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.