04:55Hundreds of people gathered to demonstrate against the British government’s extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the US, in Sydney on Wednesday.
"I’m here to be one of the crowd <…> to show my support and tell the government we need to bring Julian home, he needs to be free, he’s been locked up for too long and it’s all for no good reason," said Michelle Wood, one of the protesters.
The footage shows hundreds of Assange supporters marching as well as members of Julian’s family addressing the crowd.
"I feel hugely encouraged being here in Sydney and seeing all the support there is. Yesterday I was in Canberra and I had a meeting with a packed out room of members of Parliament, from all sides of politics, and the overall sense that we feel is a concerted effort to bring Julian home from the Australian politicians, the government and also from the Australian population", said Assange's wife Stella during the rally.
Another protester, Tony Wakeham, said that he was participating in rally to defend not just Assange's rights but also his own.
"It’s absolutely outrageous, the free world as we used to believe it was, is no longer free and Julian Assange’s incarceration has demonstrated that lack of freedom, not only for Julian but for all of us", he commented.
Assange remains in the UK’s Belmarsh Prison. He is wanted by the US on 18 charges including espionage, following the publication of thousands of military and diplomatic documents relating to US actions in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
He faces up to 175 years in jail if convicted. Former British Home Secretary Priti Patel approved Assange's extradition in June 2022, while his team is continuing to appeal.
Australia: 'We need to bring Julian home' - Hundreds march in Sydney demanding release of Assange
Hundreds of people gathered to demonstrate against the British government’s extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the US, in Sydney on Wednesday.
"I’m here to be one of the crowd <…> to show my support and tell the government we need to bring Julian home, he needs to be free, he’s been locked up for too long and it’s all for no good reason," said Michelle Wood, one of the protesters.
The footage shows hundreds of Assange supporters marching as well as members of Julian’s family addressing the crowd.
"I feel hugely encouraged being here in Sydney and seeing all the support there is. Yesterday I was in Canberra and I had a meeting with a packed out room of members of Parliament, from all sides of politics, and the overall sense that we feel is a concerted effort to bring Julian home from the Australian politicians, the government and also from the Australian population", said Assange's wife Stella during the rally.
Another protester, Tony Wakeham, said that he was participating in rally to defend not just Assange's rights but also his own.
"It’s absolutely outrageous, the free world as we used to believe it was, is no longer free and Julian Assange’s incarceration has demonstrated that lack of freedom, not only for Julian but for all of us", he commented.
Assange remains in the UK’s Belmarsh Prison. He is wanted by the US on 18 charges including espionage, following the publication of thousands of military and diplomatic documents relating to US actions in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
He faces up to 175 years in jail if convicted. Former British Home Secretary Priti Patel approved Assange's extradition in June 2022, while his team is continuing to appeal.
Hundreds of people gathered to demonstrate against the British government’s extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the US, in Sydney on Wednesday.
"I’m here to be one of the crowd <…> to show my support and tell the government we need to bring Julian home, he needs to be free, he’s been locked up for too long and it’s all for no good reason," said Michelle Wood, one of the protesters.
The footage shows hundreds of Assange supporters marching as well as members of Julian’s family addressing the crowd.
"I feel hugely encouraged being here in Sydney and seeing all the support there is. Yesterday I was in Canberra and I had a meeting with a packed out room of members of Parliament, from all sides of politics, and the overall sense that we feel is a concerted effort to bring Julian home from the Australian politicians, the government and also from the Australian population", said Assange's wife Stella during the rally.
Another protester, Tony Wakeham, said that he was participating in rally to defend not just Assange's rights but also his own.
"It’s absolutely outrageous, the free world as we used to believe it was, is no longer free and Julian Assange’s incarceration has demonstrated that lack of freedom, not only for Julian but for all of us", he commented.
Assange remains in the UK’s Belmarsh Prison. He is wanted by the US on 18 charges including espionage, following the publication of thousands of military and diplomatic documents relating to US actions in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
He faces up to 175 years in jail if convicted. Former British Home Secretary Priti Patel approved Assange's extradition in June 2022, while his team is continuing to appeal.