Assange: US Must Stand Up for Freedom of Speech

World | August 19, 2012, Sunday // 17:52|  views

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange gives a thumbs up prior to deliver a statement on the balcony inside the Ecuador Embassy where he has sought asylum in London, Britain, 19 August 2012. EPA/BGNES

Wikileaks founder Julian Assange spoke in public Sunday for the first time for months from a window of the Ecuador embassy in London, where he has taken refuge.

In his speech, he presented his case as not being directed against him personally, but rather as a "witchhunt against Wikileaks" that must be stopped.

Assange is facing a sexual assault trial in Sweden, but fears that the country might deport him to face what he believes would be an unfair information disclosure trial in the US.

"There must be no more foolish talk about prosecuting any media organisation, be it Wikileaks or the New York Times. The US war on whistleblowers must end," said Assange Sunday.

In particular, he called for the release of Bradley Manning, a US soldier charged with delivering classified informatio to Wikileaks.

Julian Assange said that the US must chose between pursuing a path of upholding "revolutionary values," or else contribute to create "a dangerous and oppressive world," in which people have no right to free speech.

The Australian thanked Ecuador for granting him asylum as a political refugee, as well as the large crowd that supported him during the speech.

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Tags: Julian Assange, freedom of speech, US, Ecuador, Sweden, Wikileaks

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