A time Growing Pains Kirk Cameron hosted yet another Christmas protest with singers without a mask nearby. Local news reports the number of participants at around 100. The event was held in the parking lot at The Oaks Mall in Thousand Oaks. It is the third event of its kind Fireproof actor performed this December.
Meanwhile, Covid-19 is hitting Ventura County – where the mall is located – with force. The county recently reported the highest number of new daily Covid-19 infections ever, and the test’s positive rate on Tuesday was 12.6%, which is higher than in the adjacent county of LA.
There are 737 new cases of COVID-19. Unfortunately, there were 6 additional deaths: a 68-year-old woman, a 96-year-old woman, a 63-year-old woman, a 86-year-old man, a 96-year-old woman and a 95-year-old woman with comorbidities. 4,317 new tests performed. Current hospitalizations: 326 and current ICUs: 67. pic.twitter.com/k4uqilvznf
– Ventura County (@CountyVentura) December 23, 2020
Cameron promoted each event on social media as part of a movement called Sing It Louder USA, which claims to be “Singing Christmas carols in communities across the US … in response to government tyrants telling us how to celebrate Christmas”.
The Oaks posted a statement calling the event “irresponsible, but constitutionally protected” and said it asked protesters not to meet in their parking lot.
We do not tolerate this irresponsible – although constitutionally protected – planned peaceful protest event. We share your concern and notify the sheriff’s office. In addition, we contacted the event planner to ask them not to use The Oaks as a location.
– The Oaks (@ShopTheOaks) December 23, 2020
Many online commentators on the posts pointed out that the mall could have ended the protest.
“To be clear,” wrote one person on Twitter, “there is no constitutional right to protest PRIVATE PROPERTIES. You can kick them out if you want. Threatening public health is a 100% valid reason to protect your employees and customers who wear masks. “
The deadline came to The Oaks’ owner, Macerich Properties, to get a reaction to those comments, but got no response.