Abortion controversies rise, the war rages in Ukraine, and inflation hits Americans hard; have we forgotten about covid? Covid policies and mandates continue to shape the world as we know it. Yet, many of those policies are damaging communities, destroying lives and violating human rights. For example, vaccine mandates. According to the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, there shall be no law prohibiting the free exercise of religion. As an American, this is not just about mandates, this is about freedom.
Currently in Washington, hundreds of government workers are unemployed because covid vaccine mandates have not allowed accommodation for their sincerely held religious beliefs. The government has forced them to receive a vaccine or lose their jobs. These people include firefighters, policemen and transportation workers, all people who strive to serve and protect the community around them every day.
Without them, where would we be? As their sincerely held religious beliefs are being challenged, they are standing up for freedom: freedom of religion, freedom of choice and freedom to work. I’m urging the people, don’t let a virus dictate your freedoms and your rights. Stand up for your firefighters and your police, because they stand up for you, each and every day.
Hailey Keller
Snohomish
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