Robert F Kennedy Jr blasted for suggesting vaccine mandates are worse than Nazi Germany in speech at Washington DC march
ANTIVAXXER Robert F Kennedy Jr has been blasted for suggesting that vaccine mandates are worse than conditions in Nazi Germany during a speech to thousands at a protest in Washington DC.
Demonstrators marched from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial in a rally opposing Covid-19 vaccine mandates on Sunday.
The organizers of the “Defeat the Mandates” campaign said they aren’t against vaccines but are opposed to people being forced to get them.
But notorious anti-vax activist Robert F Kennedy Jr, the son of U.S. Senator Robert F Kennedy and a nephew of President John F. Kennedy, used his speech to claim that mandates were worse than the conditions experienced by the victims of the Holocaust.
He said: "Even in Hitler's Germany, you could cross the Alps into Switzerland. You could hide in an attic like Anne Frank did… Today the mechanisms are being put in place that will make it so none of us can run and none of us can hide."
The Nazis systematically exterminated millions of Jews and other groups during World War 2. Meanwhile, studies have shown that Covid vaccines are safe and effective.
Kennedy's statement was met with outrage online, with the Auschwitz Memorial tweeting: “Exploiting of the tragedy of people who suffered, were humiliated, tortured and murdered by the totalitarian regime of Nazi Germany — including children like Anne Frank — in a debate about vaccines and limitations during [a] global pandemic is a sad symptom of moral and intellectual decay.”
Kennedy also used his speech to promote other anti-vax conspiracy theories related to Bill Gates, the roll out of 5G telecommunications and Dr Anthony Fauci.
Others opposed Kenney for his comments, including CNN anchor, Jake Tapper, who called him an "ignorant lying menace" on Twitter.
MSNBC’s Mehdi Hasan jumped in, calling RFK's words "disgusting and dangerous" adding that "using Anne Frank and antisemitic analogies to fight against life-saving vaccines is just...just... just beyond me."
Vaccine effectiveness & Omicron
Expert studies have shown that the risk of severe illness from Covid-19 is reduced by 90 percent or more among people who are fully vaccinated.
While there are breakthrough cases of Covid among people who are vaccinated, they are rare.
In the event of a breakthrough case, victims are highly unlikely to be hospitalized with severe or deadly symptoms from the virus.
Health officials have advised that the Omicron variant is more infectious and could lead to further breakthrough cases.
Yet the spread can be offset by all vaccinated Americans receiving a booster shot.
Current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant.
With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.
Studies have also shown that side effects from the vaccine are extremely rare.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Protestors and speakers called for an end to mandates worldwide after major US cities such as DC, New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, Minneapolis and Boston have implemented citywide rules requiring proof of vaccination.
This proof is needed to enter certain establishments such as restaurants, bars and gyms.
Around 30,000 to 35,000 people attended the protest, calling for an end to mandates, passports and instead for debate and education around informed consent.
“You’re going to hear a lot of people talk about on the left say this is a big, anti-vax rally—it’s people coming in to deny science,” said march organizer and activist Will Witt to Fox News.
“But this march is about the mandate, and this march is about the Draconian measures we’re seeing all across this country right now.”
The event was sponsored by several groups including the Front Line Covid-19 Critical Care Alliance, World Council for Health and Vaccine Safety Research Foundation.
The Children’s Health Defense, headed by Kennedy also sponsored the event.
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Other speakers included the inventor of mRNA technology used in Covid vaccines Dr. Robert Stone, Dr. Peter McCullough, Dr. Christina Parks and Dr. Paul Alexander.
Washington DC began requiring proof of vaccination to visit establishments on January 15.
DC Mayor Muriel Bowser was asked back in December if she was concerned about “Big Brother” when she first announced the vaccine mandate.
“I don’t make any of these decisions lightly, because I don’t want Big Brother intruding on my life,” Bowser said.
“I like to make my own decisions. But I also recognize that when you’re responding to a global pandemic, that is the exact time when the government needs to make some decisions for the whole society.”
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The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] maintain that “Covid-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.”
A list of common myths about the vaccine is available on the CDC website.
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