Ford Fischer Profile picture
May 3, 2023 15 tweets 13 min read Read on X
VIDEO THREAD: Supporters of @wikileaks publisher Julian Assange commemorated World Press Freedom Day this afternoon by holding a funeral procession march for press freedom in DC.

"What do we want? Free Assange!" chanted the activists, some of whom carried caskets. "When do we… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
The funeral procession for press freedom protest began outside the Department of Justice with @JenChangeFL.

She says Julian Assange's prosecution is "death of part of our First Amendment."

She calls out Biden for saying "journalism is not a crime" at the White House… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Organizer @SmurphySuzanne with @AssangeActionDC spoke out in front of the DOJ and offered welcome to @RobertKennedyJr for his recent support for Julian Assange and other journalists and whistleblowers.

She read his tweets and said they are "hitting it out of the park for me."
Independent New York Senate candidate @DianeSare spoke out for #JulianAssange and his publication of leaked video showing the U.S. military killing two Reuters journalists: "We must not be afraid to face who we are and what we should be and to challenge our fellow Americans."
Ruslan Petrovych Kotsaba, a Ukrainian media figure and critic of Ukraine's military who fled to the United States in October 2022, said he is "often called the Ukrainian Assange."

(Kotsaba was sentenced for "obstructing the activities of the armed forces" in 2015 to 3.5 years in… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Lastly in front of the DOJ: @nick_brana of @PeoplesParty_US described that on Saturday at the White House Correspondents' Dinner, "all the biggest journalists in the country gathered at a swanky hotel right here in this city to celebrate press freedoms and liberties in this… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
The funeral procession for press freedom rally then marched to the National Press Club, where @JosBtrigga said "our government has been hijacked by tyrannical forces that have censored many people, that have put Julian Assange in prison."

"Now, it is the right and the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Brian Fouche of @AssangeActionDC described how at a #WorldPressFreedomDay event hosted by Washington Post, "one thing they didn't talk about was any of the problems with freedom of speech and freedom of press in the United States."

"It was only focused on other countries."
Kathy Boylan with Dorothy Day Catholic Worker described how she refuses to pay federal taxes (this is a subject she brings up often at anti-war and related rallies in DC) "because our money is being used to fund all of the wars and the torture, all of the crimes against humanity… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Organizer @SmurphySuzanne / @AssangeActionDC then quoted @RobertKennedyJr in front of the National Press Club promising to pardon Julian Assange: "The America I love doesn't imprison its dissidents."

"Thank you RFK for standing with Julian Assange and all of the truth-sayers!"
The funeral procession for press freedom then marched to the office of Washington Post, where they placed caskets in front of the entrance.

"Freedom for Assange, we shall not be moved!" DC-based singer/activist Luci Murphy led the crowd in singing.

"Just like a tree that's… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Outside the offices of Washington Post, @medeabenjamin of @codepink said #WorldPressFreedomDay should be "Free Assange Day!"

She describes a demonstration today where she managed to interrupt @SecBlinken to demand the dropping of charges against #JulianAssange.… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Ann Wilcox @AnnWinDC of @AssangeActionDC described that there are also actions for Assange taking place in other cities such as NYC, LA, and Chicago.

She introduced Leonardo Flores @LeonardoEFA, who said the prosecution of Assange has gone beyond a double-standard.

"The United… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Closing out the funeral procession for press freedom in front of the offices of Washington Post, @JosBtrigga quoted Dante's Inferno: "Midway upon the journey of our life, I found myself astray, alone in a dark wood, for the straight and narrow path had been lost."

Jose says… twitter.com/i/web/status/1…
Here is the full @N2Sreports video of the @AssangeActionDC funeral procession for press freedom demonstration today in Washington DC.

#JulianAssange

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More from @FordFischer

Oct 30
Just now: Attendees of Vice President Kamala Harris’s rally at the Ellipse resort to climbing over the “scale proof” fences surrounding the event after exit gates were closed, apparently due to pro-Palestine protesters on the other side.
2) "Push it down!"

During some of the confusion as police wouldn't allow people to leave the Harris Ellipse speech, some pushed over a small plastic fence that divided them from other people also trying to exit.

It didn't make a difference.
3) "You say it's open but where's it open?" crowds frustrated attempted to confront police as they had difficulty leaving the Harris rally.

"No! No! No!" a cop said as a man jumped, leaving a woman with him behind, who would have had to find a not-closed gate.

Meanwhile, police attempted to confine the pro-Palestine protests outside.
Read 7 tweets
Sep 11
VIDEO THREAD: Tonight, police and protesters clashed outside the presidential debate in Philly.

I want to detail how that happened.

All was at peace until one person lit a flare, waving it around for the cameras.

Police pushed in in force, arresting him and angering the crowd.
2) A handful of frustrated protesters linked arms and pushed into a line of bike cops, mimicking them by shouting "move!"

"CPD, KKK, IOF you're all the same!" they chanted as a shoving match ensued.

Additional police arrived in riot gear and the scuffle spread and intensified.
3) With police assembling in riot gear including shields now, the remaining pro-Palestine protesters called to "disperse!"

Officers ended up facing off with a mostly empty street consisting of a handful of stragglers as well as remaining news cameras.
Read 12 tweets
Sep 8
VIDEO THREAD: "Queers love Palestine! HRC loves the war machine!"

Protesters rallied against the Human Rights Campaign dinner tonight featuring Tim Walz in DC to condemn their relationship with weapons manufacturers, which they say enable genocide.

"We're not interupting!" they chanted. "Pink washing is disgusting!"
2) Protesters put red paint on their hands to symbolize what they say is the Human Rights Campaign's support for the killing of Palestinians.

"HRC is using our name to pinkwash an administration committing genocide, burning children under rubble but those children are not human enough for the Human Rights campaign, shame!"
3) "We are here, we are queer! Zionists not welcome here!"

Protesters banged on the windows overlooking the escalator and lobby that HRC guests went through to get to the gala with Tim Walz.

Police stepped in, forcing them away from the glass.
Read 6 tweets
Jul 24
This is my 4K footage of how the violence outside the United States Capitol began today.

You can see the first mace deployed (over the heads of officers, toward the activists) which angers the pro-Palestine crowd, who begins throwing water bottles as officers continue using mace.

A little over a minute into the clip is a flash grenade, one of only a couple I saw used today.

My understanding is this occurred after Netanyahu arrived but before he spoke to Congress.
2) As police engaged the crowd, a man scolded police and was maced as well.

The crowd continued marching, taking a wider route around the Capitol and avoiding most confrontations during the march itself.
3) "Smack Netanyahu in the head with that billy club!"

Activists continued a wide march around the United States Capitol from the West side to the East side clockwise.

Some pro-Israel, anti-Netanyahu activists stood along the path and were mostly ignored. Police blocked off streets heading close to the Capitol complex.
Read 9 tweets
Jul 24
VIDEO THREAD: Protesters gathered Tuesday night in front of the Watergate Hotel (the second night in a row) for a noise demonstration against Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who is staying inside.

"From DC to Palestine, Netanyahu's out of time!" chanted protesters using red and green smoke bombs. "Shut, shut, shut it down, no Zionism in this town!"
2) "Allahu Akbar! Hamas!" yelled one man through the fencer outside the Watergate at Israel supporters counter-protesting them from inside.

"Jewish motherf***ers!" he yelled. "We're gonna kill all of you!"

"We're gonna burn you!"

It should be noted that it was one lone individual, not the wider protest, using this specific rhetoric.
3) One man dawning an Israeli flag confronted the pro-Palestine protesters directly outside the Watergate.

"You're a coward, you should join the IDF and kill kids yourself, because you're a p***y," he was told.

The man says he's from Jerusalem, but he donates, rather than being in the IDF.
Read 7 tweets
Jun 29
VIDEO THREAD: Police clashed with pro-Palestine protesters Friday night in New York City as President Biden visited Stonewall for an "LGBTQ+ Gala" and protesters demanded "No war criminals at pride!"

All video in thread by @olgafe_images for @N2Sreports
2) NYPD's Strategic Response Group forcefully pushed back pro-Palestine activists and made several arrests throughout the evening both attempting to keep protesters away from the event featuring President Biden and off of the streets.
3) Pro-Palestine protesters trying to reach the Biden event ran through the James A. Farley Building, but encountered both police and Israel supporters when they exited.
Read 4 tweets

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