Pipe Bombs Discovered in Man’s Home Who Planned Armed Protest Against COVID-19 Restrictions; After Reopening, Beach Forced to Close as Crowds Defy Mask Order; How Anti-Vaccination Activists Are Becoming a Growing Force at COVID-19 Protests; and Why George W. Bush Issued a Call for Americans to Unite During Pandemic.
A Colorado man was arrested after federal agents discovered pipe bombs in his home. The man was helping to organize an armed protest to demand the state ease COVID-19 restrictions.
FBI agents discovered four pipe bombs and more potential pipe bomb material. They also identified the man as 53-year-old Bradley Bunn.
An official told ABC News that Bunn planned to attend a rally on May 1 at the Colorado capital building. He planned to take assault rifles along with him. The bomb materials were found inside his home that same day.
A news release said that bomb technicians took the devices to a gun range. There, they rendered the materials “safe.”
Bunn was arrested on suspicion of possession of destructive devices. He will face up to 10 years in federal prison along with a $250,000 fine if convicted.
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Just five days after the popular South Pointe Park was reopened, the city of Miami Beach was forced to shut it down once again.
The park was open, but it was under strict rules. This included the use of masks unless a visitor was strenuously exercising. It also allowed provisions for children under 2 and those with respiratory issues.
In just five days’ time, park rangers had to issue 8,880 verbal warnings. This was because of parkgoers not wearing face masks.
In the first two days, 2,829 warnings were issued on Saturday and 2,432 on Sunday.
There were also 511 social distancing warnings, and when parks closed at 7 pm, 1,556 guests had to be asked to leave.
City Manager Jimmy Morales alerted the administration and elected commissioners over the weekend that park rangers continued to report “serious compliance issues with respect to masks at certain facilities and rudeness towards staff, especially at South Pointe Park.”
As a result, the park had to be shut down. Morales explained the new shutdown in a statement:
“We have had city staff in the park to encourage people to comply, but they were met with hostility and non-compliance,” he said.
“We closed the parking lot on Sunday, but that made little difference. As such, the South Pointe Park will be closed until further notice.
“There is no way to effectively enforce social distancing when hundreds of individuals refuse to do so. “The best way to protect our residents and first responders is to keep it closed until further notice.”
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Public health experts are concerned about the appearance of anti-vaccination activists at recent coronavirus protests. They fear that the message they’re spreading could further harm how the country responds to the pandemic.
Dr. Rupali J. Limaye, who studies behavior around vaccines at Johns Hopkins University, had thoughts on the matter.
“One of the things that we’re finding is that the rhetoric is pretty similar between the anti-vaxxers and those demanding to reopen. What we hear a lot of is ‘individual self-management’. This idea that they should be in control of making decisions. That they can decide what science is correct and incorrect. And that they know what’s best for their child.”
The two people behind a Sacramento COVID-19 protest on Friday also founded a group called the Freedom Angels Foundation. The foundation opposes state-mandated vaccinations.
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Former President George. W. Bush has a plea for Americans. He is asking people to help one another during the coronavirus pandemic and to recognize their humanity.
The George W. Bush Presidential Center posted a video on Saturday. In it, Bush says, “Let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat. In the final analysis, we are not partisan combatants. We are human beings. Equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise or fall together and we are determined to rise. God bless you all.”
Bush continues, “This is a challenging and solemn time in the life of our nation and world. A remorseless invisible enemy threatens the elderly and vulnerable among us. A disease that can quickly take breath and life. Medical professionals are risking their own health for the health of others. And we are deeply grateful.”
If you’d like to do more to help the country yourself, you can donate to charitys and check with your local authorities for more information.
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