Category: anti-lockdown protest

Sydney Law Firm Files Lawsuit to Overturn Australian State’s Public Health Orders

A Sydney law firm has filed an action against the New South Wales (NSW) health minister, chief medical officer, and the state and federal governments, calling for public health orders to be declared unconstitutional and illegal. Ashley, Francina, Leonard and Associates (AFL) argue that the health orders require vaccinations to be mandated across a broad…


Australian Truck Drivers Plan to ‘Block Every Highway’ in COVID-19 Protest

Australian truck drivers plan to block the highways in protest of COVID-19 vaccines and how the governments have handled their COVID-19 responses. According to social media posts, the protests are planned for Aug. 31 across the country, separate to the upcoming Transport Worker Union (TWU) backed protest over a pay dispute. “Block every hwy [highway]…


Victoria Police Consider Shutting Down Public Transport System to Counter Future Protests

Victoria police are considering shutting down Melbourne’s public transport system to prevent future protests following an anti-lockdown protest that drew thousands of demonstrators. “To shut down the transport network to prevent people coming in … that’s a huge call, but it’s one that we’re now going to seriously entertain on the next occasion because I’m…


Australia’s Melbourne Sees Anti-Lockdown Protest While Sydney Faces Police Crackdown

More than 1,500 police officers were deployed to Sydney’s central business district (CBD) and surrounding areas to prevent a planned anti-lockdown protest on Saturday. The New South Wales (NSW) police announced Saturday morning that public transport routes to downtown Sydney and ride shares would be blocked. Trains had to skip major train stations, including Redfern,…


Large Anti-Lockdown Protest in Australia’s Melbourne While Sydney Faces Heavy Police Crackdown

Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Melbourne, Australia, in a largely peaceful fashion to rally against local lockdown restrictions—a stark contrast to the situation in Sydney, where more than 1,500 police officers descended upon the CBD and surrounding areas to quash what was believed to be a planned anti-lockdown protest. The New South…


Victoria Police Arrest 73 Protesters in Rally Against Lockdown Extension

A group of protesters gathered at Melbourne’s Flinders Street Station on Wednesday evening to oppose the extension of the state’s sixth lockdown. Protester numbers were not as large as last week’s protest, but Victoria Police reported that 73 arrests were made for breaching Chief Health Officer directions. Victoria police prepared patrol cars, riot vans, and…


Australia’s Deputy PM Defends MP’s Right to Attend Legal Anti-Lockdown Demonstrations

Australia’s Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce has defended the right of National Party colleague George Christensen MP to protest as part of the July 24 “freedom rallies” held around Australia. The protests, which saw thousands of Australians march through a number of capital cities, were a reaction to several state governments’ COVID-19 lockdowns. In an interview…


Montreal Businesses Clean Up After Anti-Curfew Protest Mayhem

MONTREAL—Business owners in Old Montreal will be assessing the damage this morning after an anti−curfew protest turned violent. Hundreds gathered in defiance of an 8 p.m. curfew that took effect in Montreal and Laval Sunday night. The mostly young crowd danced to music from loudspeakers while lighting fireworks and chanting, “freedom for the young.” However,…


Angry College Students Break Free From Prolonged COVID-19 Lockdown in China

Despite a low-risk pandemic situation in the area, the Guangzhou Vocational University of Science and Technology, in southern China’s Guangdong province, prolonged its COVID-19 restrictions on campus. Discontent from locked-up students simmered until it reached a critical point. At noon on Mar. 17, at least 300 Guangzhou university students launched a surprise charge on the…


Protesters Rally at Toronto’s Dundas Square, Call on Governments to End Lockdowns

The organizer of an anti-lockdown protest held at Dundas Square in Toronto on Jan. 2 says that the ongoing COVID-19 restrictions in Canada are part of a “political agenda” from the governments and an “attack on our democracy.” Called the “Freedom Marches,” the protest called on the municipal, provincial, and federal governments to end the…