Australian Freedom Convoy grand protest against Covid authoritarianism and health apartheid

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Demonstrators gathered outside Parliament House in the Australian capital of Canberra on Saturday, demanding an end to measures against the coronavirus.

The protesters, who had arrived in trucks, cars, and buses over the course of the past week, had camped out at a nearby fairground.

Read also: Check out our coverage on curated alternative narratives

Video footage from the demonstration showed crowds of people entering the city and gathering in front of Parliament.

Looks like Australia’s had it with being one of the last remaining vestiges of strict COVID tyranny, as hundreds of thousands march on the capital of Canberra today as part of Australia’s freedom convoy.pic.twitter.com/dKQqFdFMqX

— Michael P Senger (@michaelpsenger) February 12, 2022

7News reporter Jennifer Bechwati described the gathering as “one of the biggest demonstrations I’ve ever seen.”

Outside the Australian legislature, the crowd chanted “fire them all,” referring to Prime Minister Scott Morrison and state premiers responsible for implementing some of the world’s most stringent pandemic-related restrictions.

In Victoria, for example, masks and proof of vaccination are required in most indoor spaces, and employees in most industries must be vaccinated to work.

https://twitter.com/jenbechwati/status/1492317740082040835

At least three people were arrested Saturday, one of them for driving his truck through a roadblock. According to police, the crowd of about 10,000 people (?) “generally behaved well.

The protesters, who had arrived in the city over the past week, had camped out in caravans, cars, trucks, and buses at a nearby fairground. A few hours before the protest, they were ordered to vacate the site Sunday or they could be arrested for trespassing.

Morrison responded to the protest by asking participants to demonstrate “peacefully and respectfully.” The Australian government leader said that all vaccination regulations in the country, with the exception of some regulations for health care workers, were implemented by state premiers and not by his government.

MASSIVE: A bird's eye view of the convoy heading to Parliament House right now in Canberra.#ConvoyToCanberra #CanberraConvoy #ConvoyForFreedom2022

👉 https://t.co/frbjqFqaaf

pic.twitter.com/IlZiXJWVT0

— Avi Yemini (@OzraeliAvi) February 12, 2022

“They have not been implemented by the Commonwealth government … so I understand your concerns about those issues,” Morrison said.

Some vehicles arriving in Canberra ahead of the protest were emblazoned with banners reading “Convoy to Canberra.” The protest is one of several “freedom convoys” inspired by the Canadian truckers’ protest.

Thousands of anti-mandate protesters chant 'SACK THEM ALL' outside Parliament House in Canberra today.#ConvoyToCanberra #CanberraConvoy #ConvoyForFreedom2022 https://t.co/lZ0Ea9NgkD pic.twitter.com/WpVvZSLgVJ

— Rebel News Australia (@RebelNews_AU) February 12, 2022