Hundreds of Julian Assange supporters hold London ‘carnival’ against extradition to US
- The jailed WikiLeaks founder risks extradition from the UK to the US to face trial for divulging US military secrets about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan
- The march was expected to end with a rally in Westminster in central London with speakers including Assange’s wife Stella
Several hundred supporters of jailed WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange on Saturday launched a carnival-themed march through central London calling for his release as he risks extradition to the United States.
Costumed activists took part wearing pigs’ heads, clowns’ noses and orange jumpsuits and carrying a coffin and lanterns decorated with slogans calling for Assange’s release.
The march with the theme “darkness into light” was expected to end with a rally in Westminster in central London with speakers including Assange’s wife Stella.
The Australian publisher remains in custody in Britain pending a US extradition request to face trial for divulging US military secrets about the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Carrying a lantern, 41-year-old activist Naila Kauser decried Assange’s case as “one of the most appalling crimes of our century”.
“He’s absolutely being punished and persecuted because he revealed war crimes and corruption that the public have the right to know,” she said.
“If he’s going to the US, it’s going to affect press freedom everywhere”.