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Over the past year, there have been numerous protests against Covid related lockdowns in various countries around the world. But did any of them manage to achieve their goal of convincing the government to drop restrictions?
Specifically, I’m looking for examples of governments saying something like “it would be a good idea to keep restaurants closed but the protests are now so extreme that we have to reopen them”.
Looks like they've worked exceptionally well in... China:
Chinese cities ease Covid curbs in wake of protests
Chinese cities, including the financial hub of Shanghai and Urumqi in the far west, have announced an easing of coronavirus curbs after unprecedented protests against zero-Covid restrictions last weekend.
Urumqi, the capital of the Xinjiang region and centre of the first protests, will reopen malls, markets, restaurants and other venues from Monday, authorities said, ending months-long strict lockdowns.
There was no sign of any significant unrest this weekend, although police were out in force in the Liangmaqiao area of Beijing and in Shanghai around Wulumuqi Road, which is named after Urumqi. Protests took place at both sites a week ago.
China can now be considered to have had the most successful anti-lockdown protests in the history of the pandemic. They've reopened the border in early January and ended every single precaution with the exception of masks.
Germany?
It is a bit of a tricky situation because there are the federal government, 16 state governments, and even county-level officials involved, but it appears that "the government" agreed to ease lockdown measures in recent weeks despite the personal conviction of Chancellor Merkel that they should be kept or even increased. She didn't have the political capital to make that happen against a groundswell of discontent with the lockdown.
A snap lockdown over Easter seems to have failed due to administrative challenges -- did they declare a public holiday, or didn't they? Nobody was sure.
For that matter, look at some of the local governments in the Erzgebirge.
As of last week (I'm writing this March 29th), the provincial government of BC, Canada is planning to relax indoors attendance to religious events temporarily, for the next 5-6 weeks I believe and that despite the numbers being on a regular upward trend in the last month.
The rationale is that it is an important time for a number of religions (such as Easter).
The impetus would seem to be the frequents protests around religious restrictions and civil disobedience (holding masses) by a small number of churches in the Kelowna and Fraser Valley regions - areas which coincidentally which have some of the highest case loads.
There was already a court ruling that the government response to the pandemic, shutting down in person attendance for religious functions, was in the public interest, proportionate to the emergency and therefore did not unduly infringe the charter's right to religious liberty.
So it certainly wasn't a legal obligation. And it is happening during a time of increasing Covid numbers, rather than at a time where better conditions might justify relaxing some restrictions.
(It is quite possible that this planned loosening up will be halted before it begins, as the numbers have been trending up quite uncomfortably since this announcement was first made).
But it does seem like giving in to a vocal minority's pressure. I want to stress that the vast majority of churches and religious people have acted sensibly in the matter and respected the safety of others.
