Protests against the country’s health pass reached new heights in France. Some anti-vax activists in Italy wore the widely vilified gold stars, which are reminiscent of the badges that Nazi Germany ordered Jews to wear.
On Saturday, protesters marched to the streets in France and Italy, claiming that COVID restrictions violate their personal liberties, but that officials maintain are necessary to combat the coronavirus pandemic.
The demonstrations come as European countries ramp their attempts to vaccinate large segments of their people in the face of the expanding delta virus — and to avoid further lockdowns.
Protests against the French health legislation and mandated immunizations for health-care employees entered their fourth weekend, with Saturday’s event being the largest yet.
According to the Interior Ministry, an estimated 237,000 individuals attended around the country. The turnout is more than the 204,000 demonstrators who showed up a week earlier.
While 17,000 people marched in Paris, the most of the attention was focused in southern France, where 10,000 to 20,000 people marched in Nice alone.
The protests were mainly calm, in contrast to previous Saturdays. Lyon, France’s third-largest city, saw the most serious clashes between demonstrators and police.
The demonstrations follow a judgement by the Constructional Council on Thursday. The government’s idea for a health pass and immunization requirements for staff in hospitals and nursing homes was authorized by the court.
A fourth wave of coronavirus infections is currently sweeping France. Since French President Emmanuel Macron launched the health pass in July, the county has experienced an increase in vaccinations.
Two-thirds of the French population eligible for the vaccine has received one dosage, with 55 percent having received all three doses.
