Protesters marched in cities across France for a fifth consecutive weekend in what could be the biggest demonstration yet against rules compelling them to show a Covid-19 health pass for daily activities, reports Singapore Live News.
They rallied through the streets of Paris, Marseille, Nice, Montpellier and other towns waving placards reading “Pass=Apartheid” and chanting “Freedom, freedom”.
Since last Monday, citizens have been required to show the pass in public places, proving that they have been vaccinated or have recently been tested negative for the coronavirus.
After a week of leniency from the police, the government has vowed to get tougher on health pass checks. And testing, unless prescribed by a doctor, will no longer be free from October.
The number of protesters has more than doubled between the first and the fourth Saturday of protest, from 114,000 on July 17 to 237,000 on Aug 7.
Authorities estimate the 200-plus rallies ongoing in the country will total around 250,000 demonstrators.
Read more of this Reuters report published by Singapore Live News.