Anti-mandate rally shows united front

Rick Monroe

Special to the Village News

The Fallbrook Freedom Fighters' second monthly anti-mandate rally on Friday afternoon, Nov. 19, attracted about half the crowd that attended the first event Oct. 15, but organizers say they were not disappointed.

Courtney Stevens said the crowd of about 100 people was smaller because the location changed, darkness comes earlier each evening, and the start-time of 3:30 p.m. is when many people were still at work. In addition, there was a similar large gathering in San Diego that attracted more media coverage, a huge Fallbrook High School football game, and it was the beginning of a long holiday week for some.

The rally was held on Highway 76 between Old Highway 395 and I-15. The previous event was at Highway 76 and Mission Road in Bonsall.

People at the rally waved American flags, held signs and waved to people passing in vehicles, many who honked in support.

The crowd was diverse with parents, grandparents, teens and young children. The signs and comments were all similar, the focus being their freedom to make their own choices about COVID-19 mask and vaccine mandates.

There was a "Let's Go Brandon" sign or two, but Stevens said afterwards that while people have their individual right to express any view, she encourages inclusive, non-partisan messages.

"There's a misconception that all of us are anti-vaccine," she noted. "That's really not the case. We're for liberty. What we're against is the mandate. For many, the vaccine may be right for them."

"We care about Fallbrook," she added. "I was born here, and we want the area to be known for its 'Friendly Village' moniker."

Fallbrook Freedom Fighters is a new group, but it's growing quickly. Stevens said that in four weeks, they now have 1,300 Instagram followers. Their handle is @fallbrook.freedom.fighters. The group can also be contacted at [email protected]. Plans are in the works for a web page and newsletter.

"Social media is the best way to find out about upcoming events," Stevens said. FFF held an informational event featuring Carl DeMaio at Riverview Community Church Nov. 7 and there are plans for another meeting in December. The next rally details are also being finalized soon, with date, time and location pending.

Among the people at Friday's rally was Michael Hefner of North County Patriots, holding a "We the People" flag. He said he was there to help promote awareness of the growing restrictions facing Americans. "It's about our rights as humans, as given from God, to make our individual choice for vaccine and mask freedom," he said.

Hefner also said North County Patriots, based in Bonsall, is launching a new web page, wethepeoplecoalition.org, to promote the efforts of the growing number of freedom groups in the county. The coalition could expand statewide and nationally, he said, but currently the target is San Diego County.

The many freedom groups in the county include Let Them Breathe, Public Square, ReOpen SD, and El Cajon Freedom Fighters.

Stevens commented that the focus of Fallbrook Freedom Fighters is Bonsall and Fallbrook, specifically the mandates for the COVID-19 vaccine and masks.

"There are other issues like the county redistricting and School choice that are important," she said. "People are waking up to the many issues we're facing."

Another group represented at the rally was Praying Patriots, by Danielle Kendall. She said Christians in the area pray on Tuesdays and Fridays about the situation with mandates.

Others interviewed at the rally seemed to align with the reason for gathering. David McClary of Fallbrook said his children were grown now, but that he wanted to support the families in town. He thought there should be greater emphasis on medical exemptions.

"We all should be able to make up our own mind," said Judy Morelli of Fallbrook. She said she was getting ready to move to Arizona, but was "going to fight to the end."

"We believe in the right to speak," said Stephanie McKay, on the sidewalk with her three young boys. "Mask and vaccine mandates have no place in a free country."