A new protest against the “health pass” drew a crowd on Saturday afternoon. It was banned in the city center by the prefect for the fourth consecutive week.
This ban had the opposite effect, as it mobilized the people of Nice who want to regain their freedom.
The procession started from Garibaldi Square, as usual, and headed towards Avenue de la République. It then turned around and took streets adjacent to Avenue Jean Médecin to try to access it despite the ban. At each intersection with this shopping avenue, the numerous gendarmes (about twenty vans in total) armed with helmets, shields, batons, and tear gas blocked access. Passers-by desperately trying to shop had to turn back. If they attempted to force their way through, they were sprayed with tear gas. Not only were the protesters affected, but also an employee of Nicetoile.
At Avenue Thiers, the crowd finally managed to cross Avenue Jean Médecin, reach Thiers station, and occupy it. Some even went down onto the tracks to block the trains.
The committed singer Francis Lalanne returned to Nice for the third time in a year. He donned his customized yellow vest for the occasion.
The crowd then headed towards the Promenade des Anglais. Meanwhile, Place Masséna was cordoned off near the Galeries Lafayette, although no protesters were in sight.
The sticker counting system
Every week, several people distribute stickers to count the number of participants. On Saturday, October 16th, 5,674 stickers were distributed. Marine has been handling this task for three weeks. For her, this system is reliable and works “very well,” to the point that regulars come to get their sticker. She ensures to give only one per person, “to provide the real figures, neither minimized nor inflated.” She observed that attendance was much higher between July and August. It has decreased since late August and has “remained steady since, around 8,000-9,000 protesters.”
The protesters speak out
Nice Premium was on site, and a few protesters were able to express their views. They all plan to continue coming every Saturday until the pass disappears. One of them proudly wears a petition addressed to the mayor around her neck.
Citizens agree that this fight benefits them morally. They meet others who share their ideas and viewpoints. The need to be together is undeniable in this solidarity union. They hope to achieve satisfaction. Walking every week may not have been enough to make the government back down for now, but the law regarding mandatory vaccination for all was not passed in the Senate last week.
Marine, whom we met earlier, remains mobilized: “We will do everything to stop this absurdity, and especially to prevent mandatory vaccination from being implemented at some point.” “Citizen movements are emerging everywhere. Some people have many action ideas. Many want to do things, so I think they will be done at the right time. For now, we are here together, and small actions are taking place, such as petitions, letters, posters.”
For Catherine, the pass introduced by Macron reflects a “dictatorship.” The government uses methods like “lying or manipulation.” She proposes an idea for action to go further. “Reach out to people with leaflets, like a political party, because the notion of freedom should unite more people. It would get them to discuss serious issues and maybe come to the demonstrations. Few political parties support us.” “Freedom is the foundation of democracy, and we should not use punitive methods. Especially a vaccine, it’s not nothing.”
Claire and Patrick have been coming every Saturday for almost a year when the political party started organizing actions. Claire became a Patriot because “it was the first and only party to rally.” Listening to the speeches of Florian Philippot (president of the Les Patriotes movement) comforted her in her commitment. “The pass is absurd and against our freedoms,” says Patrick. Claire continues: “It’s apartheid. We must have vaccine freedom. This injection is not a vaccine. It is extremely dangerous.” Many medical personalities, who are “at the forefront,” have written to protest against this law. “They are competent people, like Didier Raoult (or many others).” “It’s important to be numerous in protesting to support them too.” Patrick even went to Paris to participate in the demonstration organized at the Invalides in early September by Florian Philippot. “It was impressive the number of people there, with regional flags from across the country.” He recounts how it happened without any incidents.
Christian is “afraid of the crowd,” but his commitment pushed him to come. He realized that there is “a cultural mix, of ages, professions, religions, and politically” and that protesters “share their disagreement and doubts.” There is such censorship that we become suspicious of everything. If it were clear, we could debate it. Since we can’t, it’s an intellectual and ethical infringement.” He is anti-pass because “it’s each person’s choice to determine what their health is. It is very infantilizing on the part of our leaders to consider that they know better than us what is good for us. It’s unthinkable.” This cinema and opera technician has to pay for three tests per week to work.
He has never had Covid. The technician has nevertheless been in contact “at least fifteen times.” He finds it “hallucinating that, being healthy, he must be vaccinated to protect someone vaccinated and who can still catch the virus.” “The intellectual absurdity is enormous.” Christian explains that “the government forces citizens to vaccinate with a product that does not vaccinate, that does not immunize, and does not prevent being contagious. On top of that, the side effects are phenomenal.” The protester went to the official website of the drug safety agency in July. “The report submitted by Pfizer indicated 761 deaths in France from vaccine consequences.” For him, the leaders consider “it nothing, but that one must immediately remove hydroxychloroquine from the market if there are a few adverse effects.” He adds that “it is forbidden to say that the side effects are due to the vaccine, but rather the reason is unknown.” “There is such a frenzy to impose a truth on us that it becomes suspicious.”
Macron would have “earned 2.4 million from Pfizer laboratories in 2007” when he was their financial advisor. There are “conflicts of interest” for Christian.
The yellow vests joined the procession. Francis finds that the number of participants has increased, “especially because of paid tests.” “The truth will come, and clarity will shine. Some people are starting to understand that this vaccine is a subscription, with added doses.”
Healthcare workers’ hunger strike
Every morning, Christian visits the hunger strikers at the Saint Pons Abbey and “admires their determination.” It is “outrageous that people who have contributed all their lives, served, are laid off without a cent, nor any compensation or alternative.” The fact that the media does not talk about it is of “extreme violence and savagery.” Mr. Estrosi thought the demonstrators were “savage” because they were close to his home. “These 351 Nice caregivers are his citizens,” but Christian regrets that the mayor “has no words for them, while they find themselves on the streets.” These strikers are parents in a difficult financial situation.
