Julian Assange Calls for U.S. to End Its Wikileaks 'Witch Hunt'
Julian Assange made his first public appearance since seeking asylum in the Ecuadorian embassy in London almost two months ago. Assange called for the U.S. to end the "witch hunt" against Wikleaks from an embassy balcony.
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"I speak to you from up here, because I cannot be down there," he began. Assange was finally granted asylum by Ecuador's government on Thursday. The British government has vowed not to let Assange leave the country. There were rumors the British were going to revoke Ecuador's diplomatic status and raid the embassy.
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"I ask President Obama to do the right thing," Assange said on Sunday. "The U.S. must renounce its witch hunt against Wikileaks. The U.S. must desolve its F.B.I. investigation. The U.S. must vow not to prosecute our staff, or our supporters," he said. He also called for the U.S. to release Bradley Manning from jail, and he showed his support for Pussy Riot, the punk band sentenced to two years in a Russian prison for mocking Vladimir Putin.
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Hundreds of London police officers lined up outside the Ecuador embassy to see if Assange would step foot outside and allow them to arrest him. He's facing extradition to Sweden to face sexual assault charges. Ecuador's president Rafael Correa has said Assange would cooperate with the Sweedish government if they promised not to extradite him to another country immediately after they were finished with him. For now, Assange is trapped in the embassy with no where to go, although there are rumors of ridiculous escape plan plots.
