Thousands of city workers march on Brooklyn Bridge to protest vax mandate

by mcardinal

Chris Lange, FISM News

 

 

Thousands of New York City municipal employees marched across the Brooklyn Bridge Monday to protest Mayor Bill de Blasio’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate, temporarily blocking traffic. 

The Oct. 20 mandate requires 160,000 City workers to show proof they have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine by 5 p.m. Friday if they want to remain employed. A $500 incentive is being offered to unvaxxed workers who comply with the directive. Approximately 50,000 NYC employees currently remain unvaccinated.

The anti-vax protesters, among whom were active members of the NYPD and FDNY, could be seen waving American flags and carrying signs reading “I will not comply” and “No COVID tyranny,” while chanting “USA.” Others could be heard shouting “Let’s go, Brandon,” a popular anti-Biden refrain. Workers in the City’s Sanitation Department, Department of Corrections, and uniformed City health care workers are also among those who will be forced out of their jobs if they do not submit to the jab.

De Blasio, however, isn’t backing down. Seemingly unmoved by the demonstration that involved many workers once hailed as heroes during the worst of the pandemic, he said “It’s time now. If you don’t want to get vaccinated, you’ll be put on unpaid leave.” 

The Police Benevolent Association on Monday filed a lawsuit seeking to overturn the mandate and are asking the court to issue a temporary restraining order barring its implementation. 

“From the beginning of the de Blasio administration’s haphazard vaccine rollout, we have fought to make the vaccine available to every member who chooses it, while also protecting their right to make that personal medical decision in consultation with their own doctor,” said PBA President Pat Lynch in a statement

Monday’s protest followed a similar incident that took place Sunday when a crowd clashed with police and security guards at Barclays Center in support of Brooklyn Nets point guard Kyrie Irving. Irving was barred from the team on Oct. 12 for his refusal to get the vaccine. 

Fellow athlete, world champion boxer Floyd Mayweather, posted a video in support of Irving, saying the vaccine should be the choice of the individual:

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