Utilizing rhetoric reminiscent of Civil War broadsides, President Donald Trump tweeted on April 17 encouraging citizens to liberate their states. His tweets mainly targeted states which had a democratic governor and a shelter-in-place order. The president’s tweets inspired the burgeoning pandemic protest movement that had surrounded the Michigan capitol buildings, with participants strapped with assault rifles and MAGA hats.
I couldn’t help but notice that the movement was built on hypocrisy. Among the signs brandished by the protesters like “I want a haircut” and “Social Distancing = Communism” was the repeated phrase: “My Body, My Choice.” The protesters had the ignorance, or audacity, to rip off the slogan, which is used within the pro-choice movement.
Thus, this typically pro-life crowd adapted a pro-choice slogan to protest an order that preserves public safety and life. The protesters hide behind flimsy defenses, including that their civil liberties are being trod upon, the coronavirus is a hoax and the shelter-in-place order is part of a vast government conspiracy. They also make sure their conspiracy theories circumvent those in power they favor (Trump) and lay the blame on democratic forces. Somehow.
Another point of hypocrisy is “Operation Gridlock,” which was utilized to create traffic in downtown areas and around government buildings across the country. Whether intentional or unintentional, Gridlock presented a challenge for medical staff when hospital entryways and ambulances were blocked. Some medical workers staged their own gridlock strategy against the protests, such as Colorado healthcare workers in full scrubs standing against the traffic of protesters.
These images are ironic as they remind me of the Tiananmen Square photos of the “Tank Man.” The Tank Man stood against tyranny just as the medical workers stood against the tyranny of the protesters, and yet, the protesters believe they are fighting tyranny. Operation Gridlock used disruptive tactics in order for the protesters to fight for their civil liberties.
I’m reminded of a time when protests by Black Lives Matter were seen as disruptive and chaotic by the Right. The commonly aired complaints questioned why they couldn’t protest in a more respectful, orderly manner. Black Lives Matter protests resulted from the unjust killings of Trayvon Martin, Tamir Rice, Philando Castile and others. The protests of Operation Gridlock resulted from the unavailability of receiving a haircut or going to a mall, among other petty concerns. To display their strength, Black Lives Matter protesters displayed a united front. But pandemic protesters brandished weapons and conspiracy theories.
The privilege exuded by the protesters is exhausting, especially in light of the systemic failings of the U.S. and the slaying of Ahmaud Arbery. One motto used by the protest movement and Trump is that “the cure cannot be worse than the disease.”
The reality is there is no cure. The only remedy is to abide by the regulations formulated by medical experts and scientists. The illness results in possible death. I don’t know how the cure could be worse than that. I do know the cure isn’t ignorance.
True Dabill can be reached at dabi7280@stthomas.edu.
It’s funny that you bring up that there is no remedy. But you use that as an excuse to stay perpetually locked up. In language you should understand being a leftist and all, you should “check your privilege”. People are watching their life’s work and livelihoods disappear before their eyes. We should not be waiting on a promise of a vaccine or therapeutic that frankly may never come. Especially considering that given this virus has been much more pervasive (As is evident by random antibody tests)than first thought, the death rates are nearly 2 magnitudes smaller than originally thought.
But the media is too busy drumming up fear to care about facts. It’s the AIDS scare all over again. There is no differentiation between groups. We are not all the same. We should protect nursing homes first and foremost as they are a disproportionate percentage of COVID19 deaths. But you really don’t think healthy, young people should get back to work with proper precautions? Fine, choose to stay home. But what gives you the right to make that decision for others? People are losing everything and you in your privilege are advocating a “let them eat cake” solution. It’s out of touch, disgraceful and frankly anti scientific.
I do think the protestors should be smarter in their protests, with everyone without exception social distancing and mask wearing. This is for obvious reasons, but also so hacks like you aren’t given easy potshots at people you arrogantly think you are better than.
“I’m reminded of a time when protests by Black Lives Matter were seen as disruptive and chaotic by the Right.”
Yeah you mean when they burned, rioted, and looted stores in Baltimore and Ferguson?
Trump lives in Tommie media’s head rent free.