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“It will become all one thing or all the other”

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A wave of planned anti-lockdown demonstrations that have broken out around the country to protest against the efforts of state governments to combat the coronavirus pandemic with business closures and stay-at-home orders have included far-right groups as well as more mainstream Republicans.

While protesters in Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky and other states claim to speak for ordinary citizens, many are also supported by street-fighting rightwing groups like the Proud Boys, conservative armed militia groups, religious fundamentalists, anti-vaccination groups and other elements of the radical right.

* Los Angeles Times…

While most of the world hungers for a vaccine to put an end to the death and economic destruction wrought by COVID-19, some anti-vaccine groups are joining with anti-lockdown demonstrators to challenge restrictions aimed at protecting public health.

Vaccine critics suffered serious setbacks in the last year, as states strengthened immunization laws in response to measles outbreaks sparked by vaccine refusers. California tightened its vaccine requirements last fall despite protests during which anti-vaccine activists threw blood on state senators, assaulted the vaccine bill’s sponsor and shut down the Legislature.

Now, many of these same vaccine critics are joining a fight against stay-at-home orders and business shutdowns intended to stem the spread of the coronavirus, which had killed more than 48,800 Americans as of Thursday afternoon.

“This is just a fresh coat of paint for the anti-vaccine movement in America, and an exploitative means for them to try to remain relevant,” said Dr. Peter Hotez, a professor at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston.

* The Daily Beast…

The possibility of anti-vaccine advocates gaining a foothold in the protests against public safety laws could portend even dicier problems for government agencies ahead. Health officials have said that a vaccine for coronavirus is one of, if not the, surest ways to emerge through the crisis and return to a semblance of social normalcy. But that depends on wide-scale cultural acceptance of the vaccination—which optimistically could be 18 months away from production—and the coronavirus pandemic has drawn more online interest to anti-vaccine causes.

Jackie Schlegal, the founder of well-funded anti-vaccine group Texans for Vaccine Choice, claims that her group has received an “overwhelming influx of support” and a load of traffic from people concerned about coronavirus vaccine exemptions.

* BuzzFeed…

A video of a mother arrested in Idaho at a playground that was closed under stay-at-home orders during the coronavirus pandemic has quickly gone viral, with far-right social media accounts rallying around her.

But the mother, 40-year-old Sara Walton Brady, wasn’t on the playground simply so her kids could play. Brady is an anti-vaccine activist with connections to several far-right groups in Idaho, and she was participating in an organized protest on Tuesday against the governor’s stay-at-home order.

* CapitolFax.com headline from April 29, 2019…

Eastern Bloc member posts anti-vaxxer propaganda

Two guesses who it was. Click here if you’re stumped.

posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 9:31 am

Comments

Great headline Rich. People so often forget that part of the quote…

Comment by JJJJJJJJJJ Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 9:38 am
Got to maintain that Purity Of Essence Mandrake.

Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 9:41 am
I continue to believe that those who don’t get their children vaccinated (with the exception of those kids with medical conditions) should be charged with child abuse.

And, I hope all of these individuals are prepared to home school their children. Because I would ban every single child who isn’t vaccinated from the coronavirus (if and when a vaccine becomes available) from stepping foot in a school.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 9:42 am
Nice ideological balance with the sources there Rich.

Comment by EPatt Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 9:44 am
State flag of the Eastern Bloc . . .

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EV6JbYFUEAAW8ja?format=jpg&name=small

Comment by OutHereInTheMiddle Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 9:46 am
You have to be some kind of dense to be anti-vax.

I’d like for these people to go back to the days of polio, measles, diphtheria, and tell the victims about their “thoughts” on vaccines.
Justice was swifter back then.

Comment by efudd Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 9:46 am
“street-fighting rightwing groups like the Proud Boys, conservative armed militia groups, religious fundamentalists, anti-vaccination groups and other elements of the radical right“

This is what today’s GOP has become, this and the anti-tax, anti-union “libertarian” interests who fund/organize “coronavirus liberation” protests. The party is stuck with its base. Trump saw this and seized on it.

Yesterday Trump tweeted again, very plainly, that the media is the enemy of the people. So dangerous to the front line of defense for freedom and democracy, the news media. So authoritarian.

Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 9:49 am
Demoralized -

See you and raise you. Non-vaccinated homeschoolers cannot participate in public school “interscholastics” …

Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 9:52 am
I miss the good old days, when these alt-right groups were simply being manipulated by wealthy fund managers and their k-street think tanks to rail against policies that hurt the fund manager’s bottom line.

Now, it seems that it has changed to become more about auditioning for a paid commentator position at Fox News.

Comment by Ok Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 9:54 am
And from the AZ GOP chair via CNN: https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/28/politics/arizona-kelli-ward-coronavirus-protests/index.html

Comment by former southerner Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 9:54 am
While Darren is the poster child for southern Illinois follishness, it is not isolated to that area.

The same week in march when all the lockdowns were being announced and schools were being closed, another bit of news went mostly unnoticed.

There was a mumps outbreak in plainfield announced that week, with the school district having to send out notifications to parents based on how close in contact to the infected person other people were during the day.

Anti-vax is much more widespread than just southern IL. There are pockets in the Chicago metro area that if you didn’t know better you would think you are in the worst parts southern illinois in this regard.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 9:59 am
===Nice ideological balance===

LOL

You got any problems with the facts, make them known. Otherwise, sit down.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:06 am
EasternBlocHead-itis could be transmitted by a variety of means. We especially liked the Gomer Bailey ally (who is elected to something in Monroe Co) who declared the people who died from the virus there were dying anyway.

Comment by Annonin Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:07 am
The same week in march when all the lockdowns were being announced and schools were being closed, another bit of news went mostly unnoticed.

There was a mumps outbreak in plainfield announced that week, with the school district having to send out notifications to parents based on how close in contact to the infected person other people were during the day.
——————-

Not to mention that Plainfield was still planning to go along with the St. Patrick’s Day parade too.

Same in Springfield as well–with the Governor urging Mayor Langfelder to cancel the city’s parade on Mar. 14. But that didn’t stop him from celebrating at a downtown bar hours before Sangamon County’s first COVID-19 death was announced:

https://www.sj-r.com/news/20200314/langfelder-urges-residents-to-be-cautious-but-not-panic

Comment by Chatham Resident Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:09 am
===many are also supported by street-fighting rightwing groups like the Proud Boys, conservative armed militia groups, religious fundamentalists, anti-vaccination groups and other elements of the radical right===

Rich, I’m a civil liberties attorney. I can be against many parts of the Governpr’s EO without being a member of the above groups.

You are making a point—not with logic, but with guilt by association. I cringe when I read this type of argument because it can easily cut both ways. For example, the Taliban also wanted people to wear face coverings. We went to war against that.

Comment by First Amdt Lawyer Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:23 am
Ignorance is our bane.

Comment by fedup Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:24 am
This is one of the best responses I’ve seen regarding these protests…

What zombie movies got wrong about the actual apocalypse, part 1,487: they omitted scenes of people on the street demanding the right to be eaten by zombies.
–Kelly Davio @kellydavio
https://twitter.com/kellydavio/status/1251768839190306816?s=20

Comment by On Deck Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:25 am
===guilt by association===

Nope. I’m pointing out a dangerous trend. And the person who filed the actual lawsuit appears to fit the bill.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:29 am
It is scary how much the internet serves to amplify and reinforce the crazy when it comes to things like anti-vaxxers.

I second the folks who note anti-vaxx sentiment is more widely held than sane people want to admit as it is not just relegated to rural communities.

In the last couple years I saw an anti-vaxx billboard pop up briefly on the corner of Veterans Parkway and Route 9 in Bloomington.

And one of the ickiest Facebook-related things I ever had happen was after I had a kid and started posting pictures of my newborn for family members, I almost immediately started getting targeted Facebook ads from anti-vaxx groups.

Just waiting for the anti-5G conspiracists to find a way to worm into the anti-lockdown protests in the U.S. the way they have in Europe’s protests.

Comment by hisgirlfriday Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:38 am
===For example, the Taliban also wanted people to wear face coverings. We went to war against that.===
The US didn’t invade Afghanistan because of face coverings. For a civil liberties attorney, you are grossly misinformed.

Comment by Da Big Bad Wolf Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:45 am
== the Taliban also wanted people to wear face coverings. We went to war against that. ==

That’s why we went war? Then why didn’t we invade Saudi Arabia?

Comment by Roman Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:50 am
===Not to mention that Plainfield was still planning to go along with the St. Patrick’s Day parade too.===

And last week they announced they will be opening up their local cruise nights in June, and have confirmed their plainfield fest in July is still on.

All decisions have been made byb the chamber of commerce, with no input at all sought from the local health department.

Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:51 am
===the Taliban also wanted people to wear face coverings. We went to war against that===

Probably the dumbest comment of the week, and that’s really saying something. You need to work on your analogies, counselor.

Comment by Rich Miller Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:53 am
==I’m a civil liberties attorney==

Good for you. You’re part of the ilk of people who would ignore the pandemic because you think your civil liberties are being violated. I think some of you need to grow up.

==You are making a point—not with logic,==

Why doesn’t it suprise me that a lawyer would be arrogan.

Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:18 am
Let the people work so they can pay taxes and pay for pensions

Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:22 am
==the Taliban also wanted people to wear face coverings. We went to war against that.==

Oh my goodness. If you’re serious, you should probably be disbarred for just plain lacking intelligence.

Comment by PJ Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:31 am
=street-fighting rightwing groups like the Proud Boys, conservative armed militia groups, religious fundamentalists, anti-vaccination groups and other elements of the radical right.=

They’re all bunched up together?
Great dramatization of natural selection.
Thanks for volunteering. Should be getting results in 2-14 days.

Comment by TinyDancer(FKASue) Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:36 am
Bailey spreading anti-vaxxer propaganda during his self-promotion anti-lockdown tour? The Darwin is strong in this one.

Comment by The Ford Lawyer Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 11:45 am
After 30 years of right-wingers driving away/out GOP moderates, it’s getting to the point where “elements of the radical right” ARE the GOP, at least nationally. Gov. Hogan of Maryland is an exception, but his variety of conservatism is hard to find these days. Makes me wonder if Governors Thompson and Edgar would even recognize their party any more.

Comment by cover Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 5:43 pm
The best way to minimize trouble in the fall would be to mandate everyone get a flu shot. Of course, that likely won’t happen, but it should.

Comment by RDB Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 8:20 pm
RDB- I like your logic on that. The only thing that worries me is, the potential for flu shot shortages causing a compliance issue. I’ve seen news of those shortages during prior flu seasons, and with so many manufacturers having issues right now: I’m honestly concerned that trend will lead to the shortage one repeating itself.
This time, I seriously hope I’m wrong, because we’ll have to wait a while on a dedicated Covid vaccine.
(I researched it online, and the time range I kept seeing was a year to eighteen months.)

Comment by Tynie Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:36 pm
Y’all may be surprised by this, but I would submit to a flu vaccine mandate. As long as the supply would cover as many people as possible, I mean. If not, I’d risk violating it, so an elder or someone with a major medical condition like COPD or cancer could get the vaccine. (Btw, that’s how I’ve handled it every time flu vaccine shortages have made the news)

My reason for disclosing this, is to prove I’m not entirely heartless, or an anti-vaxxer. You guys may not believe it served that purpose, but you had the right to learn my motivation.

Comment by Tynie Tuesday, Apr 28, 20 @ 10:48 pm
A year later and he hasn’t gotten smarter.

Comment by Abby Normal Wednesday, Apr 29, 20 @ 6:56 am