Politics

‘Open the State House’ protesters push past security to try to talk to Gov. Baker about COVID-19 mandates

Nine people entered the State House illegally today, but no one was arrested.

Protesters, many who would not give their names, talk to the media after they were let out of the State House, following a lockdown. (Photo by Pat Greenhouse/Globe Staff)

By Susannah Sudborough

February 9, 2022

A group of nine people forced their way past security into the Massachusetts State House Wednesday to protest the building being closed to the public and COVID-19 safety measures.

Massachusetts State Police said protesters pushed past a DCR ranger around 10:30 a.m. and stayed in the building until about 12:30 p.m. when police told them they had to leave or they would be arrested. No arrests were made.

“Our goal was to resolve the situation as peacefully as possible,” State Police spokesperson David Procopio said in a statement.

“During a protest response we usually engage with protestors and determine if they are going to leave peacefully after they have their say. We expected this group to eventually disperse, so Troopers used their discretion to allow them to leave and not make any arrests.”

State House News Service reported that the protestors were equipped with bullhorns and whistles, and chanted slogans against COVID-19 safety mandates put in place by Gov. Charlie Baker, Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and other elected officials.

People on scene heard the protesters shouting everything from “open the State House to the people” to “Hey Baker, leave our kids alone,” “Ban the vaccine, save the kids,” and “Our kids are not lab rats.”

Video of the state house protest pic.twitter.com/VJrySt2rUG
— Mike Deehan (@deehan) February 9, 2022

Mike Deehan of GBH described the protest in a tweet: “This protest has turned to 10% about the State House not being open and 90% about how Charlie Baker is a ‘medical raper’ and Michelle Wu is a fascist. You get the idea.”

State Police said most of the protesters stayed in the lobby except for one who tried to go deeper into the State House and was escorted out of the building.

The protest happened while Baker was announcing the end of the statewide mask mandate for schools, but did not disrupt it, State House News reported. They also said a House session began on time at 11 a.m. without disruption.

The Boston Globe reported that 31-year-old Dorchester resident Catherine Vitale told reporters she was part of the group that entered the building, as well as a group that has protested outside Mayor Wu’s house.

We The People of MA protest at the State House: PHOTO THREAD pic.twitter.com/8VB4cAjP38
— Leo Woods (@leowoods108) February 9, 2022

She told them that they have not been able to protest outside the governor’s house, so they came to the State House.

“We just came to witness the press conference really to try to face Baker because he’s not accessible anywhere else,” she said

Mass. COVID-19 Restrictions

Vitale told reporters she came to protest vaccine mandates that have forced healthcare workers, among others, to leave their jobs.

Another protester who wouldn’t give her name to State House News said the group was there to protest all COVID-19 mandates.

Those on scene reported that there was a heavy police presence around the State House.

The State House has been closed to the public since the pandemic began, but Senate President Karen Spilka told State House News it could reopen soon with safety precautions.

“I remain optimistic that we can invite the public back to the State House sometime this month. In order to open safely, and to protect the health of all of our visitors, staff and members, I believe we must establish a vaccine requirement and ask those entering the State House to wear masks during their visit,” Spilka said in a statement to the news service Wednesday. “Those protocols and the reopening timeline remain under discussion.”