Over 40,000 Protest Against Vaccination Measures in Austria

jpnn.com, AUSTRIA - Tens of thousands of people gathered to resist Covid-19 preventive restrictions, including mandatory vaccination and stay-at-home orders for people who were reluctant to get vaccinated, in Vienna, Austria, Saturday (11/12) local time.

Around 1,400 police escorted 44,000 protesters. A similar action occurred in the Austrian capital last week.

Police said three people were arrested for using fireworks and ignoring health protocols by not wearing masks.

A journalist covering the action, which began in Heldenplatz square, was attacked with snowballs and ice.

The leader of the far-right Austrian Freedom Party, Herbert Kickl, who had criticized the government's handling of the pandemic, delivered a speech.

He said the public did not realize they were being ejected by the government. According to him, the protests would continue.

Separately, a mass of about 2,500 protesters also opposed the Covid-19 restrictions in Klagenfurt and 150 demonstrated in Linz.

Austria became the first country in Western Europe to continue its Covid-19 lockdown.