What’s behind the violent pushback against new Covid restrictions?
By France24
24 November 2021 |
1:13 pm
Are those protesting against Covid-19 restrictions just an angry few, or do they represent a much deeper malaise?As the Northern Hemisphere hunkers down for a new winter wave of Covid restrictions, backlash over these curbs is rearing up in Central Europe, the Netherlands and the French Caribbean islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique. Some of the pushback is coming from fringe conspiracy theorists or muscle men, but many others have also lost trust in authorities and in what they see as heavy-handed measures and mixed messages. Is the unfiltered "anything goes" rhetoric that wins elections finally coming home to roost?
In this article
Related
7 Mar 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic has provided African autocrats with the perfect set of circumstances to restrict civil liberties, rights activists say. China's growing influence on the continent may play a role, a report warns.
8 Mar 2021
Four people have died in the Senegal's worst unrest in years. Those clashes sparked by the arrest of opposition leader Ousmane Sonko. Kenya launches its vaccination campaign, as countries across the continent urge for vaccine fairness in the fight against the pandemic. And as Ivory's coast's opposition eyes a comeback in Saturday's legislative election, our guest Jessica Moody tonight tells us more about whether the country can hope for national reconciliation anytime soon.
23 Mar 2021
A demonstration against a new policing bill turns violent in Bristol, southwest England, after angry protesters attacked a police station and set vehicles alight. The government's proposed "Police and Crime Bill" would grant the police greater powers to crack down on disruptive protests
30 Mar 2021
Security forces shoot at protesters in the capital of Myanmar's Kachin State, Myitkyina, as protesters throw Molotov cocktails at them. Myanmar's security forces have killed nearly 90 people across the country according to a local monitoring group on the same day as the junta celebrates Armed Forces Day with a parade in Naypyidaw.
11 Apr 2021
Five presidents have conveyed for a crisis summit in Maputo to discuss how to combat rebels in Mozambique. The meeting comes just after 12 people were beheaded following an attack claimed by the "Islamic State."
18 Apr 2021
Britons toast a significant easing of coronavirus restrictions, with early morning pints -- and much-needed haircuts -- as the country took another tentative step towards the resumption of normal life.
20 Apr 2021
A panel of inquiry has been inaugurated by the Gombe state government to investigate the cause of the violent protest in Billiri town and make recommendations to the government.
19 Jun 2021
Revellers crowd the newly reopened dance floor of a club in Washington, DC, as authorities lift all Covid restrictions on bars, nightclubs and entertainment venues in the US capital, allowing them to operate at full capacity. "I just high-fived a stranger," says local resident and partygoer Aimee Bailey, "we're just so excited to be able to be next to each other." Nightclub owner Bill Spieler shares her enthusiasm but also confesses to being "nervous," as his venue hasn't welcomed dancing crowds indoors for over a year until now.
21 Jun 2021
Images of damage and flooding as a violent storm hits the south of Paris, with heavy rain and wind gusts of up to 137 km/h.
27 Jun 2021
A new report on terrorist activity in the EU has highlighted the threat of online propaganda during the pandemic. The research shows Islamist and far-right extremists have posed the greatest threat.
25 Jun 2021
The US president has targeted gun dealers and urged cities to use COVID relief funds to pay for more policing amid a rise in violent crime.
Latest
6 hours ago
The remains of Congolese icon Patrice Lumumba, the country's first prime minister, are laid to rest in Kinshasa. Belgium returned a tooth belonging to the murdered independence hero earlier this month. Also, African ministers of education were in Paris on Thursday for a UNESCO summit on tackling the devastating effect that the pandemic has had on education.
6 hours ago
The growing appetite for milk and meat is pushing the planet to the edge. But it doesn't need to be that way since there are many plant-based alternatives that aren't bad for the environment and still taste good.
7 hours ago
New Delhi has imposed a federal ban on some single-use plastics in a country that generates around 4 million tons of the material every year. Offenders can net hefty fines or a five-year jail sentence.
7 hours ago
Fashion today is about creating new paradigms: making beautiful and desirable clothes that also have a deep conscience.
9 hours ago
UNESCO World Heritage site the Château de Chambord became one of the world's most majestic concert venues this week, as British rocker Sting performed against the backdrop of its French Renaissance towers. The star also spoke about how his 1985 hit "Russians" is finding new relevance after the invasion of Ukraine.
9 hours ago
U.S., British embassy pride flags fly in face of Russia 'gay propaganda' law