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
A protester wearing a yellow vest during clashes with anti-riot police as part of a demonstration against the COVID-19 health pass which grants vaccinated individuals greater ease of access to venues in France
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
French anti-riot forces stand guard in front of the ‘Moulin Rouge’ venue during a demonstration against the COVID-19 health pass
A protester wearing a jersey reading ‘No to Pass’ faces anti-riot police forces during a demonstration against the COVID-19 health pass
Demonstrators clash with anti-criminality police brigades at a demonstration against French legislation making a Covid-19 health pass compulsory to visit a cafe, board a plane or travel on an inter-city train, in Paris
An emergency bill imposing the health pass for access to cafes, restaurants, shopping centres, trains and long-distance buses was passed by parliament and will come into effect on Monday. Pictured: Protestors gather in Paris on Saturday
CRS riot police are enveloped by a cloud of teargas as they face demonstrators during a national day of protest against the compulsory Covid-19 vaccination for certain workers
Protesters hold a poster reading ‘Health workers in anger, No to mandatory Vaccine’ during a demonstration against the Covid-19 health pass
An injured protestor is attended to by a mobile first aid unit during a demonstration in Paris on Saturday as demonstrators gathered in several cities to protest against the Covid-19 pass
Anti-vaxxers, joined by the anti-government ‘yellow vest’ movement, are demonstrating across France for the third consecutive week in objection to the Covid-19 health pass. Pictured: Protesters in Paris on Saturday
A protester holds a poster reading ‘Freedom’ during a demonstration against the COVID-19 health pass in Paris on Saturday
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
Several thousand people gathered to demonstrate against the health pass, implemented by authorities because the highly contagious delta variant is making strong inroads, in Paris on Saturday
Riot mobile gendarmes shoot with a cougar grenade launcher as a protester waves a French flag with the cross of Lorraine during the national day of protest on Saturday
A protestor kicks a smoking teargas shell during a demonstration as part of a national day of protest against new French Covid-19 legislation
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. Police took up posts along Paris’ Champs-Elysees.
Some 3,000 security forces deployed around the French capital for a third weekend of protests against the pass that will be needed soon to enter restaurants and other places.
One member of the police force was reportedly seriously injured during clashes with demonstrators as thousands gathered to protest the Covid-19 health pass.
Three officers were injured in total, the French press quoted police as saying.
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
Police officers clashed with crowds of demonstrators as thousands gathered to demonstrate against the health pass
One member of the police force was reportedly seriously injured during clashes with demonstrators as thousands gathered to protest the Covid-19 health pass
A protester is arrested by the police during the anti-Health Pass demonstration on the national day of protest in Paris
Police used water cannon and tear gas (pictured) sporadically to deter violence, including after some protesters moved to the Arc de Triomphe, at the top of the Champs-Elysees
Four separate protests were being held Saturday in Paris (pictured), with ‘liberty’ the slogan of the day and marches were also called in other cities around France
Tensions flared in front of the famed Moulin Rouge nightclub in northern Paris during what appeared to be the largest demonstration.
Lines of police faced down protesters in up-close confrontations during the march and as marchers headed eastward and some pelted police with objects, police fired tear gas into the crowds, plumes of smoke filling the sky.
A male protester was seen with a bleeding head and a police officer was carried away by colleagues.
Police, again responding to rowdy crowds, also turned a water cannon on protesters as the march ended at the Bastille.
Polls show a majority of French support the pass, but some are adamantly opposed, and for anti-pass demonstrators, ‘liberty’ was the slogan of the day of protest.
Hager Ameur, a 37-year-old nurse, said she resigned from her job and accused the government of using a form of ‘blackmail’.
‘I think that we mustn’t be told what to do,’ she told The Associated Press.
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.
Participants in the two previous weekend protests included far-right activists and yellow vest protesters as well as others who believe the health pass limits their freedom. Pictured: Demonstrators clash with riot police during protests in Paris
People take part in a demonstration part of a national day of protest against French legislation making a Covid-19 health pass compulsory to visit a cafe, board a plane or travel on an inter-city train, in Paris
Police used water cannon and tear gas sporadically to deter violence as demonstrators were underway on Saturday in Paris
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
French authorities are implementing the health pass because the highly contagious delta variant is making strong inroads.
The pass requires a vaccination or a quick negative test or proof of a recent recovery from Covid-19 and mandates vaccine shots for all health care workers by mid-September.
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.
Demonstrators hold up banners and placards 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 Reims
Protesters hold placards during a demonstration against the health pass, in Lille, northern France, on Saturday
The measures have triggered fury among a minority, channelling hostility towards the President. Pictured: Police at a demonstration against the Covid-19 rules in Paris on Saturday
Demonstrators gather during a national day of protest against the compulsory Covid-19 vaccination for certain workers called for by the French government in Bordeaux, south-western France
Demonstrators hold up banners and placards, one of which reads as ‘Freedom is not negotiable’ and ‘Vaccinated and non-vaccinated we are united against a health dictatorship’ in Dijon on Saturday
People pass the Invalides as they take part in a demonstration part of a national day of protest against French legislation making a Covid-19 health pass compulsory to visit a cafe, board a plane or travel on an inter-city train, in Paris
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.
