Four Years Later, Conservative Voters Haven’t Forgotten How Covid Tyrants Acted In Crisis
Republicans’ long memory for totalitarianism is much more visible on the local level where candidates try to erase their Covid-era behavior.
Amid spiking coronavirus cases, Austria announced on Friday that it would implement a full national lockdown, and would also legislate a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for all eligible citizens – the first of its kind in a Western nation. Austria is one of several European countries to dictate more stringent COVID-19 restrictions as a fourth coronavirus wave sweeps the continent. Following the introduction of rigid regulations, protests and riots exploded across Europe.
Three people were hospitalized late Friday after police opened fire on lockdown protesters in downtown Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Rioters reportedly torched cars, launched fireworks, and attacked police. Police attempted to control the crowd with water cannons. Dutch police said that 51 people were arrested during the demonstration against the new COVID-19 restrictions.
Rotterdam Mayor Ahmed Aboutaleb called the riot an "orgy of violence."
Local political party Leefbaar Rotterdam condemned the violence, "The center of our beautiful city has this evening transformed into a war zone," it said. "Rotterdam is a city where you can disagree with things that happen but violence is never, never, the solution."
NOW - Violent protests against Covid-restrictions in #Rotterdam, Netherlands.pic.twitter.com/xCTyqiy609— Disclose.tv (@Disclose.tv) 1637354016
Protests turned violent in the Netherlands as crowds in Rotterdam marched against government plans to make a 'coronavirus pass' mandatory for some indoor venues https://reut.rs/3CCSy4d\u00a0pic.twitter.com/N3haRtyRJQ— Reuters (@Reuters) 1637406720
Rioting broke out in Rotterdam as the Netherlands government announced plans to restrict the country's coronavirus pass system to only people who are fully vaccinated or have recovered from COVID-19. https://abcn.ws/3oL1dNc\u00a0pic.twitter.com/MNOlPnnLhl— ABC News (@ABC News) 1637423224
The protests continued in the Netherlands on Saturday, when rioters set fires in Hague.
#Netherlands The Haguepic.twitter.com/POZaZlQSNp— Nicole Elisei (@Nicole Elisei) 1637444355
In Austria's capital of Vienna, tens of thousands marched against the draconian COVID-19 restrictions.
One of the largest protests in Vienna history today to stop their full lockdown and mandatory \u201cget the jab or go to jail\u201d law.pic.twitter.com/N87zkDENZo— Aaron Ginn (@Aaron Ginn) 1637420388
Massive protest in Vienna, Austria today against the new lockdown, plus mandatory vaccinations which the tyrannical Austrian government plans to implement starting in February.pic.twitter.com/bOjoBbjj5y— Brittany Sellner (@Brittany Sellner) 1637411052
In Italy, thousands of Roman protesters rallied against the country's "Green Pass" – the country's certificate of COVID-19 vaccination required to go into workplaces, restaurants, gyms, theaters, and sports venues.
NEW Thousands gather in Rome, Italy in protest against country\u2019s health passpic.twitter.com/hqGjnGRYZb— Insider Paper (@Insider Paper) 1637450332
In Croatia, thousands gathered in the capital of Zagreb to demonstrate against the government possibly introducing a COVID-19 vaccine pass that would be needed to enter stores, restaurants, gyms, and cinemas.
Croatia against Covid pass.pic.twitter.com/Mw41pSb68X— Ivan Vilibor Sin\u010di\u0107 MEP (@Ivan Vilibor Sin\u010di\u0107 MEP) 1637424471
Croatiapic.twitter.com/Xz7JbauBEh— lucy johnston (@lucy johnston) 1637444592
In Denmark, the government is considering reinstituting COVID-19 restrictions that they just lifted in September. Protesters railed against the potential COVID-19 orders.
Denmark stands up with the rest of Europe tonight to call for an end to lockdowns and mandates.pic.twitter.com/dlVmI7aqTC— Aaron Ginn (@Aaron Ginn) 1637451286
Thousands of Australian anti-lockdown protesters clashed with police in the streets of Melbourne on Saturday. At times, the demonstrations against lockdowns became violent with protesters attacking police and law enforcement spraying rubber bullets and tear gas into the crowd.
Thursday marked the 200th day of lockdowns in Melbourne. On Friday, the state of Victoria announced the extension of regional lockdowns until at least Sept. 2, which includes the 5 million residents of Melbourne. The lockdowns include no private gatherings allowed, a five-kilometer travel limit, and travel is limited only "to get necessary supplies such as food and medicine; to give or receive care; for exercise, limited to two hours a day; to attend work if you are an authorized worker with a permit, or to get a vaccine," according to The Age. There is also a curfew in place for Greater Melbourne from 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. and a mask mandate enacted. The new lockdowns were implemented after there were 77 new coronavirus cases.
There were an estimated 4,000 anti-lockdown protesters, including families, calling for an end to the draconian lockdowns in Melbourne on Saturday. The demonstrators chanted "Freedom!" and "No more lockdown!"
Thousands of Aussies in Melbourne chant "no more lockdown" 💪 https://t.co/xitH2nLppZ
— Sydney Watson (@SydneyLWatson) 1629518686.0
More than a thousand anti lockdown protestors are marching through Melbourne streets, with flares being set off as… https://t.co/XcIxQlNJ2T
— news.com.au (@newscomauHQ) 1629515632.0
Thousands of protesters in Melbourne. @theage https://t.co/wgaYUyDZgW
— Rachael Dexter (@rachael_dexter) 1629513873.0
Melbourne rally almost into its third hour. Still families out. Numbers may have weaned slightly but core group sti… https://t.co/ZBBEdV3MZw
— Rachael Dexter (@rachael_dexter) 1629518287.0
More than 700 Victoria police were dispatched to break up the rally that violated the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown orders.
Vicpol moving en masse to tail the crowd from a distance. Well over 1000 protesters now @theage https://t.co/3TxYJYTj3P
— Rachael Dexter (@rachael_dexter) 1629512570.0
Aggressive protesters stormed police barricades. Police fired rubber bullets, pepper spray, and tear gas at the crowd.
#BREAKING: Police fire rubber bullets and pepper spray into a large crowd of lockdown protesters in Melbourne.Ful… https://t.co/yFn0ReG5Lm
— Avi Yemini 🇦🇺🇮🇱 (@OzraeliAvi) 1629516669.0
Today in Melbourne (Australia), police fired rubber bullets at unarmed protesters during an anti-lockdown march. Fu… https://t.co/sBaXP1PdK2
— real Rukshan (@therealrukshan) 1629537651.0
Crazy scenes in Victoria right now. Melbourne anti-lockdown protests have turned violent. Dozens of police officers… https://t.co/ixzH5picdn
— Kevin Nguyen (@cog_ink) 1629513190.0
There were six police officers taken to the hospital from altercations during the rally. Victoria police arrested 218 people, who could be fined up to $3,887 for breaching public health orders. There were three people in custody for assaulting police officers.
"While there were some peaceful protesters in attendance, the majority of those who attended came with violence in mind," a Victoria police spokeswoman said. "The behavior seen by police was so hostile and aggressive that they were left with no choice but to use all tactics available to them."
6 police officers have been hospitalised after today’s protest. 218 people were arrested and 236 fines. Victoria Po… https://t.co/e0pQZ4OIxB
— Mimi Becker (@MimiRoseBecker) 1629530632.0
There were also anti-lockdown protests attended by thousands of Australians in Brisbane and Sydney on Saturday.
Approximately 1,500 police officers were deployed into Sydney to control the anti-lockdown demonstrations with an estimated 250 participants. The New South Wales Police said they made 47 arrests and issued 261 fines across NSW, most of which were connected with the demonstration.
Last week, the fines for breaking lockdown rules in Sydney were hiked up to $3,700 for anyone breaching stay-at-home orders or for lying to contract-tracing officials, NBC News reported. The NSW government says an individual faces a maximum penalty of maximum penalty is A$11,000 ($7,840), or imprisonment for 6 months, or both, and another A$5,500 ($3,920) penalty "may apply for each day the offense continues."
The Brisbane protest against lockdowns and COVID-19 vaccine measures had more than 2,000 demonstrators and was more peaceful; Queensland state police said no arrests were made.
https://t.co/5Dh4S28jvO
— Josh Bavas (@JoshBavas) 1629512727.0
Brisbane protesters are now marching through the CBD, guided by police. @9NewsAUS @9NewsQueensland https://t.co/2Y5eLx9JM9
— Reece D'Alessandro (@R_DAlessandro9) 1629520619.0