Bucks Countians Gather To Call For Reopening

About 150 to 200 people gathered outside the Bucks County Administration Building in Doylestown Borough with a simple message: Reopen Bucks County.

The group – some wearing face masks and keeping social distance while others discarded medical advice by shaking hands, not wearing masks, and crowding close to one another – made their message clear to the Bucks County Commissioners and hoped Gov. Tom Wolf would see their pleas on Wednesday.

The protest was a mixed crowd of those who largely were focused having state leaders ease COVID-19 mitigation measures to reopen businesses, those who disagreed with the steps taken during the pandemic, and those who wished to turn the event into a impromptu re-election rally for President Donald Trump.

Quakertown resident Josh Hogan told LevittownNow.com he and a few others were inspired to start the Reopen Bucks County group after seeing a similar one in Philadelphia. Within days, the Facebook page grew and drew support from more than 3,400 members.

“We want to support the local business owners and employees,” Hogan said.

Morgan Dean, an organizer from Peraskie, said the group wants to see restrictions eased and was frustrated with actions taken by state officials.

Middletown resident and former Bucks County Commissioner Andy Warren, a Republican, came out to the event to show support for current commissioners Diane Ellis-Marseglia, Bob Harvie, and Gene DiGirolamo for pressuring the governor to give the county a reopening date.

“It’s not about Republican or Democrat on this issue,” said Warren, a Republican, adding the commissioners – two Democrats and a Republican – should recognized for working to reopen.

“They deserve credit for what they did,” Warren said of the commissioners request.

One woman, who didn’t give her name, said she was upset about the COVID-19 mitigation measures and alleged crimes she read about online were committed by Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who is advising the government and the Trump administration. She also stated she believed the discredited “Plandemic” viral video.

Some of those in attendance said the governor had exerted too much power and had political motivations to tank the economy.

One sign held high read “flatten the curve, not the economy.”

Wendy, a Doylestown resident who did not wish to have her last name published, said she just wanted things to reopen for everyone’s sake.

For Upper Southampton hair salon owner Lisa Clemmer, her trip to Doylestown for the rally was less about politics and more about urging government officials to begin lifting restrictions so her business and staff could resume work.

“We’re frustrated because we want to get back to work,” she said.

Wrightstown salon owner Elizabeth Chellew came with Clemmer and explained the pandemic-related closure was understandable but they are ready to reopen and follow steps to keep customers and staff safe.

Toward the end of the event that garnered both supportive and angry honks from passing vehicles, the crowd chanted a their message: “We want to work!”