By Seth Eisenberg -November 30, 2020
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In light of the recent resolution passed by the Frederick County Board of Health, many county residents are upset, while small businesses owners are furious. After the Board received over an hour of calls from residents and businesses owners expressing their desire for the resolution and its increased restrictions on businesses to be struck down, it passed. A vast majority of residents are angered.
The Frederick County Conservative Club (FCCC) heard from many disgruntled people with concerns ranging from fears of not being able to pay the rent to losing not only their homes, but their businesses as well. The FCCC decided to organize a protest outside the home of County Executive Jan Gardner.
About 30 people showed up to voice their displeasure with the increased restrictions. The protest, while loud, was peaceful and the participants remained on the sidewalk and off private property. As with any protest, people drove by showing their approval or disapproval. Even some of Mrs. Gardner’s neighbors stopped to say they supported the protest. “A lady jogging past turned around, came back, thanked us, took a group shot and a selfie with us behind her.” Said Fred Propheter, President of the FCCC,
Some of the people who disapproved of the protest were Dylan Diggs and Steven Barrett. Although speaking in their personal capacities Diggs is Vice-President of the Republican Club of Frederick County (RCFC) and Barrett is a voting member of their Board.
Mr. Barrett called the protest an “act of hate.” He followed that up a list of assumptions and “could be’s.”
Mr. Diggs referred to the people exercising their first amendment rights as “rabble.” He compared these protestors to “a form of political violence” calling the protest “ugly, childish and bullying.” He too followed his comments up with a list of assumptions of what could have happened.
Both men insulted all the participants and seemed more concerned that Jan Gardner’s weekend had been disrupted rather than with the people facing the real possibility of losing everything they have worked for. While they were quick to condemn the protest, they offered no more than their “armchair quarterback” opinions. It’s easy when you’re still getting a full check to lack empathy for others and their financial hardships. What have they done to show their displeasure and empathy for their fellow neighbors’ fears and concerns?
