Patriotic Washington Town Defies COVID “Mandates”

A protest in the small Washington town Mossyrock has received national attention after hundreds of attendees defied state COVID restrictions.

People from surrounding Washington and Oregon arrived in the rural city on Saturday to check out the “Freedom Rally” and to support local businesses who have lost money due to government shutdowns.

No masks and packed businesses could be seen around the town.

Pioneer Bar and Grill is open for business! pic.twitter.com/VcRc0mJBJD

— Katie Daviscourt (@KatieDaviscourt) December 13, 2020

Another café in Mossyrock, WA is defying @GovInslee’s orders and allowing for customers to dine-in! pic.twitter.com/IrQGU6so8H

— Katie Daviscourt (@KatieDaviscourt) December 13, 2020

The Mossyrock City council voted last month and decided to ignore state restrictions implemented by Democrat Governor Jay Inslee, including a ban on dining inside bars and restaurants, reducing occupancy of small stores and other measures. 

The protest was put together by Patriot Prayer, a group of pro-Trump Americans who asked attendees to spend money at local bars and restaurants negatively impacted by Democrat COVID policies.

“I’m pleased that we do have a lot of support and it’s gone peaceful, I’m happy for that, happy for our businesses,” Mossyrock Mayor Randall Sasser said.

Sasser also told radio station KIRO that some COVID measures are meant to “get us accustomed to always following what they say” for “something bigger that they have planned to keep us under their thumb.”

“I think this is a very important issue that’s going on within our country and within our state right now, and we’ve got to stand up for what is right,” Sasser continued. “They have issued the numbers by commissioner’s district, but not by zip code. And currently in Mossyrock, in our 98564 zip code, there is no information that states that there is any cases whatsoever within our zip code of COVID, or any deaths related to it.”

“One of the interesting comments I made at our council meeting was that in Lewis County this year, we’ve had a total, as of today, of 14 deaths due to COVID, unfortunately,” he said. “But so far this year, we’ve had 10 suicides, and last year there was only three suicides in Lewis County. So when we look at the shutdowns and everything that’s happening and there’s no data that says the Mossyrock area 98564 zip code has any cases or deaths, why then should we suffer as a city and as citizens following the governor’s mandate?”

Mossyrock Chief of Police Roger Morningstar addresses the Freedom Rally crowd.

The Daily Chronicle filmed part of the protest as seen in the footage below: