"They" wouldn't mind either way -- they're indifferent to public opinion Margo.
I'm not convinced of this scrabb. They still engage in a lot of activity that shows they care very much about public opinion. Silencing journalists is one way to keep the public from knowing things they don't want them to know, which is itself an indication that they care about it.
In any case, the last thing supporters of Assange should do at this critical moment is disseminate the idea that nothing can be done to help him. a) we don't know this for a fact; b) convincing people of it, and paralyzing them with a sense of the futility of resistance guarantees the worst outcome.