While more and more European countries are placing themselves under the bell in the face of an epidemic wave, a little music is mounting among some citizens opposed to these restrictive measures.
Whether or not they are politicized, when this is the case, most often close to the extremes, or even followers of conspiracy and anti-mask theories, these Europeans no longer hesitate to vent their anger in the streets.
With, like last weekend, in Barcelona or Rome, violent outbursts.
In France, Spain, Italy, the United Kingdom, Belgium or even Germany, whether it is a matter of confinement, a curfew, or less restrictive measures, these activists whose number remains difficult to quantify, have not hesitated to parade in recent days, in order to criticize the temporary silence of their country in the face of a virus which has killed more than 280,000 in Europe to date.
The "tricolor masks" in Italy
In France, it is in particular to the cries of "And everyone hates the confinement", or of "Work, consume and shut up", that hundreds of people formed a handful of processions in Toulouse, Paris or Nantes. and Castres, on October 29.
These small groups, which we do not know by what means they met, were dispersed by the police without any figure of protest emerging.
Difficult therefore, to draw up any x-ray.
Reconfinement: a savage demonstration in the streets of Paris
In Italy, the anti-containment movement tends to structure itself much more.
Giuseppe Conte's government was preparing to declare a nighttime curfew on Monday, two days after violent clashes between demonstrators and police in Rome and Florence.
The first had gathered via the appeal on the social networks of the collective "Mascherine tricolori" ("tricolor masks", in reference to the Italian flag).
A group, born last May, which collects more than 40,000 “likes” on Facebook.
Although it has no official political affiliation, some of its members do not hide their nationalist ideology, which does not prevent the group from spreading in more and more Italian cities.
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"All our events are open to everyone and everyone can take the megaphone and speak to the press," assures Parisian Davide Di Stefano, one of the organizers, who also confides in being a journalist for a news site describing himself as sovereignist and member of an identity political party today on standby.
This Italian, who ensures that certain events are also organized by “traders, restaurateurs and members of the most affected economic categories”, says he wants to “protest for our freedom and social rights” and insists on the peaceful approach of the demonstrators.
A reference to yellow vests
"All Italians who recognize themselves behind the national flag can participate, to demand alternative measures to the curfew, but above all for a real support of our economy, as well as for the workers", argues the nationalist activist, who claims it: "Our goal is to become a popular movement, not a political organization", and readily refers to the French movement of yellow vests.
#campodefiori #mascherinetricolorihttps: //t.co/rWGZ6J5dfl
- Valter Delle Donne (@ValterDD) October 31, 2020
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On October 27 already, the riot police had to be deployed in Turin, Naples or Milan, facing demonstrators opposed to the closure of bars, restaurants and sports halls, who committed degradations and threw Molotov cocktails.
As the local daily La Repubblica reports, some of the troublemakers were seen giving the fascist salute.
In reaction, the Italian Minister of the Interior blasted the action of "violent extremists who try to exploit the social and economic malaise in these difficult times".
In Spain, "a typical social movement of the 21st century"
Two days after demonstrations punctuated by clashes in Madrid and Barcelona in particular, it remains difficult in Spain to determine a profile of the demonstrators.
With the daily El Periodico, a police source evokes "a typical social movement of the XXIst century, there is a spark and it ignites", devoid of "internal structure or organization".
“The people who were there presented a transversal profile.
At the beginning there were hoteliers, angry people […], lists this source.
Then, young people annoyed not to go out, and then there are also people who deny the existence of the virus ... "One of the participants of the Barcelona demonstration confirms with the Parisian:" The economic situation in Spain is the worst in Europe and the social situation is getting worse.
This protest movement has no ideology or colors, it denounces a common situation for all, so there are people on the right and on the left.
"
The breakers would, however, be sought on the side of the extreme right, he believes.
Especially since, as The Guardian reminds us, the nationalist party Vox, which called for the demonstrations, did not work to defuse the growing tensions.
If the Catalan police evoke the presence among the violent elements of members of the extreme left, its leader deplored with El Periodico the presence of nationalist activists, who would have taken advantage of the anti-restriction demonstration to commit crimes.
Anti-Zionist graffiti as well as slogans such as "stop pandemia" have been found on city walls.
Some countries have their dissenting face.
Controversial German lawyer Markus Haintz, member of the anti-coronavirus movement “Querdenken” (which translates to “lateral thinking”, or “different thinking”), is stepping up actions criticizing the management of the pandemic in Germany.
After bringing together nearly 38,000 people in Berlin during the summer - among which were seen many figures of the extreme right or of the conspiratorial ideology - his collective did it again last week in the German capital, with a demonstration during from which was also castigated the wearing of the mask.
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And again on Sunday in Munich.
But to get around the ban on gathering, the collective chose to organize instead a religious service, held by an evangelical pastor, since the country does not prohibit moments of worship and does not require the wearing of the mask.
As the daily Bild relates, among the demonstrators, many were opposed to its generalized port.
In the UK, conspirators and "everyday people"
Across the Channel, demonstrations against the restrictive measures decreed by the government continue to grow, in London, but also Liverpool, Newcastle and Birmingham.
A protean protest, which brings together dance scenes, organized by partygoers in need of parties, as members of the recent citizen movement Save our rights UK (Sauvez nos droits).
A "large crowd" had to be dispersed from Liverpool city center after pubs closed at 10pm last night - two hours before tough Tier 3 #coronavirus restrictions were imposed.
Read more: https://t.co/5vnzDupD2Z pic.twitter.com/3z3XDKVcnO
- SkyNews (@SkyNews) October 14, 2020
This collective with nearly 40,000 members on Facebook claims to be non-politicized and wants to “unite against the loss of freedoms and rights” during this pandemic.
It also conveys many conspiratorial and coronasceptic ideas.
One of its activists, Anna (assumed name), a 49-year-old Briton who describes herself as a "law-abiding citizen", assures us that she never demonstrated in her life, until this summer.
"The people who participate in these events are everyday people, many are middle-aged," insists this saleswoman whose shop "has been closed since March".
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More events this week!
2nd November - Hull - 2pm - Queen Victoria Statue #rawnews 3rd November- Chester - 4pm - Town Hall #hcqcure 3rd November - Liverpool - 1pm - Clayton Square #stopthelie 4th November - Bangor - 4pm - Clock Tower 4th November - Wrexham - 1pm - Queens Square 5th November Belfast - 6pm - City Hall - Candlelit vigil for lives lost due to lockdown - #NorthernIreland #Belfast #CollectiveActionAgainstBillGates 5th November- London - 6pm - Trafalgar Square - # MillionsMaskMarch2020 - Anonymous London - #ExpectUSUK 5th November- Neath - 2pm - Victoria 5th November Scotland - 7pm - Glasgow Green 7th November - Brighton - 12pm - Angel of Peace Statue, Brighton Sea front.
(Marching through Brighton.) 7th November - Stroud, Cotswolds - 12.30pm - The Band Stand, Stratford Park.
Speakers include Piers Corbyn.
#ourmovement 7th November - Liverpool, St Georges Hall - 1pm - March For Freedom.
7th November - Edinburgh, Holyrood - 12.30pm Louise from Save Our Rights will be attending.
All are subject to change.
Some of these events are organized by individuals and other organizations.
We love seeing your artwork and banners.
Please tag us in your pictures.
@standupx @ event.202 #saveourights #freedomfighter
A post shared by • SAVE OUR RIGHTS UK • (@saveourrightsuk) on Nov 2, 2020 at 5:11 am PST
She evokes in bulk and without measure her anger against a government too silent for her liking, her mistrust of the media, vaccines, diagnostic tests against the virus and against the number of official deaths in the United Kingdom, which "would have been excessively exaggerated ”.
Conspiracy arguments that also flourish on the group's Facebook page.
During previous gatherings, some demonstrators carried placards linking 5G and the epidemic or criticizing the use of vaccines, the only outcome to date in the face of the epidemic.
Anna will continue to demonstrate, as long as the restrictions remain.
Next meeting on November 5, in the streets of London.