Several Thousand Demonstrate in Prague Against Mandatory Vaccination

Around 4,000 protestors have gathered on Wenceslas Square this Sunday.

They are demonstrating against mandatory vaccination as well as alleged violations of personal freedoms and the Czech Constitution.

The protest is organized by the initiative Chcípl pes, which opposes government Covid counter-measures.

The demonstration under the statue of St. Wenceslas began with a song by Karel Kryl and a speech by the chairman of the initiative, Jakub Olbert. Demonstrators do not wear masks or keep enough space for social distancing.

Protestors plan to march through the city center towards the Office of Government and Prague Castle.

“We are only against compulsory vaccination, which the government is trying to introduce with the support of the Parliament of the Czech Republic,” the organizers said.

At around 3 pm, the protesters marched from Wenceslas Square to the Straka Academy and from there to Hradčany. They plan to end the demonstration at the statue of the first Czechoslovak president Tomáš Garrigue Masaryk on Hradčanské náměstí.

The outgoing Czech government has published a decree in the official Collection of Laws, requiring mandatory Covid-19 vaccination for all those over 60.

The requirement would also apply to health workers, police officers, firefighters and the military.

However, it is unclear whether this measure will actually come into force, as the government is about to be replaced by a new Prime Minister and cabinet. The new government’s nominee for Minister of Health, Vlastimil Válek, expressed disagreement with mandatory vaccination and said he would modify the measure.