Event Addresses Vaccine Mandates and Healthcare Freedom Concerns
MARSHFIELD, WI (OnFocus) – More than 700 people gathered Saturday afternoon for a Healthcare Freedom Rally at 2007 Nikolai Ave in Marshfield. The purpose of the event was for participants to hear from speakers and demonstrate against COVID vaccine mandates.
“The goal was to educate and for people to speak up and empower themselves with their beliefs. They don’t have to be shamed for questioning this,” said co-organizer and longtime healthcare worker Kat Garrity. “I just hope that this gives the people the strength and will to stand up for what they believe in.”
“We are not shaming those that have gotten the vaccine. It’s about preserving our medical freedom, that’s it. Our goal with the rally was to encourage and inform people that they aren’t alone and there are others out there that do question this,” she added.
Along with Rachelle Gauss, Garrity organized the event after Marshfield Clinic Health System mandated the COVID vaccine for all workers.
“People are afraid to stand up because they are afraid that they are going to lose their jobs. This is how they’re putting food on the table,” said Garrity. “People feel like: My freedom is being taken from me, but if I want to feed my children, you’re putting me in a corner and I don’t have any options.”
The rally kicked off with Patriot Metals owner Jim Young welcoming the crowd and followed by Meghan Schafer singing the National Anthem. Pastor Lori Slaughter then said a blessing. Next up was WI Representative John Spiros, Meg Ellefson, WSAU and Executive Director of Get Involved WI, then Dr. Fritz Riveron, Attorney Alanna Feddick-Goodwin followed by Dr. Dan Stanislowski and David Waterman from the Midwest Public Health Coalition, and Joe Giganti from WSAU news.
These volunteer speakers addressed issues related to medical freedom, addressing concerns with mandates, covid vaccine validity and safety, and other related topics.
Dr. Stanislowski, whose PhD specialty is biochemistry and molecular biology, addressed concerns about the efficacy and long-term impact of the vaccine.
“Vaccines are harming people, causing issues such as myocarditis, pericarditis, and even death,” said Garrity. “No long term studies have been done. We don’t know enough about this vaccine, or what to expect long-term. Are cancer rates going to skyrocket? Major heart conditions?”
“We’re not anti-vax. We don’t want people to think we are crazy conspiracists,” she added. “For example, when I am on a new medication, I look at the reactions and make note of the problems that this medication could cause. What are the side effects? So why wouldn’t you research this, something that’s being injected into your body that’s permanent? But because we are questioning it, we’re called crazy or conspiracists. That to me is lunacy.”
Garrity also addressed the underlying concerns, including government control over a person’s body and the precedent set by mandates.
“We went from ‘let’s shut our country down for two weeks’ to ‘show me your card before you can enter my store’ very quickly,” she said. “What’s next? I’m not trying to brainwash or shame anyone. This is about freedom of choice. There is something here that is very concerning for me.”
Medical workers in attendance expressed similar concerns.
“Having to request an exemption in order to make medical decisions for yourself formally sets a precedent that the employer has control over your body,” said one nurse in attendance.
“We look back at history and how people rose to power by convincing the general public that others were ‘unclean’ and needed to present papers or be quarantined. The parallels of the current pattern are alarming,” said another attendee. “Things happen slowly and with each restriction we think it’ll just blow over, but then another thing comes along. If we don’t do something now, it will be too late.”
Garrity added that the amount of hate and division over this issue is extensive and troubling.
“To those that believe differently, I pray for you and I wish you no harm,” she said. “I’m making my own choice and just ask that you don’t judge me for it. I encourage anyone who is willing to have an open mind to research all of this yourself. This is something that is there forever and you can’t change it. Once you do this, there’s not going back. Also research treatments like Ivermectin and follow the money involved.”
For more information, Garrity recommends the following resources:
- Get Involved WI: https://www.getinvolvedwi.com/
- Midwest Public Health Coalition: https://realcovidfacts.org/
- America’s Frontline Doctors: https://americasfrontlinedoctors.org/
- Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System https://vaers.hhs.gov/
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Author: News Desk
This piece was posted by our news team! Contact us or submit stories at [email protected].
