JACKSON, Miss. (AP) – Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves said Monday that the state still faces danger from the coronavirus pandemic, and people should not harass or make fun of those who follow public health recommendations to wear masks in public.
During a news conference, a Columbus reporter asked about “mask shaming.” Joey Barnes of WCBI-TV said he had his face covered while shopping at Walmart and a man looked him in the eye and coughed three short times.
“It’s wrong,” Reeves said. “If people want to wear a mask into a Walmart or into a restaurant or into any other business – not only should they be allowed to do so; in many instances, they ought to be credited for doing so. … Everyone out there that is choosing to wear a mask is actually doing something good for their fellow Mississippians.”
Thousands of people in Jackson and hundreds more people in several other Mississippi cities took part in demonstrations Saturday to protest police violence against African Americans. Masks were prevalent among protesters.
Reeves said Monday that he supports the right to protest and he was pleased the Mississippi events were peaceful. But, he said he’s concerned that protesters who stood close to each other could unintentionally spread the virus later to people who are medically vulnerable.