There will be competing rallies at the Iowa State Capitol on Thursday as lawmakers return to Des Moines for a special legislative session.
First, at 8:30 a.m., Iowans imploring legislators to provide protection against COVID vaccine mandates will gather inside the Capitol. This event is being hosted by different activist groups, including Iowans for Informed Consent, Iowans for Freedom, Americans for Medical Freedom and Informed Choice Iowa.
Later, from 11 a.m. until noon, a group called Science for Safe Schools and the Disability Caucus Partners: CCI is planning to hold an event on the west side of the Capitol. There will be a COVID memorial flag display and attendees are encouraged to wear white to symbolize the COVID flag memorial and “infection-fighting white blood cells.”
“Let’s take back the narrative that Iowa is anti-vaxx and let our legislators know we oppose harmful legislation taking place that day like a vaccine mandate ban, attacks on voting rights and reproductive healthcare,” the event page states.
While there is an outside shot legislators will consider something to stop vaccine mandates, it is difficult to imagine where this group came up with the idea legislation would be considered to “attack” voting rights or reproductive healthcare.
