Get the latest BPR news delivered free to your inbox daily. SIGN UP HERE.
Angry Ohio residents stormed the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus to protest Governor Mike DeWine’s lockdown, which he extended until May 29.
Crowds chanted “Reopen Ohio!” amid escalating surges in unemployment in the state and across the country. While state troopers in riot gear were deployed, no arrests or acts of violence were reported.
A local reporter named Adrienne Robbins kicked up some dust on social media when she tweeted that she had been bullied by a female protester, who accused her and the media of overhyping the coronavirus and “terrifying the general public” with apocalyptic news coverage that is fueling depression and suicides.
Ohio — which has a population of 11.7 million — has so far recorded 975 deaths attributed to COVID-19. Yet the state is under the same restrictive lockdown that corona epicenter New York is under.
The protester said: “‘You know that the company that you work for is lying to the America people! And you know that what you’re doing is wrong, at the end of the day. You know it! You see how nervous you are? You’re shaking. You are sweating. Your glasses, you can’t even see out of them!”
Robbins later tweeted: “I asked this woman to respect my space after she was yelling and spitting in my face. She said I had no right to social distancing in public and continued to follow me. Complaining about my mask (that is meant to protect her and those around me).”
It bears noting that Adrienne Robbins wore her mask the wrong way. It did not cover her nose, which means the mask protected neither her nor the protester.
I asked this woman to respect my space after she was yelling and spitting in my face. She said i had no right to social distancing in public and continued to follow me. Complaining about my mask (that is meant to protect her and those around me). https://t.co/M7BX888z11
— Adrienne Robbins (@ARobbinsTV) May 1, 2020
Fellow reporter Laura Hancock tweeted: “Who is this woman? She’s bullying Adrienna Robbins.”
Hancock added that Robbins “politely asked this woman to stay 6 feet away. She didn’t.”
.@ARobbinsTV politely asked this woman to stay 6 feet away. She didnt. pic.twitter.com/nyAEhQMZCP
— Laura Hancock (@laurahancock) May 1, 2020
Another reporter remarked: “This is not OK. One of our reporters, trying to do her job and maintain social distancing, confronted by a protester at the Statehouse. Proud of @ARobbinsTV for staying calm. You can judge the other person in this video.”
This is not OK. One of our reporters, trying to do her job and maintain social distancing, confronted by a protester at the Statehouse. Proud of @ARobbinsTV for staying calm. You can judge the other person in this video. #NBC4 #JournalismMatters https://t.co/hh2gp0R2Vb
— Colleen Marshall (@ColleenNBC4) May 1, 2020
This was enough to raise the ire of Twitter users who thought the protestor was out of line. Some went as far as to ask for the woman to be identified. Others defended the frustrated rallier, saying that her message was spot on and the reporter should not be surprised at passionate Americans speaking out.
Twitter so your thing. Identify this woman…..
— NurseRegi (@IntegrityMattrs) May 1, 2020
This is despicable behavior and also an attack on you. Spitting in someone’s face is considered assault. It is a crime. This nut job broke the law and should have been arrested.
— Judy Elliott (@JudyElliott1) May 2, 2020
Carry a taser with you from now on. They are rabid
— Diana 🐱 (@Takethepwrback) May 1, 2020
She had to sign a release for this, right ?
Name and shame. We can’t allow these people to bully their stupidity onto others. In a new Covid era, this is assault.
Especially the spitting.She should be charged for that.
But I would take the entire continent shaming this woman.
— @vancitydan 🌏✌️ (@vancitydan) May 2, 2020
If anyone can identify this hideous woman, please so. Time to shame this #MAGA.
— cassandra (@judiadg) May 1, 2020
But while there were plenty of comments lambasting the protestor for refusing social distancing guidelines and allegedly “spitting” on the reporter, she did have her defenders:
You have video of her ‘spitting’ in your face because it sure isn’t in this one? For someone who got spit on, you sure didn’t move. I know I would have if I was getting spit on.
— The® Cincy Buckeye – Essential Ohioan (@CincyBuckeye) May 1, 2020
Journalists show up to these things for the so purpose of belittling them. Look at all of their feeds. This journalist doesn’t care if this woman has lost her job. She only wants her gotcha footage and the ❤️ she’ll get from her fainting colleagues.
— B Ekdahl (@beeekdahl) May 1, 2020
She may not have respected your space , but she was right about 1 thing. The media you work for has made the American people more scared than they need to be. So yes at the end of the day you and the media is wrong for what you are doing. And it’s just for ratings
— Jonathan Johnson (@jonjoseph88) May 2, 2020
Political speech is passionate speech. If every one of the people commentating on this thread thought about it they would recognize that they have seen this kind of behavior at school board meetings and City Council meetings . As a reporter deal with it, don’t cry about it.
— emeko999 (@emeko999) May 2, 2020
Isn’t it ironic that when someone gets in a reporters face they get upset, when in fact, they, the reporters, have no problem getting in other people’s faces.
Being a reporter use to be a class job. To me, they are nothing more than fear mongers and twist the truth their way.— mot47 (@mot47papa) May 2, 2020
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine’s original lockdown was set to expire on May 1, but he extended it until May 29.
However, in response to mass protests, he claims that his new executive is “not a stay-at-home order,” but instead, a plan to gradually reopen the state.
“It’s not a stay-at-home order,” DeWine said, according to Fox 28 in Ohio. “We have reached a new stage. But it doesn’t mean the virus has gone away.”
Gov. DeWine said healthcare facilities can resume medical procedures, and dentists and veterinarians can reopen. On Monday (May 4), offices, industry, and construction can reopen. However, DeWine urged businesses whose employees can work from home to continue to do so.
(Source: The Story)
The protest in Columbus, Ohio was among several that occurred across the United States as millions of Americans grow impatient with the unconstitutional, one-size-fits-all lockdowns.
There were several protests in California after Governor Gavin Newsom threatened to close beaches and state parks despite research suggesting that the coronavirus does not spread outdoors and gets weak when exposed to sunlight and heat.
Rashida Tlaib demands US give more aid to Palestine as unemployed Americans line food banks
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
Samantha@BizPacReview.com
Samantha Chang is a senior staff writer for BizPac Review. She is a financial editor and lawyer based in New York City.
- DOJ attorney in charge of election-crimes unit quits after AG Barr opens investigation - November 10, 2020
- ‘Whoa, whoa, whoa’: Neil Cavuto slammed after he cuts off Kayleigh McEnany presser - November 10, 2020
- Same media that cheered Stacey Abrams, Al Gore for refusing to concede attack Trump for same move - November 8, 2020
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
