“My Body, My Choice”: Thousands of people protested before the COVID-19 lockdown in Austria-The State

Thousands of protesters marched in Vienna on Saturday Austria The government announced a nationwide lockdown from Monday to curb the surge in coronavirus infections.

On Saturday, Switzerland, Croatia, Italy, Northern Ireland and the Netherlands also held demonstrations against virus restrictions. The day before, Dutch police opened fire on protesters. The riot in Rotterdam injured 7 people.Protesters rally against coronavirus restrictions and coercion Coronavirus disease Many European countries require passes to enter restaurants, Christmas markets or sporting events, as well as compulsory vaccinations.

Austria’s lockdown will begin on Monday. At the same time, the average daily death toll has tripled in recent weeks, and hospitals in the hardest-hit area warned that the intensive care unit is fully operational. Officials said the blockade will last at least 10 days, but it could be as long as 20 days. People can only leave home for certain reasons, including shopping for groceries, going to the doctor or exercising.

The government will also start mandatory vaccination on February 1. Less than 66% of Austria’s population of 8.9 million are fully vaccinated, which is one of the countries with the lowest rates in Western Europe.

Saturday’s parade starts from the huge Heldenplatz square in Vienna. Shouting “Resistance!” and blowing the whistle, the protesters moved along the inner ring road of the city. Many people waved the Austrian flag and held up signs mocking Prime Minister Alexander Schellenberg and Health Minister Wolfgang Mukstein. Some people wear a doctor’s scrub; others wear tin foil caps. Most signs are focused on vaccine regulations: “My body, my choice,” one of them read. “We stand up for our children!” said another.

Among the protesters are members of far-right and far-right parties and groups, including the far-right Liberal Party, the anti-vaccine manufacturing group party, and the far-right identityists.

According to the police, about 1,300 police officers are on duty and 35,000 protesters have participated in various demonstrations throughout the city. The police stated that several protesters were detained, but did not provide a specific number. Late Saturday night, the protesters threw bottles and beer cans at the police and fired fireworks at the police. The police then used pepper spray to disperse the crowd.

Herbert Kickl, the leader of the Liberal Party who recently tested positive for COVID-19, appeared in a video and condemned what he called the government’s “totalitarian” measures, “that it should think and decide for us”.

Schellenberg apologized to all those who had received the vaccine on Friday, saying it was unfair that they had to suffer under the new lockdown restrictions.

“I’m sorry to take such drastic steps,” he said on the public broadcaster ORF.

According to the public broadcaster SRF, in neighboring Switzerland, 2,000 people protested the upcoming referendum on whether to approve the government’s COVID-19 restriction law, claiming it was discriminatory.

One day after the riots in Rotterdam, even though organizers cancelled the protests, thousands of people gathered in Amsterdam’s Central Dam Square. Under the close surveillance of the police, they walked calmly on the street.

Hugo Gietelink from Amsterdam told the Associated Press: “This policy (anti-coronavirus measures) has created a lot of conflicts between people.” “I think that vaccinated and unvaccinated people must establish friendship again. Very important.”

Hundreds also marched through the southern Dutch city of Breda. An organizer, Joost Eras, told the broadcaster NOS that after consulting with the police, he did not expect violence to occur.

“Of course we do not support what happened in Rotterdam. We are shocked by this,” he said.

In Italy, the capital’s Circus Maximus was attended by 3,000 people, a place where ancient Romans staged popular entertainment in ancient times to protest against the “green pass” certificates required for workplaces, restaurants, cinemas, theaters, stadiums and gyms, and Long-distance train, bus or ferry travel.

“People like us never give up,” read the red, white and green banners of the Italian flag. Almost no one wears protective masks.

2:00Europe is again at the center of the COVID-19 pandemic

In Northern Ireland, hundreds of opponents of vaccine passports protested outside Belfast City Hall, where the city’s Christmas market opened on Saturday-a market that requires a vaccination certificate or a negative test for COVID-19.

The Northern Ireland government voted this week to provide vaccination certificates for nightclubs, bars and restaurants from December 13.

Some protesters carried slogans widely criticized as offensive, equating the coronavirus restrictions with the actions of Nazi Germany.

In Croatia, thousands of people gathered in the capital Zagreb, holding flags, nationalist and religious signs, as well as banners opposed to vaccination and what they called restricting people’s freedom.

In France, the Minister of the Interior Gerald Darmanin (Gerald Darmanin) on Saturday condemned the violent protests on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe, one of the French overseas territories, due to COVID-19 restrictions. Damanen said 29 people were detained by the police overnight.The authorities announced that they would send an additional 200 police officers to the island and implement a curfew from 6pm to 5am on Tuesday night

Protesters in Guadeloupe blocked roads and set fire to street furniture and cars. They condemned the COVID-19 health passes that are now required to enter restaurants and cafes, cultural venues, sports fields, and long-distance travel. They also protested against France’s mandatory vaccination of medical staff.

Grisab reports from Berlin. Associated Press reporters from all over Europe provided reports.

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