Julian Assange the elephant not in the room, as supporters rally in Wikileaks founder's absence
A crowd gathered in Canberra to welcome the return of Julian Assange, an embodiment of the motley crew that has rallied around the Wikileaks founder.
It was 30 degrees when Julian Assange boarded a flight in the US territory of Saipan, his first in a long time as a free man. It was barely above freezing when he landed at Canberra Airport, his breath visible as he raised a triumphant fist to supporters.
The Wikileaks founder has divided opinion like few others. A free speech warrior to some, a man who put lives at risk to others. But the movement to bring him home after 14 years has drawn support even from those who don’t approve of what he did.
And it was in the nation’s capital – crammed into the lobby of a plush hotel, to be precise – that a cross section of that movement that has rallied around the Wikileaks founder gathered.
It is a motley crew. There were politicians of all stripes. International media. Supporters from Canberra and beyond. A pair of anti-vaccine conspiracists. People simply returning from dinner, their interest piqued by the commotion.
