Tens of thousands protest Belgium's tighter COVID-19 rules
ABC News
Ten of thousands of people have marched through central Brussels to protest reinforced COVID-19 restrictions that the Belgian government has imposed to counter the latest spike in coronavirus cases
BRUSSELS -- Ten of thousands of people marched through central Brussels on Sunday to protest reinforced COVID-19 restrictions imposed by the Belgian government to counter the latest spike in coronavirus cases.
Many among the police estimate of 35,000 at the rally were also against the government's strong advice to get vaccinated and any possible moves to impose mandatory shots.
Shouting “Freedom! Freedom! Freedom!” and singing the anti-fascist song “Bella Ciao,” protesters lined up behind a huge banner saying “Together for Freedom" and marched to the European Union headquarters. Amid the crowd, the signs varied from far-right insignia to the rainbow flags of the LGBT community.
At the end of the protest, a few hundred stayed behind to throw bottles and sticks at police, who used tear gas and a water cannon to try to disperse them.
