Supporters of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange gathered to form a human chain outside the UK parliament in London to demand his release, and an end to an attempt by the United States to have him extradited to face criminal charges.
The protesters who held posters reading "Free Assange, end extradition", "journalism is not a crime" and "prosecute war crimes, not Assange," formed the human chain that stretched from parliament's perimeter railings and led towards nearby Westminster Bridge to the other side of the Thames.
Held since 2019 at a high-security London prison, the Australian-born publisher is wanted by the US authorities on 18 counts, including a spying charge, relating to WikiLeaks' release of confidential US military records and diplomatic cables.
The 51-year-old activist is to face trial for allegedly violating the US espionage act by publishing classified military and diplomatic files in 2010, related to the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. He is currently appealing against a decision to extradite him to the US.
His wife, Stella Assange, urged the British government to speak with the US authorities to put an end to his extradition.
"It's already gone on for three-and-a-half years. It is a stain on the United Kingdom and is a stain on the Biden administration," she said.
His legal team has appealed the UK high court against the decision to extradite him.
The US claims he put lives in danger with his findings, but his supporters deny the claim and argue that he is being victimized and that Washington is trying to muzzle reporting of legitimate security concerns as he exposed the wrongdoings of the US in Afghanistan and Iraq.
Assange's supporters were also due to protest on Saturday outside the US department of justice in Washington.
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