GROUP RALLIES FOR END TO COUNTY’S EMERGENCY
CHICO » “Who here is hungry for freedom?” Katie Donahoo asked a large group gathered in downtown Chico Thursday afternoon. She was greeted by thunderous applause, whooping and nearby cars honking.
Donahoo acted as organizer of a rally Thursday afternoon in front of the Chico City Council Chambers, calling for Butte County to defy statewide shelter in place orders during COVID-19 and to fully openfor normal operations of all businesses and schools.
As administrator of the online Facebook group “Citizens for Opening Chico/Butte County,” Donahoo said the purpose of the rally was also to ask the Butte County Board of
Supervisors to end the public health state of emergency in the county. The private group, as of
Thursday, has over 6,000 members, even as another group focusing on business enforcement
of local orders, “Covid Responsible Places Chico,” with 2,700 members, has continued to criticize it.
The county as of Monday declared having moved to the state’s Tier 2 or the Red Tier guidelines, to loosen some restrictions for operations of businesses and services, partially opening some businesses for indoor operations. Butte County’s COVID-19 case rate as of Tuesday is five cases per 100,000residentswith a 2.6percent test positivity rate, and Tier 2 requirements must be a case rate less than 4 to 7 cases per 100,000 residents with a positivity rate of 5 to 8 percent or less.
Over 100 gathered on the lawn in front of the Council Chambers building. Some carried banners, such as Tiffany
Aiello, whose sign read “Freedom is Essential, Open Chico” and most did not wear masks. A “Recall Newsom” booth was also present to encourage attendees to sign a petition to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom.
For an hour, as speakers came forward, cars and trucks sped by on West Fourth Street with drivers honking and whooping, some waving “Police Lives Matter,” “Trump 2020” and American flags. Their cheers were returned by the crowd gathered.
“I feel it’s time to open up,” said nurse Kristina Chenevey. “The fear is what’s keeping us closed.”
She agreed with a common sentiment, that the COVID-19 shutdown order has isolated people and many want to be among others in the community again, without masks or social distancing.
Grace Communit y Church Pastor Bryan Meyers led the group in prayer before speakers came up, saying the event was not a protest, but a rally—“I pray we would govern and lead for the love of all people.”
The Growing Place Professional Clinical Counselor
Casey Gibbs said the county should be concerned about the effects of stay at home orders possibly leading to increases in alcoholism and drug addiction or overdoses as well as impacts on mental health.
“We weren’t designed socially, culturally to function in an environment like we are now,” he said.
Eighth- grade student Lily Krueger said she has become depressed because she’s not able to go to school in person or attend social events.
“Zoom is no help, and frankly I hate it,” she said. “It is amazing how much I miss seeing people in person.”
Her mother, Carrie Krueger (running for Chico Unified School District’s board of trustees) said
“This situation is insane,” focusing on the difficulties of online learning for students, parents and teachers, and called on listeners to ask their supervisors to fully open up the county and local schools.
Donahoo also asked local business owners to speak, emphasizing the loss of income that has resulted in the COVID-19 shutdowns. A nurse and mother, Jynaia Badie, proclaimed her disagreement with enforcement of mask wearing and social distancing and criticized “the media” for coverage of the virus.
From other counties came Placer County Supervisor Kirk Uhler and Assemblyman James Gallagher ( R-Yuba City). Uhler said his county referred to data about the current rate of new cases to declare an end to the public health emergency in the county, and urged those listening to ask Butte County to do the same.
Gallagher reminded the crowd he and other legislators sued the governor for “unilateral action” on COVID-19 and will be in court Oct. 7.
At 4 p.m., Meyers closed the rally in prayer again, connecting Christian values to beliefs about wanting freedom.
“Some of you have lost family members dying for freedom,” he said — “There are some things worse than death.”