French citizens rioted in response to plans by President Macron to mandate vaccine passports to enter venues like shopping malls, restaurants bars, hospitals, bars, cafés and access public transport.
People will have to provide proof of vaccination or a negative COVID test to enter any of these sites from August onwards.
People in Paris responded on Bastille Day with an unruly protest that led to French police using tear gas to disperse the demonstrators.
NOW – People chanting “Liberté” in Paris as they protest against mandatory vaccinations of health care workers and vaccination passports on Bastille Day (#14Juillet), a national holiday in France.pic.twitter.com/YrP4l0tXwy
— Disclose.tv ? (@disclosetv) July 14, 2021
“The police stepped in shortly after scores of protesters marched down a boulevard in central Paris on Wednesday without permission from the Paris authorities,” reports Reuters. “Some wore badges saying “No to the health pass”.
The Gilets Jaunes is a populist movement that unifies concerns shared by both the left and right, meaning it could rise again as a rebellion against COVID passes if the French government persists in mandating such draconian measures.
Police vans and riot police also blocked off roads in an attempt to prevent the procession of the protest.
Protests against mandatory vaccines in Paris pic.twitter.com/XowKvm6P3d
— Luke Rudkowski (@Lukewearechange) July 14, 2021
The Paris Police throw large amounts of teargas at demonstrators trying to quell the protest in Paris, France against mandatory vaccination and vaccine passes.
The police will be the only group in the country exempt from having to have a vaccine pass. pic.twitter.com/PQKHxv5VOM
— Marie Oakes (@TheMarieOakes) July 14, 2021