'Burn the mask' protest temporarily shutters Fresno Trader Joe's

A group of anti-mask protestors temporarily shuttered a Trader Joe's in Fresno.

Although scientific evidence — and guidance from local, state and federal officials — support the importance of mask-wearing to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, "Burn the Mask" protestors blocked the entrance of the grocery store on Saturday afternoon. As a result, the store chose to close early. It was not closed by police, as some on social media erroneously claimed.

Video posted to social media shows one protestor reading a prepared list of reasons why Trader Joe's, a private business, must serve him despite his refusal to wear a mask. As he argues close up and maskless with a masked Trader Joe's employee, he's cheered on by a group of supporters, many filming on their phones. The protestors then begin writing down the names of the employees based on their name tags. The man claims they will be "legally prosecuted" for barring them from entering the store, to which an employee says, "Alright" as he closes the door on them.

The man cites the 1964 Civil Rights Act as evidence he is being discriminated against, a common talking point for anti-maskers. Title II of the act reads: "All persons shall be entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation, as defined in this section, without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, religion, or national origin."

Read more: https://www.sfgate.com/coronavirus/article/antimask-covid-protest-Fresno-Trader-Joes-15842614.php