Regarding Assange: a reminder...

[YoungDemCA]

Myth 2. The Swedish sexual assault charges against Assange are frivolous


Two Swedish women reported that Assange assaulted them during August of 2010, when they were hosting him on a trip to Sweden. One of the women described Assange pulling her clothes off against her will and pining her down. The second woman told police that she woke up to find Assange having sex with her. Both women claim that Assange removed his condom, even though its use was a condition for having sex.

Assange’s lawyer and many of his supporters have claimed that this was a CIA conspiracy. Assange’s supporters often argue this because the women did not report the crime immediately and did not kick Assange out of the house. Unfortunately, this relies on a fundamental misunderstanding of rape and sexual assault.

Victims of rape sometimes experience self-doubt, and often fear stigma and shame. Many people, both men and women, are confused by the line between aggressive sex and sexual assault, and even those who understand the lines may hesitate. This is why most rapes are not reported at all. Statistics show that the number of victims seriously affected by trauma far outnumber cases where false accusations are made. These women were Wikileaks supporters, invited Assange to their homes, and at one point wanted to have sex with him, on their terms. They probably predicted that they would be publically vilified by Assange’s supporters.

The fact that this crime was reported at all beats the odds. In light of these facts, it is pure misogyny to criticize Assange’s victims for the delay.

There are other reasons to discredit conspiracy theories about the charges. The incident in question occurred in August of 2010, before Wikileak’s major cable dump. At the time, most Americans had never heard of Wikileaks and Wikileaks could not have been a serious priority for the CIA.

Assange would have you believe that the CIA managed to convince two of his former supporters, as well as the fairly liberal Swedish government, to turn on him without leaving a shred of evidence behind. Unfortunately, there is a long history of the media and the American public giving celebrity rapists the benefit of the doubt. Kate Harding, a journalist for Salon, effectively documented how the smears against Assange’s accusers began as soon as the story broke. Major media figures, such as Keith Olberman, were claiming Assange was set up even before the basic facts of the case were in. Sadly, rumors are still flying about the supposed CIA connection of one of Assange’s accusers. However, no credible media source has verified this “connection.”

It was first claimed by Israel Shamir, a Wikileaks member infamous for Holocaust denial and other anti-Semitic conspiracy theories. Shamir claims that one of Assange’s accusers once worked with anti-Castro groups that are also supported by the CIA.

http://mic.com/articles/13088/julian-assange-wikileaks-embassy-standoff-5-myths-that-have-helped-make-assange-a-hero

[NoJusticeNoPeace]

1. Huge supporter of feminism, but even if he was guilty of violent rape, why cant we hold him

accountable for that AND accept his factual work in other areas at the same time?

And he isnt accused of rape, is he?

Is he accused of not using a condom?

Regardless, killing the messenger might be suicide for us in the long run

[shenmue]

2. I think this is why there needs to be a trial

I don't think the fact that he created Wikileaks means we should shove under the rug whatever else he may have done. If he really did rape anyone, he should be jailed. Period. Anyone else can run Wikileaks other than him.

[BainsBane]

3. false, there is an active arrest warrant for sexual assault

In which the victim says he forcibly held her down and compelled her to have sex with him.
On 13th – 14th August 2010, in the home of the injured party in Stockholm, Assange, by using violence, forced the injured party to endure his restricting her freedom of movement. The violence consisted in a firm hold of the injured party’s arms and a forceful spreading of her legs whilst lying on top of her and with his body weight preventing her from moving or shifting.

Arrest warrant:

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/packages/pdf/world/20110224-Britain-Ruling-Assange-Extradition-to-Sweden.pdf

British high court rulings on Sweden's request to extradite Assange: http://www.bailii.org/ew/cases/EWHC/Admin/2011/2849.html


The condom story is one widely circulated to trivialize the charges of assault.

I have seen people repeatedly refuse to read the warrant and continue to spread false information. It really comes down to this: they refuse to believe someone they admire could be a rapist and will not look at evidence that contradicts what they want to believe. The fact is people we like and admire are rapists. If one only holds accountable for rape those we do not admire, that means there is no effective prohibition against sexual assault, which is in fact the current state of affairs, the rape culture members of this group comment on. This could be about a football player or a movie director, and the story would be the same, as it is the same for all accused rapists. People make excuses for them and in so doing ensure that rape is not effectively prosecuted. Everyone believes their reasons are just, but the fact is courts determine guilt, not random chatter on the internet. Assange has chosen to evade questioning rather than face Swedish authorities. That is why he has been held up in the Ecuadorian embassy all these years.

[freshwest]

4. TY

[JustAnotherGen]

5. Another thank you n/t

[ChazII]

6. Make this the third thank you.

Your post is spot on.

[nomorenomore08]

7. +4