Protesters take to Cheney streets

CHENEY – A group of coronavirus anti-mandate protesters and one counter-protester took their signs to the intersection of Betz Road and state Highway 904 on Jan. 29 to present their message to passersby.

One group stood with signs and flags held high voicing the need for freedoms and an end to recently enacted mandates.

Jim Pendleton from the Medical Lake area said his sign says it best: he held up a sign that said "FREEDOM" in bold print.

He said he wants to see an end to what he refers to as government overreach, and that he represents the freedoms of everyone including the people that disagree.

On the opposite corner, Cheney resident Josh Higgins showed drivers a sign supports the mandates, and the science and the numbers behind them.

Higgins said he disagrees with the anti-mandate protesters because "science and data are greater than alternative facts and ignorance," as his sign reads.

Higgins said he has a pre-made sign he keeps ready, and when he drove by and saw the protesters, he had to counter protest.

His sign also refers to the purported number of COVID deaths in the U.S. as significant evidence to support the science behind those numbers.

Carla Messal said she was also on site to protect the "rights and freedoms" of people and said the continuation of power under emergency protocol has gone on too long.

She said that healthcare decisions are "our choice" and should not be forced on people.

Pendleton also spoke of his disagreement with some of the recent regulations enacted at Eastern Washington University, such as weekly testing for unvaccinated people as stated in a recent update released to the college's website by Interim President David May.

Both sides clearly voiced their side, and drivers honked and yelled in support of the messages presented during the cool January afternoon.

Matthew O. Stephens can be reached at [email protected]