Anti-mask or anti-mandate protestors see themselves as 'civil rights activists', but the more accurate comparison is to smokers' rights activists: they're fighting for the entitlement not to be inconvenienced by other people's health concerns.
Smokers' Rights Activists were all bankrolled by Big Tobacco, groups like National Smoker's Alliance (NSA) formed in 1993, one of the earliest examples of "astroturfing".
Much of the wording and arguments against public health are the same.
The difference between these "anti-public health" movements and genuine struggle for civil rights is the inherent selfishness, focusing on actions rather than identities & the meaning of "liberty".
1. Inherent selfishness:
The focus of the anti-mandate, anti-public health crowd is on personal benefit. This iconic image really captures the attitude.
Civil rights was about equality for all. Anti-mandate is about 'liberty' for low-risk at expense of everyone else.
2. Focus on actions rather than identity:
I don't need to explain that being Black is not like a having to wear a mask to enter a business. There's no identity politics other than those of their own making.
3. The meaning of liberty:
"Liberty" to the anti-mandate crowd means "you can't tell me what to do." The definition used in civil rights is "My choices are unimpeded by my identity".
I don't have the liberty to smoke in a kindergarten class.
Share this Scrolly Tale with your friends.
A Scrolly Tale is a new way to read Twitter threads with a more visually immersive experience.
Discover more beautiful Scrolly Tales like this.