Anti-Government Protests Persist in Thailand Despite Record COVID-19 Cases

BANGKOK, THAILAND - Anti-government protesters were met with a large police presence in Bangkok this the weekend even as Thailand struggles with surging COVID-19 cases. 

Hundreds of activists took to the streets in the capital calling for political reforms. The reform demands stemmed from the widespread anti-government movement last year coupled with anger at the slow rollout of vaccines against the coronavirus that causes COVID-19. But despite Bangkok’s spiking COVID-19 cases, neither a partial lockdown of the capital nor its damp weather could prevent groups from gathering Sunday.  By mid-afternoon Sunday, protesters had gathered on motorbikes and in cars near the Victory Monument in the Ratchathewi district. To mark the beginning of Buddhist Lent, those walking wore traditional costumes. Others held up three fingers, a symbol of the reform movement.