For so long, we have been pushed out from democracy. Our elected officials and political parties, both Republicans and Democrats, have been undermining the will of ordinary people. Monopoly media, bought by corporate money has turned against public interests, distorting information and manipulating public perception.
In 2010, US Army whistleblower Chelsea Manning was given a 35-year prison sentence after she had leaked more than 700,000 confidential US State Department and Pentagon documents, videos and diplomatic cables about the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan to WikiLeaks. Perhaps the most notorious of the releases was a US military video that WikiLeaks titled ‘Collateral Murder‘.
All journalists and publications, be they mainstream or alternative, must step up now or risk losing these freedoms permanently.
This short segment with Patrick Henningsen (21WIRE) and Mike Robinson (UK Column) explains why it’s absolutely crucial and in the public interest to support Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning and WikiLeaks, as all three of these represent fundamental pillars of democracy – the right to publish, the rights of whistleblowers, and a free press. Watch:
ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA — After getting her life back less than two years ago following her release from prison in March 2017, alleged WikiLeaks source Chelsea Manning was remanded back into custody this past Friday for refusing to testify before a federal grand jury. A subpoena sent to Manning earlier this year bore the same case number as that of a WikiLeaks grand jury convened over eight years ago in the Eastern District of Virginia, an indication that the U.S. government wants her to testify against WikiLeaks’ founder, Julian Assange.
“I will not comply with this, or any other grand jury.” So explained Chelsea Manning in justifying her refusal to answer questions and comply with a grand jury subpoena compelling her to testify on her knowledge of WikiLeaks. “Imprisoning me for my refusal to answer questions only subjects me to additional punishment for my repeatedly stated ethical obligations to the grand jury system.”
Chelsea Manning has done a great service in finally stripping away the last vestige of excuse from the figures who refuse to support Julian Assange, says Craig Murray. By Craig Murray CraigMurray.org.uk On International Women’s Day on March 8 Chelsea…Read more →
As Chelsea Manning is jailed for refusing to testify against Julian Assange, watch the discussion on 19th online vigil for Julian Assange. The guests included Greg Palast, Brian Becker, Lee Stranahan, John Kiriakou, George Szamuely and hosts Elizabeth Vos and…Read more →
While media focused on Julian Assange’s cat rather than his continuing arbitrary detention, evidence shows Britain worked hard to force his extradition to Sweden where Assange feared he’d be turned over to the U.S., as Stefania Maurizi explains. By Stefania…Read more →
Although his communications may have been ‘partly restored’ in recent days, Wikileaks founder Julian Assange continues to be denigrated largely by Western governments and media – and even by his own host country, Ecuador, of which he is a citizen.
