Anti-Vaccinators Against Vaccinated: Demonstrations Against Covid Restrictions In New York

More than 1000 people flood New York City streets to protest COVID-19 vaccinations, reports Daily Mail. Voice of America said that opponents of vaccinations reached out to courts and protests. The publication interviewed residents of the city and owners of establishments in New York. Their views on vaccination are diametrically opposed.

The protest is a reaction to the city's recently introduced mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirement for everyone aged 12 and older. Proof that you are vaccinated allows you to enter restaurants, bars, gyms and entertainment venues, and those who are not vaccinated are not allowed to enter. Called Key to NYC, this mandate took effect on 17 August. From September 13, a system of fines should come into force for those who ignore this rule. Until such people are fined. New York City also requires all education staff to receive at least one dose of the vaccine by September 17th.

Protesters gathered in crowds throughout the week in the Big Apple. City trade unionists, especially teachers, were furious that city officials were imposing such requirements.

“2000 New York teachers are ready to sue the city for these demands,” said one of the speakers at the protest.

Restaurateurs and owners of sports clubs are already suing the city - they say that since the entry into force of the mandatory vaccination requirement, their attendance has dropped by a quarter.

"My body is my choice"

Demonstrators chanted phrases such as “My body is my choice” and held posters with the words “Stop medical tyranny,” “I prefer dangerous freedom to peaceful slavery,” “Coercion is not consent,” and dozens of others.

On the subject: Restaurant owners sue de Blasio over vaccination requirement

People who oppose the vaccine have argued that they are concerned about the long-term effects of vaccines that have not been investigated, and have also cited examples of when the vaccine has not worked.

“There weren't enough clinical trials. And even though Pfizer was somehow approved there, years must pass to find out what the side effects will be, ”said one of the participants in the action.

On the other hand, health professionals and New York City officials say the highly contagious Delta strain of the coronavirus raging in the city has hit everyone hard. But the unvaccinated are much more likely to become seriously ill and die, the vaccinated mostly manage to easily cope with the disease.

Opinion of New Yorkers

Former police officer Joseph Gorgano said: “Nobody talks about those who are spreading COVID through open borders. But I hear a lot that those who pay taxes - American citizens - are spreading COVID if they haven't been vaccinated. "

When asked by a journalist whether Gorgano himself was vaccinated, he replied that this was a provocative question, and he had the right not to answer it.

The opinions of the owners of the establishments differ. Mary-Josephine Generoso, a New York City café owner, reads a banner at the entrance to her establishment.

“This announcement says that we do not discriminate against clients based on gender, race, age or religion. And we do not divide people into vaccinated and unvaccinated, ”explained Generoso.

At her establishment, visitors are not asked about the status of vaccinations - they believe that it is unconstitutional.

But the city is full of restaurants where vaccination confirmation is a prerequisite for both employees and visitors to enter.

In fitness clubs, vaccination confirmation is entered into the electronic questionnaire of each client. It is automatically read on subsequent visits using a special QR code. Fitness club director Mark Santa Maria claims that there is now a certain sense of the system when entering the club. With or without a mask - you can be sure that everyone in the club has been vaccinated.

“It's good,” says Mark.

The first court hearings on lawsuits demanding the end of compulsory vaccination in New York are scheduled for September 3. It should be noted that 97% of those hospitalized with COVID-19 in New York hospitals are unvaccinated people.

Vaccination statistics in the US and New York

In New York City, the average number of new COVID-19 cases over the past seven days has dropped nearly 16% from last week, according to the CDC. The average number of hospitalizations over seven days also decreased.

According to the latest CDC figures, 86,4% of adults (18 and over) in New York City received one dose of the vaccine. 76% of adults in the city are fully vaccinated. In comparison, according to the CDC, 73,3% of the entire US population received at least one dose of the vaccine.

Protests overseas

Similar protests took place in the UK. Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets on August 29 in central London to protest the mandatory COVID-19 vaccination. This is reportedly part of an organized effort in other European cities.