MANSFIELD — A small group gathered at Central Park in Downtown Mansfield on Tuesday to show support for a bill seeking to ban mandatory vaccinations of all types.
“I am 100% against mandates on the vaccinations,” said Pamela Beeman, of Bellville, a retired nurse. “I think that we need to have choice over if we take it or if we don’t.”
Beeman, 71, joined around 25 others who rallied on the square from 3 to 7 p.m. to show support for House Bill 248, also known as the Vaccine Choice and Anti-Discrimination Act.
The bill bans employers, public officials, schools and other public agencies from mandating all vaccines, not just those for COVID-19. It also allows people to file civil claims for “discriminatory treatment,” or violations of the law.
The demonstration’s organizer, Sarah Hellman, 33, of Mansfield, said she wanted to raise awareness around HB 248.
She hopes to draw people from all over north central Ohio to Columbus on Aug. 24, when the Legislature plans a hearing on the bill that has been in the House Health Committee since April.
“You should be allowed to do what you want with your body, especially with medical procedures,” Hellman said.
Participants on Tuesday included medical professionals, concerned parents and “people who support freedom of choice.” Many held signs that read “Stand Up For Medical Freedom,” “Honk for Medical Freedom,” “Say ‘No’ to Forced Experimentation” and “Where there is risk, there must be choice.”
Ted Stone, of Ontario, said he was there to stand up against the potential of employers requiring employees to get a vaccine.
“I’m not fond of that,” Stone said as cars and trucks honked to show support. “We just want to make our own choices.”
Hellman agreed.
“I support people who get the vaccine, I support people who don’t get the vaccine,” Hellman said. “I support the ability to choose based off of the scientific data that exists and, the fact of the matter is, there’s just not enough scientific data for me, personally, to make me feel safe about the product.
“But if people want to do that, then they can go right ahead and feel safe doing that.”
Many driving by the demonstration honked in support.
Democratic Ranking Member Allison Russo, D-Upper Arlington, has expressed concerns about the bill. Russo works as a public health policy consultant and has a background in epidemiology.
“Large-scale policy that is made in Columbus that doesn’t take into account decisions by individual companies or what’s happening in local communities is never a good idea,” she said in a recent article.
Gov. Mike DeWine expressed opposition to the bill in June.
Rep. Marilyn John, R-Shelby, was not immediately available to comment.
