---
title: The Fight for Julian Assange—and Press Freedoms
date: 2023-03-16T05:30:00-04:00
author: University of Maryland
canonical_url: "https://today.umd.edu/the-fight-for-julian-assange-and-press-freedoms"
section: Articles
---
# The Fight for Julian Assange—and Press Freedoms

*March 16, 2023* — by [Sala Levin ’10](/author/sala-levin-10)


> Family of Polarizing WikiLeaks Founder Joins UMD Expert for Film Screening and Discussion

*CK0 U3646 1920x1080 — From left, John Shipton, father of Julian Assange; UMD journalism Professor Mark Feldstein; lawyer Barry Pollack; and producer Gabriel Shipton, Assange's half-brother, discuss the WikiLeaks founder's plight following a screening of a documentary about him, "Ithaka," in Knight Hall.*

The father and half-brother of the controversial founder of WikiLeaks together pleaded to an audience of University of Maryland journalism students and community members last night for support in his legal battles and for protecting free speech rights.

Knight Hall’s Eaton Theatre hosted a screening of “Ithaka,” a 2021 documentary about Julian Assange produced by Gabriel Shipton, his half-brother, that follows their father, John Shipton, through his journey to free Julian from the American and English criminal justice systems. Following the screening, Gabriel and John joined a panel discussion with Assange’s U.S. attorney, Barry Pollack, and the Philip Merrill College of Journalism’s Richard Eaton Chair of Broadcast Journalism Mark Feldstein, who testified on Assange’s behalf in his U.K. extradition hearing.


*John Shipton addresses the media in Ithaka — In this still from the film, John Shipton addresses the media. (Image courtesy of Shipton House)*




**Topics:** [Campus & Community](https://today.umd.edu/tags/campus-community)


**Tags:** [Student Experience](https://today.umd.edu/topic/student-experience)


**Units:** [Philip Merrill College of Journalism](https://today.umd.edu/topic/philip-merrill-college-journalism)