Julian Assange rape apology LETS SMASH THE PATRIARCHY

I've just realised that my habit of posting late at night means not all the cogs of my brain are working.

I have now remembered through talking about this with others that linking Julian Assange with freedom of speech / press is a false analogy.

His case, if there is one, is about freedom of information. ie where is the cut off point for government in terms of openess and transparency, and the need/right(?) to not make some information public. ie some cabinet papers are kept secret for 30 years (I think that's right!).

Freedom of the press is a vacuous meaningless arguement as we all now the press daily carries out censorship ie they are a partisan mouth piece for powerful groups with vested interests.

Freedom of speech is as we know another false illusion, ie freedom is only to given to those with or in power.

ie would any of these people trying to make out assange is some sort of martyr stand up for women's right to talk openly and freely about their common experience as a sex class when if fact they are censored and intimidated.

Assange should face up to accepting that what he thinks are his principles are a breach of existing laws. Chelsea Manning had the courage of convictions to not only carry out the actually act of taking information that the US Government felt was restricted but has not run away from the US Government prosecuting this as a crime.

So he is not only a male scumbag running away from the consequences of sexual assault but he is also a coward who isn't prepared to pay the price of taking a stand for freedom of information.

Peace activists and environmentalists etc., regularly challenge laws to make the political point they want publicised. And some of them pay the price by being prosecuted.

So these so called supporters of free speech should actually be holding a meeting about where the boundary is between all information being free and what should be restricted.

I have no expectation of such a group of self important worthies ever speaking up for women's right to free expression.

All too often really important issues get hijacked to be a vehicle to promote the egos of so called celebrities.

I hope you will carry out the plan as outlined above

I have zero intention of carrying out the plan above. Freedom of speech is facing an existential threat in the 21st century. If you think deliberately disrupting meetings about freedom of the press is the priority? So be it.

A more effective protest would be organising another talk nearby, one that presents the opposing argument. Publicise widely and get your own argument into all the media coverage. Film your event and tag it into comments on their YouTube uploads.

We need more speech and more listening, not people speaking in empty rooms.

Stop the War? I always thought it was an SWP organisation but claims to be a coalition. Some interesting names here www.stopwar.org.uk/index.php/about/stop-the-war-patrons-officers-steering-cttee

Well if George Galloway is on the steering committee it isn't really a surprise that women's rights dont register of being anything to be considered.

I don't see the link with Assange, but a discussion about freedom of speech with several serious people seems a healthy thing.

I don't see anything indicating it's going to be excusing his behaviour, if it was I'd agree with you OP, but as it is I perhaps agree with PP's suggestion to go and listen.

He hasn't faced trial on any other issue because he hasn't been extradited to the US.

And may not be.

The issue of freedom of speech is much too important to be linked to some irresponsible self aggrandising cowboy who many who also campaign for freedom of speech dont support because of his irresponsible behaviour.

In the mean time he is facing the consequences of his cowardly decision to avoid being questioned in relation to allegations of rape. As a result of not facing up to (and possibly sucessfully defending himself) the rape allegations he has now put himself through years of self imposed imprisonment, lost his friends money who stood bail for him, and is serving a very minimal sentence for trying to evade the law.

And of course, as usual the real victims, the women he abused, are just not recognised as having any rights.

Yes campaign on freedom of speech but dont try and link it to a seriously flawed and totally inappropriate figure head.

Well, all I would say is that I think it would be more constructive and helpful to attend an event like this and ask those questions, raise those inconvenient facts.

Oh yes, discuss away. The problem is the Assange Groupies don't want to come out of their echo chamber and confront inconvenient facts.

I'm not defending Assange - the point is that freedom of speech doesn't just apply to the people we agree with. I'm not even defending Assange's right to speak here, I'm arguing that others have the right to discuss his case!

The case certainly does have implications for women/feminists - I really can't understand wanting to undermine debate on the issues.

He has not been tried for the sexual assaults because his deliberate attempts to evade them were sucessful and the time limits under Swedish law expired.

The Ecuadorians were wrong to offer 'diplomatic asylum' in the UK. This is an OAS concept not recognised by the UK even in the region. Even by its own terms Assange was not eligible since the OAS treaty specifically excludes fugitives from criminal charges.

The Assange camp has persistently and repeatedly lied about his situation, and some halfwits working for the UN have been taken in.

He is scum.

Julian Assange shouldn’t rape people either.

He hasn't been tried for the rape. His trial was for skipping bail.

I agree that this is a complex issue. It raises all sorts of questions - all the more reason to debate it. Why did the Ecuadorian Embassy protect him? Was that right? Should that be allowed?

I cannot see how trying to undermine debate is useful. The more voices the better, the more dialogue the better.

I dont support this group stumble, I dont agree with the method suggested by the op. I believe the woman who made the allegations, the whole conspiracy theory isn't one that I agree with. I an uncomfortable with any tactic that makes it difficult for those I dont agree with to speak.

The point is that he hasn't had a trial.

The point is that he has:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-48118908

Do you agree that people cannot evade justice by skipping bail?

Assange's case raises important issues to do with women's rights and the ability of influential males to get away with acts of violation against women.

Being a victim of a gross misscarriage of justice doesn't make Assange a hero. He might be a rapist or a misogynist - he might be responsible for the deaths of at least one translator in Afghanistan - even if indirectly. There's a chance that he might have been framed.

The point is that he hasn't had a trial. You do agree that we all have the right to a fair trial? That we are innocent until proven guilty, and should have recourse to a fair trial? That is quite fundamental to our justice system and human rights, I would say.

Assange's case raises important issues to do with civil liberties, freedom of speech and culpability that affect everyone and should concern everyone who wants to maintain a functioning democracy

Julian Assange was tried and sentenced by a court of law to serve a term of 50 weeks imprisonment which has yet to be completed. He was due for release after serving half his sentence on 22 September 2019, but was detained to serve the remainder of the sentence by a district judge because he was a flight risk.

Once he has served his sentence, he will become a remand prisoner facing extradition. His ineligibility for bail is entirely his own fault.

I find some on the comments of here very confusing.

Wanting to support freedom of speech doesn't mean you have to support all organisations which claim to be working towards this end.

Pro Assange supporters should consider whether they are harming their campaign by associating it with someone who is so morally compromised.

ie the Assange case as it now stands has nothing to do with freedom of speech.

He is not being held without charge. He is serving time for skipping bail in relation to the rape allegations.

There is a court case going on which is about the American's applying for extradition.

I think women are more than entitled to protest people trying to aggrandise Assange by people who show so little respect for women.

Whether buying tickets to leave seats empty is an effective method of protest is a matter of opinion. I doubt the numbers of empty seats will make much of an impact.

But the alternative of standing outside with placards is maybe one that some women dont feel able to make.

But there is nothing to stop women countering the false narrative of Assange as some sort of hero via the keyboard in response to articles or tweets.

I think most campaigns fall apart when they try to focus it round one individual. Let alone someone as scummy and cowardly as Assange.

But support this group? No way. No more than I would support a Stonewall event claiming to be about L&G() rights.

Erasing women's rights is not the foundation for any legitimate campaign.

Well said andy

Julian Assange has had all charges relating to him dropped by the Swedish judiciary. The case that he was being held for jumping bail has long since expired. Julian is being held in the UK's top security prison, having been charged with precisely nothing.
Despite the fact that he is an Australian citizen, Julian will either be illegally detained in Belmarsh or be extradited to the US, where he will face even worse conditions.
He is in prison simply because he lifted the lid on war crimes which the US and UK committed.

I agree, Langsdestiny, but my feelings about him aren't really relevant. We have to legislate and act on reason and provable information, not on personal feelings.

Just to be clear though I think Assange is an arse. Using my right to free speech

Those are tactics used by people who want to prevent legal, peaceful meetings and discussions they don't agree with. No thanks

Well said Michelle and LangsDestiny

This board in particular is routinely targeted by people who dont want us to speak I am not going to start doing that to other people. So no thanks.