FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Monday, August 31, 2020
CONTACT: Liz Doherty
Salisbury Post: Dan Forest’s Campaign Events Pose Grave Danger
“Political candidates like Forest may claim First Amendment exemptions. But the effect of having more than 200 people get together indoors poses the same danger whether it’s for a rally or something else.”
In Case You Missed It… The Salisbury Post editorial board came down hard on Dan Forest for his indoor campaign rally with over 200 people, including Mississippi Governor Reeves. Photos showed no social distancing or mask wearing and Forest and Reeves violating the mask mandates in both Mississippi and North Carolina.
The Salisbury Post editorial board wrote:
“On Thursday, for example, page 3A showed no masks in a photo of a rally that featured Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves and North Carolina gubernatorial candidate Dan Forest, the state’s current lieutenant governor.
No one in the photo, including Reeves is wearing a mask.
[…]
Political candidates like Forest may claim First Amendment exemptions.
But the effect of having more than 200 people get together indoors poses the same danger whether it’s for a rally or something else.
Sitting down does not suddenly eliminate the risk of transmission if people are in close proximity to one another.”
The editorial also notes, “If the state is going to move out of its long-stalled phase two, it’s important for people to follow health guidelines to prevent further spread of the virus. Wearing a mask is a small step that single individuals can take… Abstaining from gathering in large groups does the same.”
Forest has held many indoor campaign events during the pandemic. Event photos show large crowds with no social distancing or mask wearing. He describes his goal while campaigning as “to shake as many hands as we can” and promised, “It will be a lot more of this.” He has falsely claimed that “masks do not work with viruses.”
READ MORE: Salisbury Post: “Editorial: Let’s move past phase two,” August 30, 2020.
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