'Defeat the Mandates' march in DC shows growing frustration over vaccine requirements
WASHINGTON (7News) — Thousands of people from across the country gathered Sunday morning on the National Mall in Washington, taking part in an anti-vaccination march called “Defeat the Mandates."
The crowd was made up of all ages, political affiliations, some vaccinated, some not. Uniting them was the shared feeling of government overreach. They believe getting a vaccine should be left up to the individual.
WATCH it here:
Echoing those beliefs was a lineup of speakers including Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Dr. Robert Malone, Dr. Pierre Kory, Dr. Christina Parks, Dr. Jessica Rose, Civil Rights and Constitutional Law Attorney Tricia Lindsey.
This group was once written off as fringe, but argue they can no longer be ignored. The Washington Post estimates tens of millions of Americans are pushing anti-vaccine mandates into the mainstream, especially as the omicron variant spread, calling into question the protection of vaccines and boosters.
Public health experts disagree, arguing that vaccines protect people, especially because you don’t know who will get a severe case; COVID can have long term symptoms, the vaccine can protect you from that; and vaccines protect people who could catch it from the asymptomatic, who could spread it unknowingly.
Attendees say their trust in the experts and the federal government is eroding, mandates are impeding their ability to make money, and over two years' time, they're tired of being told what to do.
