Assange Protests: Wish You Were Here
Wish You Were Here
[Image: A crop of one of the final frames from the London event. The videographer follows Cathy Vogan’s concluding remark by panning to this red sign and a London red bus. The colour and the twisted bars capture the moment.]
Publication date: 2022-10-08
Update 2022-10-17: Stella Assange held an “Ask Me Anything” in Berlin. The video is added as an update.
Protest
A global protest event was organized for October 8th, 2022. The rolling sequence of events were begun appropriately in Melbourne, Australia, Julian Assange's home town. There as a youth he learned about computing, programming and networks. He is a "hacker" in the “Richard Stallman” original sense; he playfully examines system limitations. Wikileaks itself is exactly such an endeavour, using truth to check power. Julian is also a journalist, and Wikileaks a publisher.
The most referenced Assange quote in the hours of video covering two of the events was:
If wars can be started by lies, peace can be started by truth.
Thousands came out in Melbourne to show support for Julian. His persecution has become a political topic in Australia. Those raising it deserve respect and credit for their dedication and success.
In London, a human chain of linked hands was established around the houses of parliament. The bold organizers and supporters achieved an historic first. Consortium News' Cathy Vogan with her excellent videographer provided a live feed of the protest. Included are interviews with Wikileaks Editor-in-Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson and former Ambassador and torture whistleblower Craig Murray. Stella Assange delivered an empassioned speech. Jeremy Corbyn placed this slow assassination in historical and political context.
Speeches
The next event, four hours later, in the USA capital outside their Department of Justice would see more "editors-in-chief" (Joe Lauria of CN and Kevin Gosztola of Shadowproof/The Dissenter) and another torture whistleblower (John Kiriakou) deliver speeches on the core topics behind the political persecution of Julian Assange, including:
free speech
freedom of the press
truth is not a crime
exposing the corruption and malfeasance of the secrecy wielding powerful
the lies and deceit of media and intelligence agencies, and
the restitution of accountable government.
Joe Lauria read a letter he’d sent to Merrick Garland, the USA Attorney General, asking him whether he wished to be a hero of history by dropping the insane and vindictive indictment or not.
The most well crafted and wide ranging speech concluded the event. Chris Hedges laid down heavy truths. He returned to the topic of the inverted totalitarian nature of the mendacious USA oligarchy and institutions. The Church and Pike committees were elevated as was Hedges’ time as a reporter on the “outer reaches of empire”. The speech is devastating in its breadth and truth. If you have only a little time, listen to his speech. With a little more time you can enjoy the song by Waters and fellow musicians. Videos and time offsets are provided in Sources below.
The collection of organizers for the many events succeeded. Consortium News did a fantastic job covering the London and Washington events.
A peculiar and poignant note is that no "mainstream media" could be seen in London or Washington D.C. This astonishing absence of covering a protest to highlight the persecution of a journalist shames them. Many speakers outside the DoJ ridiculed "corporate media" employees for their absence.
One of the more humorous comments was a welcoming to the Washington event of FBI agents. "You know who you are. Thanks for swelling our numbers. You might learn something."
The Choir
Roger Waters created time to record the Pink Floyd classic "Wish You Were Here" a few days before the protests while on his current USA tour "Not a Drill". He redelivers his 2015 letter to a torture survivor to current torture survivor Assange. One section reads:
Your indomitable resistance in the face of remorseless persecution lights a corner of the dark.
Sam Adams’ Award recipients, of which Assange is one, would be pleased with the reference to light in dark corners.
Roger joins his recent musical partners in studio. I see the two backing singers and the drummer from "The Gunner's Dream". A double bassist joins the drummer to form the rhythm section. Waters provides a tender lead vocal while playing an old, loved steel string guitar. Over him, the also steel string lead guitarist plays his part, adding accent. The song is both true to its origin and new.
There is a patience and a tired melancholy. This recording feels slower, just, than the original. See the drummer beating time with his stick waiting to join as the lead guitarist plays the core introductory riff.
After the song is played, Roger delivers a message to his friend Julian Assange:
Wish you were here, brother.
Update
Stella Assange held an “Ask Me Anything” event in Berlin.
Stella Assange AMA Noisyleaks, Consortium News, uploaded 2022-10-15
Sources
WATCH: Assange Protests at UK Parliament & DOJ, Consortium News, 2022-10-06
The Consortium News videos are listed with time offsets for some significant interviews, speeches or a song.
ASSANGE HUMAN CHAIN AROUND UK PARLIAMENT - Live from London, Consortium News, 2022-10-08
Interviews:
Kristinn Hrafnsson: 00:07:28
Craig Murray: 00:17:00
Stella Assange: 01:35:41
Jeremy Corbyn: 01:50:02
HANDS OFF ASSANGE - Washington DC Event, Consortium News, 2022-10-08
Speeches and a song:
Sabrina Salvarti: 02:37:51
Scott Ritter: 02:43:46
Chris Hedges: 03:34:10
Roger Waters and fellow musicians: 03:49:17
WATERS CONCERT: The World As It Is, Joe Lauria, Consortium News, 2022-10-04
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