‘THERE is only one decision: No extradition! – free Julian Assange’ chanted a demonstration of over 50 supporters of the jailed Wikileaks founder Julian Assange outside Stratford station on Saturday.
Clara Campo, from the Julian Assange Defence Committee who organised the ‘Stand for Assange’ demonstration, told News Line: ‘We are taking the campaign into the public domain and that is why we are here in Stratford and not in central london where there are crowds of tourists.
‘Julian Assange has been in prison since 11th April and in October he will have served half of his year-long sentence.
‘Any other person in prison would be placed on remand but we are sceptical this will be the case with Julian as The courts seem to apply different rules for Mr Assange.
‘He is currently in Belmarsh prison and suffering terribly, he is in isolation and is physically very ill.
‘We are very concerned as one of his legal team, Gareth Pierce, wrote to the prison authorities on June 2nd and to date has not had any reply.’
Anna Price came to the protest with her young son and said: ‘This is the most important political issue of our time.
‘It is about the relationship with Britain to the US and making decisions on what is right.
‘The public need to have transparency about what those in power are doing.
‘Julian Assange has not committed any crime but has merely revealed the crimes of those in power.
‘And for that he is being punished in a harsh and degrading manner.
‘Anyone who speaks out should be very concerned and they should stand up now and fight to stop his extradition to the US.’
Also on the protest, Katrina Jaye said: ‘This issue affects all of us, if Julian Assange is silenced for telling the truth, they will not stop there.
‘They will continue with their war crimes.
‘The TUC must become involved and fight for his release instead of trying to prop up this shaky government.’
On the demonstration, Belgica Guaña, from the Ecuador community in London, criticised the role of Ecuadorian President Moreno for allowing the police to enter the Ecuadorian embassy in London on April 11th.
Assange had been granted asylum in the embassy where he had stayed since 2012.
Belgica said: ‘We are here because people need to know the truth about Julian assange and we are demanding his immediate release.’
Joe Brack said: ‘I will be going to lobby the TUC on September 9th because they should be 100 per cent behind Julian, and they represent millions of workers.
‘’We are seeing the greatest constitutional crisis in over 50 years.
‘We need a socialist Brexit as the only way forward.
‘All the issues we are facing here of austerity, privatisation and de-indusrtrialisation are happening thoughout Europe.
‘Just look at how Portugal, Spain, France and especially Greece are suffering under the EU bankers.’
‘I feel the freedom of the press is essential’ said Miriam Ojeda.
‘The media have manipulated events that happened during the Iraq war and afterwards.
‘Journalists such as Assange who have published documents of public interest should not be condemned and sent to prison.
‘I am afraid if Julian is extradited to the US he may be killed.’
Another protester, Hadia Hudoudia said: ‘Julian Assange has been proved right about so many things.
‘The destabilisation of the Middle east, about the war on Syria, about the fact that President Assad did not use chemical weapons against Syrians.
‘Assange was not afraid to speak out against Israel and their seizure of the Golan heights from Syria and lands from Palestinians.
‘Those in prison should be Blair and his supporters who went to war over the lies about Iraq having weapons of mass destruction.’
Zoe, from west London, said: ‘Julian Assange has not done any harm to anyone, in fact, he has done a great service to humanity by exposing the crimes of the US government and their military.
‘He should be rewarded not facing extradition to the US or Sweden.
‘He should be freed immediately, especially as his health has deteriorated after being confined in the Ecuadorian embassy for years and now in Belmarsh prison.’
Jeff Conibear from Croydon, said: ‘I have come here to spread the word because there has been silence in the main media since Julian Assange was pulled out of the Ecuadorian embassy.
‘I was concerned to hear from John Pilger who said that Assange might be in danger of his life and he is still in the prison hospital.
‘I will be going to lobby the TUC to demand the unions speak out for a great journalist, Julian Assange, and it is shocking that they have been silent so far.’
Travelling from Germany to take part in the ‘Stand 4 Assange’ protest, Isabell Pforr from Leipzig told News Line: ‘I have taken part in protests in Germany against the fascists but there are not many actions in support of Julian Assange.
‘I have travelled here to support the Assange campaign for his release as his imprisonment is such an important issue that affects us all.’
‘I will be attending another protest on September 7th at Australia House and a lobby of the TUC on September 9th before I return.’
New York resident Anna Kard also made it her business to be at the protest on her holiday in the UK.
She said: ‘I have arranged my holiday around attending this protest, I needed to be here for this event.
‘It’s good to see such a good crowd here, we must step up the fight for the release of Julian Assange.’
Maria Modesto from Wandsworth said: ‘This protest is a contribution towards the release of Julian assange from prison.
‘I am concerned about his treatment and fear he may not survive and it is important to step up the campaign for his release.’
After the protest, Emmy Butlin from the Julian Assange Defence Campaign told News Line: ‘Today’s action here in Stratford was a great success with a lot of people showing great interest in the situation regarding Julian Assange’s seizure from the embassy and his current imprisonment and supported our demand for his immediate release.’
