Anti-lockdown protest organiser tests positive for coronavirus

Audrey Whitlock was unable to attend two anti-lockdown rallies as she was on quarantine (Picture: Getty Images)

James HockadayWednesday 29 Apr 2020

A woman who helped organise protests against social distancing measures missed out on two of her group’s rallies after catching coronavirus.

Audrey Whitlock said she was forced not to attend ReOpen NC’s first two demonstrations in Raleigh, North Carolina, as she was in quarantine for two weeks ending Sunday. In a Facebook post she wrote about how restrictions including state Governor Roy Cooper’s stay-at-home order were violating her first, fifth and 14th Amendment rights.

Now that she had recovered from the disease she says she intents to attend rallies in the future in defiance of emergency measures. She told news station WFAE: ‘I remained in self-isolation at my home per the direction of my county health department. I have not attended any events for ReOpen NC.’

Fellow organiser Ashley Smith said: ‘She never left her house during her quarantine, so she has not been at any rally or any of the functions that we’ve done. I’m not responsible for other people’s choices. I’m for personal liberty.’

Whitlock said the Governor’s stay-at-home order was violating her first, fifth and 14th Amendment rights
Protesters The grassroots ReOpem NC gather in Raleigh (Picture: Getty Images)
‘Everyone has their own decisions to make. If they want to come, that’s up to them. I’m going to be there.

‘I’m not afraid of the virus. I’m more afraid of losing my constitutional rights and losing my livelihood than I am of the virus.’

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She said despite Whitlock’s diagnosis, no one from the local health department tried to trace her contacts or that she was sticking to her quarantine order.

ReOpen America events have been held in cities and towns across the US, despite the country becoming the new epicentre of the pandemic with the highest official tally of deaths and infections.
There have been over a million confirmed cases and 59,061 fatalities so far.

Around 1,000 people flocked to downtown Raleigh on Tuesday last week in protest against the lockdown.

Protesters flocked to the streets despite coronavirus infection risks (Picture: Getty Images)

Counter-protesters stand outside North Carolina Legislative Building yesterday (Picture: AP)

On their Facebook page ReOpen NC said: ‘We are mostly business owners and employees that are losing our income and denied our right to provide for our families.

‘We have come together to demand action from their elected officials.’

Whitlock wrote, ‘I will take a stand every day until we are a free people again, to sound the alarm because someone has to do the right thing in the face of wrong.

‘The reality is that modern society has not been able to eradicate contagious viruses. A typical public health quarantine would occur in a medical facility.

Protesters walk towards the Texas State Capital building on April 18 (Picture: Getty Images)

A woman holds a sign outside the Missouri Capitol building (Picture: AFP)

‘I have been told not to participate in public or private accommodations as requested by the government, and therefore denied my 1st amendment right of freedom of religion.’

ReOpen NC is planning to hold rallies every Tuesday in Raleigh until restrictions are lifted.
Authorities in North Carolina say 306 people have lost their lives to the virus.

Anti-lockdown protester John McDaniel, 60, died from coronavirus in hospital on April 15 after calling Covid-19 a ‘political ploy’.