James Reade Venable

Photographer-Director-Editor

Brussels Protest Against Coronavirus Restrictions

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Thousands marching towards Parc...ictions to that of Nazi Germany

1 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

Thousands marching towards Parc du Cinquantinaire. Signs comparing the covid restrictions to that of Nazi Germany

An adolescent boy protests. His...ther reference to Nazi Germany.

2 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

An adolescent boy protests. His mother and himself both wear yellow stars. Another reference to Nazi Germany.

A protester posing in front of ...ing the protest by many people.

3 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

A protester posing in front of an empty beer can. Jupiler beer was a popular beverage being drank during the protest by many people.

The whole stretch of Rue Belliard filled with people marching.

4 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

The whole stretch of Rue Belliard filled with people marching.

The Arcades du Cinquantenaire. ...nd staging area of the protest.

5 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

The Arcades du Cinquantenaire. This was the final destination and staging area of the protest.

A protester from the Netherlands speaking.

6 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

A protester from the Netherlands speaking.

A sign referencing Orwell&#...Codes in some European nations.

7 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

A sign referencing Orwell's 1984, likening it to the mandatory QR-Codes in some European nations.

An agitator loosening a stone brick to use to throw at the police.

8 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

An agitator loosening a stone brick to use to throw at the police.

Tear gas wafts near the west en... rioting starts to get heavier.

9 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

Tear gas wafts near the west entrance to the park as the rioting starts to get heavier.

A protester lets the police know how he feels.

10 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

A protester lets the police know how he feels.

The police spraying water canno... the event was officially over.

11 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

The police spraying water cannons to disperse the peaceful protestors after the event was officially over.

Undercover police apprehending a young man.

12 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

Undercover police apprehending a young man.

An elderly man wearing a &q...e because of time restrictions.

13 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

An elderly man wearing a "Freedom Hugs" sign on the ground after the police push back with tear gas on the peaceful protestors to clear them out of the Arcades du Cinquantenaire because of time restrictions.

A man gives the peace sign assi...fering the effects of tear gas.

14 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

A man gives the peace sign assisting his friend suffering the effects of tear gas.

A building of the European Unio...ndalized during the main event.

15 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

A building of the European Union which was near the west entrance of the park was vandalized during the main event.

The remnants of the protest and... the back entrance of the park.

16 of 16 © 2025 James Reade Venable

The remnants of the protest and riot after everything. This area was where most of the heavy action took place between police and protestors near the back entrance of the park.

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Thumbnail of Thousands marching towards Parc _rictions to that of Nazi Germany

Thumbnail of An adolescent boy protests. His _other reference to Nazi Germany.

Thumbnail of A protester posing in front of a_ring the protest by many people.

Thumbnail of The whole stretch of Rue Belliard filled with people marching.

Thumbnail of The Arcades du Cinquantenaire. T_and staging area of the protest.

Thumbnail of A protester from the Netherlands speaking.

Thumbnail of A sign referencing Orwell&#3_-Codes in some European nations.

Thumbnail of An agitator loosening a stone brick to use to throw at the police.

Thumbnail of Tear gas wafts near the west ent_e rioting starts to get heavier.

Thumbnail of A protester lets the police know how he feels.

Thumbnail of The police spraying water cannon_r the event was officially over.

Thumbnail of Undercover police apprehending a young man.

Thumbnail of An elderly man wearing a &qu_re because of time restrictions.

Thumbnail of A man gives the peace sign assis_ffering the effects of tear gas.

Thumbnail of A building of the European Union_andalized during the main event.

Thumbnail of The remnants of the protest and _r the back entrance of the park.

Public Project

Brussels Protest Against Coronavirus Restrictions

Copyright James Reade Venable 2025

Updated Feb 2022

Location Brussels

Topics Belgium, Brussels Covid Protest, Brussels Manifestation, Covid Restriction Protests, Documentary, Editorial, Fear, Feature, Freedom, Human Rights, Illness, Journalism, News, Pandemics, Photography, Photojournalism, Protests, Reporting, Violence, World

On January 23rd, 2022 thousands of people gathered in protest in Brussels, Belgium. People from all over Europe were marching against Belgium's Covid Restrictions as well as other European countries. The event was to commence at the Gare du Norde and make its way to the Parc du Cinquantinaire, where a stage and screens were waiting to host this massive event with speakers and performers. The march started peacefully but towards the end of the event rioters commence to vandalize local buildings and interact with the Police. The police retaliated and finally used their power to get rid of the agitators then finally dispense the more peaceful protestors after the manifestation was officially over.

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