By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – Protesters disgruntled about the new restaurant vaccine mandate going into effect Saturday made themselves heard in Port Angeles and in Sequim.
Undersheriff Ron Cameron estimates the size of the crowd in Port Angeles Friday morning at between 150-250 people. Some of the protesters entered the courthouse, but Cameron says they were expecting that and had a security plan to confine them to the lobby.
Outside, Sheriff Bill Benedict spoke to the crowd with a bullhorn, explaining how he and his deputies will respond to the new bar and restaurant mandate.
Sheriff Benedict’s policy closely mirrors his previous policy on mask mandates. He says (paraphrasing) if a business asks you to prove you’re vaccinated before you can enter, that is what he expects you to do. If you try to force your way in, harass business owners or their employees, refuse to leave or something similar, law enforcement will get involved if called upon.
Otherwise, they will not be policing whether the mandate is being followed.
There was a similar protest in Sequim Thursday night. Mayor William Armacost joined the group and was asked to say a few words.
“We’re not going to turn our back on the small businesses, and we’re going to do everything we can to push back against this mandate. It’s about control. We have constitutional rights. Our Washington state constitution and the Constitution of the United States is being violated. We have worked our butts off as a council to provide over a half a million dollars to our small businesses. We are not going to sit idle with this. I’ve been working with my council. We are going to have a resolution specifically dealing with this mandate to keep our businesses afloat. And it’s not about me. I’m just a small business owner trying to make a living. But I love this little town and I’m not going to roll over because some people want to control us and take away our rights.”
The crowd later marched to the house where Health Officer Dr. Allison Berry used to live and knocked on the door. The current resident told them to get off his property.