WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — Protesters who oppose a city ordinance requiring that masks be worn in public to prevent the spread of the coronavirus gathered outside Wichita Mayor Brandon Whipple’s home Saturday.
The Wichita City Council voted 4-3 Friday in a special meeting called by Whipple to require masks in public. The Sedgwick County Commission had voted Thursday to opt out of a statewide mask mandate from Gov. Laura Kelly, which the law allows them to do.
The Wichita Eagle reports the ordinance requires people to wear masks in public places where 6-foot social distancing is not possible.
The roughly eight protesters didn’t wear masks and didn’t meet the 6-feet social distancing guideline, which means they could have been fined $25.
Three Wichita officers stood near the protesters.
“… At this time we are choosing education over enforcement. Especially because it is a new ordinance,” Sgt. Brian Mock said.
Others around Wichita on Saturday weren’t wearing masks, either.
At a Kwik Shop near Whipple’s home, two of 12 people wore masks. One of two employees wore a mask.
The one who did said she couldn’t force customers to wear masks and the employee not wearing a mask was her boss.
