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Victoria Rose explores the rise in anti-lockdown protests across the globe, explaining why some groups feel oppressed and deceived by their governments. Conspiracy theories are on the rise, as some believe that there simply is no pandemic, and others are convinced that the latest 5G technology is causing the spread of disease. The demonstrations initially appeared to originate in the USA, although are now occuring on a more international scale.
In the last few months, varying lockdown measures have been implemented in most countries around the world. In some areas, hostility within communities has led to protests. These have also partially been fuelled by certain conspiracies surrounding the coronavirus, 5G, and vaccinations.
One of the first anti-lockdown protests to have taken place was in Michigan, USA. Organised via "Operation Gridlock", a Facebook group founded by the Michigan Conservative coalition alongside the Michigan freedom fund, it took place on the 15th of April 2020. The idea spread fast, and soon "inspired" many states in the USA to follow suit; very quickly, the movement began filtering overseas. Before long, citizens of countries including France, Australia and Germany were hosting these protests to show opposition to the strict guidelines, with many even arguing they are being oppressed. However in the UK, it has only been in the last couple of weeks that these campaigns have launched and begun drawing attention. While these gatherings are generally small, police forces such as that based in Greater Manchester “have patrol plans in place throughout the area to respond to these protests if required.”
Last weekend's protest in Hyde park, London was a prime example of one of the main anti-lockdown protests in the UK, and potentially the biggest one to date. There, protesters were sporting anti-vaccination and 5G conspiracy signs. There was also an impressive turnout of police, as "19 people were arrested" and another "10 on the spot fines were imposed". These figures are relatively high, considering "only around 50" protesters had gathered.
What may come as more of a surprise is that ex-Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's brother, Piers Corbyn, was among those to have been arrested there. Walking away, he was seen absolutely enclosed by police. Prior to his detainment, it is reported that he was "using a megaphone" to tell the crowd that the "pandemic was a pack of lies to keep you in order" and that "vaccination is not necessary." Corbyn had also spoken twice "in the heart of Somerset", most recently being at Glastonbury. The 73 year-old denies the existence of a pandemic, claiming that the lockdown's purpose is to "destroy small businesses and impose world order" and that there shouldn't be a vaccine against this as it "involves injecting microchips into people's bodies" which is "the opposite of freedom. While his background of an astro-physician and a weather forecaster should sound promising, Corbyn is a "sceptic of man-made climate change".
Many suspect that these UK protests could have origins in the far-right, having apparently been organised by a protest group called UK Freedom Movement, who have advertised up to 60 events across the UK. However, it appears that the vast majority of these demonstrations "have been attended by just a handful of people, or no one at all". It is rumoured that Jayda Fransen, former deputy leader of Britain First, could be behind these groups, as, on April the 30th, she was listed, on an official government website, as the director of a new organisation under the same name. Britain First is a far right organisation, whose website states that "mass immigration" is "a danger to the British people". However, Jayda Fransen denies any associations with this group, while UK Freedom Movement deny being behind any of these lockdown protests.
However, demonstrations have been proposed elsewhere across the UK. There was speculation that there was going to be a protest in Portsmouth, on Southsea common, however nothing seemed to have come of it. A local dog walker said "there's been a much bigger police presence here today", wondering "if they'd caught wind of it". He also added that it would have been "awful" if Portsmouth had gone ahead with the protest, emphasising that "people have a right to free speech" but they shouldn't "flout the rules".
Other planned locations for protests included Bournemouth and Southampton. However, similarly to Portsmouth, there was little turnout.
Amongst some of the more popular demonstrations, one took place at Glasgow Green, one in Holyrood Park in Edinburgh, while "a group of about a dozen protesters gathered on Southampton Common to demonstrate against the lockdown." Here, it seemed most were abiding with the social distancing guidelines, but most likely as a result of police presence.
The extent of these protests in the UK has remained fairly limited for the time being, compared to some countries abroad, such as the USA, France, and and Germany. In fact, in the US, "cell phone location data" suggests that some of these anti lockdown demonstrations have been connected with covid-19 cases.
There's also been a number of unofficial parties and mass gatherings happening in the UK. This included a street party to mark VE day in Middlesbrough: the region with "highest covid-19 death rate in the north east of the UK. The celebrations are said to have "continued into the early morning". While most people were seemingly sticking to social distancing guidelines, others were spotted as they gathered in small clusters along street corners. Additionally, the festivities reportedly included "bingo, a DJ and a bouncy castle" as the Mayor described it as "pretty well organised."
Another incident was a garden party, to celebrate a birthday, which took place on the 10th of May in Manchester. Said to have been attended by "at least 40 people", attendees are said to have "began to deliberately cough and spit" at police officers. Seven people were arrested for being drunk and disorderly, in addition to breaching lockdown rules. However, it is likely that many other similar parties will have been taking place across the globe; those that lack any coverage online and take place during the night are likely to go unnoticed.
Many are hoping that the risk of fine and arrest are enough to deter potential potestors, even if they continue to deny that their actions could worsen the spread of disease. As the number of European deaths is decreasing, it is essential to need to maintain this trend. Maintaining the R0 figure below 1 is essential to preventing any further suffering, and is the key to safely achieving the goal of gradually opening the world up again.
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