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Letter: This is about health, not liberty

(Rick Egan  |  The Salt Lake Tribune)    Anti=-mask protesters speak do the remaining commissioners, Bill Lee and Nathan Ivie, after commissioner Tanner Ainge left the room, after the meeting was adjourned by a 2-1 vote because the room was too crowded and he felt that the crowd was breaking the health code, before the Utah County Commission meeting got started,  in Provo, on Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

(Rick Egan | The Salt Lake Tribune) Anti=-mask protesters speak do the remaining commissioners, Bill Lee and Nathan Ivie, after commissioner Tanner Ainge left the room, after the meeting was adjourned by a 2-1 vote because the room was too crowded and he felt that the crowd was breaking the health code, before the Utah County Commission meeting got started, in Provo, on Wednesday, July 15, 2020.

A few days ago I read an article by The Associated Press about the “Rally for Liberty” in Orem. It honestly left me speechless. People were protesting the wearing of masks during this pandemic of the super contagious COVID-19. One of the featured speakers was Ammon Bundy.

"We are entering the greatest battle to defend individual rights that has ever been waged before," he orated. He went on to say, "If we lose this battle, then we and our children will be plunged into the depths of darkness for many generations. This darkness will be more severe than ever before."

Huh, really. And, here I thought it was a public health and safety issue. This all happened just one week after this country laid to rest Rep. John Lewis, an icon and true advocate of the rights of people. Like I said, I’m speechless.

Michelle Shuttleworth, Salt Lake City

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