Thousands march against COVID restrictions in northwest Europe

Vienna, Dec. 5 (BNA) Tens of thousands of demonstrators in several cities in northwestern Europe took to the streets on Saturday to demonstrate against the coronavirus restrictions imposed amid a surge in infections.

Austria last month became the first country in Western Europe to reimpose the lockdown, which is set to last 20 days, and said it would make vaccinations mandatory from February, Reuters reported.

Some of Vienna’s more than 40,000 protesters carried placards reading “I will decide for myself”, “Make Austria great again” and “New elections” – a reference to the political turmoil experienced by three chancellors in two months.

About 1,200 police officers marched on the central Ring Street, and 1,500 counter-protests, both allowed under the terms of Austria’s lockdown.

In the central Dutch town of Utrecht, several thousand demonstrated against the restrictions that began last weekend.

The demonstrators carried banners reading “Medical Freedom Now!” In the presence of a large police force.

It was the first major demonstration in the Netherlands against the measures, which include the nightly closing of bars, restaurants and most stores to stem a wave of COVID-19 cases that threatens to overwhelm the health care system.

Two weeks ago, there were violent protests after the Dutch government announced plans to ban most unvaccinated people from entering bars, restaurants and other public places.

“We are against not having the freedom (to decide what will happen) with our body,” said Maret van Hoenen, a protester in Utrecht.

The plans face fierce opposition in Parliament and have not yet been activated.

In the German financial capital, Frankfurt, police broke up a demonstration of several hundred people for failing to wear masks or maintain social distancing, using batons and pepper spray after they were attacked by a group of protesters.

And in Berlin, where the new government is due to take power within days, small groups gathered to protest after a large demonstration was banned.

German politicians widely condemned a protest against coronavirus restrictions late Friday outside the home of Petra Köping, the health minister for the eastern state of Saxony, which currently has the highest infection rate in Germany. Some said it was described as intimidation of the Nazi era.

MI