Huge protests have taken place across Australia this weekend in a co-ordinated day of opposition to Covid-19 vaccinate mandates. Demonstrators in 13 cities described the gatherings as freedom rallies, which they say were attended by hundreds of thousands across the country.
Drone shots captured the size of the crowd in Melbourne as defiant citizens rallied against mandates and continued lockdowns.
WATCH: Enormous protest today in Melbourne, Australia against the government’s Covid mandates.
— Election Wizard (@ElectionWiz) November 13, 2021
Protests also took place in Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, Adelaide and other capital cities. Australia has, until now, enforced some of the strictest lockdown measures in the world against Covid-19.
Journalist Sophie Elsworth said the protesters were angry at “vaccine passports, erosion of civil liberties & pandemic legislation”.
Wow. Protests in Australia across many capital cities on issues including vaccine passports, erosion of civil liberties & pandemic legislation. pic.twitter.com/MSp16GKXrm #COVID19Aus 🇦🇺
— Sophie Elsworth (@sophieelsworth) November 20, 2021
Australia 🇦🇺
Huge protests In Melbourne today against the Victoria State Government’s draconian measures and vaccine mandates / passports. And yet most of the media will either ignore this or frame thus as an anti-vax rally.#NoVaccinePassports pic.twitter.com/LtRLxUKYJq
— James Melville 🚜 (@JamesMelville) November 13, 2021
At earlier demonstrations during the week, protesters opposing the covid restrictions danced to “We’re not gonna take it” by Twisted Sister.
Protest in Melbourne, Australia against covid restrictions blasting “We’re not gonna take it” by Twisted Sister. https://t.co/wFkHETBmPF
— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) November 21, 2021
At the weekend, protesters have listed a series of demands, including ending vaccine mandates, lockdown measures, ‘medical discrimination’ and ‘unlawful quarantine detention’.
The Australian authorities say the measures are necessary to protect public health.