Vaccine mandate protestors block doors at NYC Department of Health building, demand accountability

A group of activists opposing New York City's remaining vaccine mandates stormed the headquarters of the city's Department of Health on Thursday, blocking the doors of the building as they demand accountability from the department.

"Activist[s] against mandates block the doors at the Department of Health in NY. Activist[s] state they want accountability from the Department of Health," a tweet with footage of the protestors read.

In footage taken by Leroypress, one woman states, "The anger that I have is not that I want to destroy. The anger that I have is because you all are asleep."

The woman, who is sitting on the floor blocking the building's revolving doors, continues, "And, it's right in front of you; it's in plain sight. The truth is right there, it's in front of you."

Beside her, a person can be seen holding an umbrella and twirling it slowly, so everybody can read the messages written on it. These slogans include: "Kyrie is a hero," "F*ck Adams, "Arrest Hochul," "Never again," "Kill your TV," and "Vax = bioweapon."

In another tweet captioned "Chaos Erupts at the Department of Health between protesters and security," video shows protestors clashing with security guards in the building.

As a crowd tried to get through the door, a female security guard is seen pulling out her baton, raising it to the crowd as one woman yells, "Really? Really?"

Newly-elected mayor Eric Adams, according to the New York Post, recently reacted to a public outcry about basketball star Kyrie Irving not being allowed to play at his own home games at Brooklyn's Barclay Center, due to the lingering city-wide workplace vaccine mandate.

Adam's response was to "split the baby" by ending the vaccine mandate, but only for professional athletes and performing artists, which still leaves many unvaccinated New Yorkers unable to perform their jobs and possibly unemployed in the interim and beyond.