Thread by @deepa_driver

I was a legal observer at the #Assange hearings on behalf of @SocialistLawyer.
Here is a 🧵 capturing my feelings & impressions.

(I speak as an individual- my formal report will follow in a few weeks)

#WeAreAllAssange

1/

The daily experience was upsetting & sad.
For me there was physical tiredness from queueing (every day for 3 weeks in Sep) in the wee hours in the 🥶
Julian has a chronic lung condition; he’s depressed & has osteoporosis made worse by lack of sunlight.
He’s been MADE ill
2/

Being driven over from Belmarsh in the early hours in a manky SERCO van after being strip searched and X-rayed was yet another brutality inflicted on him.
They seemed to use process at every point to grind him down & remind him that they didn’t find him worthy of humanity.
3/

Also exhausting was the constant dehumanising treatment of anyone who dared to attend or might support #Assange.
Police intimidation & arbitrary behaviour by those in power was largely the norm. My professional privilege usually shields me from this. Not here!
4/

It will come as no surprise to anyone familiar with the criminal justice system that the vast majority of defendants are poor & working class & largely from minority ethnic groups. The system is confusing & broken & it seems intentionally so, such that it frustrates justice
5/

Watching Julian struggle to say his name + seeing him treated so appallingly & deprived of his agency & voice in court was also very sad & disempowering.

I went home every day to a loving family & a heated home

Julian (& other prisoners) had no such respite.

6/

Throughout the trial I had an overwhelming sadness watching as his elderly relatives & careworn partner & friends & supporters, were ruthlessly denied basic fair access.
Julian is fortunate to have them all. They’re not giving up & their resistance is inspiring. It really is
7/

What I found very upsetting (when I should know better) was the arrogance & complete lack of humanity at the CPS, from the American & British authorities, from the prosecution’s medical experts & from the judge.

8/

There is also much to be thankful about. So many eyes opened, so many courageous, resourceful, kind, generous people. But that’s a thread in itself.

Until then solidarity from London to all the good folk fighting to #FreeAssange