The arrest and indictment of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange seek to criminalize what journalists are not only permitted to do but ethically required to do. If the leadership of our country is permitted to hide information that citizens are required to know in order to make intelligent decisions when choosing their leaders and addressing other issues of national importance, then we are headed down the path toward an authoritarian state.

Chelsea Manning — who, as a matter of conscience, disclosed the killing of innocent civilians by U.S. forces — was arrested and imprisoned in solitary confinement under torturous conditions for disclosing the truth. The Marine helicopter crew that was responsible for that war crime laughed and congratulated each other during the commission of the crime. No one was ever punished.

Now again, she is imprisoned in solitary confinement for refusing to testify against Julian Assange.

These are perilous times for democracy, especially when the president embraces white nationalism and racism and considers the free press as “an enemy of the people.”

During these times, Martin Niemoller’s famous words come to mind: “First they came for the Socialists and I did not speak out because I was not a Socialist.

‘Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out because I was not a trade unionist.

“Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out because I was not a Jew.

“Then they came for me and there was no one left to speak for me.”

One of the first targets of despots the world over is journalists who are obliged to dig deep for the truth. Indeed, these are perilous times for democracy. It is time to speak out for a free and independent press.

Fred Rakevich

Elma