Statement released by organisers of the Sydney rally to defend Wikileaks on December 10, 1pm at Sydney Town Hall. For more information, visit Really4Wikileaks (archived by Internet Archive 28/12/2010) or email rally4wikileaks.info@gmail.com. Upcoming national rallies.
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John Pilger backs Wikileaks rally
Renowned independent journalist and filmmaker John Pilger has offered his support for the protest organised by supporters of Wikileaks on Friday, December 10 at 1pm at Sydney Town Hall.
Greens Senator-elect Lee Rhiannon and NSW Greens MLC David Shoebridge are the latest confirmed speakers to address the protest. Shoebridge is also the lead candidate on the NSW Greens Upper House ticket for the 2011 state elections.
In a message to rally organisers, John Pilger said: “The defence of Julian Assange and Wikileaks is one of the most important issues of my lifetime. There are now two superpowers in the world — the military power of Washington and the power of public opinion and justice, which Wikileaks represents.
“If the Australian prime minister doesn't understand this, we Australians need to remind her that she may head a mercenary government but we are not a mercenary people.
“Those of us in London who are working to free Julian, knowing that the Swedish prosecution is a political stunt that would never produce a fair trial, will be at his side, and we call on the support of every decent Australian.”
The rally will protest the backlash, persecution and threats Wikileaks is facing for its release of more than 250,000 secret US government cables.
The protest will also call for the release of imprisoned Wikileaks editor-in-chief and award-winning Australian journalist, Julian Assange.
The rally will also be addressed by independent journalist Antony Loewenstein, author of The Blogging Revolution about the struggle for internet freedom worldwide.
Simon Frew of the Pirate Party Australia, Green Left Weekly co-editor Simon Butler, and the Wikileaks Central editor will also speak.