COLUMBUS, Ohio — A small group of protesters took to the neighborhood in Bexley, Ohio where Ohio Department of Health Director Dr. Amy Acton lives Saturday evening, upset over the Stay Safe Ohio order and some businesses remaining closed.
KRForbesPhotography, a freelance photographer, captured images of the protesters holding signs, one of which read “Dr. Amy Over-Re-Acton Hairstylists Are Essential” and another that read “Let Freedom Work.”
Neighbors told KRForbesPhotography that they had seen “several men walking up and down the street with assault weapons stating that there will be no violence. ‘For now,’” according to the freelance photographer.
A small group of protestors have gathered in front of the central Ohio home of Dr Amy Acton. Neighbors report several men walking up and down the street with assault weapons stating that there will be no violence. “For now”
— KRForbesPhotography (@KRForbesPhoto) May 2, 2020
#ohio #amyacton #thisisamerica #asseenincbus pic.twitter.com/xC3HT0oVi6
Two Bexley police officers were on the scene observing the protest, which they said took place on the public sidewalk and didn’t last long, according to the Bexley Police Department.
Police said the 15 to 20 protesters did not participate in disruptive or criminal activity and no action by law enforcement was necessary.
Just several hours after the protest in Acton’s neighborhood, another gathering was held, this one in support of her.
Physicians from the Physicians Action Network stood outside of the Statehouse in Columbus in support of Acton and other health care workers Sunday afternoon.
Some of the signs read “Doctors stand w/ Dr. Acton #FlattenedCurve #ThankYou,” “I stand with Dr. Acton,” and “Dr. Acton we have your back.”
Happening now at the #ohiostatehouse , physicians from Physicians Action Network in support of #DrAmyActon #thisisamerica pic.twitter.com/0tpCNRu1gF
— KRForbesPhotography (@KRForbesPhoto) May 3, 2020
The Physicians Action Network, formed in 2016, is a group of health professionals across Ohio who “want to take a coordinated stand in support of progressive groups and causes.”
Acton, alongside Gov. Mike DeWine and Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, issued the "Stay Safe Ohio" order Thursday night to replace the state's expiring "Stay at Home" order.
Under the new order, the first wave of business reopenings were approved to begin, encompassing elective health care, general offices, manufactures, distributors, construction, service and retail.
Businesses not included in the first wave of openings include schools, restaurants and bars, personal appearance and beauty businesses, adult day support and vocational habilitation services, older adult day care services and senior centers, child car centers, entertainment, recreation, and gymnasiums.
DeWine said that groups are being assembled to help guide the state on best practices that will allow them to plan the reopening of the businesses left out of the first wave.
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