#ResistCompliance

[tmarshconnors]

Reflections on COVID Lockdowns etc

Back in 2020, during the peak of the COVID-19 lockdowns, the world seemed to slip into a surreal state of mass compliance. Governments enacted measures that were unprecedented in scope, all in the name of public health. Many of us, however, saw it differently. We weren’t oblivious to the risks of the virus, but we questioned the extreme measures being taken—the constant fear-mongering, the lockdowns, the mandates. When we banged our drums, metaphorically and literally, to sound the alarm, few wanted to listen. Today, as the world grapples with new challenges, it feels eerily familiar.

In 2020, if you dared to question the narrative, the response was swift and unforgiving. We were labeled “conspiracy theorists”, and “dangerous extremists”. The sheer number of people who accepted the government’s line without question was staggering. When we attended protests to voice our concerns, we were stormed by police, arrested, and in some cases, locked up simply for exercising our right to free speech. Many healthcare workers, who had once been hailed as heroes, were cast aside for speaking out against policies they believed were harming, not helping.

What’s happening now feels like a continuation of that same story. The tactics may have shifted, but the playbook remains largely unchanged. Back then, it was about controlling the pandemic response; now, it's about controlling the narrative around everything from climate policy to digital currencies. The powers that be push harder when they see that people will comply without question. It feels like we're living in the book of “1984” by George Orwell.

For those of us who chose not to comply with mandates—whether it was refusing to wear a mask or opting out of the vaccine the social cost was high. We weren’t just punished by authorities; we were ostracised by our communities. Friends and family members disowned us. I had. Many heated arguments with one of my aunts about how I was placing my Grandmother in harms way by refusing to comply to having the vaccine.

   Social media platforms silenced us for daring to share alternative viewpoints. Yes I am looking at you FACEBOOK! Many of us were spat on, threatened, and assaulted for simply choosing a different path.

Even politicians and celebrities piled on, openly declaring war on those who refused to comply. The vitriol was shocking, and the fact that so many people cheered it on was even more disturbing. The narrative was clear: dissenters were not just wrong, they were dangerous, and they needed to be dealt with harshly.

Looking back, it's easy to see why we're still in this mess today. The events of 2020 set a dangerous precedent. When people accept the erosion of their freedoms in the name of safety, it opens the door for even more extreme measures in the future. Governments, corporations, and global organisations like the World Economic Forum (WEF) have taken note. The more compliance they see, the bolder they become.

We shared information about the WEF's agenda and its vision for the future—one that includes greater control over our lives through digital IDs, surveillance, and centralised power. But instead of sparking meaningful debate, those warnings were met with bans, censorship, and more ridicule. The system wasn’t interested in dialogue; it was interested in silencing dissent.

Despite everything, there are signs of hope. More people are waking up to the reality that they’ve been led down a dangerous path. The cracks in the official narrative are becoming harder to ignore, and the chorus of voices calling for accountability is growing louder. But it’s still not enough.

We’re at a critical juncture, and the lessons of 2020 need to be remembered. The same tactics of fear, division, and control are being deployed today, just in different contexts. If we don’t stand up now, the consequences could be far-reaching.

The fight isn’t over, but it’s encouraging to see more people questioning, resisting, and refusing to be silenced. The world may not have listened back in 2020, but the drums are still beating, and this time, I hope the sound is impossible to ignore.