Politics - News Analysis

Texas Bar Owner Upset Over Renewed Restrictions Organizes ‘Bar Lives Matter’ Protest

Texas Governor Greg Abbott (R) has finally decided to do something sensible to hopefully stop the state’s escalating COVID-19 cases and issued an executive order late last month that prohibits bars and other drinking establishments from remaining open.

As you might expect, that’s not sitting well with many bar owners, who took time out of their busy schedule of being obtuse and immune to common sense by appropriating language from the Black Lives Matter movement and holding a “Bar Lives Matter” protest outside the Texas capital Tuesday. Where they (of course) told bar owners to break the law and reopen their establishments.

Frankly, it’s highly offensive to equate bar closures with the murder of unarmed Black people by cops. People can still drink in their own homes if they feel they have to but this country is in a real crisis over race issues and co-opting this phrase for something that’s not essential is insulting to those who have lost their lives due to racism.

But obviously these Texas bar owners see it differently and the protest even had it’s own Facebook page. The post appearing on that page was topped by a warning from the social media giant requesting that people maintain social distancing and wear masks. The organizers contended that bars are being blamed for the state’s rise in newly confirmed coronavirus cases, Newsweek reports.

“No other businesses are being shut down,” reads the Facebook post. “It’s wrong and affecting the livelihood of hundreds of thousands across the state. From owners to bartenders, waitresses, entertainers… we will all take the hit. It’s up to us to take a stand and let our voices be heard as loud as the people that caused the numbers to go up.”

It’s perfectly understandable that people who work in this industry are struggling. Many have no recourse but to go back to work as this pandemic wears on, thanks to President Donald Trump’s shoddy response to the disease, which has now killed 129,000 Americans, with 167,000 confirmed cases in Texas, resulting in 2,482 deaths. This is what all of us are up against but some people are really being particularly bone-headed about this.

Like Tee Allen Parker, who owns the Machine Shed Bar & Grill, in Kilgore, Texas. He also hosted a protest prior to Tuesday’s event and forbids patrons from wearing masks at his bar. He’s also one of 21 people suing Abbott for allegedly bypassing lawmakers with his executive order demanding that bars shut down.

In issuing his order requiring bars to shut down Friday, Abbott noted:

“As I said from the start if the positivity rate rose above 10 percent, the state of Texas would take further action to mitigate the spread of COVID-19. At this time, it is clear that the rise in cases is largely driven by certain types of activities, including Texans congregating in bars.”

Bars that reopen in defiance of Abbott’s order may face losing their business and liquor licenses. That’s what happened to two bars in Houston — Prospect Park and Bokeeter’s Cocktail Bar. Their licenses have been suspended for 30 days.

meet the author

Megan has lived in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Florida and she currently lives in Central America. Living in these places has informed her writing on politics, science, and history. She is currently owned by 15 cats and 3 dogs and regularly owns Trump supporters when she has the opportunity. She can be found on Twitter at https://twitter.com/GaiaLibra and Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/politicalsaurus

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