‘Freedom is non-negotiable’: Thousands march in anti-lockdown rally in London

Despite the relaxing of lockdown restriction in the United Kingdom over the past few weeks many citizens still felt they needed to take to the streets to demonstrate their discontent with how the pandemic has been handled so far. Thousands of Englishmen and women took over the streets of London with signs decrying what they call "medical tyranny".

London Police warned citizens against large gatherings and demonstrations prior to this weekends events however the warning was ignored as thousands marched in the streets.

In England, pubs, restaurants and gyms were allowed to reopen along with some outside attractions like zoos. The British government has set a goal to remove all lockdown restrictions by June 21 with the implementation of vaccine passports by May 17. May 17 also marks the day the pubs and restaurants will be allowed to open for indoor dining and foreign travel will resume.

Many organizations have criticized the British government for their vaccine passport plans fearing it might discriminate against poor people and migrants and create a "two-tier system" of rights and privileges. Vaccine passports seem to be at the centre of todays demonstration as many see it as a breach of their privacy rights and freedom.

Vaccine passports are said to expand from foreign travel to being able to go to large sporting events and eventually needing the documentation to exist in everyday life. Many protestors at today's march say that this is unacceptable to them.