Hundreds of people attended the city of Mossyrock, Washington, last weekend to protest coronavirus public health constraints, according to NBC affiliate KING.
What We Know:
- It’s been a harsh year in Mossyrock, with the cancellation of the annual Blueberry Festival and Loggers Jubilee in nearby Morton has strongly impacted tourism. Those closures, along with extended COVID restrictions, have pushed many to the breaking point, emotionally and financially.
- The “Freedom Rally” allowed people to express their frustrations about Gov. Jay Inslee’s latest set of COVID-19 restrictions that prohibit indoor dining and set capacity restrictions on retail stores.
Hundreds attend Washington state ‘Freedom Rally’ over latest Covid restrictions on small businesses https://t.co/hNYaXgzgSs via @nbcnews
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- The city, which has a total of 820 people, and its mayor, Randall Sasser, has drawn attention for defying state health orders to combat the coronavirus’s spread.
- Sasser expressed to KIRO radio station; he considers some measures are designed to “get us accustomed to always following what they say” or “something bigger that they have planned to keep us under their thumb,” referring to gun control and monetary policy.
- The Saturday rally was planned by Patriot Prayer, a far-right group that has hosted pro-President Donald Trump and pro-gun rallies.
- In August, the group announced one of its supporters was shot and killed during vicious street fights in Portland, Oregon. This weekend’s rally in Mossyrock was reportedly peaceful.
- Sasser has fought back against the state restrictions, stating he believes they have other consequences. “They’re frustrated at being told what they can and can’t do in their homes, where they can and can’t shop,” Arminta Melis, who came with her husband from Morton to show support for Mossyrock, stated. “Wal-Mart and Target, and all these big box stores are open, but little mom and pop shops can’t be open…that ain’t right.”
The event drew hundreds of people from out of town who told KING that they were fed up with Covid-19 limitations.
