Amnesty International presented a petition with almost 400,000 signatures to the United States Consulate on September 8. The petition is calling on the US government to drop the charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and end its attempt to get him extradited from Britain.
Former Labor foreign minister Bob Carr spoke at a media conference in Martin Place. He backed Amnesty Australia鈥檚 call for help to pressure US authorities to 鈥渄rop the charges that relate to Assange鈥檚 publishing activities as part of his work with WikiLeaks and help protect the right to freedom of expression鈥.
Journalist and former ABC presenter Quentin Dempster called on Prime Minister Scott Morrison and foreign minister Marise Payne to 鈥渋ntervene to demand that the US desists with Assange鈥檚 extradition on now trumped-up charges鈥.
Amnesty held a 鈥渧irtual rally鈥 for Assange at which spokesperson Sam Klintworth said the organisation was also calling on British authorities to 鈥渃ancel the extradition hearing鈥 against Assange. These proceedings are 鈥渁n attack on the right to freedom of expression, and will have a chilling effect on journalism worldwide鈥, she said.
[Amnesty is urging all supporters of Assange to send Twitter messages demanding #DropTheChargesUSA. The AI Twitter address is .]