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In sub-freezing temperatures and snow flurries, a handful of people gathered in front of the Statehouse Monday to protest the shuttering of nonessential businesses and other steps state leaders have taken to reduce the spread of the coronavirus.
Between seven and 10 protesters — at times outnumbered by the reporters covering the event — brandished “Don’t Tread on Me” banners, American flags and homemade signs at the rally, which was set to go from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
While some passing vehicles honked in support, others shouted in opposition and nurses counter-demonstrated nearby. The rally fizzled out before 1 p.m.
In recent days, anti-quarantine protests have taken place across the country — including in Michigan, Pennsylvania, Colorado, Washington and California — as people have bucked stay-at-home orders to advocate for reopening the economy.
The rally was organized on Facebook and discussed in several pro gun-rights social media groups. However, while there was some discussion of constitutional rights, the dominant theme Wednesday was the economic hardship that many have experienced since Gov. Phil Scott shut down the state with his “stay home, stay safe” order, which will remain in place until at least May 15.
“I think it is commendable but at the same time foolish to shut the economy down,” said Landon Desroches, of St. Albans. “I feel like the repercussions of shutting the economy down will probably be far worse than the actual virus.”
Since Scott closed nonessential businesses in late March to limit the spread of the coronavirus, 80,000 people have filed for unemployment insurance, and last week many thousands still hadn’t been able to get through to file online or on the phone system at the Department of Labor.
Sarah Toscano, who made an unsuccessful bid for state representative in 2018, said she and other members of the private Facebook group “2A VT Gun Rights No Compromise” had come to Montpelier to say that the curve of Covid-19 cases had been flattened and that it was time to reopen the state.
“He, as in Phil Scott, seems to be dragging his feet pretty slowly,” Toscano said. “We’re not here for some anti-government thing. It’s more about, let’s be careful but let’s be voluntarily careful. Let’s not, you know close all businesses.”
“We can find a happy medium,” she added. “Not lose our economy and keep everybody safe.”
Scott, a Republican, said Wednesday during his press briefing that he understands people’s frustrations with his executive order but that he is going to make decisions “based on the science.”
“We’ll see what happens when states open too quickly. I think there’s a bit of an experiment going on in Georgia as we speak, we’ll see how they do over the next few weeks,” he said.
“I’ll continue to do what I think is best,” Scott said. “The pressure, it can’t be a reason to do the wrong thing. We’ll continue to do what we think is right, regardless of the political ramifications.”
Shawn Powers, who joined fellow protesters Wednesday, said he thinks that, under the circumstances, Scott is doing as good a job as can be expected but that he thinks it is time to allow people to go back to work.
“It’s hurting too much, it’s hurting too many people,” Powers said.
“There’s reason to be nervous — maybe a little edgy about this — I’m not denying there’s not anything out there that could hurt somebody,” he said. “But just use some common sense.”
Other protesters, like Chris Richardson of Williston, were more vocal about their discontent with the state mandates to curb the spread of Covid-19.
Richardson — waving a “Don’t Tread on Me” flag signed by Alex Jones, the controversial right-wing talk radio host — said scientists and doctors should not be making policy decisions in the United States.
“Since when do scientists and doctors run our country, are we Communist China?” Richardson asked the small crowd.
Richardson also asked how long the stay-at-home order would continue and if the governor would require people to remain in self-isolation until a novel coronavirus vaccine was available.
“I ain’t taking no vaccine,” Desroches chimed in.
The demonstrators faced clear backlash from the community.
“Go home, stay home. Don’t infect the rest of us, you idiots,” one passerby yelled at the anti-quarantine protesters from her car.
Alongside the involuntary quarantine rally, four nurses, dressed in their scrubs, from Central Vermont Medical Center, held a counter-protest.
Sydnee Boucher, a nurse, warned that a second wave of the novel coronavirus could hit the state if the state economy is opened too quickly.
“We’ve flattened the curve and that’s fantastic and the numbers aren’t as high as we initially thought but that’s because we flattened the curve,” she said.
“Where we are going to get in trouble is if we now think that everything is fine,” Boucher said. “It’s waiting to come back, it’s going to come back as soon as we flood the streets.”
