High profile progressive journalists, media workers, labor figures and whistleblowers have endorsed initiatives as part of a Day Of Action For Journalists and Whistleblowers -Stand Up For Julian Assange, Chelsea Manning and others on May 3rd to mark U.N. World Press Freedom Day, a day recognised around the world as a day to defend journalists and media workers. Attacks on the media by governments throughout the world have grown exponentially over the years and journalists are facing threats of imprisonment, torture, and even murder.
We must engage and mobilise the entire labor movement and working class to join in the fight to protect press freedom. The right of working people to have information about their government, and governments around the world, is vital in their fight to protect the conditions and the lives of working people globally.
PROTESTS AND EVENTS
As part of this mobilisation we are organising on May 3rd – there will be events and protests in defence of journalists and whistleblowers and to stand up for Julian Assange and Chelsea Manning. This call out has been endorsed by a range of journalists, media workers and whistleblowers, along with the Queensland Maritime Union of Australia sub-branch. Read more here…
LETTER TO THE M.E.A.A
Journalists and media workers are also endorsing an open letter to the Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA), the Australian trade union that represents journalists. The letter demands that the MEAA breaks the silence it has maintained on Assange since 2011 and to campaign to defend him. The letter has already been signed by an impressive collection of Australian and International media workers including journalists, documentary makers, political cartoonists and print and radio journalists. working in radio, documentaries, online newspapers. Read more here….
WHO IS ORGANISING THIS MOBILISATION
This website and mobilisation is being coordinated by KPFA WorkWeek Radio, the United Public Workers for Action who recently helped have a resolution passed in defence of Assange at the San Francisco Labor Council, classconscious.org, and Llama a researcher and writer. There is more information and articles on World Press Freedom Day on Llama’s website jimmyslamma.com
All these individuals have been active in writing, campaigning and organising protests in defence of press freedoms, Chelsea Manning and Julian Assange.
Contact: worldpressfreedomday@protonmail.com to endorse either the letter or the call out for actions
