Coalition of organizations to protest against hate

A coalition of organizations is coming together this week to peacefully stand against right-wing extremism brazenly displayed at a series of Anchorage Assembly meetings by angry pro-Bronson supporters, many from the right-wing "Save Anchorage" Facebook group, who are upset over a proposed mask ordinance.

"Save Anchorage" members, encouraged to attend recent Anchorage Assembly meetings by Assembly Member Jamie Allard and members of the Bronson administration, have continually disrupted the meetings to intentionally filibuster public testimony on a proposed ordinance, AO 2021-91.

According to the Alaska Landmine, throughout last Thursday's assembly meeting, numerous attempts were made to interfere with media coverage of the event.

In a description for the upcoming peaceful protest, the coalition of organizations says that over the past few days, members of a "hate mob" have compared mask mandates to the Holocaust, have directed homophobic slurs toward an assembly member and that a member of the public brought a gun into the assembly chambers.

The coalition believes that Mayor Bronson's administration has refused to act on Anchorage's healthcare crisis, writing that hospitals are overrun with COVID-19 and some hospitals have had to resort to crisis standards of care, forcing healthcare professionals to choose which patients live or die. The coalition also asserts that not only has the Bronson administration refused to act on COVID-19, but the administration is also actively working to undermine any public healthcare measures.

The peaceful protestors will meet this Tuesday, October 12, at 4:30 p.m. outside the Loussac Library to encourage Mayor Bronson and his supporters to respect democracy and serve all the citizens of Anchorage.

The event will be held outside, and masks are required. Event organizers ask individuals not to attend the protest if they are feeling ill or have recently been exposed to anyone who has tested positive for COVID-19.