A message of love (Luke 4:18): Why should we support Julian Assange?

15th January, 2020
6-8pm
In the Church Hall at St James's Church, 197 Piccadilly, London W1J 9LL (access from Church Place)

FREE TALK AND DISCUSSION with Q & A

DEEPA GOVINDARAGAN DRIVER Lecturer in Governance, Regulation and Risk, Reading University
JOANNE MORRISON Christian activist
LISA LONGSTAFF Women Against Rape

MAXINE WALKER Committee to Defend Julian Assange

DEEPA GOVINDARAGAN DRIVER is a trade unionist, university lecturer and citizen activist campaigning for the release of Julian Assange. As a mother of two young children, and as a disabled woman of colour Deepa will share thoughts on love, solidarity and why we as Christians are taking a stand against the torture of Julian Assange for revealing war crimes & corruption. Deepa will discuss what she understands by love, what capture means to her in today’s context,

and the importance of liberty (Luke 4: 18)

JOANNE MORRISON:“A lifelong seeker who eventually found. I aim to live by the words contemplative action - I'm trying to walk the talk but also believe in the importance of knowing my own limitations. I support Julian Assange and Wikileaks because as a Christian, speaking truth to power is necessary and vital in the expression of my faith. Julian created Wikileaks, which helped to lift the veil of corruption in a major way - I believe we as Christians should help to free him so that he can heal with his family and friends and so that he is able to continue to provide a platform for truth and justice. Christ is Radical, I believe that Christianity should also be Radical. Love is Radical.”

LISA LONGSTAFF “For over four decades Women Against Rape has campaigned to get rapists convicted. But the pursuit of Julian Assange is not about rape -- it’s the US government weaponising rape in order to punish him for his Wikileaks exposes on war crimes, rape and torture in several countries around the world.”

MAXINE WALKER“I support the struggle against the extradition of Julian Assange and call for his immediate freedom. People throughout the world, particularly those who have been the victims of Western imperialist wars, know how important Julian Assange and Wikileaks have been in exposing these wars and the war crimes that have accompanied them. The US and the UK are ruthlessly and lawlessly persecuting Julian Assange and seeking vengeance solely for the 'crime' of telling the truth. If we are to defend our rapidly dwindling democratic rights - including our right to know the reality of wars waged by our governments - it is our absolute duty to defend Julian Assange.”