Demonstrators Gather at Garibaldi Tram Stop in Nice

Last Tuesday, about a hundred people gathered at Garibaldi tram stop in Nice to protest the

government’s recent COVID-19 measures during President Macron’s visit to the city. Protests have been ongoing in Côte d’Azur cities such as Monte Carlo, Marseilles, and Toulouse since the introduction of the pass sanitaire in mid-August. According to Sortira Paris, The Côte d’Azur region is known for its high rates of vaccine hesitancy and refusal, with 68.2% of the population considered “fully vaccinated,” a lower rate than the national figure of 70.2%. Lower vaccination rates are accompanied by a high ICU occupancy, with the region at 71%, nearly double the national average.

In a continuation of the ongoing demonstrations against the pass sanitaire, the majority of the protestors gathered in opposition to an impending mandate that all healthcare workers be vaccinated or face suspension without pay. Demonstrators, such as Louise A. (who asks that her last name be omitted), assert that this measure amounts to “extortion,” forcing members of the public to be vaccinated or lose many of the fundamental benefits of society. Many were also of the opinion that vaccine mandates were illegal under French law. Though there is a consensus among the legal community that the health pass is valid as it can be acquired through regular testing even without vaccination, anti-vax demonstrators question the legality of such mandates. They assert that it is outside of the powers of the French government because the Pfizer and Moderna jabs use technologies, and thus should not be considered the same way as traditional vaccines.

One protester, named Steven, raised concerns about the contents of the vaccinations. He, and many others, have questioned the intentions of the institutions that developed and distributed the vaccine. Many of those present do not believe that the vaccine is effective in stopping the spread of the virus, nor that the spread of the virus is a serious public health risk. Instead, the demonstrators attribute the majority of COVID-19 deaths to those that are already sick.

As a means of public display, demonstrators laid on the ground wearing white clothing, face

masks, and sheets while bearing crosses on their chests. Accompanied with signs that read, “Sauvons nos Soignantes,” or “Save our Caregivers,” the spectacle symbolized solidarity with healthcare workers. However, not all people present were solely demonstrating against the pass sanitaire. Other issues raised included an overactive police force, racism, the migrant crisis, and violations of civil liberties.

The composition of the crowd was intersectional, with notable presences from the political

right and left. Though there were also many yellow-vesters present, protesters maintained that the movement against COVID-19 restrictions and pass sanitaire is a distinctly civilian

meeting. Many take an optimist view: that Tuesday’s demonstrations are a small part of a

growing popular resistance against the French government’s COVID-19 measures.

However, many Nice residents oppose the ongoing protests. Long-time resident Badia Daniel expressed that she was annoyed by the demonstrations as they were disruptive to the flow of the city, and felt that there is little problem with the pass sanitaire and vaccine. Other residents echoed the sentiments of Madame Daniel, expressing indifference or animosity towards the demonstrators. In general, there is still widespread support for the pass sanitaire and vaccine mandates for healthcare workers. Polls show that about 62% of the country is in favor of the health pass, while 69% expressed support for the mandate.

- Cameron Sterling