Boston Mayor Michelle Wu (D) told Boston public radio that hatred, fear, confusion, and anti-Asian sentiment fueled protesters who chanted “USA!” and sang the Star-Spangled Banner in city hall earlier this week while she announced a new mandate that will require city workers to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and businesses to require patrons to be fully-vaccinated as well.
“I’ve grown up my whole life knowing what it feels like to feel invisible or othered, and this is an experience that far too many Americans share,” Wu told GBH. “Standing at the podium, hearing the demonstrators who were opposing our policies singing patriotic songs and chanting ‘USA’ — the message was clear that we don’t belong here in their eyes, and shouldn’t be trying to take away something that they perceive they have and are losing.”
As The Daily Wire reported, Wu announced on Monday a new string of vaccine mandates and was bombarded immediately by union protesters and city employees.
“It’s a very sad situation,” she continued. “Because we’ve gotten so far from the American values that brought my family and so many families here, amidst tremendous sacrifice, to be part of this special place.”
Wu also said that it was wrong for protesters to equate being anti-vax with being patriotic.
“There is still a part of our society, even in this state, even in this city, that really feels like something is being taken away from them,” Wu also said. “That is based in misinformation, it’s based in, I think at some level, hatred, and fear and confusion.”
Wu did tell Boston radio that she has experienced hateful messages online. Under Massachusetts’ GOP primary gubernatorial candidate Geoff Diehl’s Facebook page, several users left racist, anti-Asian comments regarding the mandate; for example:
“Communist Wu needs to go back to China. … You want civil war, you’ll get one,” one commenter said in response to a post from Diehl about his opposition to Boston’s new requirements.
“Another oriental in a government position,” said another. “[I]s it me or are there way more oriental people within all facets and levels of influence … Has China already taken over or are they getting situated to take control of everything[?]”
A spokesperson for Diehl named Robert Orlando categorically denied to GBH that his campaign had anything to do with those comments:
“Geoff’s comments, and those of official members of his campaign team, regarding Mayor Wu and her recent public statements and mandates are the only ones which should be ascribed to him,” Orlando said in an email. “The standard that a politician should denounce public commentary on social media by people not connected to his campaign is not a standard that you, or most in the media, would apply to any other politician, and, as such, we are expecting that it not be applied to the Diehl campaign either.”
It should be noted that there is no evidence of racism at either today’s rally or at the one earlier in the week at Boston City Hall. While there were signs on Monday and Thursday calling Wu communist or comparing the mandate to communism, those are not jabs directed solely at Wu. Those opposed to vaccine mandates across the country have compared the government restrictions to communism.
It should also be noted that the crowd of protesters Monday was diverse. On Thursday morning, a separate protest formed outside of Boston Police Precinct Number 3, where Wu was scheduled to speak. Chair of Boston Catholic Radio, Louis Murray, documented the protest:
Sorry brothers that you had to guard the door. We know you are ‘on the job’, but ya think the Great Wu would come out and talk to the people. Do #Progressive Mayor Karen’s hide behind phalanxes? Why yes they do (when @NPR and @jimbraude are busy) pic.twitter.com/CXGQTKw1IC
— Louis L. Murray Jr (@LouisLMurrayJr1) December 23, 2021
Hearty & diverse crowd of #CivilRights protesters about 28 degrees 🌡 in #Boston . They’re not letting cold stop ‘em. @MayorWu rumor has it you ran back to City Hall when you saw the welcome committee? Is it True Wu? pic.twitter.com/Z9I3UMKHJr
— Louis L. Murray Jr (@LouisLMurrayJr1) December 23, 2021
In a moment that might undercut Wu’s claims that anti-vax mandate protests are done out of ignorance, Wu said that the city in part had to implement the mandate so that businesses that might have done so on their own would not face similar backlash. Of course, that might indicate the protesters were motivated not by bigotry, but by opposing what some characterize as “forced” vaccinations and a dwindling of freedoms.
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Source: Dailywire
