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French protesters reject virus passes, vaccine mandate

88 Comments
By PATRICK HERMANSEN and BOUBKAR BENZEBAT

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88 Comments

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Holocaust survivor Vera Sharav has now openly stated that she sees the same hallmarks of totalitarian fascism in Europe with these restrictions on life as in 1930s Germany.

It sure describes what is happening in Russia today, a fascist leader, suppression of democracy and minorities getting persecuted!!!

17 ( +23 / -6 )

Holocaust survivor Vera Sharav has now openly stated that she sees the same hallmarks of totalitarian fascism in Europe with these restrictions on life as in 1930s Germany.

Well she's wrong.

9 ( +21 / -12 )

Well she's wrong.

Well, you get back to us after you have been through a holocaust yourself. Until then, she can speak from experience, while you cannot.

-8 ( +14 / -22 )

Well, you get back to us after you have been through a holocaust yourself. Until then, she can speak from experience, while you cannot.

And how about all the other holocaust survivors who think what she says is completely idiotic? Should they go through the holocaust again?

9 ( +19 / -10 )

a “Green Pass” to access indoor dining, local fairs, stadiums, cinemas and other gathering places.

We have a highly contagious situation that could even potentially mutate into something even worse. Seems like common sense to me.

People can choose to not get vaccinated, and others can choose to not let the unvaccinated put others at risk.

It's a win-win.

2 ( +11 / -9 )

It probably does feel similar to her. And she probably has PTSD from the first time it happened. It's unsurprising that anything restricting one's right/ability of movement would feel the same to her, and would be surprising if it didn't feel the same to her.

But, that doesn't mean it's the same. It's not. This is a pandemic, and social norms required upending for a while. Society was upended when she went through what she did. That doesn't mean that they are the same thing.

5 ( +12 / -7 )

The welfare of the majority is more important than that of just one individual

I agree, but what's most important is a populace who care about each other, and about each other's health, enough to willingly take a personal hit (such as the extremely torturous mask wearing) for the sake of the people around them.

The populaces of some countries have a lot more selfish people that aren't even willing to put on a mask for the sake of their compatriots, than other countries.

4 ( +11 / -7 )

What I find interesting is that the English media regularly mention the 'far right' attend without any evidence

The guy organizing the protest and speaking on stage in the pictures is Florian Philippot, a far-right politician. There's your evidence.

10 ( +13 / -3 )

It is very interesting to me that you say this:

There were more leftwing people there, what a joke

Right after saying this:

What I find interesting is that the English media regularly mention the 'far right' attend without any evidence

Where's your evidence that more leftwing people actually attended?

5 ( +9 / -4 )

@SuperLib It will mutate, that is a given, it already has muted many times but the mutations that survive will be #1 more transmissible and #2 less deadly.

The only caveat is that with most of the population vaccinated but still able to be infected and able to spread the virus, there could be mutations that are more deadly that survive. Everyone will probably need some sort of "booster" for a number of years or a different vaccine that provides a different mode of action to protect from the virus. Farmers rotate the herbicides they use, employing different modes of action so that escapes do not become the dominant phenotype resulting in out of control herbicide resistance. Palmer Amaranth is a huge problem in the US because 15 years ago farmers and crop life companies did not appreciate how 1 escape with a mutation could quickly become dominant.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

Liberals suddenly have found “peaceful” protests that they don’t like.

Just shut up and do what you are told by the government, they say.

-12 ( +5 / -17 )

Let them all stay unvaccinated. Society as a whole can only benefit in the end.

4 ( +8 / -4 )

Liberals suddenly have found “peaceful” protests that they don’t like.

Hmm, the protests themselves are not violent, but the effects of gathering during a pandemic is to spread the virus, thereby having an impact on the health of the people. So while "peaceful", the word requires quotes, as the protests certainly aren't without physical harm to the populace.

7 ( +12 / -5 )

Last summer headlines, a few of hundreds.

Even In A Pandemic, WHO Believes That Public Protests Are Important

Suddenly, Public Health Officials Say Social Justice Matters More Than Social Distance

Many health officials are OK with police protests despite COVID-19

Protest Is a Profound Public Health Intervention.' Why So Many Doctors Are Supporting Protests in the Middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic

>

-8 ( +4 / -12 )

@Strangerland

Where does it end though? Should every common sense act be required by governments? We all know the threat of covid is significantly low for most people so what's the real threat at this point? If the vaccine is effective, why do we need a health pass? If the vaccine isn't effective, why do we need a health pass to enforce a useless vaccine? The truth is that a system to track people and enforce behavior is an authoritarian system. It has no place in a democracy. Please think long and hard before wishing away everyone's freedom to coddle the scared and fearful.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Where does it end though?

How about "it ends right there"? Slippery slope is a rhetorical fallacy.

-2 ( +3 / -5 )

@P. Smith

I guess it's easier to bend to the demands of authority than make decisions for yourself. It's okay. Never in history has that gone horribly wrong in any society. Also, governments have historically always ensured they relinquish power back to the people after the crisis is over. Health pass? Yes, daddy jab me!

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

Where does it end though?

Hard to say, it requires a nuanced approach.

Should every common sense act be required by governments?

Definitely not.

We all know the threat of covid is significantly low for most people so what's the real threat at this point?

We also know that covid iss significantly dangerous for many people. That's the threat.

Oh, sorry, were you expecting that I was one of those people who think the lives of our elderly and frail are lesser somehow?

If the vaccine is effective, why do we need a health pass?

Because this isn't a binary world, where the vaccine either works 100% or it doesn't. The vaccine has something like 96% efficacy. That means that 96% of people who have been vaccinated are protected in comparison to the unvaccinated population. This number is not 100%. No one has ever claimed it would be.

Now, 96% is an extremely effective vaccine. But roughly 4% of people will not be protected by the vaccine. Four percent of 1 billion people is 40 million people. And we're probably looking at vaccinating multi-billions of people. That means hundreds of million for whom the vaccine won't work. And that's not counting those who can't take it even if they want to, as their health issues mean the vaccine is more risky than not taking it.

That's why we need a health pass.

The truth is that a system to track people and enforce behavior is an authoritarian system.

No, that's not the truth. It's a negative pessimistic first-world view of the matter.

0 ( +7 / -7 )

I'd give these protesters a Darwinism Award if they weren't so dangerous for the population at large. I got the jab. It's no big deal. Just friggin' get it done.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Health pass?

...have existed since the 1890's.

1 ( +7 / -6 )

The vaccine has something like 96% efficacy.

This is the kind of misinformation that is dangerous. 96% is a completely made up number. It's not true and you know it. It's not a first world view either. Lockdowns and covid passes and mandatory vaccines aren't a nuanced approach. The entire premise was that asymptomatic spread was going to kill old sick people. The CDC and FDA have just withdrawn EUA for RT-PCR tests which were the "gold standard" for determining covid infections. That was a big lie. And now we are grappling with the very real threat of major overreach and privatized discrimination based on an individuals acceptance of an experimental treatment.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

@Jsapc

...have existed since the 1890's.

I guess we should prescribe cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin to cure headaches again then too... Or maybe leaches could help curb the devil virus. Also 9/10 doctors recommend menthol cigarettes!

-4 ( +5 / -9 )

yeah can’t even trust the tests anymore. It’s no wonder people don’t accept government mandates blindly.

CDC has just announced they will revoke the emergency use authorization of the RT-PCR tests first introduced in 2/20.

“CDC encourages laboratories to consider adoption of a multiplexed method that can facilitate detection and differentiation of SARS CoV-2 and influenza viruses.”

-8 ( +6 / -14 )

This is the kind of misinformation that is dangerous. 96% is a completely made up number. It's not true and you know it.

It was supported with data.

Your argument is supported with "because I say so".

Ok boomer.

The entire premise was that asymptomatic spread was going to kill old sick people. The CDC and FDA have just withdrawn EUA for RT-PCR tests which were the "gold standard" for determining covid infections. That was a big lie. And now we are grappling with the very real threat of major overreach and privatized discrimination based on an individuals acceptance of an experimental treatment.

That's an interesting conspiracy upon which you're theorizing.

6 ( +11 / -5 )

yeah can’t even trust the tests anymore. It’s no wonder people don’t accept government mandates blindly.

You guys haven't trusted anything forever.

See what it's done to your country? Over 600,000 Americans don't. They can't see anything anymore.

9 ( +13 / -4 )

So your claim is that all 600,000 didn’t trust the government?

that’s an interesting position to take.

Seems the government “approved” PCR test can’t differentiate between COVID and the flu.

Seems that would be more of a concern and make people question death from COVID or death from flu?

-7 ( +5 / -12 )

I guess we should prescribe cocaine, methamphetamine, and heroin to cure headaches again then too... Or maybe leaches could help curb the devil virus. Also 9/10 doctors recommend menthol cigarettes!

So can you post facts that prove that the health passes have been a historical catastrophe? Or are you just going to continue with false equivalencies?

Let me help you: how has the "International Certificate of Inoculation and Vaccination" ended the world in 1933? Or in 1944, when it was amended to add cholera, typhus, yellow fever and smallpox? Were you aware that proof of vaccination for several diseases (polio, meningitis...) has already been in place for travel to over 100 countries way before covid-19 even was a thing? I imagine you weren't.

3 ( +7 / -4 )

yeah can’t even trust the tests anymore. 

What we can't trust is citations without any link or context.

5 ( +9 / -4 )

@Jsapc

You do realize that people are protesting being restricted from engaging in commerce within their own communities, right? Also, international vaccine requirements typically follow regulatory bodies that approve vaccines. The current mRNA variety at hand are still technically on trial. This is unprecedented so rather than justify it in a historical context, we should be very critical of anti-scientific measures being imposed on societies globally.

-6 ( +4 / -10 )

https://www.cdc.gov/csels/dls/locs/2021/07-21-2021-lab-alert-Changes_CDC_RT-PCR_SARS-CoV-2_Testing_1.html

What we can't trust is citations without any link or context.

-11 ( +2 / -13 )

It was supported with data.

Where's that?

If basing public policy on the results of unreliable PCR tests is a conspiracy theory, then what did we all experience the past year and a half?

-2 ( +4 / -6 )

Survival of the smartest.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Because emergency use authorization and “approval” are the same thing!

CDC has just announced they will revoke the emergency use authorization

oops. You mean that can be “revoked” when something found not to work?

where did all this blind obedience to the government come from and the willingness of liberals to discredit the voices of the people?

-13 ( +1 / -14 )

i'm eager to go travelling again, haven't done it in two years. i'd love to go to another nation as well. But not while CoVid-19 is still raging and not while we have idiots like these who don't seem to give a damn about others' health or well-being.

4 ( +6 / -2 )

Beside France, disgruntled Australians scuffle with police at banned ‘Freedom’ marches as Covid-19 lockdown extended in Sydney :

Sydney has relegated to chaos, uncontrollable at the moment.

Sydneysiders are practically anti everything that is related to Covid. They get wilder, aggravating the already bad situation.

Be warned that such scenario could be replicated in any city worldwide..

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

"She" "Marine" Le Pen is the leader of the National Rally party until June 2018 known as the National Front. Wants to cancel dual nationality so retired French Jews in Israel will no longer receive state pensions.

She won’t win, but the right are gaining more seats, as bad and sad as it is, these people are gaining in numbers.

-7 ( +3 / -10 )

Some 160,000 people, including far-right activists and members of France's yellow vest movement

We just have to sneak in the "far right" label, have we. To the corporate media, anybody who goes against authoritarianism is "far right" these days.

I

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

@starpunk

Covid was never raging really. It was all hype to enforce heavy handed restrictions. Vaccines are available for those who want/need it so there really is no greater (or reduced) risk of international travel than ever before. Also, remember the article is about restricted travel within communities. People are protesting the government enforcement of showing medical proof to private businesses in order to engage in commerce.

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

jeffb

If basing public policy on the results of unreliable PCR tests is a conspiracy theory, then what did we all experience the past year and a half?

They are reliable in that they reliably give you a positive result, if you run enough cycles. Btw, I have not heard any standard cycle that has been decided to be useful for population testing. Strange, isnt it,

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

zichi

Many protestors were from the right-wing groups like the anti-Semitic Le Pen party.

Firstly, Le Penn is not antisemitic, and secondly, how do you know? It is a pretty tall order to make a sweeping roundhouse statement about 160,000 people.

-9 ( +3 / -12 )

A bit update, French people were not 160000 as French police said but more than 1 000 000 in all France to ask Macron to quit.

The vaccine is not a problem but obligation to do vaccine if not can’t go to restaurants, museum, cinemas, department stores, etc… was really too much.

french government always make the law early morning ( last time was 5 am without saying anything to other parties)

Now they want to force vaccination on kids.

I don’t want to see an other useless “Revolution like in 1789” but I think put all this useless people from government in La Seine ( main river in Paris) should be a great example to politicians who doesn’t do their job. Protect the citizens and not the banks

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

There are some people who genuinely cannot get the vaccine, but for those who can and are not willing, and worse, spreading wild conspiracy theories - I will not shed a tear if these idiots end up in hospital or worse. Just let Darwin do his job!

4 ( +9 / -5 )

French, Italians, Australians are currently protesting against fascism disguised in sanitary restrictions

-4 ( +4 / -8 )

zichi:

Anti-semitic? That's putting it lightly!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

We wouldn't need these passports if everyone who could get vaccinated got vaccinated.

The irony is that even vaccinated people can carry and transmit the virus. So having a pass is meaningless. If you really believe these kinds of restrictions will be dialed back when they never had any logical backing to begin with, I've got a bridge to sell you.

-2 ( +5 / -7 )

@Blacklabel

Seems the government “approved” PCR test can’t differentiate between COVID and the flu.

According to your link that is only 1 test which is concerned : CDC 2019-nCoV Real-Time RT-PCR Diagnostic Panel (CDC)

The other molecular tests using RT-PCR technology do not seems concerned :

https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-emergency-use-authorizations-medical-devices/in-vitro-diagnostics-euas-molecular-diagnostic-tests-sars-cov-2

2 ( +3 / -1 )

Ah, Franch. The nation where the word 'resistance' came into being. la révolution

0 ( +2 / -2 )

According to your link that is only 1 test which is concerned

Yeah, but it was the "gold standard" test. That's the thing. Polymerase Chain Reaction is not a valid method to diagnose covid-19 nor differentiate it from other viruses. But here we are a year and a half later still under State of Emergency. Nothing was thought through and people blindly "trusted the experts" and now we have to have a vaccine which has the same level of EUA that the unreliable test had. If you still can't see why people are not satisfied with the level of actual scientific discourse and constant fear mongering, I don't know what will more clearly express it.

-3 ( +2 / -5 )

Get these scum off the streets! Hit them, and hit them hard.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

So, in the last pandemic to people get vaccines? No.

Everybody either those who are weak died and those who had an able immune system that could cope, survived.

Did the world end?

No.

Now we have vaccines that make us immune to the virus relatively,here we are in a far better situation.

The time for total restrictive measures should end!

-6 ( +1 / -7 )

And? How many people used these tests and got a false positive?

How many people were marked as died from “COVID” based on these test results?

approved by the same group that “approved” the vaccine.

According to your link that is only 1 test which is concerned

-7 ( +4 / -11 )

governments are secret authoritarians just waiting for the opportunity to lock up the citizenry and impose a dictatorship?

It's not my belief, it's exactly why systems of checks and balances exist. Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely. People much smarter than you or I came up with these concepts long ago.

-5 ( +3 / -8 )

They've been talking about introducing a vaccination pass since at least September 2019. Yes, 2019!

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Did the world end?

For those who had a weak immune system it did.

8 ( +10 / -2 )

Someone missed that when governments can control the populace by fear and misinformation there is no further need for “elections”.

Control of the populace. Eliminate the ability of people to speak to each other without going through state controlled social media platforms that they can censor. Isolate people into thinking everyone but them is ok with what the government is doing.

You will “die” f you dare gather together in opposition to government mandates. Only get the “news” the government wants you to have. Which is why “approved” protests are ok yet others are not.

-9 ( +4 / -13 )

Protesters chanting “Liberty! Liberty!”

Maybe it should have been, "Suicide! Manslaughter!" since they seem to want to be able to infect everyone and forgo the life saving protection of getting vaccinated. Senseless people.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

160,000 in the street in peaceful protest.

liberals: Meh, just far right trouble makers, all of them. Police can Tear gas them until they leave. Yay police!

-8 ( +3 / -11 )

160,000 in the street in peaceful protest.

liberals: Meh, just far right trouble makers, all of them. Police can Tear gas them until they leave. Yay police!

Is it fun to debate things noone ever said?

3 ( +6 / -3 )

No one said......then who is this?

Get these scum off the streets! Hit them, and hit them hard.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

And who is this? But yeah no one said anything.

The guy organizing the protest and speaking on stage in the pictures is Florian Philippot, a far-right politician. There's your evidence.

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

And who is this?

And how is highlighting the fact that Florion Phillipot is an avowed far-right politician calling for tear-gassing him, exactly?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@BigYen

Agree to disagree then in this case. I think government overreach creeps more quickly than we even realize. Especially in an era of unprecedented misinformation and censorship. Remember, the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

so what does hit them, hit them hard, mean?

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Sydney has relegated to chaos, uncontrollable at the moment.

Three and a half thousand protesters from a city of over six million is hardly "uncontrollable chaos".

Misinformation about small groups of lawless rowdy bogan's who do not understand a pandemic or spreadable airborne pathogens and have no respect for others rights. The majority of Australians are getting sick of a few making it worse for everyone. They get no sympathy from ordinary law abiding citizens. Get vaccinated, get both shots and when the rates of fully vaccinated go over eighty percent of the total population we can get past this craziness. People refusing to be vaccinated for whatever reason prolong the agony for everyone and put themselves at much higher chance of death or long term illness.

I protest these idiotic protestors creating super spreader events! Not smart, just selfish, that's what they are.

-1 ( +3 / -4 )

so what does hit them, hit them hard, mean?

I don't how, you'd have to ask the guy who posted that. And then ask if him is a liberal, and if he represents enough "liberals" to make the type of generalization you are making.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

Heres how you get them off the street, huh?

Paris: Police use tear gas, water canons against protesters opposed to COVID restrictions

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/paris-police-use-tear-gas-water-canons-against-protesters-opposed-to-covid-restrictions/videoshow/84722746.cms

-7 ( +2 / -9 )

I think government overreach creeps more quickly than we even realize.

I'm still waiting for you to demonstrate how the numerous vaccine mandates and passports in the 1890's up to today have made countries devolve into totalitarianism.

3 ( +6 / -3 )

prolong the agony for everyone

The agony ends when people stop buying into the gaslighting and learn to go about their lives.

-1 ( +4 / -5 )

Heres how you get them off the street, huh?

Yeah, tear gas and water canons have been used by the French police to disperse numerous protests since at least the 1960's. It happens several times per year.

So what's your point?

2 ( +5 / -3 )

As always... what's your point, dude?

Liberals bad!!!!

5 ( +7 / -2 )

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