THE organiser of a peaceful protest against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will push ahead with rally plans despite widespread criticism and alleged authoritarian links.
British university student Simone Webb is the driving force behind a gathering on Wednesday which will coincide with a televised address by the 41-year-old Australian.
"On the internet ... Assangists have been increasingly vitriolic," Ms Webb told AAP of the response she faced on sites such as twitter, since launching her protest plans.
"They have looked up personal information about me and accused me of being involved in some way with the Ministry of Defence."
Assange has been invited by the Oxford Union to speak at the university society's annual Sam Adams Award, which recognises an individual who has displayed "courage, persistence and devotion to the truth" in the name of the former CIA analyst.
A past recipient of the award, Assange will make Wednesday's address from the Ecuadorian embassy in London, where he is avoiding arrest by UK authorities after being granted asylum by the Latin American nation.
Assange is wanted in Sweden for questioning over allegations of sexual assault against two women. He denies the claims and said his extradition to Sweden would be the first step in him being handed to US authorities, who are investigating the operations of his secret-leaking website.
"I am holding the protest for a number of reasons. Primarily to highlight the inappropriateness and irony of having someone speak at an awards ceremony supposed to celebrate integrity, justice, courage and truth-seeking who is himself evading the justice process by hiding in the Ecuadorian embassy," Ms Webb said.
"Secondly, this is about challenging society's treatment of rape allegations, and the way they are minimised and ignored."
Ms Webb said more than 100 people will gather, wave placards and chant in a peaceful protest against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange.
"I anticipate no disturbances," she said.
A second group of protesters is also expected outside the embassy in London, where Assange supporters are also being rallied.
Assange's Brisbane-based mother, Christine Assange, asked that supporters gather in silent counter-protest, holding placards with facts about the case of her son and WikiLeaks.
The speech is due to be made at 7.30pm Wednesday (6.30am Thursday AEDT).
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