News & Commentary

The State Dept, Julian Assange, and World Press Freedom Day

Decensored News

May 4, 2024

Yesterday was World Press Freedom Day. Instead of having a press briefing, the US State Department put out a scripted video of their deputy spokesmen reciting insincere platitudes.

Here it is, alongside clips of journalists Matt Lee and Sam Husseini questioning them about Julian Assange on World Press Freedom Day last year.

“Today… we recognize the importance of a free and open press and honor the courageous journalists who ask the hard questions and provide crucial information to the world.” —Vedant Patel, May 3, 2024

LEE: Is Julian Assange a journalist?

PATEL: He's been charged with crimes

LEE: Yeah but anyone can be charged with anything. Is he a journalist or not?

PATEL: He's been charged with crimes that endangered national security

HUSSEINI: How? By exposing US govt criminality? 🤨 https://t.co/yzw3fWjcmf
— Decensored News (@decensorednews) May 5, 2024

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Image Credit: Jacob Applebaum (CC BY 3.0). May be modified from original.