Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Homeless person destroys anti-vaxxer’s argument in six words

The man’s succinct counterargument has garnered 3.7 million views on Twitter

Nathan Place
New York
Friday 08 October 2021 07:22 BST
Comments
Related video: Latest figures for UK Covid-19 vaccinations
Leer en Español

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

A homeless person has been caught on video shutting down an anti-vaxx argument with six simple words.

In a clip that went viral on Twitter, a group of anti-vaccine protesters can be seen walking down Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles, carrying picket signs and American flags.

“Do you see all of these homeless people around?” the lead protester yells through a bullhorn. “Are they dead in the streets with Covid? Hell no! Why?”

A man pushing a shopping cart down the street then offers her an answer:

“Because I’m vaccinated, you dumb f***!”

There is a moment of awkward silence, and then the bullhorn rant resumes.

“Is anyone questioning anything? Wake up!” the woman continues, apparently undeterred.

On Twitter, however, the succinct counterargument got a big reaction.

“This is the most perfect exchange,” one user wrote. “Hero.”

“May make this my ringtone,” another commented. “It’s perfect. And hilarious.”

“A beautiful moment in history,” another declared.

Covid-19 vaccines are available free of charge to all Americans, including the homeless. All three of the authorized brands – Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson – have proven safe and extremely effective against severe cases of the disease.

But misinformation has slowed the vaccine rollout in the United States, where many conservative pundits and politicians have publicly resisted the inoculations. And as vaccinated Americans wait for their fellow citizens to get the shot, the pandemic continues.

Frustration with that situation was evident in the comments under the Twitter video, which as of Thursday had been viewed 3.7 million times.

One viewer was particularly annoyed that the bullhorn protester seemed to use homeless people as props for her argument.

“The worst part is how people talk about homeless community members like they’re furniture or can’t f***in’ hear,” she wrote.

The person who filmed the video, however, took an interest in the pro-vaxx homeless man as a human being. That person’s Twitter account, @FilmThePoliceLA, reported later that it had found the man and was working to set up a GoFundMe for him.

“We found the king,” @FilmThePoliceLA wrote. “His name is Ray. Super-intelligent with a gentle demeanor.”

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in