Anti-vaccine protesters have blocked the homeless soup run outside GPO on O’Connell Street.
Thousands of protesters took to Dublin today to protest against the Covid vaccines, ongoing restrictions, and the Digital Covid Certificate.
Maskless crowds have been taking to the streets with Irish flags and chanting “freedom,” “shame on you” and “no Covid pass”.
POC Ireland (Pakistan Overseas Community) were impacted this evening as their soup run was halted by the protesters.
Rana Usman Ajmal from the charity said: “The whole Pakistan community over here, we do the food runs for the homeless people.
“We had everything organised and the food was prepared but they (protesters) came and the guards said it’s dangerous to do the soup run here.
“So we had to move everything from here (GPO) and go to another street. It was a big headache, we just wanted to feed people but it was a bit messy because we had to move everything.”
A passer-by tweeted: “The irony if it all, The anti maskers holding a rally at the GPO meaning a soup run to feed the needy and hungry of the city can't be set up.
“Some very upset looking homeless people here. #SaveOurSoupRuns.”
They told Dublin Live: “Seems more like a street party, Soup run seems to have disappeared.”
A garda spokesperson said: "Gardai are currently monitoring a protest taking place at the GPO in Dublin city centre this evening, Saturday 24 July 2021."
Roads were blocked and traffic was forced to a standstill in the city centre as they made their way along O'Connell Street and then to Government Buildings where a number of speeches and musical performances took place earlier today.
A large garda operation is still in place throughout the city, which included public order unit vans as well as garda prison vans on standby.
The crowds have been met with both support and criticism for disregarding the public health measures.
One person wrote: "There are a lot of Irish people here that just love to give out. They'd be saving the rest of us a lot of hassle if they spent that time and energy getting vaccinated."
Another added: "These people and their sick obsession with feeling oppressed. Oh let’s fight the government who wants to get the economy back on track without it killing loads more people.
"How tyrannical. If this was actually an oppressive regime - you’d all have been shot by now."
