Anti-vaccine protesters call Covid-19 a scam in Adelaide rally
Reporters were abused and spat at during an Adelaide anti-vax rally that heard claims Covid-19 is not real amid gripes about police and SA Health.
Coronavirus
Don't miss out on the headlines from Coronavirus. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Anti-vaccine protesters claiming the Covid-19 pandemic is a “scam” have spat at and threatened media during a demonstration in the CBD on Saturday afternoon.
Several hundred anti-vax demonstrators, including Q-anon conspiracy theorists, marched from Rundle Mall to Victoria Square where speakers claimed the coronavirus pandemic did not exist, railed against QR check-ins and complained about the media, police and SA Health.
While most protesters remained peaceful, members of the media were singled out for abuse. One female journalist was spat-at and another reporter told he should be killed if he chose to be vaccinated.
The Millions March Against Mandatory Covid Vaccines protest was part of a national movement to campaign against restrictions and measures put in place by the pandemic such as the QR check-in system, but also the pandemic itself.
Organiser Kathryn Scarborough told demonstrators to encourage people wearing masks to remove them because “Covid is a scam”.
“There’s no pandemic, it’s fine,” she said.
“I can’t even find a metaphor to describe the idiocy.”
Ms Scarborough also attacked Covid tests, questioning their legitimacy and scientific value, and said she did not believe there were multiple Covid strains.
Among the mostly peaceful protesters was Andrew Lang, 42, of Pasadena, who brought his four children all under the age of 10 to the rally.
Mr Lang said he was concerned for the future of his children who he feared would not have the same freedoms as he did growing up.
“As Australians we’ve had a wonderful history of being able to share our opinions, whether we disagree with each other or not, but really what we’re starting to see here is a lack of being able to express our concerns about an issue which involves all of society,” he said.
‘It can be fatal’: Health warning for SA babies as RSV spike climbs
A health alert has been issued to SA parents after a shock spike in RSV cases presenting to emergency rooms – with more than half being young children under the age of 5.
New emergency ‘threats’ putting SA at risk, landmark inquiry finds
The Covid pandemic, River Murray flood crisis, bushfires and statewide blackout were all declared major emergencies over past 20 years. Now, a major inquiry identifies new threats risking state.