The Liberal understands that there’s more anti-mask and anti-lockdown rallies planned for Dublin over the coming weeks with thousands expected to gather and march through the streets of Dublin demanding an immediate u-turn on coronavirus restrictions.
Meanwhile, thousands of protesters marched across the centre of Dublin on Saturday afternoon in an event titled ‘Time for Change’ organised by grassroots activists Yellow Vests Ireland. The Liberal.ie joined them to hear the voices of a growing movement ignored by the mainstream media.
Beginning at Customs House at 2PM, the crowd swelled in numbers rapidly. Gardai manned barriers on both sides of the quay with barriers, searching the bags of some attendees. People came from all corners of the country and all walks of life to protest a variety of issues against the government, including Covid-19 restrictions such as mandatory facemasks and lockdown. Among the crowd participants could be heard speaking in English, Gaeilge, Spanish, Portugese and a variety of Slavic languages.
We spoke to a man and woman who had travelled down from the north west who stressed that today’s event should not be labelled ‘far right’. The gentleman said that he was there to protest against what he saw as a reduction of his personal freedoms, a sentiment echoed by many others we spoke to. Those who accuse the movement as racist would perhaps be surprised to see the vast variety of nationalities in attendance.
After a short speech from organiser Glenn Miller, an activist from Toronto, Canada named Chris Sky gave a speech in which he described the day’s protest as ‘government versus the people.’ He told the audience that ‘fear and ignorance’ are the fuel of tyranny and promoted the Canadian ‘Hugs Over Masks’ movement.
Shortly after the crowd reacted with cheers when organisers announced ‘we’re going on a walk.’ The crowd surged over the bridge around the Quays, flanked by Gardai, and continued along through the city centre. Dublin’s shoppers, workers, and pedestrians were taken by surprise to see an enormous amount of protesters taking over the streets chanting ‘Ole!’ with flags and banners. Passing through D’Olier Street onto College Green, they continued up Dame Street and George’s Street before pausing on Golden Lane.
Here speaker Ben Gilroy, founder of Direct Democracy Ireland, criticised RTE and other mainstream media outlets for their coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic and for their allegations against the anti-lockdown movement. It seems a major problem has arisen in the Irish media with a growing volume of the public distrusting major outlets, and the major journalists in turn doing little to represent alternative voices such as the day’s march and its thousands of participants.
In scenes not witnessed in the capital since perhaps the water charge movement, the crowd continued in its thousands around St Stephen’s Green and onto Merrion Row via Baggot Street where the crowd congregated at the imposing gates of the Taoiseach’s office. The crowd was in high spirits by this point, and sang the national anthem.
A young couple from rural Mayo told us they were here, primarily, to protest against the current government. They both pointed out that Sinn Fein won the democratic vote and should therefore be in office over the current neoliberal coalition. Two men from county Wexford said that they saw the Irish government as ‘puppets’ to globalist forces such as the EU and corporations, but said that they didn’t support the anti-mask rhetoric of much of the crowd. A distrust of ‘elites’ was echoed by an older gentleman from the North, who pointed out the enormous profits reaped by top billionaires and their companies during the pandemic.
By 5PM the protests had wound down, with many heading home to towns and villages across the country. Whatever anyone thinks about them, one thing for certain is that this growing form of grassroots Irish politics is only going to grow. As in any democratic society, it is the duty of the public and the media to debate and discuss rather than dismiss the beliefs of an increasingly vocal minority movement.
Watch the video below:
Tell us your thoughts in the Facebook post and share this with your friends.