Activist demonstrates in Santa Cruz grocery stores without mask
CAPITOLA, Calif. (KION) Businesses have the right to refuse service to anyone not wearing a mask during a pandemic, according to Santa Cruz County.
“That means the county health department is a terrorist organization because they’re putting terror in these people over this shelter-in-place order," activist David Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez is the organizer of "Operation Grocery Store," a series of videos in which he goes inside and takes off his mask.
“To empower people to help them start asking questions,” Rodriguez said.
He filmed one of the videos last week at the New Leaf Community Market in Capitola. Despite the numbers, he believes Californians are not living under a pandemic right now. He argued that there's no need for the mask requirement by Santa Cruz County in these establishments.
But, at the moment, people's health is placed above anyone's disbelief. The county said stores have the right to deny service to anyone not wearing a mask, even if they have a medical reason for not wearing one.
"Business owners can do whatever they want, and we respect that," Rodriguez said. "But we think it’s gone a little too far."
Attorneys agreed that it's within a business's right to refuse service, as long as it's for a good reason.
“If somebody is exhibiting improper conduct that is contrary to public health, welfare, or morals,” attorney Paul Rovella said.
New Leaf said that it's just trying to protect people by enforcing the guidelines in its stores.
However, refusing to wear a mask is not a criminal act in itself. The problem comes if the person without a mask causes a disruption in the business.
“California actually has a criminal code—penal code section—that considers that actually a crime,” Rovella said.
But Rodriguez said that wasn't his intention.
“I apologize if it appeared that way, but most of was peaceful,” Rodriguez said.
Rodriguez said he was recently arrested, but not for his demonstrations inside grocery stores. He said it happened after he was protesting with a bonfire on the beach.
