Anti-lockdown protest takes place in Oxford

Anti-lockdown protests took place in Oxfordโ€™s Bonn Square at 12pm today, organised by Piers Corbynโ€™s group Stop New Normal.

The event, called the Oxford Peaceful Political Rally, aimed to protest the extension of the Coronavirus Act and the presence of police at their events.

Signs protesters held included lines such as โ€œThis is now tyrannyโ€, urging the government to โ€œcopy Swedenโ€, and โ€œCovid-19 equals controlโ€, leading to โ€œCovid1984โ€. One sign compared current restrictions to the Nazi government.

At the event, one speaker referred to the countryโ€™s current coronavirus restrictions as โ€œarbitraryโ€ and โ€œdisproportionateโ€, continuing: โ€œMy forefathers died in the First and Second World War, so I can enjoy the very freedoms I have today. I will not give away my freedoms.”

Organised speakers included Piers Corbyn, Jeremy Corbynโ€™s brother who has previously described coronavirus as a โ€œhoaxโ€ and referred to climate change as โ€œnonsenseโ€, and Geza Tarjanyi, an anti-fracking protestor.

The event was advertised by Stop New Normal on their website. It said: “Join Piers Corbyn in a peaceful political rally protesting about the extension of the Coronavirus act and ‘Special Powers’ police attacks on peaceful protests.”

Stop New Normal describes itself on its website as: โ€œA political movement campaigning to stop parliament renewing the Covid-19 oppressive legislation. We are fighting against the government’s Covid policies which cause illness and death – and fighting for action to cut claimed virus illness and save livesโ€.

Their aims include stopping social distancing, test and trace, and the obligatory wearing of masks. Additionally, the group wish to end investigations into a potential coronavirus vaccination and to โ€œtake down 5Gโ€. There were anti-vaccination placards at the protest.

Their website also includes a plea to donate to Piers Corbyn as he appeals a ยฃ10,000 fine โ€“ given as a result of the anti-lockdown protest held at Trafalgar Square on 29th August 2020.

Image Credit: Millie Wood.

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