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September 29, 2020

Artist Ai Weiwei Holds Protest in Support of Julian Assange, Press Freedom
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In London, Chinese dissident artist and filmmaker Ai Weiwei staged a
protest Monday in support of Wiki Leaks founder Julian Assange in front
of the courthouse where Assange's extradition hearing is ongoing.

Ai Weiwei: "Someone threatened to be put away, simply of his own
thinking and his peaceful demonstration. And he's such a genius, in a
way. And I think the fight is part of his life. And, of course, I am
here in support of him."

Assange faces almost certain conviction if extradited to the U.S., and
up to 175 years in prison. Assange has been charged under the Espionage
Act. U.S. prosecutors allege he conspired with whistleblower Chelsea
Manning to illegally download hundreds of thousands of war logs from
Iraq and Afghanistan, along with a huge trove of classified cables from
the State Department.


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