Water cannon, tear gas at COVID-19 protests in Brussels

[mia]

Source: Associated Press

Police fired water cannons and thick clouds of tear gas in Brussels on Sunday to disperse protesters demonstrating against COVID-19 vaccinations and restrictions that aim to curb the fast-spreading omicron variant.

The protest drew tens of thousands of people, some traveling from France, Germany and other countries to take part. Protesters yelled “Liberty!” as they marched and some had violent confrontations with police. Video images showed black-clad protesters attacking a building used by the European Union’s diplomatic service, hurling projectiles at its entrance and smashing windows.

The protests followed demonstrations in other European capitals on Saturday that also drew thousands of protesters against vaccine passports and other requirements that European governments have imposed as daily coronavirus infections and hospitalizations have surged due to the omicron variant....

Some protesters harassed a video team covering the march for The Associated Press, pushing and threatening the journalists and damaging their video equipment. One protester kicked one of the journalists and another tried to punch him.

Read more: https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-business-health-europe-brussels-415d5a6a7cf46f3fccafb339a17dc9d0

[FalloutShelter]

1. The lemmings will not be diverted

From the cliff.

[Initech]

3. In Belgium?

[cinematicdiversions]

7. Forget it he is rolling

[Initech]

9. ROFL!

[Initech]

4. New York Times said this would happen last year.

All pandemics end with some kind of violence / unrest... seems that is happening now. We're all tired, angry, and pissed off. Everyone wants this nightmare to end.

[Moebym]

6. COVID-19 fatigue is real. I too am afflicted with it.

But being pissed off enough to riot is has rarely solved any of the problems that precipitated the riots. In the case of a pandemic, social unrest can only result in more harm; they are contributing to the very problem they want to go away.

[Journeyman]

5. I wonder if tear gas is the best tactic during a pandemic . . .

seems it would be a perfect means to transmit the disease, in a cloud of gas that causes uncontrolled coughing.

[forgotmylogin]

8. Also spraying non-socially distanced anti-vaxxers with water...

I don't know if that's the best idea. Or it might knock the virus out of the air, not sure.

[usonian]

10. Don't tell the protesters.

The police are using Tranqui-Pfizer darts.