In a chaotic scene on Wednesday, Wisconsin bars reopened suddenly. The stay-at-home order issued by the governor was tossed out in a 4-3 vote in the state’s Supreme Court. The court, which currently has a conservative majority, dismissed the extension of Governor Tony Evers’ stay-at-home order. In their ruling, the court found that the governor was not legally able to make sweeping orders by decree.
The Republican-held legislature of Wisconsin has been vocal in their opposition to emergency powers. They have argued that the governor should not be able to make executive decisions about the whole of Wisconsin. Instead, they Republicans argue that the legislature should be the branch to pass laws about COVID-19.
Wednesday night, thirsty patrons crowded into bars across the state. Bargoers who have been staying inside for two months were eager to get back to their normal swing of things. However, many videos taken from within bars on Wednesday showed patrons not wearing masks and disregarding social distancing rules.
Governor Evers expressed dismay at the situation. “We’re just leaving it open. We’re going to have more cases,” he said in a press release. Speaking with MSNBC, he went on. “We’re going to have more deaths. And it’s a sad occasion for the state. I can’t tell you how disappointed I am.” Wisconsin has confirmed over 10,900 cases of COVID-19 and has seen 421 deaths from the disease as of Wednesday.
Following the Supreme Court tossing the governor’s statewide order, cities and counties have scrambled to institute their own orders. This has led to a patchwork of often-conflicting rules and regulations in the state. This, experts agree, will lead to much cross-county traffic as eager customers rush to bars and restaurants. The local job opening opportunities alone are enough to convince people to travel.
Healthcare officials insist that the lockdowns are still necessary. Slowing the spread of the virus is their first priority. However, their guidance has not swayed many protesters and antsy citizens who have strained against lockdown orders. In Wisconsin, throngs of visitors to bars across the state Wednesday spoke to the mood of the day.
Most were singing, dancing, celebrating. For them, the enemy was what they saw as unfair rules keeping them from having fun. For healthcare experts and state officials, the enemy is a virus that is both deadly and stealthy. As we move into the summer months, the nation seems poised to see this showdown play out across every state and city.
