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Quick Analysis

Continuing Violations of Civil Rights Under COVID-19, Conclusion

This article, (Part 1 opened the discussion yesterday on the civil rights implications of some government reactions to COVID)  was provided exclusively to the New York Analysis of Policy and Government by the distinguished Judge John H. Wilson (ret.)

Maybe you have noticed that with the exception of Governor DeWine of Ohio, the vast, overwhelming majority of those governors involved in violating the first amendment rights of their residents are Democrats.  We could speculate on the reasons for this – a belief in totalitarianism that usually pervades the left, or an elitist conception that as leaders of society, they inherently know what is best for the rest of us, or even possibly justifiable, yet cynical fears of being blamed politically if the virus causes too many illnesses and deaths “on their watch” – but such speculation is unnecessary.  It is a matter of empirical evidence that in most instances, Republican state and local officials are more likely to be protective of individual rights than are Democrats.

To put as fine a point on this proposition as possible, witness recent events in Texas.  There, the owner of Salon A in Dallas, Shelley Luther, dared to open her business in violation of the stay at home order of the local Dallas County Commission.  Dallas County had extended their order past the deadline set by Governor Greg Abbott (Republican) for reopening businesses across the state of Texas. Ms Luther found herself charged with the violation of that local order.  Judge Eric Moye’, who is described by the Dallas News as “a Democrat elected to the 14th District Court in 2008,” issued both a $7,000 fine and a temporary restraining order against Ms Luther.  When Ms Luther opened her business anyway, Judge Moye’ demanded she apologize for her “selfishness.”  When she refused, Ms Luther was found in contempt, and sentenced to 7 days in jail.  

During her refusal to apologize, Ms Luther described her reasons to violate the judge’s order –  “I have to disagree with you, sir,” she said, “when you say that I’m selfish because feeding my kids — is not selfish. I have hair stylists that are going hungry because they’d rather feed their kids. So sir, if you think the law is more important than kids getting fed, then please go ahead with your decision but I am not going to shut the salon.” 

Local Democratic officials were quick to support Judge Moye’.  Texas State Representative Rafael Anchia, for instance, said Judge Moye’ was fair, but “he also leans into doing his job.”  (Quick aside – when was the last time a Republican was described as “leaning in” to their work?  Isn’t that just another way to say, “activist judge?”)  But Republican legislators were just as quick to side with Ms Luther.  Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated, “I find it outrageous and out of touch that during this national pandemic, a judge … would jail a mother for operating her hair salon in an attempt to put food on her family’s table,” while Republican Texas Governor Greg Abbott “issued a statement saying he disagreed ‘with the excessive action‘ by the judge — and suggested that ‘there are less restrictive means’ than jailing Luther while ensuring public safety during the outbreak.” 

While discussing Ms Luther’s treatment, Governor Abbott also made a very important point on the Sean Hannity Show – While Ms Luther was incarcerated by a Dallas County judge, “The Dallas County district attorney announced a policy that he is not going to prosecute any thief who steals things valued at less than $750.  At the same time, authorities in Dallas are talking about releasing inmates from prison or jail because of the possibility of contracting COVID-19.” 

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The Dallas County District Attorney?  John Creuzot – a Democrat. 

Within a day of Judge Moye’s order, Ms Luther was freed by order of the Texas Supreme Court. At the same time, Governor Abbott issued another Executive Order removing incarceration as a penalty for violations of social distancing orders, whether his or those issued by local authorities.

We, as citizens and residents of the United States, must be ever vigilant, and ever ready to assert and protect our rights.  Like Ms Luther, we must be willing to stand up to petty tyrants and their authoritarian overreaches.  In most cases, from the evidence gathered here, one party is more likely to stand with us – the Republican party.

John H. Wilson is a former Criminal Court Judge from New York City.  He currently works as a Mediator for First Court.

Illustration: Pixabay

Categories
Quick Analysis

Continuing Violations of Civil Rights Under COVID-19

This article was provided exclusively to the New York Analysis of Policy and Government by the distinguished Judge John H. Wilson (ret.)

Every day, we are witness to the battles being fought between the authorities and the citizenry.  The cause of this conflict?  The on-going violations of the Constitutional Rights of US citizens and residents by state and local authorities. 

In my last article, I described the emergency powers held by the states to guard the health and welfare of their residents.  I also noted that these powers do not supersede the rights we hold under the United States Constitution – we still have the right to freedom of speech and peaceful assembly guaranteed under the First Amendment.  Unfortunately, too many state and local governments continue not to know where the powers of the state end and the rights of the individual begin.

Worst of all for our Republic, it appears that one political party in particular does not show respect for our God-given rights as free people.

In New Jersey, where Governor Phil Murphy (Democrat) has publicly admitted that taking the Bill of Rights into account during his exercise of authority is “above his pay grade,” the “public health emergency” has been extended until the middle of June.   In response to a peaceful protest numbering in the hundreds, Murphy’s state police brought a criminal charge against the protest’s organizer, 48 year old Stephanie Hazelton, claiming she violated the Governor’s Executive Order prohibiting large gatherings during the pandemic. 

Clearly, a governor who admits he is not familiar with the Bill of Rights can’t be expected to understand that the right to peacefully assemble is enshrined in the very first of those amendments.  But why extend the emergency in New Jersey at all?  As of early May, 2020, the number of coronavirus cases in New Jersey is on the downswing.  All counties show decreased growth in new cases, with many counties showing less than 100 deaths per 100,000 people (0.1 percent). 

Ostensibly, Governor Murphy claims that long-term facilities, such as nursing homes, are still a concern.  Yet, in one of the better examples of talking out of both sides of his mouth, according to CBS News, the Governor claimed “the extension of the emergency declaration does not mean the restarting of the economy will be delayed, though no hard date for when business can open has been announced.” 

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Then, there is Raleigh, North Carolina, where police arrested one out of 100 protestors for violating the Executive Order of Governor Roy Cooper (Democrat).  In most states, you don’t need to be at a protest to feel the long arm of the law on your shoulder.  In Colorado (Governor Jared Polis – Democrat), a man called the police and reported his roommate for having two friends over – the roommate and two friends were arrested for violation of “the self-quarantine order.” In Hawaii (Governor David Ige – Democrat), nine people were arrested for violating “stay at home” orders, / and in California (Governor Gavin Newsom – Democrat), as described by the LA Times, “a paddle boarder was arrested Thursday after ignoring lifeguards’ orders to get out of the ocean near the Malibu Pier despite beach closures.” 

Yes, you read that last one right.  One person, alone on a paddleboard in the ocean, was arrested for violating social distancing orders.  Did I mention the paddleboarder was by himself?

In Brooklyn, New York, you can get arrested for going to the barber shop,  but that rule seems to only apply to African Americans.  If you are Jewish, you can’t go to funerals.    And in other jurisdictions, you can be a crime victim and still be arrested for violating social distancing rules.  In Lorain, Ohio, a man who was shot in the leg by an unknown assailant was himself charged with violating Governor Mike DeWine’s (Republican) stay at home order. 

In Pennsylvania, you can also be arrested for violating social distancing rules if you crash your car, but to be fair, in that case, the man involved “was found to be in possession of 14 cans of baby formula, 3 cases of Red Bull and 2 cases of bottled water which were later determined to be stolen from a Weis Markets in Manheim Township, Lancaster County.” Nonetheless, a charge for violating Governor Tom Wolf’s (Democrat) Executive Order was added by the local police. 

The Report Concludes Tomorrow

Illustration: Pixabay