A nurse in Phoenix, Arizona, has been hailed a hero after images and footage went viral of her refusing to back down from hundreds of protesters calling for the state to lift its lockdown amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The incident took place on Monday, where a rally was planned outside the state Capitol. Lauren Leander, who cares for patients who have contracted the virus, decided to take a stand against protesters. By Tuesday her phone had "exploded" with messages from friends, family and healthcare workers from across the country praising her efforts after photos of her in scrubs and a mask staring down protesters spread across the nation, AZCentral.com reported.
It was not easy for Leander to stand there with just one other nurse, dressed in scrubs, wearing an N95 mask and stare down the rallygoers who shouted insults and worse at her, but she had a point to prove.
"If there was an explosion of this virus, we would not be OK," she said. “We would not have what we need anymore.”
What Leander did not anticipate was the slew of insults hurled her way. She was accused of being an actor, or a nurse who performed abortions. Or someone who worked in dentistry.
"It was absolutely just an invitation for people to throw whatever accusation or comments they had at us," Leander said. "For the first probably hour, I definitely had a burning desire to say something. I wanted to say so many things to every insult I heard. But that was not why I was there. That was not the statement I was trying to make. I feel fortunate I was able to say so much without saying anything at all."
Television cameras and photographers captured footage of the standoff, which went viral hours later. After the protest, Leander recalled laying down for "a long nap." She awoke to find herself splashed across newspapers and TV screens. She was a hero. However, there were some who still believed her stint was a farce.
Among her critics was Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward, who on Tuesday said in a tweet that nurses like Leander who were leading counter-protests across the country were "actors."
"EVEN IF these 'spontaneously' appearing ppl at protests against govt overreach (sporting the same outfits, postures, & facial expressions) ARE involved in healthcare - when they appeared at rallies, they were actors playing parts. #Propaganda #FakeOutrage," she wrote.
The tweet ignited outrage.
"I'm going to explain this. Not to you, but to your audience. Nurses wear scrubs. The hospital issues identical sets for all the same occupation like a uniform. Nobody wants to die, gasping for air and unable to get it. Not even those protesters. Shame on you, Kelli Ward," one Twitter user replied to Ward.
"I dare you to put on their 'outfit' and play their 'part.' I dare you to walk into the rooms of desperately ill patients daily, risking your life without adequate protective gear. To hold iPads in front of dying patients so their families can say goodbye," another wrote.
A third Twitter user laid Ward's comment to rest.
"Her name is Lauren Leander and she’s spent weeks caring for COVID19 patients. She’s not an actor."
Zoe Papadakis ✉
Zoe Papadakis is a Newsmax writer based in South Africa with two decades of experience specializing in media and entertainment. She has been in the news industry as a reporter, writer and editor for newspapers, magazine and websites.
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