Thousands of anti-vaxxers march through Paris in opposition to compulsory jabs and vaccine passports
Thousands of anti-vaxxers march through Paris holding placards saying ‘we are not guinea pigs’ and ‘it is our choice’ in opposition to compulsory jabs and vaccine passports
- Pictures from Paris show thousands of anti-vaxxers marching through city in opposition to vaccine passports
- Government approved bill which means vaccine passport requirement introduced for most places in August
- Passport requires people to be vaccinated, to provide a negative test or proof of recent recovery from Covid
- Four separate protests are being held in Paris today with similar protests also taking place in other cities
Thousands of demonstrators fought running battles with police in Paris today as protests against a vaccine passport were held across France.
Around 150 separate events were organised in major cities and town after the government used emergency powers to bring in new anti-Coronavirus measures.
By early afternoon on Saturday, tear gas and baton charges were being used against violent groups in Paris.
Four marches descended on the Place de la Bastille, where water cannons and squads of gendarmes and CRS riot police were waiting for them.
‘Some of the marches are illegal, and they are being joined by anarchist groups who are not directly linked to the protest,’ said one officer at the scene.
More than 160,000 people marched in Paris and other major cities in protest against President Emmanuel Macron’s vaccine drive last weekend, and a similar number was expected this Saturday.
Many of the protests were organised by the so-called Gilets Jaunes, or Yellow Vest anti-government movement.
Named after their distinctive fluorescent motoring jackets, they have been behind a series of riots in cities like Paris over the past three years.
Mr Macron’s decision three weeks ago to overcome the hesitation of millions of French by all but compelling them to vaccinate is supported by up to 65 per cent of the population, according to polls.
Anti-vaxxers took to the streets of Paris today to protest against the virus passports that will be needed to enter venues
CRS riot police charge demonstrators on the sidelines of a demonstration as part of a day of protest against French legislation
An emergency bill imposing the health pass for access to cafes, restaurants, shopping centres, trains and long-distance buses was passed by parliament last week, and will come into effect on Monday.
But the measures have triggered fury among a minority, channelling hostility towards the President.
Anti-vaccine health workers in their white coats were among those marching at the head of crowds of people today.
Polls show a majority of French support the pass, but some French are adamantly opposed and photos from the French capital show thousands of anti-vaxxers demonstrating across the city this afternoon.
The pass requires vaccinations or a quick negative test or proof of a recent recovery from COVID-19 and mandates vaccinations for all health care workers by mid-September.
A demonstrator holds a banner reading ‘it is our choice’ during a national day of protest against the compulsory Covid-19 vaccination for certain workers and the compulsory use of the health pass called for by the French government in Paris
Demonstrators gather at Villiers metro station, northwest Paris, during a national day of protest against the compulsory Covid-19 vaccination for certain workers and the compulsory use of the health pass called for by the French government
Demonstrators hold up banners and placards, one of which reads as ‘The 4th wave is us’, during a national day of protest
Police arrest a man during clashes at the end of a demonstration part of a national day of protest against French legislation making a Covid-19 health pass compulsory to visit certain venues and also making jabs compulsory for healthcare workers
Four separate protests were being held Saturday in Paris, with ‘liberty’ the slogan of the day and marches were also called in other cities around France.
Participants in the two previous weekend protests included far-right activists and die-hard yellow vest protesters as well as others who believe the health pass limits their freedom.
Police used water cannon and tear gas sporadically to deter violence, including after some protesters moved to the Arc de Triomphe, at the top of the Champs-Elysees.
Among those not present this week is Francois Asselineau, leader of the tiny anti-EU Popular Republican Union party and an ardent campaigner against the health pass, who came down with COVID-19.
In a video on his party’s site, Asselineau, who was not hospitalized, called on people to denounce the ‘absurd, unjust and totally liberty-killing’ health pass.
French authorities are implementing the health pass because the highly contagious delta variant is making strong inroads.
The legislation passed by parliament the week before has sparked mass protests in France but the government is determined to press ahead and make the health pass a key part of the fight against Covid-19. Pictured: Demonstrators clash with police
Demonstrators hold banner which reads ‘My body is mine. Tyranny of the health pass – No thanks’, during a day of protest
More than 24,000 new daily cases were confirmed Friday night – compared to just a few thousand cases a day at the start of the month.
The government announcement that the health pass would take effect on August 9 after approval by the Constitutional Council has driven many unvaccinated French to sign up for inoculations so their social lives won’t get shut down during the key summer holiday season.
Vaccinations are now available at a wide variety of places, including some beaches.
Over the past month, anti-Vaxxers have sent death threats to six MPs in Mr Macron’s En Marche (On the Move) party, and five vaccination centres have been hit by vandalism,
Jean Castex, France’s Prime Minister, has warned that the state would be ‘uncompromising if there is violence’ at the demonstrations.
Those involved in the anti-vaccine movement include Marine Le Pen, the presidential candidate and leader of the far-right National Rally party.
A demonstrator waves a French flag during a national day of protest against new coronavirus legislation approved this week
Demonstrator hold up a placard which reads as ‘Health Terror, I will not submit myself’, during a national day of protest
Pictured: A demonstrator holds a banner reading ‘we are not guinea pigs’ during a national day of protest
Pictured: A demonstrator holds up a banner reading ‘no to the health dictature, neither vaccinated nor lobotomized’
She has attacked Mr Macron’s approach to the health emergency as ‘brutal’ and a violation of individual rights.
The far-Left presidential candidate Jean-Luc Mélenchon, leader of the France Unbowed party, has also taken up the anti-vaccination cause.
More than 47 per cent of the French have now been fully vaccinated, a jump of six points since Mr Macron announced the new vaccine pass.
More than 52% of the French population has been vaccinated while more than 111,800 people have died of the virus in France since the start of the pandemic.
