Protests flare up in US, other countries against coronavirus lockdowns

Agence France-Presse

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2020/overseas/04/21/protest.jpg"/><figcaption>Armed men take part in a &quot;reopen&quot; Pennsylvania demonstration on April 20, 2020 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in the United States. <em>Nicholas Kamm, AFP</em></figcaption></figure></div><p>Demonstrations against confinement measures aimed at combatting the coronavirus have taken place from the United States and Brazil to Russia, via Africa.</p><p>But such protests remain on the margins, involving hundreds or thousands, while 4.5 billion people have been told or asked to stay-at-home to fight the pandemic.</p><p>Here is a snapshot:</p><div><strong>The United States</strong></div><p>Over the past week there have been scattered protests in several US states against confinement measures, from New Hampshire, Maryland and Pennsylvania to Texas and California.</p><p>The demonstrators, some of them armed, were mostly mask-free and many ignored social distancing measures.</p><p>The biggest protest to date was in the Michigan state capital Lansing on April 15, where about 3,000 protestors gathered.</p><p>US President Donald Trump has apparently tweeted support for demonstrators in three states -- Minnesota, Michigan and Virginia -- against lockdowns imposed by Democratic governors.</p><p>But while the noisy demonstrations have drummed up attention, the protestors represent a minority because more than 80 percent of US residents would approve a national stay-at-home order, according to a recent Quinnipiac poll.</p><p>The United States has suffered the highest toll from the pandemic with more than 42,360 fatalities and 787,900 confirmed cases.</p><div><strong>Brazil</strong></div><p>On Sunday, around 600 demonstrators outside army headquarters in the capital Brasilia protested stay-at-home orders issued by state governors. They also called on the army to intervene and demanded the Congress be closed. </p><p>Far right President Jair Bolsonaro, who has played down the deadly virus, joined the demonstrators.</p><p>Bolsonaro has constantly criticised partial quarantine measures adopted by governors, which are less stringent than those in place in Europe and neighbouring Latin American countries.</p><p>He sacked his popular health minister, who supported restrictions that Bolsonaro says are damaging the economy.</p><p>A majority of 68 percent of Brazilians approve the confinement regulations despite its impact on the economy, according to an April 18 poll.</p><div><strong>The Russian Caucasus</strong></div><p>Hundreds of people defied social distancing recommendations Monday and gathered in Vladikavkaz, the capital of North Ossetia in Russia&#x27;s turbulent North Caucasus region, to protest coronavirus restrictions. Several protesters were detained.</p><p>The protest came amid anger at what many Russians say is a lack of adequate support for ordinary people and for small and medium-sized businesses during the epidemic.</p><p>In late March, North Ossetia, one of Russia&#x27;s poorest regions, forced non-essential shops to close, and it strictly applies confinement measures recommended by Moscow.</p><div><strong>Niger</strong></div><p>Late Sunday, violent protests erupted in the Niger capital Niamey against measures aimed at containing the pandemic, including a nighttime curfew and a ban on collective prayers in the mainly Muslim country. More than 100 people were arrested.</p><div><strong>Tunisia</strong></div><p>In Tunisia, several hundred people demonstrated in a working class district of the capital on March 31, demanding promised government support and protesting a week-old lockdown against the coronavirus pandemic that has left many without income.</p><p>Demonstrations have also taken place in South Africa, Colombia and Venezuela to demand more financial and food aid.</p>

<p>Demonstrations against confinement measures aimed at combatting the coronavirus have taken place from the United States and Brazil to Russia, via Africa.<br /> </p>

Demonstrations against confinement measures aimed at combatting the coronavirus have taken place from the United States and Brazil to Russia, via Africa.

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Protests flare up in US, other countries against coronavirus lockdowns

Protests flare up in US, other countries against coronavirus lockdowns

Agence France-Presse

Published Apr 22, 2020 01:12 AM PHT

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