(Washington) Anti-sanitary measures protesters in Canada have become the new heroes of conservatives and opponents of restrictions who are calling for increased mobilization, from New York to New Zealand.
Posted at 1:53 p.m.
Inspired by Canadian truckers, in New York, several hundred city workers demonstrated on Monday against the city’s decision to fire from Friday those who refused vaccination against COVID-19. They denounced “medical tyranny and compulsory vaccination”, displaying a large flag of Canada.
PHOTO ANGELA WEISS, FRANCE-PRESSE AGENCY
In New York, several hundred municipal workers crossed the Brooklyn Bridge during a demonstration on Monday against mandatory vaccination, displaying a large Canadian flag.
The day before, a hundred truck drivers had demonstrated in Alaska against compulsory vaccination, in support of their colleagues on the other side of the border.
Initiated at the end of January by Canadian truckers who denounced the obligation to vaccinate to cross the border with the United States, the “Freedom Convoy” quickly turned into a protest against health measures as a whole in Canada and, for some demonstrators, against the government of Justin Trudeau.
PHOTO VIOLETA SANTOS MOURA, REUTERS
A protester displays French and Canadian flags as well as a press photo of a truck involved in the Canadian protests. The demonstration, which took place in Paris on January 29, aimed to protest against the vaccine passport.
Departing from Vancouver, hundreds of trucks have been blocking the center of the Canadian capital, Ottawa, for more than a week, where the mayor has declared a state of emergency to deal with the blockade.
The mobilization has received the support of American conservative officials, from Texas Senator Ted Cruz calling the protesters “heroes” and “patriots” to ex-President Donald Trump and the whimsical billionaire Elon Musk.
Calls have also been made to extend the mobilization to the American federal capital.
PHOTO ANGELA WEISS, FRANCE-PRESSE AGENCY
An antivax protest in New York on February 7, 2022.
“The Freedom Convoy could come to Washington with American truckers who want to protest Joe Biden’s ridiculous policy on COVID-19,” Trump said.
The wave of protest has spread around the world, fueled and supported by populist currents who denounce the liberticidal obstacles imposed by the elites in power.
” Very inspiring ”
In France, a Facebook page, also called “Convoi de la Liberté” and followed by more than 275,000 people, calls on opponents of the very restrictive health measures put in place by the government to rally Paris on Sunday, to lay siege to the capital. .
Unlike in Canada, this mobilization does not come from truck drivers.
The movement is in line with the “yellow vests”, which, before the pandemic, denounced precariousness and expressed the feeling of fed up of part of the population with the cost of living.
In their sights once again: the policy of President Emmanuel Macron with the occupation of the public highway as a mode of action.
The challenge was revived by anti-vaccines and opponents of public and political speech in the management of the crisis.
One of the organizers of the French convoy, Rémi Monde, describes the Canadian movement as “very inspiring”.
On Facebook, he denounced pell-mell “the restrictions, the health pass, the increase in the price of energy, the cost of living and the decline (in the age) of retirement”, claims reminiscent of those of the “yellow vests”.
He also denounced the attempts of recovery by political leaders, in particular of the far right, stressing that the mobilization was “apolitical”.
Other groups on social networks have also called for mobilization in Brussels, the seat of the European Union.
The movement has spread to New Zealand where a convoy of trucks and motorhomes blocked the Parliament district in the capital Wellington on Tuesday to protest against the sanitary measures in place, among the most draconian in the world.
Hundreds of vehicles, emblazoned with messages such as “give us back our freedom” and “coercion is not consent”, parked in the streets near the parliament building. Several demonstrators carried Canadian flags in support of Ottawa truckers.
Wellington resident Stu Main said protesters felt their concerns about their rights being rolled back were not being heard by the government.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern stressed that the majority of New Zealanders support the government’s vaccination program, such as compulsory vaccination for certain professions and the entry into force of a health pass.