8,000 Expected at Anti-Vaccine Passport Protest in Italian City that Banned Protests in Major Square

As many as 8,000 people are expected to participate in an anti-vaccine passport protest on Saturday in Trieste, Italy, which banned protests in a major square until the end of the year.

The estimated crowd of 8,000 will be expected to wear masks and socially distance or they could face fines, with Trieste Mayor Roberto Dipiazza issuing an ordinance this week to attempt to convince people not to take part in the anti-vaccine passport demonstrations.

Mr Dipiazza and others have blamed the surge in coronavirus cases in Trieste on the large protests against the vaccine passport, known as the Green Pass in Italy.

According to a report from the newspaper Il Giornale, local police will be monitoring the protesters and those caught violating masking and social distancing rules could face fines of between €400 and €1,000 (£340-£860/$460-$1,160) each.

Earlier this week, Dipiazza banned all anti-vaccine passport protests from taking place in the Piazza Unità d’Italia, a square in the heart of the city, stating that all protests would be banned until December 31st as a measure to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

Italian Mayor Bans Anti-Vaccine Passport Protests Until End of Year https://t.co/WQ9txKxn50

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Prefect Valerio Valenti, who also pushed for the demonstration ban, commented saying: “When balancing interests, in my opinion, the right to health prevails over the right to demonstrate.”

If 8,000 anti-vaccine protesters show up to the demonstration and wish to go to the Piazza Unità d’Italia, which they have indicated as their desire according to Il Giornale, it is unclear if police will be able to stop them.

In Milan, meanwhile, around 10,000 people are expected to take part in an anti-Green Pass demonstration over the weekend, an increase from the estimated 6,000 who participated in protests the week before.

Late last month, protests in Milan against the Green Pass erupted into violence, with 28 people arrested. Violence also occurred in other cities at anti-Green Pass protests including Turin where petrol bombs were thrown at police.