The Trust Fall and Other Poems

WRITER and director Kym Staton will speak at Byron Community Centre next week about his latest work, “The Trust Fall: Julian Assange”.

The event, “The Trust Fall & Other Poems,” will feature an audio-visual exploration into the ideas and inspiration behind the hit documentary, and explore the highs and lows of Wikileaks and Assange’s life.

In June, Assange was released from Belmarsh Prison.

The outcome was the result of tireless efforts by his lawyers, Barry Pollack and Jennifer Robinson, as well as a diverse group of advocates, including world leaders, politicians, diplomats, friends, family, and grassroots community members.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese posted on X that it was the culmination of careful, patient, and determined work.

“It is another example of why mature, calibrated and consistent engagement is the best way to get results in Australia’s national interest,” Mr Albanese stated.

In Australia, supporters of Assange crossed political divides.

Their efforts received a boost when the Albanese government came to power in 2022.

Julian’s father, John Shipton, spoke at a film night earlier this year about the plight of his son.

He said the Prime Minister speaking out created ripples across the globe.

“In politics, words are actions; how you speak and what you address is an action,” Mr Shipton said.

Last month, the Washington Post reported that after years of efforts to extradite Julian Assange from the UK, the Justice Department faced a critical deadline in April 2024.

U.S. prosecutors, warned that their case was likely to fail, rushed to negotiate a plea deal because they could not meet the UK court’s requirements relating to free speech.

According to an email reviewed by The Washington Post, a Justice Department trial attorney noted, “The urgency here has now reached a critical point. The case will head to appeal and we will lose.”

Assange ultimately pleaded guilty to the single felony charge, allowing him to return to Australia.

The Trust Fall & Other Poems event will include photos of Julian Assange and scenes from the film, accompanied by its soundtrack.

Staton will give a live reading of his book.

“It’s highly important that we all understand the Assange story, how he was treated and why, because Assange was representing all of our us, our freedoms and our right to know,” Staton said.

The event takes place on August 3 from 4:00 pm to 5:30 pm.

General admission is $10, and proceeds will support the continuation of the film project.

More at ttfpoetry3.eventbrite.com.au