Defend Free Speech – Free Julian Assange

Join Julian’s Father John Shipton's Fight For Justice at Brighton Labour Left Alliance Meeting

Brighton & Hove Labour Left Alliance is proud to support the fight of Julian Assange for Justice. The British State’s persecution of Julian began in 2013 when Sir Keir Starmer, who is standing to become Leader of the Labour Party, was Director of Public Prosecutions. Starmer was instrumental in the judicial persecution of Assange for the ‘crime’ of being a journalist.

We are pleased that Julian’s father John Shipton will be joining us. Find out more about his son's plight - and what socialists can do to help: Doors open at 7pm on Thursday, February 6, at the Rialto Theatre, 11 Dyke Road, Brighton BN1 3FE.

STOP PRESS: We are delighted to announce that the meeting will also hear from Joseph Farrell (@SwaziJAF), Wikileaks ambassador and board member of The Centre for Investigative Journalism.

If you haven't already reserved your seat, please register here. Limited spaces available!

Julian Assange is languishing in solitary confinement in HM Prison Belmarsh, a Category A prison known as the British version of Guantanamo Bay. In 2001 and 2002 it was used to detain a number of people indefinitely without charge or trial under antiterrorism legislation.

Julian was due to be released in September last year, after completing his sentence for breach of bail conditions. But a vindictive judge ordered his status in jail should change - “from a serving prisoner to a person facing extradition.”

Amnesty International UK has warned there are "real risks of serious human rights violations" if he is extradited.

The charges brought against him in the US include “computer misuse” and the “unauthorised disclosure of national defence information”. That is the job of any journalist worth his salt. Without Julian Assange and Wikileaks we would not know that American pilots played games shooting people from the air in Iraq.

Julian’s gravest offence was to expose the truth about American war crimes and the appalling abuses of state and corporate power. He should be celebrated, not incarcerated.

Instead, Julian faces a sentence of up to 175 years in captivity.

Jeremy Corbyn has said any attempt to extradite Julian should be opposed by the British government. However if Keir Starmer takes over then Labour is likely to fall into line with the security state.

Meanwhile, veteran journalist John Pilger has described the conditions in which Julian is held in Belmarsh as “barbaric”.

Join us to find out more about his son's plight - and what socialists can do to help: ALSO

Join the Brighton and Hove Labour Left Alliance to oppose those who would join with the Tories in constructing a security state. Details on the night.

Doors open at 7pm on Thursday, February 6, at the Rialto Theatre, 11 Dyke Road, Brighton BN1 3FE.