Nearly 2000 people braved subzero temperatures to march in protest of Boston’s new vaccine mandate. The march was organized by Massachusetts Says No. According to their website, the origination is a grass-roots collaborative dedicated to ending, mandates, passports, segregation and discrimination.
Despite the cold, the turnout was much bigger than expected. The march began at Justine Mee Liff Park in the Fenway area of Boston. The large crowd made its way down Boylston St. to the Back Bay and then back to Fenway via Newbury St. This popular area known for its busy bars, restaurants and shops will now require proof of vaccination before allowing patrons in.
First responders, city workers, democrats, republicans, vaccinated and unvaccinated marched together in protest of Mayor Wu’s mandate. Many times chanting “Shame on Wu”.
Some protesters were concerned that the mandate would hurt already struggling businesses trying to survive with restrictions and lock-downs. These pressures have already caused many businesses to close. Other protesters feel that this mandate violates their personal freedoms and constitutional rights. I met one protester who migrated to the US from Belarus. She was very concerned that this mandate and passport would be the beginning of a much larger permanent program. “This is how it starts. They normalize it with vaccine passports. The next thing you know, we have a two class society. One with rights and one with out. And we all know what happens to people without rights”. She and her family came to the United States for freedoms they couldn’t get in her native country. She fears that America is on a dangerous path.
Boston’s Vaccine Mandate
Mayor Michelle Wu announced on Dec 20, 2021 that all city employees need to be vaccinated and proof of vaccination will be required for patrons to enter certain venues. The mandate took effect Jan 15, 2022. City workers were granted an extension to comply by Jan 24, 2022 or be terminated.
Wu’s mandate is intended to stop the growing number of positive SARS Cov-2 cases in Boston and Massachusetts. Many feel that the mandate is unnecessary and will do very little to stop the spread of SARS Cov-2. One protester said. “Its hard to have faith in the mandate stopping the spread when breakthrough infections keep happening”. Moreover, there is growing evidence that the virus can spread regardless of vaccination status. There’s more on that in a previous post from FIPS.
Media Coverage
Despite the large number of people protesting. The local media left this story mostly uncovered. Instead, the media used its resources to cover mayor Wu’s constant harassment from protesters showing up at her home. The reports focused on Wu’s apology to her neighbors for any inconvenience she may have caused.
Freedom
Many people who came to support this cause were protesting for the first time. Some immigrated from countries that don’t have these freedoms. Others felt it was time to make a stand. They endured one of the coldest days in recent times to exercise their first amendment right. It makes me wonder. How many people reading this have actually stood up for or sacrificed anything for what they believe in? When will it be bad enough for you to exercise your constitutional rights? And will you still have them when you need them?
FIPS 1-17-22
Pregnant Boston cop refuses vaccine unless mayor guarantees safety.
https://www.foxnews.com/media/pregnant-boston-cop-mayor-vaccine