Fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood has been harnessed into a giant birdcage and suspended 10 feet in the air in front of The Old Bailey this morning (21 July). The stunt, organised by the Committee to Defend Julian Assange, was to highlight the possible U.S. extradition of Julian Assange following a trial later this year.

According to the group, Westwood was re-entering public life for the first time after having been shielding for 16 weeks during the COVID-19 lockdown. She dressed in a yellow trouser suit to “enact the metaphor of The Canary In Coal Mine, indicative of Assange being sacrificed for identifying ‘poison’ in the system.”

Assange’s U.S. extradition trial is due to recommence on the Monday, 7th September 2020 at The Old Bailey.