More COVID19 Protests, Lawsuits, And Violence

America is going stir-crazy and just plain crazy with more COVID19 protests, threats of lawsuits, and even actual violence.

Top News Today
After nearly 2 months of an instant and drastic lifestyle change due to the deadly coronavirus global pandemic, a once cooperative and health-conscious American public has turned into a gang of tantrum-throwing teenagers who are mad at mom and dad for grounding them.  They no longer want to stay in the house.  They no longer want to wear masks in public.  They no longer want to listen to the science officials.  They no longer want to follow the rules.

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In Michigan, more COVID19 protests broke out Thursday when rabble-rousers stormed the state capitol building to demand the immediate lifting of all restrictions connected with the coronavirus.  Throwing away the supposed do-or-die theory that “Blue Lives Matter,” protesters shouted and coughed directly into the faces of police officers who were dispatched to protect the state headquarters.  Protesters carried semi-automatic rifles, Confederate flags and swastikas, “Trump 2020” signs, and placards directed at Gov. Gretchen Whitmer that read “Tyrants Get the Rope.”

In response to the gun-toting protestors and their near forceful takeover of the Capitol, Gov. Whitmer has indefinitely extended Michigan’s state of emergency.
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Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today. #mileg pic.twitter.com/voOZpPYWOs

— Senator Dayna Polehanki (@SenPolehanki) April 30, 2020

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In California, more COVID19 protests broke out on the streets of Huntington Beach after Gov. Gavin Newsom closed beaches following images of beachgoers defying social distancing guidelines and acting as if the coronavirus had somehow magically disappeared.

A dangerously large crowd of approximately 2,500-3,000 people overtook the Huntington Beach pier on Friday without wearing masks, chanting “USA” and carrying placards that read “My freedom is essential,” and “Stand up for our rights as Americans.”

Huntington Beach and Orange County, CA officials filed lawsuits against Gov. Newsom demanding that their beaches be reopened.  Hours later, a judge refused to block the governor’s decision and allowed the beaches to remain closed.
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Big crowds gather on the corner of Main and PCH in #HuntingtonBeach to protest #coronavirus closures. @ocregister #virus #covid19 #fullyopenca #wehaveroghts #orangecounty #gavinnewsom pic.twitter.com/pv8o4jsJGZ

— Jeff Gritchen 🇺🇸 (@jeffgritchen) May 1, 2020

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In Oklahoma, more COVID19 protests turned violent when several grocery store employees were threatened with guns for daring to ask customers to wear a mask on the premises — less than a day after masks in public became Oklahoma law.

“In the short time beginning on May 1, 2020, that face coverings have been required for entry into stores/restaurants, store employees have been threatened with physical violence and showered with verbal abuse,” Stillwater City Manager Norman McNickle said in a statement. “In addition, there has been one threat of violence using a firearm.”

“White privilege is being able to walk into a state capitol with a rifle and two side arms, then scream in the faces of police officers — and have NOTHING happen.” – Anonymous

Mayor Will Joyce said he expected some pushback on requiring face masks but did not think there would be physical confrontations with employees and threatening phone calls to City Hall.

“I hate that our businesses and their employees had to deal with abuse today, and I apologize for putting them in that position,” the mayor said.  “I am not the kind of person who backs down from bullies, but I also will not send someone else to fight the battle for me,” he added.

He then delivered a direct message to the citizens of Oklahoma.

“To the people who resort to threats and intimidation when asked to take a simple step to protect your community: shame on you. Our freedom as Americans comes with responsibilities, too,” the mayor tweeted. “We must find common ground and work together to deal with the circumstances our society is facing. Whether or not we agree on the details, we have to find ways to cooperate in the task before us.”

What’s wrong with these people?  What’s really going on here?

The problem appears to be two-fold.

First, Donald Trump has given these nutjobs the platform and the permission to come out of the woodwork to defy rules and laws they disagree with, and to refer to anyone or any news or data they don’t like as “fake.”  In fact, Trump himself went so far as to praise the Michigan Capitol Building occupiers and blamed Gov. Whitmer for failing to bend to their will.

“The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire. These are very good people,” Trump tweeted Friday, using language which was eerily reminiscent of the “very fine people” line he delivered to describe white nationalists during the 2017 Charlottesville rally.

Trump’s words suggested that the governor was somehow responsible for the COVID-19 restrictions and that all she has to do is ignore the scientists, ignore the data, pretend the virus has disappeared into thin air, then simply let people go back to doing whatever they want without consequence.

Which brings us to the 2nd problem:  white privilege.

Nearly all participants in the COVID19 protests taking place across the country are white and conservative — hence the “Trump 2020” and swastika signs.  These folks are not used to being told what to do or ever hearing the word “NO!”  So, they’re lashing out at any and everyone who dares to tell them what they can or can’t do, even when it’s done in the interest of public health and saving their lives.  Additionally, they’ve all somehow become scientific experts in epidemiology and claim to know better than the actual experts that the virus is really no big deal.

Add to that Donald Trump’s personal disdain for the knowledge and expertise of Dr. Fauci and his own very public distrust of the data that COVID-19 still presents a very real and ongoing threat to the world.  Then, stir in Trump’s wink-and-a-nod to the protesters by commending them for their courage to storm the Michigan State Capitol in order to force the governor to give in to their “white privilege” demands, and we’ve got ourselves quite a national situation.

Don’t look now, but we’re rapidly inching toward a showdown that could morph into a Civil War, Part 2!

OK WASSUP! discusses the Top News Today:
More COVID19 protests turn ugly and violent.