LONDON -- WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange warned that inflammatory rhetoric will lead to more shooting rampages like the one in Arizona over the weekend, arguing that media figures and officials who whip up hate and violence should be charged with incitement to murder.
Assange made the argument Monday in a statement put out by his anti-secrecy group shortly before he appeared at a London court as part of his fight against extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning on sex crimes charges. The press release offered sympathy and condolences to all of the victims of Saturday's shooting in Tucson, Ariz., in which six people died and 14 were wounded, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
WikiLeaks drew a link between the rhetoric some blame for the attack and that aimed at Assange and his staff. The organization said its founder and other contributors had been subject to unprecedented violent rhetoric from U.S. politicians and opinion makers following its release of thousands of confidential U.S. diplomatic cables. WikiLeaks warned that unless authorities treat this kind of incitement seriously, they should expect more Gabrielle Gifford [sic] killing sprees.
Full story: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/11/julian-assange-violent-rhetoric-will-spark-more-shooting-spre/
Assange made the argument Monday in a statement put out by his anti-secrecy group shortly before he appeared at a London court as part of his fight against extradition to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning on sex crimes charges. The press release offered sympathy and condolences to all of the victims of Saturday's shooting in Tucson, Ariz., in which six people died and 14 were wounded, including U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords.
WikiLeaks drew a link between the rhetoric some blame for the attack and that aimed at Assange and his staff. The organization said its founder and other contributors had been subject to unprecedented violent rhetoric from U.S. politicians and opinion makers following its release of thousands of confidential U.S. diplomatic cables. WikiLeaks warned that unless authorities treat this kind of incitement seriously, they should expect more Gabrielle Gifford [sic] killing sprees.
Full story: http://www.aolnews.com/2011/01/11/julian-assange-violent-rhetoric-will-spark-more-shooting-spre/
