Vivienne Westwood locks herself in cage in protest against Julian Assange's US extradition

·Contributor

Updated 21 July 2020 at 7:24 am·2-min read

Dame Vivienne Westwood has locked herself in a giant birdcage in protest against Julian Assange's extradition to the US.

The 79-year-old fashion designer dressed herself in a bright yellow trouser suit to sit on a perch inside the 10-foot high white cage outside the Old Bailey criminal court in London.

Westwood told Good Morning Britain: “I am Julian Assange. I am the canary in the cage. If I die down the coal mine from poisonous gas, that’s the signal.”

Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood stands in a giant bird cage in protest against the extradition of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to the U.S., outside the Old Bailey court, in London, Tuesday, July 21, 2020. Assange is in London's Belmarsh Prison awaiting a full extradition hearing, which has been postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Originally due to begin in May, it is now scheduled to start on Sept. 7 at the Old Bailey. (AP Photo/Matt Dunham) — Vivienne Westwood says she has dressed as canary in a cage to represent Julian Assange's situation as she protests against his extradition to the US. (AP)

The WikiLeaks founder is fighting extradition to the US where he faces trial for 18 offences including conspiring to hack government computers and espionage. If found guilty, Assange could face up to 175 years in prison.

Westwood is one of many celebrity supporters of the 48-year-old Australian who have continued to campaign in his defence during the seven years he spent living in London’s Ecuadorian embassy.

Assange was removed from the embassy and has been held on remand in Belmarsh prison since last September, after serving a 50-week jail sentence for breaching his bail conditions.

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM - MAY 19: Wikileaks Founder Julian Assange addresses the media at the Ecuadorian Embassy where he has been exiled under political asylum, following Sweden's dropping of rape charges against him on May 19, 2017 in London, England. He had feared that the charges were being used as a ploy to get him extradited to the United States where he faces charges of breaching national security. PHOTOGRAPH BY Paul Davey / Barcroft Images London-T:+44 207 033 1031 E:hello@barcroftmedia.com - New York-T:+1 212 796 2458 E:hello@barcroftusa.com - New Delhi-T:+91 11 4053 2429 E:hello@barcroftindia.com www.barcroftimages.com (Photo credit should read Paul Davey / Barcroft Media via Getty Images / Barcroft Media via Getty Images) — Wikileaks founder Julian Assange faces extradition to the US. (Barcroft Media via Getty Images)

Westwood challenged GMB hosts Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway: “Well first of all I just want to say your introduction is the total misrepresentation of Julian Assange which has been going on for some time. None of this is actually true."

She added: "He has been trapped and it has been a collusion of all the governments involved - the USA, Great Britain and Sweden.

"And from the very beginning, starting with a honey trap, he's been completely trapped. It's a set-up organised by the CIA."

Assange’s other celebrity backers include rapper M.I.A. and Baywatch star Pamela Anderson.