Anti-vaccines march in Montreal to support unvaccinated healthcare workers

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With less than a week before unvaccinated healthcare workers face suspensions, several hundred protesters took their irate message to the streets of downtown Montreal on Saturday.

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The march began at the foot of the Jacques Cartier Bridge at 1 pm and crossed the city center before ending in Dorchester Square just before 4 pm Among the roughly 600 people who participated, none wore masks.

The protesters spoke out against the forced vaccination mandate that will take effect on October 15, which could result in the suspension of some 15,000 health workers in the province who chose not to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Among the protesters was Sacha Kulenovic, an ordinance from CHUM’s intensive care unit, who said he faces suspension because he has chosen not to get vaccinated.

“I have doubts, but instead of trying to ease our doubts, the government is just trying to scare us into getting vaccinated,” said Kulenovic, wearing a light blue top blouse and jeans.

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Another nurse held up a sign that read: Last year, heroes; this year, unemployed.

The woman, who works at a Joliette hospital, said she is not against the idea of ​​vaccines, but wants to wait until the vaccine has been shown to have no harmful effects.

“It is in test mode until 2023,” said the woman, who did not want to give her name. “I am not against receiving the vaccine, but I want more information.”

Another woman, wearing a dark blue uniform with the name CISSS Laval, said she was there to support health workers.

“Everyone has the right to decide for their bodies. If they impose something on us, it is a violation, ”he said.

There were posters in support of Donald Trump, including a Make America Great Again flag. There were also several people with yellow stars of David, symbolizing the measures taken to limit the freedom of millions of Jews in Europe during the Holocaust, during which 6 million were killed by the Nazis. This is not the first time that protesters have worn the star. A similar protest in August also featured displays of the star.

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At the time, the Montreal Holocaust Museum took to Twitter to condemn the protesters, reminding people of the story behind the symbol: Jews living under the Nazis were forced to wear yellow stars for identification purposes.

“This symbol allowed the Nazis to target, hunt down and murder millions of Jews,” the museum said. “In particular, the insignia facilitated the persecution of Jews by identifying them during subsequent mass arrests and deportations. As a result, the yellow star has become a painful symbol of Jewish discrimination and the Holocaust. “

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While protesting, Health Minister Christian Dubé reacted on Twitter, saying the province intends to fulfill its obligation to have all 330,000 health workers vaccinated or face suspension without pay. He said important services will have to be reorganized to make up for the worker shortage.

“The only way to lessen the impacts of this is to get vaccinated,” he said.

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