Campaigners have staged a “night carnival” in London to call for the release of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.

About 2000 supporters from the Don’t Extradite Assange Campaign marched past Parliament Square on Saturday night.

The procession was led by an enormous gold-painted effigy of Lady Justice, with campaigners carrying lanterns and placards and a carnival drum group following them on the march.

Assange has been held in London’s Belmarsh Prison since he was removed from the Ecuadorian Embassy in 2019.

The Australian is currently fighting against extradition to the United States, having submitted an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights in December.

Speaking from a rally held at the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster after the march had ended, Assange’s wife Stella held up a scarf made by the late Dame Vivienne Westwood in commemoration of her husband’s legal case, and said: “I was watching people who were just out on the town today and the response was incredible.

“Everyone was asking questions and filming, and they were very engaged. The carnival has had a big impact on central London.

“We need to keep building until the movement is so big that those in power and the courts realise that there is nowhere else to go than to free Julian.”

Other speakers included Dame Vivienne’s son Ben Westwood, WikiLeaks editor-in-chief Kristinn Hrafnsson, and former British Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn.

Ben Westwood described how he and his late mother visited Assange in the Ecuadorian Embassy on several occasions, with Assange modelling in a fashion show in the building in 2014.

Some campaigners on the march wore carnival outfits, while others came dressed as prisoners and judges.

John Rees, national coordinator for the Don’t Extradite Assange Campaign, said the group decided to stage a night carnival in order to “draw light to a dark place”.

“Julian Assange has been convicted of absolutely no crime, and justice delayed is justice denied,” he said.

“We as campaigners have a responsibility to make sure that this case doesn’t fade from the public eye.”

-AAP