The case against Julian Assange is a threat to the First Amendment’s press freedom protections.

Prosecuting Assange for newsgathering or publishing sets a precedent that can be used against all media outlets. This would criminalize standard journalistic practices.

Media outlets need to join together to defend the right to publish. Major outlets like The New York Times, Der Spiegel, LeMonde, El Pais and The Guardian have spoken up: “Publishing is not a crime.”

They have been joined by a wide array of human rights, press freedom and civil liberties groups who have condemned the prosecution of Assange.

We need all press outlets to speak up in defense of the First Amendment.

Don’t kill the messenger. Our strength as a nation comes from our ability to recognize our flaws and overcome them.

If we kill the messenger, we avoid the truth. Julian Assange published truthful information in the public interest.

If we want to avoid more tragedies and more stupid wars, we shouldn’t persecute journalists who seek to shine light on government misdeeds.

Al Reford

Kihei