embassy in Mexico on the occasion of the 51st birthday of the imprisoned journalist in the United Kingdom, to demand an end to the judicial persecution against him.
Edith Cabrera, founder of the organization, said that similar protests were held in 27 cities in 12 countries to make clear the global outrage for the fourth birthday that the founder of WikiLeaks spends time in jail for revealing official information about war crimes committed by US and British troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
He emphasized that Assange did not commit any crime, he only practiced journalism, so his activities should be protected by the right to free expression, contained in the First Amendment of the US Constitution.
For this reason, he said, they demand his immediate release, the claim of his name and that he be compensated for the damages he has suffered.
He explained that Assange expects to be extradited to the United States and is the first journalist charged under the Espionage Act of 1917, for publishing in WikiLeaks information on the actions of the government of that country, which should be known by all its citizens.
Just last Thursday, he mentioned, the legal team that defends the journalist filed two appeals in order to try to stop his extradition; they are expected to be resolved in the coming days.
Cabrera thanked the position of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who reiterated his offer to give Assange asylum, and stressed that he is the only president in the world who has maintained his public support for him.
The president announced that he will ask his US counterpart, Joe Biden, to exonerate the journalist during the meeting they will hold in Washington this month.
The members of the #24F collective placed posters and yellow ribbons – a symbol of hope for the return of a person – on the metal fence that has protected the diplomatic representation on Paseo de la Reforma for decades.
they sang the mornings and broke a cake with birthday candles, which they shared with those attending the protest. Assange remains in a high-security jail, deprived of sunlight, fresh air, exercise, and without adequate medical care.
Cabrera recalled the journalist’s words: If wars can be started with lies, peace begins with the truth
.
