Mask and vaccine critics gather in Parkersburg | News, Sports, Jobs

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West Virginia State Senator Mike Azinger R-Wood spoke on Monday at a rally at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg to call on the state’s governor and lawmakers to convene an extraordinary session of the state legislature to vote against the mandates implemented throughout the state. (Photo by Brett Dunlap) Heather Farmer, a Northern Panhandle medical assistant, spoke at a rally at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg against statewide vaccine and mask warrants. She said trying to force healthcare workers to get vaccinated when they don’t want to or be made redundant can lead to shortages of care in state hospitals, affecting many people. (Photo by Brett Dunlap) More than 200 people gathered at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg on Monday to call on the governor and state lawmakers to call a special session of the state legislature to vote against mask and vaccine mandates implemented across the state. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

West Virginia State Senator Mike Azinger R-Wood spoke on Monday at a rally at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg to call on the state’s governor and lawmakers to convene an extraordinary session of the state legislature to vote against the mandates implemented throughout the state. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

PARKERSBURG – A rally was held in downtown Parkersburg on Monday with people protesting the mask and vaccine warrants in the state of West Virginia.

More than 200 people, the majority unmasked, gathered at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg to call on the governor and state legislators to convene a special session of the state legislature to vote against the mandates implemented across the state.

People came with signs saying “We stand for freedom”, “My body, my choice”, “Please don’t let fear replace freedom”, “The freedom to choose”, “We, the people, we demand to be heard ”and more. Others who said they were healthcare workers had signs saying “Hero to Zero” and “Hero To Fired”. Many people carried American flags and “Don’t tread on me” flags.

People who spoke spoke about what they believed to be uncertainty about the effectiveness of vaccines and masks in protecting against COVID. Others said they didn’t want to be forced to do something they didn’t want or were uncomfortable doing.

State Senator Mike Azinger R-Wood has said he wants the Legislature to have a special session to pass a bill to protect people’s health freedoms.

Heather Farmer, a Northern Panhandle medical assistant, spoke at a rally at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg against the statewide vaccine and mask warrants. She said trying to force healthcare workers to get vaccinated when they don’t want to or be made redundant can lead to shortages of care in state hospitals, affecting many people. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

“I don’t think a private employer should have the right to force their employees to get vaccinated,” he said.

He felt that people should not be forced to put fluid into their bodies that they are suspicious of and question their safety from.

“We have constitutional rights,” he said of those entitled to due process.

Of the. Roger Conley, R-Wood, spoke of having COVID last year as well as other family and friends who contracted the virus, despite the precautions taken.

“The masks don’t work,” he said to enthusiastic cheers.

More than 200 people gathered at Bicentennial Park in downtown Parkersburg on Monday to call on the governor and state lawmakers to call a special session of the state legislature to vote against the implementation of the warrants mask and vaccine all over the state. (Photo by Brett Dunlap)

Heather Farmer, a medical assistant from the northern enclave, asked how many people are at risk of losing their jobs if they don’t get the vaccine and several people raised their hands. She said if authorities fire these people, it will have a serious impact on health care statewide and patient care will suffer everywhere.

“It will decimate our hospitals,” she said.

She also asked how the vaccine was approved, what the long-term impacts might be, and why other alternative therapies are not being looked at more seriously. She urged people to do their own research on their own health choices.

Governor Jim Justice was asked about the rally during his daily COVID briefing and the idea of ​​the legislature being called for a special session.

“If they want to call themselves, then they can call themselves,” he said. “From a point of view of where I am at, I have stood firm until not issuing any warrants from a mask or vaccine point of view or forcing anyone to do anything.

“At this point, I’m trying to do my best not to do anything that just causes more division.”

He spoke of school systems with local control.

“We gave the school systems local control to make decisions about our children and everything, because the local people should know better,” Justice said. “We try to work with everyone the best that we can, but we should really get our lawmakers as a whole to go out and get your shots.

“We don’t need a division, but if they want to call each other, surely they can and there’s nothing I can do to stop it.”

Brett Dunlap can be contacted at [email protected] and Steven Adams at [email protected]

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