Irish Examiner View: Lost, dangerous, and bewildered
Protesters during an anti-restriction and anti-vaccine protest march over O'Connell Street bridge last month.
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SUBSCRIBEThe anti-vaccine movement’s rejection of science shows a bizarre disdain for the facts of our world. It is not surprising, so, that the movement has a feeble understanding of geography and events too.Â
In London on Monday, anti-vaccine protesters scuffled with police as they stormed what they thought was a major BBC building, though the corporation largely left it almost a decade ago. Tempting as it is, and justified too, to scoff at another layer of ignorance, a far more important reaction would be to ask why a public service broadcaster might be targeted in such a way? It is also important to point out that attacks on trusted media can be an opening gambit on the road to something like autocracy. In that light, Downing Street’s reaction will be interesting.
Unfortunately, anti-vaxxers are also active far closer to home. Dozens of Waterford businesses have received fake ‘pre-action’ legal letters from ‘Anti-Corruption Ireland’ over refusing entry to customers who do not wear masks.Â
The letters carry a forged signature. Anti-corruption indeed.
This kind of intimidation is active in Cork too, though in that instance at a doctor’s practice over an inaccurate belief over the provision of abortion services.
The ability to protest is a central and important part of how we live, but the right to go about your legal business free from threat or intimidation is even more important.
Once again, latitude and licence are confused.
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