Blog Post

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The GRID91 GLOBAL COVID-19 Protest Tracker provides an overview of protests related to COVID-19 induced restrictions and national vaccination policies for the week of January 12, 2021 to January 19, 2021.

The week witnessed 12 protests in total. Of these, 1 was against COVID-19 restrictions, 5 were against both COVID-19 restrictions and governmental vaccination policies, while 6 were against vaccination policies.

France, with 3 protests, witnessed the highest number of protests against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccination policies during the week.

9 of the cumulative 12 protests were led by civil society groups. However, political backing to protests was also recorded in Austria on January 15 and in Bulgaria on January 12.

PROTEST AGAINST COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS

AUSTRIA

Hundreds of protestors took part in a motorcade rally in Vienna on January 14. They were rallying against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates. The convoy drove across the city’s ring road and stopped at the Parliament. According to sources, that resulted in a traffic jam for a short duration. Participants beat drums and held up national flags and placards.

FRANCE

Teachers associated with the SNUipp-FSU Union held a rally in Paris on January 13. Protestors, numbering in the high thousands, demonstrated against the lack of adequate COVID-19 protocols in schools. They held up banners, placards and flags as they marched on the streets.

GERMANY

Tens of thousands of locals held demonstrations across the country on January 15. They were protesting against COVID-19 restrictions, vaccinations and the possibility of a vaccine mandate. Rallies were witnessed in the cities of Dusseldorf, Flensburg, Freiburg, Hamburg, Munich and Schwerin. Protestors held up banners and placards expressing their opposition to the measures. Scuffles broke out between some participants and the police in Hamburg.

Tens of thousands of locals held rallies across the country on January 17. They were protesting against COVID-19 restrictions, vaccinations and the possibility of a vaccine mandate. Demonstrations were witnessed in the cities of Berlin, Bautzen, Cologne, Cottbus, Leipzig, Nuremberg and Rostock. Participants marched on the streets holding placards and banners. A heavy police deployment was witnessed at most protest sites. The police intervened in rallies in Rostock and Bautzen.

NETHERLANDS

Locals scuffled with the police after a demonstration in The Hague on January 14. They were rallying against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccines. Participants, numbering in the high dozens, held up placards and chanted slogans. The police arrested one and used batons to control the crowd.

Locals, numbering between mid to high thousands, gathered for a demonstration in Amsterdam on January 16. They were rallying against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccinations. The participants gathered in The Olympic Stadium area, Oosterpark and Westerpark before marching to Museumplein. They held up banners, national flags and signs as they walked.