First Amendment - RISE UP TIMES

The Belmarsh Tribunal, Free Assange, hosted by Democracy Now!

What is at stake: To all people of conscience an exhortation to act: "We will not be silent." Expert witnesses from the U.S. and Europe speak to what amounts to the "framing" of Julian Assange, how his case progressed as Trump filed the indictments, then to the hearings, and to how all of this will affect free speech if Assange is extradited and found guilty in a U.S. court for publishing the truth about American drones' "collateral damage" in the murder of civilians. Mike Pompeo characterized WikiLeaks (a publisher!) as an "enemy espionage organization" for the release of condemning CIA data. And the global rise of fascism begins with targeting and discrediting journalists. Freedom of the press and the right of people to know what their government is doing as well as the rights of journalists and their publishers of all viewpoints to publish the truth is threatened, but Biden foolishly pushes forward to extradite Assange instead of freeing him, although journalist and human rights organizations as well as heads of state worldwide have spoken up for Assange, press freedom, and the people's right to the truth.

Save the First Amendment!: Free Julian Assange! by Mike Madden

Update: On June 17, the British court ordered the extradition to the United States of Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange, who exposed war crimes. Assange is an Australian citizen. Take action.

Hedges: PEN America and the Betrayal of Julian Assange

"When the ruling class peddles lies there is no cost for parroting them back to the public. The cost is paid by those who tell the truth."

Matt Taibbi: Responding to “On the Media” on Free Speech: FIRE’s “So to Speak” Podcast

Last month, On the Media, a popular radio program from New York City’s WNYC, aired an episode that questioned free speech values and challenged so-called “free speech absolutism.” On today’s episode of So to Speak: The Free Speech Podcast, we are joined by Matt Taibbi, Nadine Strossen, and Amna Khalid, who provide direct responses to many of the free speech critiques made in On the Media’s program

EFF Fireside Chat: Section 230 and Free Speech

What to do to protect free speech on the internet.

Julian Assange and WikiLeaks, Journalism on trial, Scahill, Hedges, Pilger and more: the charges, the defense, what you can do

Several articles are posted here. Click on the each title or video to read/see the full article. +++ On Contact: Chris Hedges interviews Kristinn Hrafnsson, Editor-in-Chief of WikiLeaks Assange charges and extradition: A political question and an attack on the foundation of democracy https://youtu.be/TLGEfcwQHiY Chris Hedges discusses the US extradition request for Julian Assange More

It Is Time To Kill The Espionage Act, by Thor Benson

We’re still seeing the Espionage Act used to kill free speech on a regular basis today, just over a century since its passage into law.

Federal Lawsuit Alleges Trump’s Threats Against The Press Are Unconstitutional, By Steve Denning

Photo: PEN [Trump] has: "engaged in conduct intended to retaliate against specific news organizations and journalists whose content and viewpoints displease him. Through his actions, Trump has intentionally conveyed to all writers and journalists that …they may be subject to retaliation by the federal government. That conduct violates the Constitution." By Steve Denning Senior More

First Amendment Rights confirmed in verdict in trial for protesting the killing of Philando Castile

"We miss you Mr. Phil.”

Rosario: A St. Paul veteran’s arrest at airport protest ends in victory at trial

“You know, the way First Amendment rights have been eroding, this jury at least believes that the government has been too restrictive with speech.”

Deconsructed Podcast: How Bad is the News? with Hasan Minhaj

The news is almost like the comments section on Facebook, where there is no, “Hey, we went to the moon.” Everything is a moon-landing debate.

In a Major Free Speech Victory, a Federal Court Strikes Down a Law that Punishes Supporters of Israel Boycott by Glenn Greenwald

It’s hard to imagine a law that more directly violates the First Amendment’s guarantee of free speech than one that seeks to deny people benefits for which everyone else is eligible due solely to the state’s disapproval of their political views and activism.

Media for Justice and Peace