COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho
More than a year into a pandemic that has claimed 523,000 lives in the United States, right-wing protesters in Idaho, including a handful of elected officials, set protective masks aflame Saturday, claiming face coverings stifle their personal liberties.
Although local, state and federal health officials are clear that masks are crucial in the fight against COVID-19, helping to prevent the disease from spreading, some
70 adults and children none wearing face coverings stepped forward on a downtown street corner in Coeur d’Alene and dropped masks into a symbolic burn pot containing dry ice. “U.S.A, U.S.A,” they chanted.
Young attendees toss surgical masks into a fire during a mask burning event at the Idaho Statehouse on March 6, 2021 in Boise, Idaho. Citizens and politicians, including the Lieutenant Governor Janice McGeachin, gathered in at least 20 cities across the state to protest COVID-19 restrictions. (Getty Images)
How did the #BurnTheMask rally begin?
Moon is heard saying in the video filmed by them, âWeâre here to talk to you today about a grassroots project that we have become aware of and we fully support.â Scott explains, âItâs going to be an amazing day on Saturday, March 6th in my district I know,â to which Moon adds, âMarch 6th, all around the state actually and at 10 a.m. people are going to be lighting up burn barrels to throw masks in mandates or emergency orders or replications thereof because everyoneâs ready for this emergency order to be lifted.â
Follow RT on Dozens of demonstrators, including families with small children, held a “burn the mask” demonstration outside Idaho s state Capitol building in Boise, demanding that face covering mandates amid the Covid-19 pandemic be rescinded.
Video footage on social media shows demonstrators dropping masks into a burn barrel on Saturday as people cheered and a man in the background said,
“Smell the freedom, baby.”
Journalist Heath Druzin said Idaho Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin and at least three state legislators attended the protest. He posted photos of a crowd of maskless demonstrators listening to a speech and people talking and hugging on a stairway. One woman at the event carried a sign saying,
Right-wing Idaho activists burn masks, claiming COVID restrictions infringe on liberties yahoo.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from yahoo.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.