Anti-blockade protesters chant ‘take off your masks’ march through the streets of Manchester

Hundreds of anti-blockade protesters have taken to the streets against the national blockade.

Large crowds marched through Manchester city center, accusing the MPs who voted for the lockdown of treason.

Many carried banners with anti-blockade slogans, one of which read “Fear is the currency of control,” while some shouted “Take off your masks,” witnesses said.

The video circulating on social media showed a man on a megaphone addressing the crowd with chants of “freedom, freedom, freedom” echoing through the streets.

He said: “Those more than 300 politicians who voted for the shutdown are traitors.”

The comment drew cheers from the crowd.

Another man urged people to share videos of the event on social media, reports the Manchester Evening News.

“From this day on, each and every one of us will have to be brave,” he said.

Greater Manchester Police said they had spoken to the organizer of the protest to explain that it was illegal under current coronavirus lockdown laws.

In a statement they said: “Prior to this meeting, the officers contacted the organizer, explained the restrictions and encouraged compliance and continue to do so.

“Under the Antisocial Behavior, Crime and Police Act 2014, a Section 34 Dispersal Order has been authorized for Manchester City Center until 6:45 PM today (Sunday 8 November 2020). This means that members of the public should not gather in the area Non-compliance is a crime.

“GMP would also like to take this opportunity to remind members of the public that under national Covid-19 restrictions, gatherings of more than two people are illegal.

“We encourage people to comply with these restrictions, as we have during this public health crisis, to help keep themselves and others safe.”

The protests come days after similar scenes in London where crowds of anti-lockdown protesters and protesters from the so-called ‘Million Mask March’ tried to invade Trafalgar Square in Westminster, in London’s political heartland.

Hundreds of people marched through the streets of central London on the day England was plunged into a second national coronavirus lockdown.

The protesters, very few with their faces covered, began walking down the famous Strand shortly after 6 pm, chanting “freedom” and “no more confinements”.

Piers Corbyn, the older brother of former Labor leader Jeremy Corbyn and a prominent conspiracy theorist, was photographed at the protest.

Closely followed by large numbers of City of London forces and Metropolitan Police officers, protesters were repeatedly ordered to go home, and one officer yelled at a group: “You are breaking the law.”

Four protesters, one of whom was wearing a Guy Fawkes mask, were arrested by police officers near the gates of Charing Cross station.

Videos posted on social media show police pushing protesters towards the nearby train station.

Police officers urged protesters to go home as they took to the streets near Trafalgar Square on Thursday night, warning those who had gathered that they were violating coronavirus restrictions.