Protesters form human chain in defense of Assange in London

Supporters of Wikileaks founder Julian Assange have demonstrated this Saturday in central London forming a human chain to express their rejection of Assange’s extradition to the United States.

Among the hundreds of attendees were the actor and comedian Russell Brand or the former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. All of them have gathered in front of the Palace of Westminster, seat of the British Parliament, and formed a chain across Westminster Bridge and through the gardens of the Victoria Tower.

Stella, Assange’s wife, also participated in the act, accompanied by the two children they have in common, received with applause by the attendees.

“I would say to the parliamentarians of whatever party they are that they are there to represent democracy and rights,” Corbyn has said in statements to The Press Association. “That is why I had sworn the oath of office and (…) if Julian Assange is extradited it will serve to impose fear on other journalists who want to tell the truth,” he added.

“It would be self-censorship of the press around the world. They would say ‘wait, I’m not going to get into that. Look what happened to Julian Assange,'” he has argued.

Assange has remained imprisoned in the United Kingdom since April 2019, when he was arrested after nearly seven years held at the Ecuadorian Embassy in London. The Wikileaks founder initially took refuge in the embassy to avoid possible extradition to Sweden, where he was also under investigation, and fearing that it was a first step towards the United States.