(Newswire.net — May 15, 2020) — This is a time of great turmoil in this country. It’s a combination of factors that are responsible for the current climate, with two of the most significant being the upcoming presidential election and the Covid-19 outbreak that has paralyzed much of the nation for months.
This tension has manifested itself in protests that have taken place in some of the state capitals, with Michigan being the latest example. Many protestors and counter-protestors have swarmed to these events on foot, which puts them in danger from oncoming traffic.
That’s reason for concern. Over the past five years, there’s been a 60% increase in pedestrian traffic fatalities in Georgia, and that was before the pandemic.
Still, some individuals feel strongly enough about what’s happening that they want to get out there and make their voices heard. Let’s take a moment to examine why they might be doing so.
It’s Nearly Impossible to Separate the Protests from Politics
In Ohio back on April 13th, the Statehouse Atrium was inundated with protestors who felt that the governor had mishandled the Covid-19 response. Pictures of the crowd showed that many of them were wearing the ubiquitous “MAGA” hats that have come to be synonymous with supporters of President Donald Trump. Similar scenes have played out in:
- Utah
- North Carolina
- Minnesota
- Kentucky
Michigan seems to be a particularly chaotic hotspot, as they have a Democratic governor in Gretchen Whitmer. Whitmer has drawn the ire of President Trump on numerous occasions.
Are All of the Protestors Trump Supporters?
Reporters who have interviewed some of the individuals at these protests have concluded that those in attendance are not all self-professed Trump supporters. Some of them have stated definitively that they’re not there in support of a political party, but instead, they’re protesting what they perceive as their civil liberties being taken away.
Some of them have shown up draped in the American flag, while others sport garish costumes. Some have voiced conspiracy theories about the implementation of the 5G cellular network, or they’re blaming China for the virus being unleashed on the world.
Those Protesting the Stay-at-Home Orders Are Doing So for Many Reasons
It seems simplistic to say that those who are protesting the stay-at-home orders in several states are doing so just because they’re Trump supporters. Some of them may be, but others are there at the urging of various other figures in the public eye.
For instance, the idea that the 5G cellular network could be responsible for the coronavirus is one that has been put forth by Alex Jones of Info Wars fame. Jones has a long history of speaking out against the launch of new cellular networks.
Even if some of those who are taking to the streets to protest the lockdowns claim not to be doing so for political reasons, it’s not so easy to take them at their word. Many of them seem to have been clued-in to the existence of these rallies through right-wing Facebook pages and news sources. Tucker Carlson of Fox News is one of those who has been particularly outspoken in his praise for those citizens who have chosen to protest in-person at state capitols.
What About the Counter-Protestors?
With this in mind, it is almost impossible to say that those who are on the front lines trying to stop these gatherings from happening aren’t taking a political stance as well. Think of Lauren Leander, the nurse who put on clean scrubs back in April and stood between a crowd of anti-lockdown activists and the Arizona state capitol building.
Leander said nothing to the crowd who screamed at her from inches away. She remained silent at the time but then spoke up later, detailing how those she’d encountered had said repeatedly that she was a fake nurse and that the Covid-19 virus itself was a hoax.
Is There a Way to Keep Politics Apart from Policy?
The reality facing America right now is that we are receiving contradictory messages from those at the top. President Trump has gone from claiming that the virus was a hoax to downplaying its severity, and then finally to acknowledging how serious it was, but also conveying his belief that it would go away on its own when the weather got warmer. He has also stated that it would go away without a vaccine.
Anthony Fauci has emerged as the representative voice from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious diseases, and much of what he’s said contradicts the president’s viewpoints. The two seem to be at cross-purposes, leading many citizens to side with one or the other.
It’s a Difficult Situation
It’s quite fascinating and somewhat alarming how what started as a public health crisis became so politicized. It seems evident that President Trump is concerned about the state of the economy because that could tie directly into his reelection chances in November. His being reelected, or not, could be seen as a direct referendum on how he has handled the outbreak.
Many say that they are not basing their actions during this time on politics. Still, they’re likely following the advice that was given out by:
- President Trump
- Dr. Fauci
- Alex Jones
- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo
- Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer
Other names have risen to prominence in recent months as well.
The conclusion, for some, seems to be that political affiliations are coming to the forefront as each citizen chooses how to conduct themselves in the age of Covid-19. In some families where there are different political beliefs, certain individuals are either choosing to remain in lockdown or feel that enough time has elapsed that they’re once again resuming their everyday activities.
Going forward, it will be the decision of each US citizen what actions they feel comfortable taking. Whether that will be protesting, counter-protesting, sheltering in place, or some other activity they deem to be most appropriate, is going to be entirely their prerogative.