RIGHTEOUS RALLY IN RICHMOND -- COVID POLICE STATE V

     SR joined a large caravan of spirited, freedom-loving Virginians today to protest the unconstitutional COVID-19 lockdown orders imposed by the Commonwealth's utterly undistinguished gerbil of a governor (Northam by name) in a "drive-around" rally at the Capitol Square in Richmond.  As Jumping Jack Flash might say, it was a "gas, gas, gas."

     The mainstream media (i.e., the propaganda arm of the democrat party) will downplay the size and intensity of this energetic rally, but the excellent photos of the event captured by the Richmond Times Dispatch (at the link) provide colorful graphic evidence of the rally's extent and quality.  Since this was mostly a "drive-around" rally, predominantly confined to people in their cars, only an overhead helicopter photo would capture its full extent.  But SR can personally attest it was enough to tie downtown Richmond into knots, and the sound of rebellious horn-honking reverberated throughout the Capitol Square.  

                                                  

Legions of motorized protesters descend on Richmond to Reject COVID tyranny
                                                     Alexa Welch Edlund, Richmond Times Dispatch
       
     In short, the rally reflected a powerful surge of resistance to the disproportionate Covid-containment restrictions imposed on the people of Virginia by its feckless governor.

     It should be stressed here that it is the draconian scope of the state lockdown orders themselves that relegate Covid Coercion protesters to their cars, rather than assembling on foot in parks, malls, or capitol grounds.  

     Parking lots are largely closed (also by decree), so that it is almost impossible for large numbers of out-of-town protesters to leave their cars to walk to a central protest site.  Even if they did, they would then be subject to arrest for violating the 6-foot-separation social distancing rules, which Northam has purported to establish as a legal requirement by fiat.  Not to mention the fact that asserting First Amendment rights is not considered an "essential activity" that is exempted from the governor's obscene "stay at home" (or, worse, "shelter-in-place") rules.

     A more fiendish scheme for suppressing the First Amendment right of assembly to petition for redress of grievances would be difficult to imagine.  But here we are.

     Notwithstanding the feisty and enthusiastic protests in Richmond today, and elsewhere, the grim reality seems to be that the majority of Americans -- at least Americans who do not reside in our great Heartland, such as in South Dakota -- remain sheepishly submissive to the grotesquely coercive diktats imposed by thuggish governors in the majority of states.  Various polls indicate that only a small minority of principled Americans believe that the coercive, unconstitutional restrictions imposed in most states have gone too far.  Even if one discounts the specific accuracy of such polls -- and SR certainly does -- the silent and uncomplaining submission to these unprecedented impositions by apparently most Americans is utterly depressing and ominous.

                                                  

  Patrick Henry would not understand surrendering liberty to reduce a virus risk.


     A populace prepared to meekly and sheepishly accept (1) a ban on leaving their homes to visit friends, sweethearts, or even non-immediate family members; (2) a forced closure of all businesses save those deemed "essential" by feckless governors who lack all competence to make such a determination; (3) an arbitrary prohibition against going to the beach, swimming in a lake or ocean, or playing basketball, baseball, or any other sport; or (4) a ban on any gatherings of more than ten people, whether for a wedding, funeral, baptism, or graduation ceremony -- such a populace shamefully profanes the heritage of hard-earned liberty left to them by their historical betters.  

     Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, and Washington himself could only shake their heads in profound dismay at the readiness of so many of today's Americans to sell their birthright of freedom.  They have surrendered the precious constitutional liberties purchased with the risk and blood of patriots and warriors solely to reduce the risk that a novel virus will claim a moderately greater number of fatalities than are claimed annually by seasonal flu.

     Fortunately, more of these moribund Americans are awakening each day to the realization that the loss of liberty and livelihood demanded by the government in exchange for an uncertain reduction of an equally uncertain health risk is a very bad bargain.  In the weeks to come, we can hope that millions of aroused and angry citizens will join the vanguard of protesters who have surfaced in Richmond, Michigan, Pennsylvania and elsewhere to demand the restoration of their constitutional and economic freedoms.