In the U.S. capital, protesters have confronted Secretary of State Antony Blinken over the Biden administration’s prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and for failing to condemn the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, who was killed by an Israeli military sniper last year while reporting from the occupied West Bank.
Wednesday’s protest was led by CodePink’s Medea Benjamin, who interrupted Washington Post columnist David Ignatius as he interviewed Blinken in a forum marking World Press Freedom Day.
Medea Benjamin said: “Excuse us. We can’t use this day without calling for the freedom of Julian Assange.”
As officers approached her to remove her from the state, Medea Benjamin hooked her leg around Blinken’s chair while security pulled her off the stage.
Reporters Without Borders warns 2023 is among the worst years on record for journalists worldwide, with seven media workers killed since January 1st and 563 detained or in prison.
