Αnti-vaxxers clashed with police in Thessaloniki, northern Greece, outside the premises of Thessaloniki International Fair where Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis delivered an important speech that included economic police measures.
Hundreds of protesters against Covid-19 vaccination, among them also families with children, gathered in downtown Thessaloniki on Saturday afternoon.
At some point some of the protesters started to throw fire bombs, crackers, stones and water bottles against the riot police as they tried to break the security chain and move towards the “Ioannis Vellidis” Conference Center, when the Prime Minister was about to deliver his speech.
The reaction of the police was immediate with tear gas and a water cannon.
A woman has been reportedly injured in the head during the clashes.
Five protesters were detained, for four of them detention turned into arrest.
Protesters who earlier rallied in White Tower Square were holding banners and Greek flags, sang the national anthem in front of the town hall and shouted anti-government slogans with one being “Take the vaccines and get out of here.”
Some protesters lit torches .
If was the first time, anti-vaxxers tried to keep a “low profile” because they usually protest vaccinations against Covid-19 holding religious and far-right symbols.
soueces: thesstoday, grtimes, tvxs, protothema
Greeks tend to self destruct after world wars or austerity it seems, contrary to the greatest and endless contributions to science, culture, language, etc.
Just when we thought America was such an embarrassment with Trump and we witness this in Greece of all places. Shame on these frustrated and brainless protesters as their patriots die. I thought that Greece was immune to breathtaking imbeciles but evidently not.
Greece: riding the coattails of people and ideas from 5,000+ years ago. Literally the argument Karamanlis used to urge entry into Europe was the fact that “Europe” is a Greek word and the cultural gifts ancient Greeks gave to the world. Παλιά, παιδιά – παλιά.
I guess somehow that means the ass-backward Greece of today, closer to Middle-East and Balkans, has any commonalities with the Greece of old.
Oh, please. People who are skeptical about these specific vaccines are smart enough not to provoke the police. They are smart enough to peacefully defend their rights. The anarchists and paid provocateurs are responsible for clashes and civil unrest.
It is not just a protest of those against vaccination.
Many are wanting to question the government about how the vaccine passports are being used. When the Greek government began pushing hard for vaccine passports, it was said over and over there purpose was to provide fast-track in travel, and they would NEVER be used to segregate society into groups.
Nobody is talking about this now, instead it is always just hidden under this title of anti-vaxxers, and that is not the truth.
I guess the people talking about “anti vaxers” and “covidiots” etc. will never understand it, but I’ll say it once more, slowly.
First of all, 99% of us are NOT anti vaxers. I have taken a lot of vaccines in my life and will continue to do so. My tetanus shot will always be up to date. I’m just not taking this particular vaccine. I’m not against vaccines, I’m against mandates and totalitarian government control over our lives.
People are easy to scare and when they are scared they will do anything you tell them to. Maybe you think it’s ok that the government controls every aspect of your life. I mean hey, when have those in power ever lied to you amirite? They have your best interest in mind always right? We all trust the politicians and the rich folks who run the world right? So we should surrender all our rights to them because we know they care so much about us right? Come on!
You may think it’s not a big deal, “hey it’s just a small thing for greater good” but that’s how it starts. Nazis didn’t start genocide on day one, things like that take time. First you get everyone scared and then start taking away their basic rights one by one, slowly at first, and once they are conditioned to be submissive, then you take everything. Maybe nazis are an extreme example, but please keep in mind that there has never ever ever been a government/ruling elite that was satisfied with just the finger and didn’t take the whole arm. THAT is why we should not comply. Take the vaccine if you want, and if you think it’s great, go ahead and spread the word how you think it’s important to take it, but say a strict “NO” to every mandate
Your conspiracy rant of us vs. them makes no sense when it neglects how government is elected to represent everyone’s best interests. You should are not so special as a tiny percentage of our misdirected minority.
May I suggest that you are taking the great liberty of advocating rights when totally neglecting responsibility.
It is COVID conspiracy crazies you who are the danger to society and not a government who strives to protect others from their arrogance with callous disregard and sickness.