Neighbors anti-vax star Damien Richardson announces he is running for Senate and pledges to ‘fight for freedoms eroded by government’
Former Neighbors star Damien Richardson, who rose to prominence last year for his opposition to Covid vaccines, will stand for re-election as a Senate candidate.
The 47-year-old actor, known for playing Gary Canning on the Channel 10 soap opera, announced his political ambitions in a video posted to social media this week.
In the clip, he vowed to “keep fighting for the freedoms eroded by the government.”
Announcement: Former Neighbors star Damien Richardson, who rose to prominence last year for his opposition to Covid vaccines, will stand for election as a Senate candidate
“Hi guys, my name is Damien Richardson…I really hope to be your elected Senate nominee in the next federal election so I can continue to stand up for our freedoms,” he began.
‘Many of you believe [our freedoms] have been absolutely eroded by authoritarian government mandates over the past two years.
He also mentioned attending anti-vaccine protests in Melbourne, which he described as fighting for “freedom of choice”.
Richardson last made headlines in January when he shouted at Salvation Army staff and stuck handwritten signs on the storefront alongside an anti-vaccine group.
Politics: The 47-year-old actor, known for playing Gary Canning on the Channel 10 soap, announced his political ambitions in a video posted on social media this week
He was seen arguing with one of the workers outside the Bourke Street operations store in Melbourne.
The group had previously put up signs with anti-vaccination slogans such as “God does not discriminate” and “Op stores are essential services”, while shouting at workers to let the unvaccinated in.
The Salvation Army had no control over Daniel Andrews’ government health restrictions that prevented unvaccinated people from shopping in non-essential stores.
Incident: Richardson last made headlines in January when he shouted at Salvation Army staff and taped handwritten signs to the storefront alongside a group of anti-vaxxers
In October 2021, Richardson also expressed his anger by attending a sit-in protest along Acland Street Dining Hall in St Kilda.
He joined protesters demonstrating against “vaccine segregation” after stay-at-home orders were only lifted for fully vaccinated residents.
A maskless Richardson commented on the sit-in demonstration in a video for St Kilda for True Arrow, a YouTube channel with strong anti-lockdown sentiment.
Protests: In October 2021, Richardson also expressed his anger when he attended a sit-in demonstration along the restaurant district of Acland Street in St Kilda
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