Republican club whose maskless conga lineage has gone viral responds: adults have the right to make their own decisions

A Republican club in New York responded on Tuesday to indignation on a video showing people at a party he hosted gathering in a Conga line without masks, writing a Facebook post that “adults have the absolute right to make their own decisions”.

The Whitestone Republican Club, whose rally in Queens, NY, took place before the New York government. Andrew CuomoAndrew CuomoHillicon Valley: Google Denies Allegations in DOJ Antitrust Complaint | Biden defaults Trump after hack | Biden Campaign Says Twitter Will Remove POTUS Account Followers New York Suspends Use of Facial Recognition in Schools Poll Reveals Andrew Yang is New York Mayor MORE (D) halted indoor dining on Dec 14, welcomed at least 50 guests inside an Italian restaurant, Il Bacco. New York banned gatherings of more than 10 people at the time.

The group wrote in its social media post on Tuesday: “Yes, we have had a Christmas party. Everyone had a good time. We have followed all precautions. But we are not the masked police, nor the social distancing police.

“Adults have the absolute right to make their own decisions, and it’s clear that many have chosen to interact like normal humans and not like paranoid zombies in hazmat suits,” the club continued. “It’s for some reason controversial for people who believe it’s their job to tell all of us what to do.

“We ALL have the inalienable right under the First Amendment to assemble peacefully, and we did,” the post continued. “There is no pandemic clause in the Constitution, although the media and Cuomo want you to believe otherwise.

“We urge ALL New Yorkers, regardless of their political affiliation, to get out and enjoy the vacations in a way that makes them happy and comfortable. Make your own calculated decisions, don’t give in to fear or blindly obey the media and politicians, and respect the decisions of others, ”the organization added.

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) earlier this month published guidelines saying: “TThe surest way to celebrate winter vacation is to celebrate at home with people who live with you. Other healthcare professionals, including top infectious disease experts Anthony FauciAnthony FauciWhite House wishes Birx good luck after announcing his retirement Federal Bureau of Prisons cancels COVID-19 vaccine denial to inmates Tom Hanks says he would take COVID-19 vaccine publicly ‘after everyone who really needs to get it ” MORE, also urged people to avoid large gatherings and travel on Christmas.

It comes as New York has seen a further rise in coronavirus infections, particularly in Queens. From Tuesday, the state health department recorded a total of more than 878,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with nearly 12,000 newly reported infections on Tuesday alone.

The state also had more than 29,000 coronavirus-related deaths, with over 5,000 of them in Queens County alone.

The owners of Il Bacco filed a class action lawsuit against city and state officials earlier this year for banning dining inside. Restaurant owner Tina Maria Oppedisano told the Queens Daily Eagle the restaurant is following coronavirus restriction rules for the Republican club rally.

“This party was absolutely not in violation. We did exactly what we were told, ”she said. “Every person who entered the company was registered and subjected to a temperature control.”