WAXAHACHIE – Last Friday at noon throughout the State of Texas, residents in support of opening businesses back up gathered for a peaceful protest at their local county seats.
The group called “Open Texas” describing itself on its Facebook page as, “residents of Texas that stand for the Constitution and demand our officials Reopen Texas no later than April 29, 2020.
“We are losing our small businesses, which are the backbone of our economy. The shutdown is not warranted, nor sustainable for our area. The vulnerable can be accommodated, decide to self-isolate, or be protected in other ways, without sacrificing our entire state economy.
“It’s important to note, several other states have not enacted stay at home orders. Join this group if you want to take peaceful, prayerful action to open Texas businesses and churches today,” simultaneously set the date and time statewide.
While it was a Texas-size event that appeared to have gone mostly unnoticed, at noon as designated a group in Ellis County drove around the courthouse in Waxahachie seven times honking and waving flags.
Ellis County Commissioner Paul Perry, pct. 3, said, “I think it is the people’s right to show their displeasure and their concern.”
Perry was at the courthouse as the cars drove around making their point.
“A lot of people are going without income, and those of us who have done that once or twice in our lives – we can’t imagine doing that again. We are going to see foreclosures and all types of issues with this, and it is time to put people back to work,” he added.
One woman at the protest who donned a mask said she was surprised JOANN Fabrics and Crafts could remain open as an essential business, yet Hobby Lobby had been closed during the lockdown.
“There is no rhyme or reason,” the peaceful protester said. “We don’t need someone deciding what is essential and non-essential. We need to decide what is safe and not safe. We need to open up Ellis County, we need to open up Texas.”
Ellis County Judge Todd Little, who had been on the phone inside the courthouse during much of the protest, came down to talk with some of the Open Texas protesters.
In a statement he said, “It shows our Texas spirit here. We like our freedoms and liberties in Texas, and I am pleased to see that people are still concerned and interested in their freedoms.”
Judge Little said he knew the Honk-in was going on all over Texas in the county seats, in this case in the City of Waxahachie.
“Today as a small number of Ellis County residents offered their sentiments concerning their response to COVID-19, we must continue our reasoned and vigilant response to our fight against COVID-19,” Little said.
“In Ellis County, we continue to remain consistent with President Trump, the Centers for Disease Control and Governor Abbot’s mitigation efforts aimed at protecting the health and the safety of our communities.
“I myself am a local business owner here in Ellis County. We want out local businesses to re-open as soon as practical and in a safe manner.”
Earlier in the week, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins issued a mandatory mask wearing order for all Dallas County residents or a fine would be involved for not following orders.
Later, during an emergency meeting of the Dallas County Commissioners Court, the commissioners scaled the order back to amend the fine. Dallas County Commissioner John Wiley Price said simply in a phone call last Thursday evening, “there is no way.”
In a 3-2 vote by the commissioners, the order did still read that a covering for the nose and mouth when running errands or working at an essential business was required. However, there would be no one stopped, given a citation or arrested if they were not wearing a face cover.
It was both Commissioners Price and J.J. Koch who called the meeting. Koch pointed out to Judge Jenkins, “Judge you have no ability to write tickets, only the Sheriff’s Department has the ability to write tickets.
“The people that are on the frontline enforcing these regulations are the municipal policing departments. And from what I understand from Chief Spivey and other chiefs, they were not consulted before this was ordered.”
As businesses are set to slowly re-open in Texas, some health officials have said the face coverings are important to prevent more spread of COVID-19.
In Ellis County, both Judge Little and Commissioner Perry said they did not plan to order mandatory face coverings for residents in public.
Both did advise people continue to be mindful of others and of the threat of COVID-19.
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