Health Freedom Idaho

Health Freedom Idaho is an anti-vaccine group that also opposes health regulations, such as mask requirements and restrictions on the operation of businesses due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2][3][4] Founded sometime shortly before October 2016, the organization describes its mission as including "preserv[ing] our freedoms in regard to the health care of our choice."[5][6] While the group's activities have mainly taken place in the Boise area, the organization has a northern chapter.[7]

Health Freedom Idaho
AbbreviationHFI
Formation2016
PurposeAnti-vaccination group
Region
Idaho
Official language
English
Executive Director
Miste Gardner-Karlfeldt
Co-director
Sarah Clendenon
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The organization has worked with the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance, the Idaho Freedom Foundation, and supporters of Ammon Bundy on protests of public health measures in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.[8][4] The group has also expressed opposition to the construction of 5G transmitters based on the belief they could harm health and has opposed changes in Idaho state laws that exempt parents from the requirement to seek emergency medical care for a child if they instead perform faith healing on the child.[9][10] The group's website includes promotion of alternative medicine.[11]

Leadership

As of 2020, the organization was headed by executive director Miste Gardner Karlfelde.[6][12] Sarah Clendenon formerly served as co-executive director, and Sarah Walton Brady previously served as an executive committee member.[13][14][4][1]

Faith healing

In 2016, Health Freedom Idaho opposed proposals to remove a "faith healing" exception from Idaho state law; under the exception, parents and guardians who invoke a belief in faith healing can refuse to seek medical treatment (including emergency medical treatment) for ill children.[10][15][16][6] Several Health Freedom Idaho members attended a meeting of the Children at Risk of Faith Healing working group to provide testimony against changing the laws under discussion.[10][15] The working group included state legislators and was formed at the request of then-governor Butch Otter to examine the Idaho laws.[16][15][6] In the five years prior to the hearing, there were several cases of children dying in such circumstances.[15] The working group ultimately opted not to submit a recommendation to the Idaho Legislature on whether or not to change the laws.[6]

Anti-vaccination activism

Heath Freedom Idaho engaged in anti-vaccination activism and has anti-vaccination materials on their website, although they have stated that they are not an anti-vaccination group.[1][2][17][18][4]

In November 2016, the group falsely claimed in a blog post that the flu shot increases risk of fetal death.[3] This post would go on to circulate widely on Instagram in 2019.[3]

During Idaho's 2017 legislative session, Health Freedom Idaho advocated a bill at the state level that would allow parents to provide a letter written by the parent to exempt their child from vaccination requirements rather than using a school-provided form to do so.[18] Some anti-vaccination activists, including Health Freedom Idaho's Sarah Walton-Brady, opposed the use of school forms that included a field for parents to acknowledge that "I am aware that my child may contract a vaccine-preventable disease."[19] The bill died without receiving a hearing in the Senate.[18] In January 2018, an Idaho Senate panel introduced a bill similar to the 2017 bill with the support of Health Freedom Idaho, which never received a hearing.[20]

In 2019, Heath Freedom Idaho opposed a new state administrative rule requiring students entering 12th grade to get a meningitis booster shot.[21] The rule was ultimately adopted.[21]

Health Freedom Idaho has organized, co-organized, and participated in several protests of health measures taken by the Idaho state government and the City of Boise in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. These have included protests of the stay-home order issued by governor Brad Little in April 2020, of mask orders issued by the City of Boise, and of emergency legislation considered by the state legislature related to mail-in voting and protection from COVID-19 related liability for businesses and government bodies.[22][4][1][23][24][25][26][8] They also organized a demonstration at a hospital in protest of the hospital's decision to require staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19.[27]

They co-organized these protests with a range of other organizations including the Idaho Freedom Foundation, the Idaho Second Amendment Alliance, Ammon Bundy and his supporters, and the John Birch Society.[4][28][29][2][22] These events featured speakers including Washington State Representative Matt Shea, Idaho State Representative Heather Scott, and Ammon Bundy.[7][30][24]

Some protests included demonstrations outside the homes of officials, such as those of governor Brad Little, the health officials participating in a Central District Health meeting, and a police officer who arrested former Health Freedom Idaho member Sarah Walton Brady for refusing to leave a park that was closed due to the pandemic.[1][31][32][33] Other locations of demonstrations included the Idaho State Capitol, outside the Boise City Hall, and a park.[2][25][23]

Some demonstrations included setting a fire in which masks were burned, and the open carrying of firearms was noted at some protests.[25][34][8][5][28][7][4]

One of the more distinctive demonstrations was a self-styled special legislative session called by Health Freedom Idaho and other organizers in opposition to the governor's response to the pandemic.[2]

Another notable protest occurred on August 24, 2020, at the Idaho State Capitol. The demonstration garnered national media attention after participants broke a glass door and entered an area of the House Gallery reserved for legislators with health concerns. Health Freedom Idaho members heckled legislators and several were arrested.[22][4] Some participants carried weapons while participating in this protest of a special legislative session to consider bills on early voting and shielding businesses and government bodies from legal liability related to COVID-19.[22][4]

Health Freedom Idaho's executive director also urged group members to participate in a protest of Biden's visit to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise on September 13, 2021, a demonstration was on behalf of several causes, including opposition to the vaccine mandate announced by President Biden the previous week.[35]

See also

References
  1. Simmons, Tommy (April 7, 2020). "Ammon Bundy, health freedom group organize events to protest stay-home order". Idaho Press. Archived from the original on March 29, 2021. Retrieved March 29, 2021.
  2. Richert, Kevin (June 22, 2020). "Little's critics organize 'special session' of Legislature. But will it even be a session?". Idaho Ed News. Archived from the original on April 2, 2021. Retrieved April 3, 2021.
  3. Funke, Daniel. "Instagram post falsely says flu shot causes fetal death". Politifact. The Poynter Institute. Archived from the original on April 17, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  4. Ames, Michael (December 21, 2020). "How Ammon Bundy Helped Foment an Anti-Masker Rebellion in Idaho". The New Yorker. Archived from the original on March 28, 2020. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  5. "Group to protest Boise mask order: 'Don't be bullied into wearing a mask!'". CBS 2 Idaho News. July 2, 2020. Archived from the original on April 5, 2020. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  6. Brown, Ruth. "Idaho panel punts on faith-healing". Idaho State Journal. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  7. Northrup, Craig (June 10, 2020). "'Something to think about'". Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls Press. Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.
  8. Boone, Rebecca (July 8, 2020). "Cases of coronavirus in Idaho spike after businesses reopen". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  9. Talerico, Kate (February 5, 2019). "Small 5G transmitters are showing up in Treasure Valley without notice. Here's why". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  10. Dentzer, Bill (October 10, 2016). "Idaho lawmakers finish faith-healing review, won't make recommendations". Idaho Statesman. Retrieved April 27, 2021.
  11. Gorski, David. "The Vaccine Guide: Cherry picked studies and deceptive highlighting in the service of anti-vaccine pseudoscience". Science-Based Medicine. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  12. Sheridan, Erin (March 15, 2021). "Ammon Bundy arrested for failure to appear at trial". Idaho Press. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  13. Parris, Joe (October 15, 2018). "CDC report shows that Idaho kindergartners have lower vaccination rates". KTVB 7. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  14. Bustillo, Ximena; Brown, Ruth (April 22, 2020). "UPDATE: Anti-vaccination Idaho activist arrested after group gathers at closed playground". East Idaho News. Idaho Statesman. Archived from the original on April 5, 2021. Retrieved April 6, 2021.
  15. Russell, Betsy Z. (October 10, 2016). "Dozens offer emotional testimony for and against Idaho's faith-healing laws". The Spokesman-Review. Archived from the original on May 5, 2021. Retrieved May 5, 2021.
  16. Brown, Ruth (October 10, 2016). "Residents remain divided on faith healing rights". Idaho Press. Archived from the original on April 21, 2021. Retrieved April 22, 2021.
  17. "Pandemic backlash drives exodus of public health leaders". PBS News Hour. December 17, 2020. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  18. Webb, Anna (September 7, 2017). "She fought West Ada over her son's vaccination exemption. Now she wants an apology". Idaho Statesman. Archived from the original on May 12, 2020. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  19. Brown, Nathan (February 24, 2017). "Health and Welfare proposes new vaccine opt-out form". MagicValley.com. Retrieved June 4, 2021.
  20. Tomtas, Justyna. "Idaho Has High Rate of Vaccination-Exempted Students". usnews.com. U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved May 27, 2021.
  21. Brown, Nathan (January 11, 2019). "By 1 vote, House panel backs new meningitis vaccine mandate". Idaho State Journal. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  22. Russel, Betsy (December 17, 2020). "Idahoans with disabilities raise legal concerns about plans for upcoming legislative session". KTVB 7. The Idaho Press. Archived from the original on March 30, 2021.
  23. King, Jake (May 2, 2020). "Protesters voice support for full reopening of economy at Saturday rally". Idaho Press. Archived from the original on April 9, 2021. Retrieved April 10, 2021.
  24. "Angry protests, baby face shields, cautious planning: News from around our 50 states". USA TODAY Network and wire reports. April 20, 2020. Archived from the original on April 18, 2021. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  25. Biefeldt, Chase (July 3, 2020). "As Boise hands out face masks for Mayor McLean's health order, protesters say it encroaches on their freedom". KTVB 7. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved April 21, 2021.
  26. CBS2 News Staff. "Health Freedom Idaho protests Boise's mandatory mask order". 2 Idaho News. Archived from the original on August 15, 2021. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  27. Coronado, Ricardo (July 20, 2021). "Protest held in Meridian over COVID-19 vaccine requirement at local health systems". Idaho News 6. Archived from the original on September 25, 2021. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
  28. Bustillo, Ximena (April 17, 2020). "Hundreds rally at Idaho Capitol to protest Gov. Little's stay-home order". Idaho Statesman. East Idaho News. Archived from the original on April 4, 2021. Retrieved March 4, 2021.
  29. Sewell, Cynthia (April 16, 2020). "Conservative groups plan to violate stay-home order with Friday protest at Idaho Capitol". Idaho Statesman. Archived from the original on April 17, 2020. Retrieved April 5, 2021.
  30. Fay, Trevor (June 25, 2020). "Health Freedom Idaho on COVID-19: 'individuals should have the right to choose'". 2 Idaho News. Archived from the original on March 22, 2021. Retrieved March 22, 2021.
  31. Gostanian, Ali (December 9, 2020). "Idaho health board ends meeting after protests outside site, members' homes". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  32. Boone, Rebecca (December 8, 2020). "Idaho health board meeting halted after 'intense protests'". ABC News. Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 28, 2021. Retrieved March 28, 2021.
  33. Walters, Daniel; Criscione, Wilson (May 7, 2020). "While Washington state forges alliances, Idaho battles the coronavirus its own way". Inlander. Archived from the original on April 7, 2021. Retrieved April 8, 2021.
  34. Carmel, Margaret (July 8, 2020). "Criticism of Boise Mayor McLean from Treasure Valley conservatives mounts". KTVB 7. Idaho Press. Archived from the original on March 31, 2021. Retrieved April 1, 2021.
  35. Ridler, Keith; Boone, Rebecca (September 13, 2021). "About 1,000 protest President Joe Biden's visit to Idaho". AP News. AP. Retrieved September 25, 2021.
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