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The post Crowds boo Donald and Melania Trump as the first couple pay their respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg appeared first on Virus Reports.
]]>Donald and Melania Trump were booed by crowds at the Supreme Court on Thursday when they paid their respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
‘Honor her wish,’ the crowd yelled as the first couple stood at the top of the steps at Ginsburg’s flag-draped coffin, their heads bowed and faces covered by masks.
‘Vote him out,’ was also heard being yelled by people standing along the side of the Supreme Court building.
It’s rare for President Trump to hear any criticism or booing in his public appearances. His campaign rallies and events are typically filled with cheering supporters who offer constant applause and adoration. The rare protester is quickly escorted out.
Thousands of mourners have lined up at the Supreme Court to pay tribute to the late justice, who became a cultural icon and feminist hero. Many of them supported Ginsburg’s liberal philosophy, putting them in direct opposition to the president.
‘Honor her wish,’ was in reference to Ginsburg’s dying request that the winner of the November presidential election appoint her successor.
But Trump has vowed to move forward in the confirmation process and will name his replacement on Saturday at the White House. He is expected to name a conservative to fill the liberal judge’s place on the bench.
The first couple arrived for their short visit at the back of the Supreme Court building and walked through it and out its front door to view Ginsburg’s coffin. That could have been for security reasons given the heavy crowds and lines of people in front of the court.
The Trumps spent 11 minutes at the court before returning to the White House.
Upon his return to the executive mansion, President Trump was spotted on the colonnade outside of the Oval Office, speaking with his Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, and National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien – all of whom accompanied him to the Supreme Court.
President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump pay respects as Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on Thursday
President Trump at the casket of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
‘Honor her wish,’ the crowd yelled at President Trump in reference to Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s dying request that the winner of the November election name her replacement
First lady Melania Trump bows her head at Ginsburg’s coffin
Mourners line up before Ginsburg’s casket; thousands have come to the Supreme Court to pay tribute to the late justice
National security adviser Robert O’Brien, left, and White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, right, pays their respects to Ginsburg
Upon his return to the White House, President Trump stood outside the Oval Office, speaking with his Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, and National Security Adviser Robert O’Brien – all of whom accompanied him to the Supreme Court
Trump has cast doubt on Ginsburg’s wish, alleging it was actually written by a Democrat.
He accused his political foes – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, Speaker Nancy Pelosi or House Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff – as being behind the justice’s last request – an allegation that has no proof nor did Trump offer any.
‘I don’t know that she said that, or was that written out by Adam Schiff, Schumer and Pelosi,’ Trump said during an interview on ‘Fox & Friends’ on Monday.
‘I would be more inclined to the second, it sounds so beautiful. But that sounds like a Schumer deal or maybe a Pelosi or shifty Schiff. So that that came out of the wind. Let’s see. I mean, maybe she did and maybe she didn’t,’ he added.
Ginsburg dedicated a message to her granddaughter Clara Spera in her dying days.
‘My most fervent wish is that I I will not be replaced until a new president is installed,’ she said.
While Ginsburg is honored in the court where she made history, the political battle to replace her is taking place across the street in the U.S. Capitol building.
Democrats have vowed to do what they can to hold off President Trump’s nomination, arguing the winner of the November election should make the selection. They point both to Ginsburg’s dying wish and to 2016 – the year Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell held off the confirmation process on then President Barack Obama’s Supreme Court nominee, stating he would wait and see which party won the election.
But Democrats’ odds are slim given Republicans have lined up behind the president and are preparing to move forward with confirmation hearings. They argue the situation is different compared to 2016 since one party controls both the Senate and White House this year.
Thursday, meanwhile, marks the second day of public viewing of Ginsburg’s remains.
Her flag-draped casket arrived at the Supreme Court Wednesday morning, where she was honored with a small memorial ceremony before her coffin was placed atop the front steps for two days of public viewing.
Former President Bill Clinton, who appointed Ginsburg to the high court in 1993, visited her on Wednesday along with Hillary Clinton. Vice President Mike Pence and his wife Karen paid their respects on Wednesday evening. Several members of Congress also came by the Supreme Court.
‘Ruth is gone and we grieve,’ Chief Justice John Roberts said in his eulogy during Wednesday’s memorial service. ‘Of course, she will live on in what she did to improve the law and the lives of all of us.’
Ahead of Ginsburg’s arrival, 120 of her former law clerks lined up in rows down the Supreme Court’s stairs, dressed in black and wearing black face coverings in an image of solemn mourning.
The clerks formed an honor guard as her remains arrived at the building where she served, standing in silence as her coffin was carried up the steps and into the court.
Roberts, in his moving tribute, described Ginsburg’s affect on American law and her inspiration to women, calling her a ‘rock star.’
‘It has been said that Ruth wanted to be an opera virtuoso, but became a rock star instead. But she chose the law, subjected to discrimination in law school and the job market because she was a woman, Ruth would grow to become the leading advocate fighting such discrimination in court. She found her stage right behind me in our courtroom,’ he said.
‘There she won famous victories that helped move our nation closer to equal justice under law, to the extent that women are now a majority in law schools, not simply a handful. Later she became a star on the bench where she sat for 27 years. Dissenting opinions will steer the court for decades. They are written with the unaffected case of precision,’ he noted.
‘Her voice in court and in our conference room was soft, but when she spoke, people listened. Among the words that best describe Ruth, tough, brave, a fighter, a winner, but also thoughtful, careful, compassionate, honest. When it came to opera, insightful, passionate. When it came to sports, clueless,’ he added as people chuckled.
He also noted Ginsburg had friends across the political aisle, highlight at trip she took to India with Justice Antonin Scalia, a conservative member of the court who died in 2016, and recalled them riding an elephant together.
‘In the photograph, she’s riding with a dear friend, a friend with totally divergent views,’ Roberts said. ‘There’s no indication in the photo that either was poised to push the other off.’
Mourners pass by the Supreme Court stairs where Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s casket lies in repose; her coffin will remain on the front steps through Thursday
Vice President Mike Pence and second lady Karen Pence paid their respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg when they visited her casket on Wednesday evening
Vice President Mike Pence and Karen Pence joined a long list of lawmakers who stopped by the Supreme Court to pay their respects
U.S. Supreme Court Police salute the casket of the late Supreme Court Associate Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as they place her remains on the building’s front stairs for the public viewing
Bill and Hillary Clinton pay their respects to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Former President Bill Clinton, who appointed Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Supreme Court, rests his hand on his heart as he pays his respects at the Supreme Court
Chief Justice John Roberts gave the eulogy for Ginsburg as her family and fellow justices honored her legacy
Ruth Bader Ginsburg was honored by her friends, family, former law clerks and fellow justices in a ceremony in the Supreme Court’s great hall on Wednesday morning
Chief Justice John Roberts called Ginsburg a ‘rock star’ in his eulogy, where he paid tribute to her status as a cultural icon and hero to women
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s flag draped coffin arrives at the Supreme Court to lie in repose for two days after she died from complications from colon cancer on Friday
Her former law clerks – 120 in total – await the casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg to arrive at the Supreme Court
A mourner pays their respects to Ginsburg
A child in a Supergirl costume pays respects to Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
: Frankie Frezzell (R), 2, and Lucille Wilson (L), 3, wait in line dressed in tribute Ginsburg with her signature white lace collar
Mourners, many of whom brought their children, wait in line to pay their respects to Ginsburg
Many people brought signs and flowers to leave for the late Supreme Court justice
Family members of Justice Ruth Bader – including Jane C. Ginsburg – wait her casket to arrive at the court
Ginsburg’s casket arrives in the Great Hall at the Supreme Court, where a small group of family and friends honored her legacy
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s casket is carried into the Supreme Court building as her former law clerks form an honor guard
Thousands of mourners are expected to pay tribute to Ginsburg and the lines went down the street by the Supreme Court with the Capitol Dome in the distance
Mourners pay their respects to the late justice, who was hailed as a feminist icon
A woman pays tribute to Ginsburg as the public filed by to pay their respects to the late justice
People line up in socially distanced rows to wait their turn to pay their respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg
A 2016 portrait of Ginsburg by artist Constance P. Beaty was on display during the brief ceremony.
‘Today we stand in mourning of the American hero, Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,’ the Rabbi Lauren Holtzbatt said.
Holtzbatt paid tribute to Ginsburg’s status as an American feminist icon.
‘To be born into the world that does not see you, that does not believe in your potential, that does not give you a path for opportunity, or a clear path for education and despite this, to be able to see beyond the world you are in, to imagine that something can be different. That is the job of a prophet. And it is the rare prophet who not only imagines a new world, but also makes that new world a reality in her lifetime. This was the brilliance and vision of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg,’ she said.
She touted Ginsburg as a ‘role model to women and girls of all ages, who now know that no office is out of reach for their dreams: whether that is to serve in the highest court of our land or closer to home.’
The entrance to the courtroom, along with Ginsburg’s chair and place on the bench next to Roberts, have been draped in black, a longstanding court custom.
Her coffin rested on a Lincoln catafalque, on loan from Congress, that once held President Abraham Lincoln’s remains.
Ginsburg also will become the first woman to lie in state in the U.S. Capitol when her coffin lies in Statutory Hall on Friday. She will be buried in Arlington National Cemetery next week, where her husband Marty Ginsburg lies in rest.
Since her death on Friday from colon cancer, thousands laid flowers, notes, candles and stuffed animals on the court’s step to pay homage to a woman who found fame late in life, known as the ‘Notorious RBG’ for her fiery dissents.
Court workers removed them to make way for her casket’s arrival on Wednesday.
Born in Brooklyn, she was one of the few women in her class at Harvard Law. Transferring to Columbia Law when her husband took a job in New York, she graduated first in her class. She argued before the Supreme Court on gender and equity issues before then-President Bill Clinton appointed her to the bench in 1993.
She became vocal force with her dissents and a cultural icon with her white lace collar on her black robe and her over sized glasses.
A 2016 portrait of Ginsburg by artist Constance P. Beaty was on display during the brief ceremony
The Supreme Court justices and their spouses sit in front of the flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg during Wednesday’s ceremony
Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and his wife Ashley at Ginsburg’s memorial ceremony
Justice Sonia Sotomayor stands during Ginsburg’s memorial ceremony
Flowers and other memorabilia have been left in front of the Supreme Court since Ginsburg died on Friday
the lines of mourners stretched from the Supreme Court building across the street to the US Capitol
Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s coffin will lie on the front steps of the Supreme Court building on Wednesday and Thursday for the public to pay tribute to the late justice
Supreme Court police begin to bring the body of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg up the steps of the Supreme Court. Lining the steps of the court are her former clerks, who acted as honorary pallbearers ahead of the ceremony
The justice’s former law clerks, who will serve as honorary pallbearers, lined up as Ginsburg’s casket arrived
Law clerks dressed in black with black face masks watch as Ginsburg’s casket arrives at the Supreme Court building
Members of a Supreme Court Police honor guard position the flag-draped casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg under the Portico at the top of the front steps of the Supreme Court building
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife Virginia Thomas watch as Ginsburg’s casket arrives
Justice Stephen Breyer and his wife Joanna at Ginsburg’s memorial service
Justice Neil Gorsuch (left) and Justice Stephen Breyer (right) during Ginsburg’s memorial service
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (L) and Senator Bernie Sanders pay their respects to Ginsburg
Republican Senator Susan Collins of Maine stops by the Supreme Court to pay her respects
Many mourners wiped away tears as they paid their respects to Ginsburg
Members of CASA, an advocacy organization for Latino and immigrant people, hold up white roses in honor of Ginsburg
A sign thanking Ginsburg for her dedication to equal rights
The portrait of Ruth Bader Ginsburg surrounded by flowers stood in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court
Lucille Wilson, 3, wears a RBG collar while waiting in line to view the casket of Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Two women arrive to pay their respects to Ginsburg, the women’s rights champion, leader of the court’s liberal bloc and feminist icon who died last week aged 87
Thousands are expected to gather by the Supreme Court over the next two days
Bill and Hillary Clinton depart the Supreme Court after paying their respects to the late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg
Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on Friday at the age of 87 due to complications from an ongoing battle with pancreatic cancer
Judge Amy Coney Barrett is reported to be at the top of his short list with Judge Barbara Lagoa in second. Trump has vowed to pick a woman to replace Ginsburg, a feminist icon and hero to liberals.
Whomever he picks, the president is expected to shift the court to the right with his decision.
Saturday’s announcement will come shortly before the president leaves for Pennsylvania, where he will hold a rally in Middletown in the crucial 2020 battleground state.
Given the close proximity between the election and the nomination process, the Supreme Court is highly likely to become a political hot potato in the presidential race.
President Trump said Wednesday the court needs its full complement of nine justices because they may have to decide the winner of the 2020 presidential contest.
Trump repeated his many complaints and concerns about mail-in ballots – at least 80 million Americans are expected to use them instead of waiting in line on Election Day because of the coronavirus – and said the issue will likely end up in the high court.
‘I think it’s better if you go before the election because I think the scam the Democrats are pulling, this scam will be before the United States Supreme Court,’ Trump said at the White House.
He said a tie situation of 4-to-4 justices would not ideal although if that should be the scenario then the lower court ruling would stand.
‘I think having a 4-4 situation is not a good situation,’ Trump said.
‘Just in case it would be more political than it should be I think it’s very important to have a 9th judge,’ he said.
But Republican Senate Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday would not promise a vote on the nomination before the election.
McConnell said he would wait for the person to come out of Senate Judiciary Committee hearings and then set the date for the vote on the Senate floor.
‘When the nomination comes out of committee, then I’ll decide when and how to proceed,’ he said after the Senate Republicans’ lunch on Capitol Hill Tuesday.
He would not address if that vote would be before or after November 3, when voters decide who will be the next president of the United States.
President Trump has pushed for a vote on his nominee before the general election but McConnell could be more peckish on the timing to help out his senators in tight re-election contests who would prefer to deal with the issue after the voters go to the polls.
Timing in the Senate is also tough. There would be less than 40 days before the election to complete the process when most nominations take at least 70 days. Traditionally a nominee holds meetings with senators, has a confirmation hearing that could take two or three days, has to be voted out of committee and then has the final vote on the Senate floor.
President Trump poses with the Supreme Court justices in June 2017: From left are, Associate Justices Elena Kagan, Samuel A. Alito, Jr., Ruth Bader Ginsburg, and Anthony Kennedy, Chief Justice John Roberts, Jr., the president, Associate Justices Neil Gorsuch, Clarence Thomas, Stephen G. Breyer, and Sonia Sotomayor
Who is Amy Coney Barrett?
On Saturday afternoon, Trump named Amy Coney Barrett, 48, of the Chicago-based 7th Circuit and Barbara Lagoa, 52, of the Atlanta-based 11th Circuit as possible nominees.
Emerging as the favorite is Barrett, 48, a mother of seven children, including two adopted from Haiti and one with special needs.
Her involvement in a cult-like Catholic group where members are assigned a ‘handmaiden’ has caused concern in Barret’s nomination to other courts and is set to come under fierce review again if she is Trump’s pick.
The group was the one which helped inspire ‘The Handmaids Tale’, book’s author Margaret Atwood has said.
Barrett emerges now as a front runner after she was already shortlisted for the nomination in 2018 which eventually went to Brett Kavanaugh.
Trump called the federal appellate court judge ‘very highly respected’ when questioned about her Saturday.
Born in New Orleans in 1972, she was the first and only woman to occupy an Indiana seat on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals.
Married to Jesse M. Barrett, a partner at SouthBank Legal in South Bend and former Assistant United States Attorney for the Northern District of Indiana, the couple have five biological and two adopted children.
Their youngest biological child has Down Syndrome.
Friends say she is a devoted mother – and say with just an hour to go until she was voted into the 7th District Court of Appeals by the U.S. Senate in 2017, Barrett was outside trick-or-treating with her kids.
Barrett’s strong Christian ideology makes her a favorite of the right but her involvement in a religious group sometimes branded as a ‘cult’ is set to be harshly criticized.
In 2017, her affiliation to the small, tightly knit Christian group called People of Praise caused concern while she was a nominee for a seat on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.
The New York Times reported that the practices of the group would surprise even other Catholics with members of the group swearing a lifelong oath of loyalty, called a covenant, to one another.
They are also assigned and held accountable to a personal adviser, known until recently as a ‘head’ for men and a ‘handmaid’ for women and believe in prophecy, speaking in tongues and divine healings.
Members are also encouraged to confess personal sins, financial information and other sensitive disclosures to these advisors.
Advisors are allowed to report these admissions to group leadership if necessary, according to an account of one former member.
The organization itself says that the term ‘handmaid’ was a reference to Jesus’s mother Mary’s description of herself as a ‘handmaid of the Lord.’
They said they recently stopped using the term due to cultural shifts and now use the name ‘women leaders.’
The group deems that husbands are the heads of their wives and should take authority over the family while ‘the heads and handmaids give direction on important decisions, including whom to date or marry, where to live, whether to take a job or buy a home, and how to raise children,’ the Times reported.
Unmarried members are placed living with married couples members often look to buy or rent homes near other members.
Founded in 1971, People of Praise was part of the era’s ‘great emergence of lay ministries and lay movements in the Catholic Church,’ founder Bishop Peter Smith told the Catholic News Agency.
Beginning with just 29 members, it now has an estimated 2,000.
According to CNA, some former members of the People of Praise allege that leaders exerted undue influence over family decision-making, or pressured the children of members to commit to the group.
At least 10 members of Barrett’s family, not including their children, also belong to the group.
Barrett’s father, Mike Coney, serves on the People of Praise’s powerful 11-member board of governors, described as the group’s ‘highest authority.’
Her mother Linda served as a handmaiden.
The group’s ultra-conservative religious tenets helped spur author Margaret Atwood to publish The Handmaid’s Tale, a story about a religious takeover of the U.S. government, according to a 1986 interview with the writer.
The book has since been made into a hit TV series.
According to legal experts, loyalty oaths such at the one Barrett would have taken to People of Praise could raise legitimate questions about a judicial nominee’s independence and impartiality.
‘These groups can become so absorbing that it’s difficult for a person to retain individual judgment,’ said Sarah Barringer Gordon, a professor of constitutional law and history at the University of Pennsylvania.
‘I don’t think it’s discriminatory or hostile to religion to want to learn more’ about her relationship with the group.
‘We don’t try to control people,’ said Craig S. Lent. ‘And there’s never any guarantee that the leader is always right. You have to discern and act in the Lord.
‘If and when members hold political offices, or judicial offices, or administrative offices, we would certainly not tell them how to discharge their responsibilities.’
During her professional career, Barrett spent two decades as a law professor at the University of Notre Dame, from which she holds her bachelor’s and law degrees.
She was named ‘Distinguished Professor of the Year’ three separate years, a title decided by students.
A former clerk for late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, she was nominated by Trump to serve on the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in 2017 and confirmed in a 55-43 vote by the Senate later that year.
At the time, three Democratic senators supported her nomination: Joe Donnelly (Ind.), who subsequently lost his 2018 reelection bid, Tim Kaine (Va.) and Joe Manchin (W.Va.), according to the Hill.
She was backed by every GOP senator at the time, but she did not disclose her relationship with People of Praise which led to later criticism of her appointment.
Barret is well-regarded by the religious right because of this devout faith.
Yet these beliefs are certain to cause problems with her conformation and stand in opposition to the beliefs of Ginsburg, who she would be replacing.
Axios reported in 2019 that Trump told aides he was ‘saving’ Barrett to replace Ginsburg.
Her deep Catholic faith was cited by Democrats as a large disadvantage during her 2017 confirmation hearing for a seat on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 7th Circuit.
‘If you’re asking whether I take my faith seriously and I’m a faithful Catholic, I am,’ Barrett responded during that hearing, ‘although I would stress that my personal church affiliation or my religious belief would not bear in the discharge of my duties as a judge.’
Republicans now believe that she performed well in her defense during this hearing, leaving her potentially capable of doing the same if facing the Senate Judiciary Committee.
She is a former member of the Notre Dame’s ‘Faculty for Life’ and in 2015 signed a letter to the Catholic Church affirming the ‘teachings of the Church as truth.’
Among those teachings were the ‘value of human life from conception to natural death’ and marriage-family values ‘founded on the indissoluble commitment of a man and a woman’.
She has previously written that Supreme Court precedents are not sacrosanct. Liberals have taken these comments as a threat to the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision legalizing abortion nationwide.
Barrett wrote that she agrees ‘with those who say that a justice’s duty is to the Constitution and that it is thus more legitimate for her to enforce her best understanding of the Constitution rather than a precedent she thinks clearly in conflict with it’.
Among the other statements that have cause concern for liberal are her declaration that ObamaCare’s birth control mandate is ‘grave violation of religious freedom.’
LGBTQ organizations also voiced their concern about her when she was first named on the shortlist.
She has also sided with Trump on immigration.
In a case from June 2020, IndyStar reports that she was the sole voice on a three-judge panel that supported allowing federal enforcement of Trump’s public charge immigration law in Illinois,
The law would have prevented immigrants from getting legal residency in the United States if they rely on public benefits like food stamps or housing vouchers.
The post Crowds boo Donald and Melania Trump as the first couple pay their respects to Ruth Bader Ginsburg appeared first on Virus Reports.
]]>The post Crowds launch fireworks at brewery, draw guns on drivers as riots spread from Portland to smaller Oregon city appeared first on Virus Reports.
]]>A small Oregon city less than a two-hour drive from Portland experienced rioting Saturday night as hundreds targeted a county jail and federal courthouse with fireworks before attacking businesses downtown while employees remained trapped inside.
Tactics employed by demonstrators mirrored those seen in Portland – which, as of Sunday, has witnessed 60 consecutive nights of protests and civil unrest in the wake of George Floyd’s death.
An anti-capitalist, anti-fascist group of teens that made a name for themselves in the Portland riots appeared to raise money for the seven adults and one juvenile arrested in Eugene, Ore. Saturday. The Pacific Northwest Youth Liberation Front’s unverified account retweeted messages directing people to use the mobile payment service Venmo to send funds to go toward their bail.
RIFLE AMMUNITION, MOLOTOV COCKTAILS FOUND BY PORTLAND POLICE RESPONDING TO SHOOTING
It still remains unclear who helps fund and organize these riots, as crowds in several western cities appear increasingly armed with ammunition and fireworks, as well as helmets, umbrellas and makeshift shields designed for confronting local law enforcement and federal officers.
In Eugene, crowds blocked the streets and prevented one man in a pickup truck from passing, according to conservative journalist Andy Ngo, who made headlines last summer after an attack by members of the far-left militant group Antifa sent him to the hospital.
After the crowd surrounded his vehicle Saturday night, the driver opened his door and pointed his handgun toward another man wearing a black t-shirt and helmet. The demonstrator pointed his own weapon at the driver through the opened car door window as the two faced off amid shouting from the crowd. The now-viral video of the exchange has garnered more than 1.6 million views as of Monday.
It was not clear if either man depicted in the video was among those arrested. Unlike in Portland, federal law enforcement has not been deployed to Eugene – a city of 171,000 people – located about 108 miles away. Local police seem to be taking a hands-off approach by using drones to monitor crowds before intervening to quell violence.
The Eugene Police Department said it became aware of a planned protest at the U.S. Federal Courthouse starting at 8 p.m. on Saturday night. Armed counter-protesters also showed up and a man was arrested after firing a handgun into the air in the middle of a crowd of about 300 people.
Police said the counter-protest dispersed before 10 p.m. and a crowd of 200 demonstrators who remained began to launch fireworks toward the federal courthouse and block traffic. The group then marched toward the Lane County Jail, where they threw fireworks into the employee parking area, and lit smoke bombs at the front of the facility.
The “now-riotous group” advanced downtown and began ripping down street signs, spray painting buildings and a police auditor car, and smashed the windows of a Wells Fargo and Whole Foods. They also launched fireworks at the local Elkhorn Brewing and broke several windows while staff was inside.
“Employees were inside the building at the time and managed to escape safely as police moved into the area to prevent further damage or harm to life safety,” police said in a statement on Facebook. “It’s important to note that police were not on the ground during much of the initial hours to avoid any escalating presence. Monitoring for crowd and pedestrian traffic safety was done remotely via drone.”
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Officers were pelted with large rocks and police made announcements that the assembly was no unlawful. Police deployed pepper ball munitions and CS gas to disperse crowds. A total of seven adults and one juvenile were arrested as a result of the riot.
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]]>The post Crowds wave Chinese flags and take selfies as US consulate closes in Chengdu appeared first on Virus Reports.
]]>Local residents in Chengdu flocked to the US consulate on Sunday, taking selfies and waving Chinese flags, as officials prepared to remove its official plaque just days after Washington and Beijing each ordered the other to close a diplomatic mission.
On Sunday, a constant stream of onlookers in the city of 16.5 million people flowed past the consulate, many taking photos. On Monday morning, the US flag was lowered outside the diplomatic outpost.
Tensions between the two countries over trade and the coronavirus rose another notch last week when on Tuesday the US ordered China’s consulate in Texas closed, saying it was a hub of espionage and intellectual property theft.
Large numbers of police kept people in Chengdu from getting too close and put a quick stop to any provocative gestures or obvious signs of joy as the Americans left.
One passerby launched into a nationalist chant and was quickly silenced, according to a video posted on social media. AFP journalists saw security confiscate a banner. The measures however didn’t stop one person draping a huge Chinese flag from his balcony and shouting “China” into the street.
Boos also went up when a bus with tinted windows left the building on Sunday.
An attempt to pry the main plaque from the wall of the shuttered consulate with a crowbar, hammer and chisel, failed.
Beijing had not given a date for the consulate’s closure, but on Saturday most of the insignia were stripped from the building.
The US has an embassy in Beijing as well as five consulates in mainland China – including the one in Chengdu – plus one in Hong Kong.
The Chengdu consulate covered the country’s south-west, including – notably – Tibet. Many Tibetans accuse the central government of religious repression and eroding their culture.
Shutting down the consulate, China’s foreign ministry said on Friday, was a “legitimate and necessary response to the unreasonable measures by the United States”.
“Some personnel at the US consulate in Chengdu were engaged in activities outside of their capacity, interfered in China’s internal affairs, and endangered China’s security and interests,” spokesman Wang Wenbin said.
In 2013, China demanded a US explanation after news reports said a top-secret map leaked by fugitive intelligence analyst Edward Snowden showed surveillance facilities at US embassies and consulates worldwide – including at Chengdu.
Chinese nationalists had called for a more strident response from the authorities, such as the closure of the US consulate in Hong Kong, a move that would raise tensions further. The semi-autonomous city saw large, rolling pro-democracy protests last year and Beijing has frequently said it suspects the US of being behind the unrest.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Thursday the Chinese consulate in Houston was a “hub of spying and intellectual property theft”. The fourth-largest city in the US, Houston is a major global centre for medical and biological research.
Washington officials said attempts to steal secrets in those fields had grown too numerous to ignore.
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]]>The post New York Gov. Cuomo says crowds of young people at bars are ‘a threat’ to the state’s reopening appeared first on Virus Reports.
]]>Groups of young people congregating at New York bars and restaurants, especially in the New York City area, are “a threat” to the state’s reopening and could force the businesses to close down again, Gov. Andrew Cuomo warned Monday.
Cuomo said his office continued to receive reports of crowding and mask violations over the weekend in the New York City area, only days after he announced the state would ramp up enforcement at bars and restaurants not complying with the state’s social distancing policies.
“We will have to roll back the bar and restaurant opening if the congregations continue, if the local governments don’t stop it, that is what is going to happen,” Cuomo said at a news conference.
Cuomo said, in some instances, there were as many as 700 people drinking in an open space and violating the state’s open container law, displaying images of large groups of people in Astoria, Queens, and on the Lower East Side in Manhattan.
“Bars and restaurants are the problem, and it doesn’t need to be because it’s not just the bars and the restaurants,” he said.
Source: The State of New York
On Thursday, Cuomo outlined a new order that would close a restaurant after three violations of the state’s social distancing requirements. Egregious violators could face immediate closure and lose their liquor license.
However, he said Monday that local police departments and governments that aren’t enforcing the state’s social distancing policies “are not doing their job.” New York has added investigators to the state liquor authority and issued dozens of citations, but Cuomo said he “can’t do this without the local government or the police.”
“The police department is not there to inform them of mask compliance. Police departments have to enforce the law. That is the only line between anarchy and civilization. They have to enforce the law and they’re not,” Cuomo said at the news conference Monday.
New York City has been cleared to enter phase four of the state’s reopening on Monday, but with some restrictions. Phase four will allow for more outdoor activities such as zoos, outdoor films and gardens, but indoor operations, including indoor dining and malls, will remain closed, Cuomo said Friday.
Another threat to New York’s reopening Cuomo cited: the federal government.
“I’ve said to the president from day one this virus does not respond to politics, it doesn’t respond to bullying, it doesn’t respond to rhetoric, it doesn’t respond to denial. It is the science,” said Cuomo, who will travel to Georgia on Monday to assist local leaders with their Covid-19 outbreak.
As cases continue to grow in a majority of states across the country, the nation is as “still totally unprepared” to combat Covid-19 as it was five months ago, he said, facing shortages of coronavirus testing and personal protective equipment.
“I’ve been talking to other states and mayors and governors, about testing, they still don’t have testing. They still don’t have tracing programs, they still don’t have PPE,” he said. “It’s like we were on day one of Covid.”
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]]>The post Crowds flock to National Mall for ‘Salute to America’ fireworks appeared first on Virus Reports.
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D.C. is the focal point of celebrations for America’s 244th birthday Saturday, with a July 4 celebration featuring a speech from President Trump, flyovers and a fireworks show billed as “the biggest ever.”
Despite warnings from D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser to stay home during the holiday to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the National Mall opened for visitors and U.S. Park Police had 300,000 masks on hand for the event. More than 100 hand washing stations were also placed throughout the Mall. The Department of the Interior and National Park Service urged visitors to follow CDC guidelines for gatherings, including wearing a mask and social distancing.
Along with those that turned out on the National Mall, crowds also gathered to protest during the holiday elsewhere in the District.
The first fireworks kicked off the festivities on the National Mall at around 7 p.m., after an Air Force One flyover. The audience for the initial festivities was light, but the crowd grew in anticipation of the 9 p.m. fireworks display. The show went off without a hitch just after 9 p.m.
Salute to America fireworks show underway on the National Mall #july4th pic.twitter.com/KL0MCmV2EF
— Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) July 5, 2020
And a wider view of the more dense Lincoln Memorial pic.twitter.com/G9q5BXBEOX
— Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) July 5, 2020
As part of the earlier military air show, five vintage WWll aircraft in tight formation flew over the National Mall just before 7:30 p.m., a slew of other aircraft streaked over the lawn about 30 minutes later.
Vintage WWII aircraft during Salute to America flyover here at the National Mall #july4th pic.twitter.com/ZieXpOspvp
— Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) July 4, 2020
Salute to America Stealth Bomber over the National Mall followed by fighter jet escort #july4th pic.twitter.com/35Y4GGIJ82
— Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) July 4, 2020
Thunderbirds and Blue Angels streak across the National Mall for Salute to America pic.twitter.com/V0UZ4QT36S
— Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) July 4, 2020
President Trump delivered remarks at the White House as part of the “Salute to America.” Repeating some of what he said at Mount Rushmore on Friday, the President took aim at protesters toppling Confederate monuments and spoke about an executive order he signed to create a new park that will house statues of American heroes.
“Those that are lying about our history, those who want us to be ashamed of who we are, are not interested in justice or in healing. Their goal is demolition. Our goal is not to destroy the greatest structure on earth, what we have built, the United States of America,” Trump said.
The president touched on the pandemic as well, saying the U.S. will develop a therapeutic and or vaccine solution to the coronavirus “long before the end of the year.”
Minutes before the President’s speech and moments before the flyovers began, WTOP’s Ken Duffy reported crowds were small on the Mall compared to previous July 4 celebrations. About half the crowd appeared to be wearing masks, according to Duffy.
“I was definitely expecting to see some more people just because of the other events I’ve been to down here before,” Arlington resident William Klein who attended the event, said just before 6 p.m. “But it is early, so maybe they’ll be more later on.”
Klein compared the crowd at that point to that of an average Saturday or Sunday crowd on the Mall.
Providing some visual perspective, this is the largest collection of people here on the National Mall
Most are there taking refuge from the heat before the start of the Salute to America #july4th pic.twitter.com/FqOR2NdBOZ
— Ken Duffy (@KenDuffyNews) July 4, 2020
But Duffy reported one of the free masks stations that opened early in the afternoon had given out eight boxes of masks by around 4:15 p.m.
Among those gathered on the Mall early in the afternoon, Duffy spoke with people who traveled from Alabama, Tennessee and from as far as California for the event.
“If that virus is going to take me, it’s going to take me,” a visitor from Lebanon, Pennsylvania, told Duffy. “We’re taking all of our precautions, but I’m just here with my lady staying away from everybody just following the protocols.”
WTOP’s Ken Duffy contributed to this report.
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]]>The post Large crowds gather for Memorial Day as US braces to surpass 100,000 deaths appeared first on Virus Reports.
]]>Big crowds turned out for the Memorial Day weekend in the US amid warnings from authorities about people disregarding the coronavirus social distancing rules and risking a resurgence of Covid-19 as the country approaches 100,000 deaths from the illness.
The US is on track to mark the grim milestone in the next few days, while Europe has seen over 169,000 dead, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University that almost certainly understates the toll. Worldwide, more than 5.4 million people have been infected and nearly 345,000 have died.
Dr Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, said she was “very concerned” about scenes of people crowding together over the weekend.
“We really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical. And if you can’t social distance and you’re outside, you must wear a mask,” Birx said on ABC’s This Week.
But across the US there was a patchy picture as many places remained closed or abided by strict social distancing rules.
Memorial Day in New York City is being marked with car convoys and small ceremonies instead of parades, as those looking to honor fallen military members have to contend with coronavirus restrictions.
“It’s something we’re upset about, but we understand,” said Raymond Aalbue, chairman of the United Military Veterans of Kings County, which usually puts on a parade in Brooklyn.
There’s “no reason to put anybody in harm’s way”, he said. Still, “it’s really cutting quick to the heart of all the veterans.”
His organization will have a convoy of 10 cars leaving from the Bay Ridge spot where the parade usually starts and then ending up at the Brooklyn veterans affairs hospital, where participants will line up next to their cars for a salute and a wreath-laying ceremony.
In Missouri, people packed bars and restaurants at the Lake of the Ozarks, a vacation spot popular with Chicagoans.
Missouri’s health director, Randall Williams, issued a warning on Monday after photos and video showed weekend revelers partying close together. One video on social media showed a crammed pool at Lake of the Ozarks, with people lounging and playing without masks. Williams said in a statement that such behavior could have “long-lasting and tragic” results.
On Georgia’s Tybee Island, the beach was filled with families, but at a nearby grocery store, staff members handed customers gloves and a number to keep track of how many people were inside.
In California, beaches and parks were open for swimming, running and other activities.
At New York’s Orchard Beach in the Bronx, kids played with toys, and people sat in folding chairs. Some wore winter coats on a cool and breezy day, and many wore masks and sat apart from others.
“Good to be outside. Fresh air. Just good to enjoy the outdoors,” said Danovan Clacken, whose face was covered.
The issue of wearing masks in public and staying several feet apart has become fraught politically, with some Americans arguing that such rules violate their rights.
Republican Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio, who has been targeted by such demonstrations, insisted the precautions should not be a partisan issue.
“This is not about whether you are liberal or conservative, left or right, Republican or Democrat,” he said on NBC’s Meet the Press.
The Trump administration said Sunday that it would ban foreign nationals who have been in Brazil 14 days or less before planning to enter the United States. The ban does not apply to US citizens or legal permanent residents or some of their relatives. Brazil is second only to the US in reported coronavirus cases.
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]]>The post Crowds pack Memorial Day hot spots despite COVID social distancing calls appeared first on Virus Reports.
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Officials say they will increase enforcement to curb outbreaks.
May 25, 2020, 4:11 PM
7 min read
In the face of rising cases of coronavirus throughout the U.S. and Canada, and calls from health officials to remain socially distant during the long weekend, crowds still flocked to Memorial Day hot spots. Some of the incidents spurred responses from elected leaders and police who issued warnings and dispersed the crowds.
Here are some of the most egregious examples reported this weekend.
ABC’s Jim Ryan reports for ABC News Radio:
Ozarks, Missouri
A video of a pool party featuring dozens of people without masks in the Lake of Ozarks went viral over the weekend.
A majority of the people were not wearing face coverings and hung out close to each other as seen in photos and videos.
The Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services didn’t have a comment on the pool party, but it issued a statement urging all residents and visitors to be cautious and remain socially distant.
“When they then carry the virus and transmit it to a more vulnerable person, this is when we tend to see the long-lasting and tragic impact of these decisions that are being made,” the agency said in a statement.
The state currently has 11,988 confirmed cases and saw a 6.2% jump in new cases over the last week, according to health data from the state.
Daytona Beach, Florida
Police said they had to break up several crowds in Daytona Beach Saturday night.
In one instance, roughly 200 people were packed on a street and appeared to have jumped onto a police car that was trying to clear the street, according to helicopter video released by Volusia Sherriff’s Office.
Daytona Beach Police Chief Craig Capri said he was “pissed off” by the number of people who weren’t taking health precautions seriously; however, he said there were no arrests.
“We were trying to use our de-escalation techniques,” he said at a news conference Sunday afternoon. “We were able to push everyone off the peninsula.”
Volusia, Florida, which contains Daytona Beach, has 663 confirmed coronavirus cases as of Monday, according to data from the Florida Health Department and the Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University.
Clearwater Beach, Florida
Even though state leaders and the local police stressed social distancing as the area’s beaches reopened, crowds still appeared to be in close-knit groups in beaches west of Tampa. Many didn’t appear to wear face coverings in Clearwater Beach.
By 8:30 a.m. Saturday, several beach locations were closed to new entrants as they reached max capacity, according to the Pinellas Sheriff’s Office. Jennifer Crockett, a spokeswoman for the sheriff’s office, told ABC News there were 300 officers deployed to all of the county’s beaches.
“As we closed those access points people were pointed to other beaches that were still open,” she told ABC News.
As of Monday, Pinellas County, Florida, which includes Clearwater Beach, had 1,173 confirmed coronavirus cases and 75 deaths, according to data from the state’s health department and Johns Hopkins University.
Toronto, Ontario
City officials said they were upset after they said thousands of people hit the greenspace at Trinity Bellwoods Park on Saturday.
In some images that went viral, many people were not seen wearing face coverings. Toronto’s mayor’s office said it sent additional officers to the park Sunday to ensure that it didn’t get too crowded.
“Gatherings like today’s at Trinity Bellwoods Park has the potential to set Toronto back in its efforts to beat COVID-19,” the mayor’s office said in a statement released Saturday.
As of Monday, Toronto had 10,035 cases and 759 deaths, according to the city’s health department.
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]]>The post Large Crowds at Daytona Beach Over Memorial Day Weekend Prompt Authorities to Close Roads, Bridges appeared first on Virus Reports.
]]>Law enforcement in Daytona Beach, Florida, responded to a large gathering involving an estimated 200 people on Saturday afternoon, as authorities across the country worked to address Memorial Day weekend crowds amid the new coronavirus pandemic.
Video footage recorded by a helicopter crew associated with the Sheriff’s Office in Volusia County, where Daytona Beach is located, showed people standing and dancing around a car parking in the middle of the street near the boardwalk. The gathering interrupted traffic in at least one direction, and a representative from the Sheriff’s Office can be heard ordering additional road and bridge closures in the video recording.
In a message shared to Twitter on Saturday, the Daytona Beach Police Department (DBPD) confirmed the group complied with requests to disperse and no attendees were arrested. Later, the police department reported a shooting near the beach, during which “several people sustained non-life-threatening injuries.” The department said those injured had received treatment, and announced details about a press conference due to take place at 1:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday to discuss an ongoing investigation. DBPD said a live stream of the conference will be posted to its official Facebook page.
You may have seen larger than normal crowds this evening, both on the beach side, and on Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune Blvd. The Police Department deployed resources to assist with traffic control. The crowds were compliant when asked to disperse. No arrests were made.
— Daytona Beach Police (@DaytonaBchPD) May 24, 2020
Newsweek reached out to Daytona Beach Police and the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office for additional information Sunday, but did not receive replies by time of publication.
An additional statement shared to Twitter by the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office acknowledged Saturday’s crowds said law enforcement would be monitoring the area throughout Sunday to enforce social distance mandates, which have been implemented by Florida’s state officials as well as Daytona Beach’s local leadership.
Daytona Beach Mayor Derrick Henry told CNN on Friday that the city could not expect beachgoers to wear face masks during their weekend outings, though visitors would be asked to maintain at least 10 feet of distance between one another.
“The Sheriff’s Office and our law enforcement partners across Volusia will be back out again today trying to make this a safe weekend for everyone,” the Sheriff’s Office tweeted. “We’re counting on your help. Be safe, be smart and know that we appreciate your cooperation.”
Though some Florida beaches had already begun accepting visitors in April, Governor Ron DeSantis permitted beaches statewide to reopen with restrictions in place starting May 4. Guidelines that accompanied the governor’s announcement limited beachgoers to “active recreation” only, including walking, jogging, swimming or fishing.
CHANDAN KHANNA/AFP via Getty Images
Still, some local officials have decided to delay reopening beaches in their jurisdictions due to concerns about virus transmission. Beaches in Miami and Fort Lauderdale–which have reported more cases of the new coronavirus among their individual populations than most other areas in Florida–will remain closed until after the holiday.
Florida has confirmed more cases of the new coronavirus than most other United States regions, reporting the ninth-highest nationwide total as of Sunday, according to Johns Hopkins University’s tracker. Over the course of the pandemic, the state has recorded more than 50,800 total diagnoses and at least 2,233 related deaths.
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]]>The post Crowds flock to Missouri’s Lake of the Ozarks over Memorial Day weekend | TheHill appeared first on Virus Reports.
]]>Scores of people flocked to the the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri over Memorial Day weekend, crowding into restaurants and pool resorts, according to videos shared on social media and local news reports.
The sight of massive crowds came as health officials stressed that people need to follow social distancing guidelines as states move forward with gradual reopenings. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Stephen Hahn warned on Sunday that as people venture out during the holiday weekend, they must remember that the novel coronavirus is “not yet contained.”
One video posted on Twitter on Saturday showed dozens of people packed into a pool resort at the vacation getaway, with no one appearing to follow social distancing guidelines. The footage, shared by an anchor for CNN affiliate KTVK in Arizona, quickly went viral, attracting more than 13,000 retweets as of Sunday afternoon.
No covid concerns at the lake of the ozarks #loto pic.twitter.com/Yrb4UNM64u
— Scott Pasmore (@scottpasmoretv) May 24, 2020
KSDK, an NBC affiliate in St. Louis, also shared photos showing dozens of people crammed into an outdoor patio of a restaurant in the area. One of the pictures showed a sign on a balcony urging individuals to practice social distancing. No one appeared to be following the request.
Backwater Jack’s advertised a “Zero Ducks Given Pool Party” on Facebook on Saturday, with about 400 people saying they attended on the platform.
An event organizer said on the restaurant’s page that “the venue has worked with and taken the advice of government officials and management teams and will be following social distancing guidelines.” Video shared on social media showed that people weren’t observing distancing protocols while on the premises.
Jodi Akins, who visited the establishment, told CNN that staff members were administering temperature checks and giving out hand sanitizer.
This video is on Snapchat in the Lake of the Ozarks? Unreal. What are we doing? pic.twitter.com/m0qsEQ4KLp
— Max Baker (@maxbaker_15) May 24, 2020
Here’s a look at the Lake of the Ozarks Saturday pic.twitter.com/RVEqfMvzXW
— Jesse Inman (@jesseinmanTV) May 24, 2020
Social distancing is nearly nonexistent out here at the Lake of the Ozarks today. Turn on #ABC17News tonight at 10 to hear what a tourist and a spokesperson from the MSHP are saying. #MemorialDayWeekend pic.twitter.com/roZ4G3Ek9o
— ABC 17’s Zach Boetto (@ABC17Zach) May 24, 2020
The Lake of the Ozarks is a common Memorial Day weekend and summer vacation destination. Many businesses forced to close due to the coronavirus pandemic prepared for an increase in activity as the holiday neared, The Kansas City Star reported.
Missouri’s stay-at-home order expired on May 3, and Gov. Mike Parson (R) allowed some nonessential businesses to reopen as long as they followed social distancing guidelines. Earlier this month, the state released guidelines requiring restaurants to adhere to social distancing guidelines and other precautionary public health measures if they offer dine-in services.
The Star noted on Saturday that a steady current of boats was seen on the water. Kylee Howard, a dock manager for Paradise Restaurant and Bar, told the Star that some docks would be implementing precautions to reduce crowding and maintain physical distancing.
But videos of the areas where social distancing was not being practiced prompted outrage from commentators on social media. Meghan McCain
Meghan Marguerite McCainCNN’s Cuomo pulls out massive cotton swab to tease brother after live COVID-19 test Meghan McCain indicates she’ll vote for Biden: ‘Politics is personal’ Meghan McCain rips Elisabeth Hasselbeck’s past coronavirus comments: ‘I don’t need to co-host with her again’ MORE, a co-host on ABC’s “The View,” tweeted, “I don’t even know what to say anymore.”
“My god,” CNN anchor S.E. Cupp tweeted, linking to a video of the crowd at a pool resort.
I don’t even know what to say anymore…. https://t.co/dVzzZ1Zk8Z
— Meghan McCain (@MeghanMcCain) May 24, 2020
My god. https://t.co/AiVRJvWDTI
— S.E. Cupp (@secupp) May 24, 2020
The Camden County Sheriff’s Department told KSDK that based on the photos it had seen, it did not appear social distancing was being practiced. But it noted that there are no penalties to enforce because there are no orders legally mandating the practice.
White House coronavirus task force coordinator Deborah Birx on Sunday addressed the need for social distancing after being asked about photos of crowds at beaches and other public venues during the holiday weekend.
“We’ve made it clear that there’s asymptomatic spread,” she said. “So we really want to be clear all the time that social distancing is absolutely critical. And if you can’t social distance and you’re outside, you must wear a mask.”
Missouri has reported more than 11,900 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and roughly 680 deaths caused by it.
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]]>The post Crowds gather at Colorado creek despite coronavirus fears appeared first on Virus Reports.
]]>BOULDER, Colo. — The Boulder Police Department (BPD) said officers have not issued citations after photos and videos posted online show large crowds of people congregating at Boulder Creek despite a statewide order barring gatherings over 10 people to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Temperatures on Monday and Tuesday exceeded 90 degrees, bringing crowds to the beaches at Colorado’s state parks and along riverbanks. The photos of Boulder Creek were taken near the University of Colorado Boulder campus.
“We continue a strong educational approach to emphasize wearing masks and social distancing of six feet or more to encourage personal responsibility rather than issue citations,” Boulder Police Department spokesperson Laurie Ogden wrote in a statement to 9NEWS.
The crowds prompted Colorado state parks to close beaches altogether for the foreseeable future. 9NEWS asked Boulder’s parks and recreation department if it had a similar plan in mind, but did not receive a response as of this writing.
Jeff Zayach, Boulder County’s Public Health executive director, released a statement chastising the people seen gathered at the creek.
“I know it’s been difficult, but the video of people clearly gathering along the creek not only shows groups larger than 10 people, but there was also not adequate social distancing,” Zayach wrote. “Situations like these not only violate the state and local public health orders, but they put our whole community, our businesses, and our economy at risk.
“Please remember that it takes up to 14 days before we see who will become sick and spread the disease from this large gathering of people along the creek. Please take this virus seriously and limit gatherings to 10 people or less and remain at least six feet from each other. Individual actions are putting our businesses and our most vulnerable in the community at further risk.”
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