A large group gathered in Lovelands Dwayne Webster Veterans Park on Wednesday to hear from a series of speakers opposed to recent mask orders and other government actions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19.

After Larimer County Sheriff Justin Smith announced through a spokesman that he would not be attending, the organizer of a parallel Crashing the Party event said they stopped promoting their event as strongly.

Few Crashing the Party attendees were visible at the event, with most lingering around the edge of a large semicircle of lawn chairs that surrounded the open grassy area where speakers presented.

(Jenny Sparks / Loveland Reporter-Herald)

Julie Formby of Keep Colorado Free and Open organized the main event and said other speakers were approached after she learned of Sheriff Smiths withdrawal.

Speakers on Wednesday included representatives of Faith Education Commerce Colorado, Reopen Colorado, Recall Polis 2020 and attorney Mark Patlan, who is representing the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against Gov. Jared Polis and others alleging recent mask orders are unconstitutional.

Based on the turnout, its obvious people still want to know what their options are for exercising their constitutional rights within these mandates, Formby said.

Formby pushed back against statements made by the sheriffs office that the focus of the event had changed, saying the purpose of the event was clearly stated from the start.

She also addressed a list of burning questions that she posted to a public Facebook page associated with the event, including questions about when demonstrators would be justified in using violence and whether Smith would be willing to deputize every man, woman and child.

We received a variety of questions from members of the public, she said. Law-abiding citizens are wondering at what point do we defend ourselves from the violence thats been happening.

While she said not all of the events attendees were anti-maskers, few of the audience members wore masks, and some of the speakers directly challenged their efficacy.

I dont think they make people feel more safe; I think they make people feel in danger, Patlan said. They dont work, and theres no reliable scientific data to prove it.

The efficacy of mask-wearing is supported by a growing body of research, and the use of masks is encouraged, among other precautions, by the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and other agencies. Face masks work by blocking respiratory droplets microscopic amounts of moisture that may contain active coronavirus virions or other pathogens from traveling through the air and spreading disease.

Audience members too said they doubted the usefulness of masks in combating the spread of the coronavirus.

David Wood of Loveland, who brought his bugle with him to make noise in support of the speakers, said he believed the information supporting the use of masks was junk science.

I know a few who have died from it, but I know of far more people who are out of jobs and unemployed because of this lockdown, he said. And they say that because of COVID unemployment is up. No. Its because of government, not the disease.

Brian Spencer of Weld County said he and others came out Wednesday to protect attendees from Black Lives Matter supporters.

In Berthoud, we stepped in between some of the counterdemonstrators and the police, he said. You could say were here to keep the peace.

He also admitted that he was curious about the speakers messages but said he understood why Sheriff Smith had pulled out of the event.

Formby said she was hopeful that the event would encourage more people to volunteer with her group and help coordinate follow-up events.

The rest is here:

Hundreds meet in Loveland park to discuss resistance to COVID-19 actions - Loveland Reporter-Herald