People across the country are telling law enforcement officers to “stand down” and allow them to go about their day without wearing a mask.
On Saturday, Florida’s anti-mask activists held a rally at a grilled cheese bar in Windermere after the owner said the store would not be enforcing the county’s mandatory mask policies.
“This is a single woman, who is running this grilled cheese business,” said one protester. “This is her dream, and all she is doing is standing up for the rights of people to make their own medical decisions.”
The event organizers promised free grilled cheese sandwiches to those who attended without wearing a mask.
Governor Ron DeSantis has stopped short of implementing a statewide mandatory mask policy. He instead followed in the footsteps of Ohio Governor Mike DeWine, who is making these decisions on a county by county basis.
So far, there are currently 12 counties, or red zones, across the Buckeye State who fall under the mask mandate.
Protesters also took to Edgewater Park in Cleveland this weekend, where they called on locals to show up and fight for their freedom.
“I believe that we need our freedoms to do as we choose,” explained holistic pediatrician Janet Levatin. “If we want to wear a mask, it’s fine, wear a mask, but if we don’t want to wear a mask and cover our face, I don’t believe we should have to.”
Lawmakers believe the order is not an infringement on residents’ rights.
While some counties in Florida and Ohio have allowed residents to opt out of wearing masks, Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards recently announced face coverings will be mandatory in his state.
On Saturday, Edwards said the new protocol should be followed in both indoor and outdoor public spaces. He emphasized the mandate is driven by the fact that “face masks work.”
“Obviously we hope to avoid going backwards, we hope to avoid closing businesses again,” he added. “But what we cannot do is go back to a time where we’re running out of hospital beds and ventilators.”
Starting on Monday, anyone over the age of eight will be expected to comply, with the exception of individuals with medical exemptions.
Edwards is also planning to close all bars, unless they provide takeout services and limit indoor gatherings to 50 people. The governor has admitted even with a stricter policy, the number of confirmed cases, hospitalizations and deaths are likely to rise in the coming weeks.
In addition to Florida, Ohio and Louisiana, dozens of other states have implemented mask policies of some kind. Yet, many of their citizens continue to demand the freedom to make their own choices.
Britney Mozingo, 24, of Stuart organized Saturday's anti-mask rally pic.twitter.com/aP6wu5l4hN
— Lamaur Stancil (@TCPalmLStancil) July 11, 2020
Author : Oan Newsroom
Source : Oann : Anti-Mask Activists Stage Rallies Across America
