* The Southern…

Employees of the Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center took to the streets Tuesday to protest Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s mandate that state employees be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Early in the day, about a dozen protestors stood at the intersection of Vienna and Main streets with signs protesting. Most had worked the midnight shift at the center before attending the protest. Later, leaders of the group said the crowd grew to about 30 people as those working days at the center got off work and joined the protest. […]

State Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, agreed.

“I have always been in favor of encouraging improved access and availability to vaccines for citizens who make the personal choice to be vaccinated. However, the Governor’s recent vaccine mandate is just the latest example of the Governor’s massive overreach when it comes to the state’s pandemic response,” Bryant told The Southern.

Click here to watch the video of the small group of anti-vax protesters, who are supposed to be caring for some of our state’s most vulnerable individuals, and make sure to check out the top pic. Ouch.

…Adding… Senate Republican staff…

Good morning Rich! Hope you are well.

In regard to your post titled “Sen. Bryant calls state worker vax mandate “massive overreach,” I wanted to provide you with Sen. Bryant’s full statement on the issue. The Southern only ran the first part.

“I have always been in favor of encouraging improved access and availability to vaccines for citizens who make the personal choice to be vaccinated. However, the Governor’s recent vaccine mandate is just the latest example of the Governor’s massive overreach when it comes to the state’s pandemic response.

“The Governor’s recent actions to mandate vaccinations is a slippery slope. People’s rights are being threatened single-handedly by one person. The right for someone to make the personal choice to get the vaccine shouldn’t be left to the Governor’s unilateral discretion.

“While I understand and respect any and all efforts to protect our most vulnerable residents, I firmly believe that a one-size-fits-all approach isn’t the answer.”

Thanks!

Not sure how that context helps her, but whatever. Many of the Choate residents are profoundly disabled. They cannot be cared for at home. And their care requires close human contact because many have to be moved. And yet some state workers believe their own mythical “rights” that do not exist in this nation’s history outweigh the health and safety of their co-workers and the people they are being paid to help.

* Related…

* 3 Choate Mental Health administrators indicted on felony charges

* Clyde L. Choate Mental Health and Developmental Center: How an archaic system results in tragic consequences for people with disabilities

* Your ‘personal choice’ not to get COVID vaccine is putting our ‘healthcare heroes’ at risk