Protesters rally for NC to reopen

Protesters rally for NC to reopen. One woman arrested for violating governor’s order.
BY JOSH SHAFFER AND ASHAD HAJELA APRIL 14, 2020 12:05 PM

https://www.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article241999131.html

More than 100 protesters rallied in downtown Raleigh to reopen North Carolina on Tuesday, describing Gov. Roy Cooper’s stay-home order as an unconstitutional overreach that will kill the state’s small businesses.

At least one protester, Monica Faith Ussery, 51, of Holly Springs, was charged with violating the executive order. “I have a right to peacefully assemble,” she said as officers led her away, her hands bound with a zip tie. “God bless America.”
Every 15 minutes during the protest, roughly 50 cars honked their horns in unison. As a Raleigh police officer asked several protesters to keep 6 feet apart, the noise drowned out his voice. “We are in violation of Comrade Cooper’s order,” said Leonard Harrison of Mebane, dressed in an American flag shirt. “If I get locked up today, I’m OK with that. As North Carolinians, we need to get back to work.”

The protest was organized by ReopenNC, a private Facebook group organized last week that wants people to make their own stay-at-home decisions to avoid exposure to COVID-19 as the worldwide pandemic continues. The group surpassed 28,000 members on Tuesday afternoon. Cooper said at a Monday afternoon news conference that anyone wanting the restrictions to end abruptly is inviting danger. “Some people want to completely obliterate these restrictions,” Cooper said . “It would be a catastrophe. The numbers are very clear that the interventions that we’ve entered into — social gatherings, limitations on bars and restaurants, the stay at home order — those kinds of things are working.”

Tuesday’s protest reached its third round of honks at 11:45 a.m. as protesters vowed to continue for hours. But at roughly 12:30 p.m., police asked protesters to disperse. “You are in violation of the executive order,” said a police captain. “You are posing a risk to public health. If you do not disperse, you will be taken and processed at Wake County jail.” Honking erupted.

“You should be ashamed of yourself,” said one protester. “Are you goons of Cooper or servants of the people?” said another. Most of the crowd began leaving after a third warning. Those gathered Tuesday said they doubt the extent of the virus’ danger, describing testing as inaccurate and causes of death suspicious. Although the State Capitol Police made the arrest, the Raleigh Police Department garnered much of the attention Tuesday for its defense of the arrest on social media. The Raleigh Police Department tweeted “Protesting is a non-essential activity” about 1:20 p.m. to explain why protesters were asked to leave.

In a statement Tuesday night, the Raleigh Police Department stood by its tweet as well as officers’ obligation to enforce the stay-at-home order during “these unprecedented times and unusual circumstances.” They said there’s no exemption spelled out in state and Wake County stay-at-home orders for protesting like there is for other “essential” activities.”

“But more important is the health and wellness of all who live in our community, including the officers who must engage in circumstances such as these,” the statement said. “We simply want everyone to be safe during this very serious public health crisis.”

In an email to The News & Observer, Raleigh police said they are “having ongoing conversations with Wake County officials and the Wake County District Attorney’s Office on the scope and enforcement” of both the local stay-at-home order and the statewide order.

The Raleigh Police Department added in its statement: “The Wake County District Attorney is the individual who decides charging language for failure to adhere to the Governor’s Orders and the Wake County Proclamation, when charging is appropriate, and what charges individuals may face for violating either one of these orders.”

The Raleigh Police Department referred questions about the arrest to the State Capitol Police.

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Much more at the link.

https://amp.newsobserver.com/news/politics-government/article241999131.html

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It should come as no surprise that this group is affiliated with the antivax movement. It is my understanding that another protest is planned for this Friday, April 17th.

Good luck everyone.
❤ lmsp