The Ripon Rabbit
Ripon’s new face covering policy was challenged at Monday’s September 27th Common Council meeting. Those opposing the approved face covering policy argued it greatly lacks definition.
⅔ of the public who showed up to challenge the policy did so … MASKLESS. Despite policy stating:
Members of the public who refuse to follow this directive will not be permitted to enter the City building or facility or will be asked to leave the building or facility. The City will make reasonable arrangements to facilitate the conduct of City business with members of the public who do not comply with this directive.
Orlando Nieves, citizen of Ripon, and member of the International press, stood at the public podium without any face covering. Asking;
- “Is this an ordinance or a policy?
- What happens if I do not comply with this policy?
- What happens if I do not comply with a request to leave the building for not complying with this policy?
- Can I be arrested?
- Can I be trespassed?
- Will I be fined?
- If so, who do I pay the fine to?
- How much is it?”
Members that looked like deer in headlights as he spoke, and had nothing to say. Even the alderman with the loudest mouth in the room remained silent! Watch it here!
Mr. Nieves exercised religious right of exemption in accordance with the city policy. Speaking publicly without a face mask per exclamation of his Christian faith.
Next, to speak was Ripon Resident Rob Witchow, a former Marine who defended our rights and freedoms as Americans. He demonstrated his right to not comply and speak maskless to the council as well.
“After how long this has been going on everyone is educated enough to know that it’s their choice, we all know the risk, we all know the benefits. Whatever your side is, I don’t care.”
Rob said and continued:
“I’m just simply asking, since you guys did rush it again and didn’t really think about everything, how am I, a citizen, going to be accommodated to come to these meetings from here on out?” Watch it here!
Unlike Orlando, Mr. Witchow simply claimed his constitutional right of choosing not to comply with the face covering policy.
Ripon Police Chief Wallner, also in attendance that evening, remained seated, arms crossed, appearing to have zero intention of enforcing this city policy whatsoever.
Last to speak on the subject Scott Zemlika who chose to wear a face covering, yet challenged the policy also. He asked:
“The graph that was used in the September 14th meeting and was used to support the approval of this policy, why was that not included in the September 14th agenda packet and why not supplied in the September 14th minutes published? Where did the graph come from? Where can I find it? What test is used to determine the new covid cases in Ripon?”
Zemlika went on to inquire
“What reasonable arrangements have been made, if I decided not to wear my mask today, how could I attend this meeting and address the common council… tonight … right now….”
Crickets! Literally you could have heard a pin drop in the room for what seemed like an eternity. Watch it here!
Eventually, his excellency Mayor Grant replied:
“We’re here to listen to your questions but we’re not going to answer them at this time”
During the City Council meeting held September 14th 2021, the agenda action item that you can watch here! ultimately challenged these individuals constitutional rights was introduced.
Mayor Ted Grant who is regarded by a few locally as the “savior who walks on water” introduced the action item in the best Vincent Price impression he could muster.
“What we’re looking at here is requiring face masks in City Hall and other City buildings for everyone including public and employees until further notice”
He went on to show a “current” graph of Ripon’s latest covid count.
Regardless of how alarming, spooky, scary, frightening and overwhelming this fear porn information is, it may look pretty and clearly was very well put together…We still would like to know it’s accuracy?
Grant explains looking at the graph one can see
“If we keep turning in this direction we will certainly surpass what we did for numbers last year and we need to try to head that off and this is the bare minimum of what we can do as a city”.
When Grant introduced the graph, no source or further explanation for the data was given. This seems to be Grant’s mode of operandi when he presents his political theater.
Quite honestly in the interest of being transparent, we simply do not yet know where this information came from? We do not have any clear understanding of what exactly this graph represents? We do not know exactly what the graph determines? In addition we have no idea what test was used in compiling this data? More importantly, how Mayor Grant got the data or from whom it came? Questions that should cause compilation for the curious.
Regardless Roll call vote on the policy taken: Motion passed 7-1 (Splitt voting no). The policy in it’s approved format can be viewed here.
Understand an attempt was made to separate you from the City body unless you comply and for the moment that attempt has failed. In the future Non compliance with this policy could ultimately prevent freedom from being heard on other subjects equally as challenging without you or your opinion, unless you bow down and comply.
This is America. You still are free to make your own decisions. As long as brave individuals who have “Intellectual Ability” continue standing to exercise your rights the Freedom Flame will continue to burn in Ripon and this nation as long as freedom lives.
