Summary: On April 11th 2019 Julian Assange, founder of WikiLeaks; was arrested by the U.K police. This happened after Ecuador revoked his asylum status. Assange stayed at the Ecuadorian embassy in London since 2012 after fears that he was going to be extradited to Sweden over a sexual assault investigation. After the investigation was dropped by Sweden Assange remained at the embassy because of fears of his extradition to the U.S after the leak of thousands of classified military documents from the U.S. The police say that they arrested Assange "on behalf of the United States". The U.S has charged Assange with conspiring to access a restricted computer with the help of Chelsea Manning. Assange received criticism after the 2016 U.S presidential election when he allegedly worked with Russian hackers to obtain emails from the democratic party, which were then used to create a scandal with Hilary Clinton and to support Trump.
Quote(s): "Images of Ecuador's ambassador inviting the UK's secret police into the embassy to drag a publisher of--like it or not--award-winning journalism out of the building are going to end up in the history books. Assange's critics may cheer, but this is a dark moment for press freedom." -Edward Snowden
In this tweet from Edward Snowden, famous former NSA whistle-blower raises his concern that the arrest of Assange will lead to a precedent of journalists being imprisoned; and free speech/press being compromised.
"Assange didn't change. He has been appropriated by those who have warped the initial stated aims of his organization. But Assange was always fundamentally a contrarian, and fundamentally deeply anti-American." -Lisa Lynch, associate professor at Drew University
Lynch is stating in this quote that Assange was used as a tool by foreign powers to undermine the U.S. Lynch also states that as time went on Assange strayed from the ideals set out by WikiLeaks, instead using the organization to achieve personal goals and vendettas.
Picture: The political cartoon below uses labeling to show the U.S (arms), Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning, and Julian Assange. Edward Snowden was a whistle-blower that worked as a contractor for the NSA. Chelsea Manning was a whistle-blower and former American soldier who helped leak classified documents to Assange. Julian Assange is Julian Assange, since I wrote about him in the above sections I will not go into detail here. The three whistle-blowers are having their senses blocked by the "arm" of the U.S; symbolizing the actions of the U.S government in suppressing whistle-blowers that revealed government secrets.
My Opinion: Because of Assange's actions in what I would call selectively leaking documents (leaking DNC emails for the purpose of supporting Trump's campaign), I don't feel sorry for him. Although I do believe that if Assange is extradited and charged in the U.S, that it could lead to a precedent of journalists being punished for expressing free speech. This situation shows to conflict in ideologies between collectivist and individualist principles; individual human rights versus collective security. On one hand it is true that military documents being leaked could undermine the collective security of the U.S, I believe that upholding freedom of speech and truth is more important. So despite the 2016 election emails I do hope that Assange isn't extradited, so to protect journalists and whistle-blowers all over the world who put themselves on the line for the truth.
Quote(s): "Images of Ecuador's ambassador inviting the UK's secret police into the embassy to drag a publisher of--like it or not--award-winning journalism out of the building are going to end up in the history books. Assange's critics may cheer, but this is a dark moment for press freedom." -Edward Snowden
In this tweet from Edward Snowden, famous former NSA whistle-blower raises his concern that the arrest of Assange will lead to a precedent of journalists being imprisoned; and free speech/press being compromised.
"Assange didn't change. He has been appropriated by those who have warped the initial stated aims of his organization. But Assange was always fundamentally a contrarian, and fundamentally deeply anti-American." -Lisa Lynch, associate professor at Drew University
Lynch is stating in this quote that Assange was used as a tool by foreign powers to undermine the U.S. Lynch also states that as time went on Assange strayed from the ideals set out by WikiLeaks, instead using the organization to achieve personal goals and vendettas.
Picture: The political cartoon below uses labeling to show the U.S (arms), Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning, and Julian Assange. Edward Snowden was a whistle-blower that worked as a contractor for the NSA. Chelsea Manning was a whistle-blower and former American soldier who helped leak classified documents to Assange. Julian Assange is Julian Assange, since I wrote about him in the above sections I will not go into detail here. The three whistle-blowers are having their senses blocked by the "arm" of the U.S; symbolizing the actions of the U.S government in suppressing whistle-blowers that revealed government secrets.
My Opinion: Because of Assange's actions in what I would call selectively leaking documents (leaking DNC emails for the purpose of supporting Trump's campaign), I don't feel sorry for him. Although I do believe that if Assange is extradited and charged in the U.S, that it could lead to a precedent of journalists being punished for expressing free speech. This situation shows to conflict in ideologies between collectivist and individualist principles; individual human rights versus collective security. On one hand it is true that military documents being leaked could undermine the collective security of the U.S, I believe that upholding freedom of speech and truth is more important. So despite the 2016 election emails I do hope that Assange isn't extradited, so to protect journalists and whistle-blowers all over the world who put themselves on the line for the truth.