For the vast majority of us, the past year will forever be remembered as the time a lethal, once-in-a-century pandemic tore through the world, causing 2.5 million deaths and bringing much of the global economy to a halt. The threat of contagion led some governments to impose strict lockdowns, generating fierce backlashes and sparking the rise of protest movements worldwide.

With Covid-19 cases mounting over the past year, anti-lockdown campaigners have taken to the streets in cities across the globe, in some instances clashing violently with police. Although the motives behind these movements vary from country to country, many are fueled by a standard set of grievances: concerns about the economic impacts of restrictions; fears about government-imposed measures infringing on personal liberties; and unease or outright distrust of vaccinations and skepticism about the virus itself. 

Here’s a look at five international anti-lockdown movements and the players behind them.

Switzerland

Oleksandr Ignatenko

Anti-lockdown movements are making plenty of noise in German-speaking nations — and the loudest voice is that of the Querdenkers. Germany’s most prominent Covid-19 denialist group has staged demonstrations across the country, gathering crowds in their thousands. However, other, lesser-known factions are creating headlines of their own.