During a Wednesday, April 15 press conference, Colorado Governor Jared Polis was asked about criticism of his ‘stay at home’ orders by frustrated politicians and residents.
“We’re hearing a lot of reports around here,” a reporter said during the press conference. “And I’ve seen some stuff going on statewide, about neighbors reporting on other neighbors for not following the orders. I’m seeing a lot of rebellion out here against your orders, which have been called tyrannical — against local health department orders, being equated to Nazism.
“How do you react to that? What do you say to those people who are clearly getting frustrated with this ‘Stay at Home’ order”?
The Governor struggled to maintain his composure:
“Well, first of all, as a Jewish American who lost family in the Holocaust, I’m offended by any comparison to Nazism. We act… we act to save lives — the exact opposite of the slaughter of 6 million Jews and many Gypsies and Catholics, gays and lesbians and Russians and so many others.
“That being said, we know that these steps are difficult. It’s not a contest to see what you can get away with. It’s a contest to see how well you can stay at home.
“By not staying at home, by having parties, by congregating, you’re not sticking it to the government. You’re not sticking it to Jared Polis. You’re sticking it to yourself, because you’re putting yourself and your loved ones in jeopardy, and you’re prolonging the economic pain and difficulties that your fellow Coloradans face.
“Now’s a time for us to act with unity, to act together, to be able to do the best we can to stay at home except when absolutely necessary, so that we can open up sooner rather than later, so that we can have more freedom quicker rather than later, and that we can create a sustainable way for us to get by, as a state and as a country…”