Protests from around the world
Protests against COVID-19 restrictions have taken place around the world since the beginning of the pandemic. Here is a look at some of the demonstrations over governments’ handling of the pandemic.
ARGENTINA March 4-5, 2021
About 60 people were arrested and several protesters were injured in Formosa. Police used rubber bullets and tear gas on those protesting lockdown measures.
BELGIUM Nov. 21, 2021
Police used tear gas and water cannons as 35,000 protested in Brussels.
Jan. 23, 2022 About 50,000 demonstrated in Brussels. Police used tear gas and water cannons when protesters became violent.
BULGARIA Jan. 12, 2022
Eight police officers were injured when anti-COVID restriction protesters tried to storm Bulgaria’s parliament building in Sofia.
COLOMBIA
April 27 to June 15, 2021
At least 34 people were killed and more than 800 injured in seven weeks of countrywide protests over the government’s handling of the pandemic and tax changes.
ECUADOR May 14, 2020
Several protesters were injured when police in Guayaquil used force to break up a small demonstration by civil society groups. Media reported police also attacked journalists covering the demonstration.
FRANCE Feb. 12, 2022
Police used tear gas against a handful of demonstrators in Paris who defied a police order by taking part in a protest against virus restrictions inspired by Canada’s antivaccine mandate demonstrations.
GERMANY Jan. 3, 2022
Protesters sprayed police with chemical irritants in Lichtenstein when officers tried to pull about 60 rowdy people out of a march to check their identities.
ITALY Oct. 9, 2021
Tens of thousand of people demonstrated in Rome, denouncing a mandatory vaccine passport for workers.
NEW ZEALAND Feb. 8, 2022
Inspired by the anti-vaccine mandate protests in Canada, a convoy of thousands of trucks staged a multi-day protest in Wellington, blocking streets near parliament.
TUNISIA July 25, 2020
Protesters calling for the dissolution of Tunisia’s government over its handling of the pandemic threw stones, lit fires and attempted to storm the headquarters of the ruling party in Tunis.