After a lengthy period of closed theaters, Broadway made its triumphant return with a Bruce Springsteen concert on June 26, 2021. However, the excitement of the event was marred by the presence of anti-vaccine protesters who were unhappy with the theater’s vaccination requirement for entry.
Gathering outside the venue, the protesters shouted “End Segregation,” claiming they were being treated unfairly. Approximately 100 individuals gathered, waving signs, not wearing masks, and expressing outrage over what they termed as fascism and segregation due to the venue’s vaccine policy. One woman, brandishing a sign that read “Bruce Springsteen Supports Segregation on Broadway,” was quoted saying, “We learned in the ‘60s that segregating people isn’t right.” Another protester with a bullhorn exclaimed, “Welcome to Nazi Germany.”
Among the crowd was a woman offering “free jewelry” to check if individuals felt “magnetic” after receiving the vaccine—an unfounded belief that persists among some anti-vaxxers.
To attend the Springsteen show, all guests were required to be fully vaccinated, with exceptions made only for children under 16 and those who needed reasonable accommodations for disabilities or religious beliefs. However, it was unclear how one might substantiate a “sincerely held religious belief,” especially since the notion that vaccines make you magnetic doesn’t hold scientific merit.
Despite the protests, Springsteen performed to a packed audience of nearly 2000, briefly acknowledging the demonstrators by saying, “I understand those folks out in the street. It’s scary, scary times filled with confusion.” His response displayed more empathy than many might offer.
Last week, the Foo Fighters faced a similar situation when they kicked off their first full-capacity concert since the pandemic, also encountering anti-vaccine backlash for only allowing vaccinated attendees. It appears that these protests may continue, as concert venues are likely to maintain vaccine requirements for the foreseeable future. It’s essential to note that being denied entry to a concert due to a lack of vaccination does not equate to oppression.
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In summary, the return of Broadway was met with protests from anti-vaccine individuals asserting that vaccination mandates are a form of segregation. While Springsteen acknowledged the concerns of the protesters, he continued to perform for an audience that complied with the venue’s requirements.