Over 1,000 people flooded New York City streets again to protest the COVID-19 vaccine mandate and then gathered in Columbus Circle where speakers fired up the crowd.
One woman said, ‘This is a war call. This is a fight. Leave here and do something … Fight for your rights.’
While the demonstration unfolded Saturday afternoon, Mayor Bill di Blasio’s tweeted pictures from Harlem and praised the faith community Hope of Harlem’s work at COVID-19 community outreach.
The protest is in reaction to the new requirement for people ages 12 and older to show proof they’ve received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to get into restaurants or bars, gyms and indoor entertainment such as movies and theaters.
The new mandate – dubbed ‘Key to NYC’ – went into effect August 17.
The mayor also said New York City will require all Department of Education employees to have received at least one dose of the vaccine by September 27.
Thousands of New Yorkers protested the city’s COVID-19 mandate on August 28
Demonstrators held signs saying ‘Stop the Tyranny’, ‘ I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery’ and ‘Coercion is not consent’, among dozens of others on August 28
As protestors marched, they chanted things like, ‘My body, my choice,’ which has been a rallying cry for people against vaccine mandates on August 28
After marching through the streets of Manhattan, they gathered in Columbus Circle to listen to fiery speeches on August 28
People against the vaccine mandate have argued that they would rather take their chances with COVID-19 and letting their immune system fight it off than getting a vaccine where the long-term effects are unknown
The crowd in New York City on August 28 was a mix of different races and backgrounds
A protestor raises a sign about why they believe the vaccine is mandate is bad
The vaccine mandate has been called ‘unAmerican’ by some against the vaccine
Protestors have been showing up in droves in the Big Apple all week.
City union workers – particularly teachers – have become enraged at the city’s mandate. Some teachers have announced they’re leaving the union, and the NYC PBA threaten to sue the city.
Demonstrators chanted sayings like, ‘My body, my choice,’ on their way to Columbus Circle Saturday afternoon.
They held signs saying ‘Stop the medical tyranny’, ‘ I prefer dangerous freedom over peaceful slavery’ and ‘Coercion is not consent’, among dozens of others.
People against the vaccine have argued that they’re concerned with long-term effects from the vaccine and alluded to breakthrough cases as to why the vaccine isn’t working.
On the other side of the argument, health professionals and NYC decision makers who put the mandate in place have said most of the COVID-19 cases today are because of the highly contagious ‘Delta’ variant.
The variant has hit non-vaccinated populations hard, and vaccinated people have been able to fight off symptoms.
A man argues with people taking part in demonstration against the vaccine mandate in Columbus Circle on August 28
Thousands congregated in Columbus Circle on August 28 to protest against forced vaccinations, which included union workers like teachers and nurses
People – like this woman – have argued that they’re not anti-vaxxers; they’re for the right to choose
A man holds the sign with the phrase ‘My body, my choice. Classism at its finest’ on August 28 in New York City
The ‘My body, my choice’ slogan – worn on t-shirts by these women in NYC in August 28 – has become a rallying cry for those against the vaccine
One protestor uses a Dr. Seuss-inspired poem to protest the mandate
People listen to speeches in New York City on August 28 during a demonstration against the vaccine mandate
A woman holds a sign saying ‘health freedom’ during NYC’s August 28 protests against forced COVID-19 vaccinations
In New York City, the seven-day average in the number of new cases is down nearly 16 percent since last week and the seven-day average of hospitalizations also decreased since last week, according to the CDC.
And 86.4 percent of adults (18 and over) have at least one dose of the vaccine and 76 percent are fully vaccinated, according to the latest numbers from the CDC.
To compare, 73.3 percent of the entire US population has at least one does of the vaccine, according to the CDC.
The New York City Department of health said there’s currently 1,805 cases on a seven-day rolling average, which is considered ‘stable’ – no major increase or decrease.
Of all the active NYC cases, over 97 percent is cause by the ‘Delta’ variant, according the city’s Department of Health.
These are the latest COVID-19 statistics around the United States
Similar protests took place across the pond in the UK, where thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of central London in protest as they continue their campaign against mandated vaccines and COVID-19 passports.
Demonstrators purportedly from The Save Our Rights UK group, armed with St George’s flags, placards, banners and megaphones, spent the afternoon marching through the capital.
The large group started amassing in central London earlier this afternoon, in what is reportedly part of an organized effort matched in other cities in Europe against vaccine passports.
The topic has caused issues in Boris Johnson’s government, with him facing a Cabinet revolt and being accused of denying people their fundamental freedoms.
Pictures from the scene show crowds armed with placards bearing slogans including ‘my body my choice’ and ‘hands off our children’ as they made their way through the capital on Saturday.
A number of parents brought their children along with them to show their support, as Union Jacks and St George’s flags waved in the background.
Thousands of anti-vaxxers have taken to the streets of central London to continue their campaign against the Covid jab
A number of parents brought their children along with them to show their support, as Union Jacks and St George’s flags waved in the background
Source: Daily Mail
