Mask Burning Protests in Boise Idaho

by Nomad

Around a hundred Idahoans gathered at the front of the Idaho Capitol in Boise to burn masks in a protest against measures taken to limit coronavirus infections and deaths. 

Adults are seen in social media videos encouraging children to remove their disposable masks and toss them into a fire. Some of the protestors were seen hugging while others displayed signs with messages such as “I will not self-suffocate.”

Several posters hanging outside the Capitol building said “BURN THE MASK” and “#FreeIdaho” and included crossed-out images of a face mask and papers that read “Emergency Orders” and “Mandates.”

One video posted on Twitter by Oregon Public Broadcasting reporter Sergio Olmos showed a demonstrator carrying an assault rifle and placing a picture of President Biden, whom he called “sleepy Joe,” into the fire.

Mask burning rally in Boise, Idaho pic.twitter.com/qX5JtO4d4P

— Sergio Olmos (@MrOlmos) March 6, 2021

According to a different tweet, the anti-mask protests including the lieutenant governor and at least three lawmakers.

On March 3, an Idaho House panel took up legislation to prohibit mask mandates by government entities as a measure to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Such public safety efforts do not sit well with some Republican lawmakers.

Republican Rep. Karey Hanks (who introduced the anti-mandate legislation) said she had done research “on the physical and emotional and even mental injuries to our bodies, and possibly even our souls, as healthy individuals are required to wear these masks.”

The first-term representative said:

"So we live in a republic and we the people should have a voice and a choice about our own health."

Hanks also alleged- despite near-universal evidence to the contrary- that face masks actually help spread disease. she said. See if you can follow her logic. 

“When people wear face masks, they tend to not social distance as much, not tend to wash their hands, take other safety precautions because they feel that they’re just taken care of because of the mask.”

Here is Hanks introducing her anti-mask bill.

In fact, the Republican governor Brad Little has never issued a statewide mask mandate but nine counties and 10 cities have such orders in place. Little has had no problem wearing a mask and has appeared in public with a mask.

As of March 5, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reports 7,179 hospitalizations, 1,245 admissions to the ICU, 9,697 health care workers who have been infected, and 95,808 estimated recoveries. 

In total, there have been 1,882 Covid-19 deaths. 

Of that number, 765 of those deaths were tied to long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes, assisted living facilities, or intermediate care facilities. 

In other words, the home for the most vulnerable citizens of that state. 

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