Woman shouts at city residents through a megaphone from her SUV. (Photo from Sarah Bullock/Cortland Voice).
An apparent activist protesting against wearing masks, taking other health precautions and the Black Lives Matter shouted through a megaphone from her SUV as she made loops this afternoon around downtown.
The woman shouted to pedestrians and restaurant customers between 1:30 p.m. and 2: 15 p.m., stating: “You have no bodily autonomy,” “wear your masks,” “get your vaccine,” and “Don’t stand up for your rights.”
The protester is also accused of yelling anti-Black Lives Matter rhetoric in other parts of the city, said Lt. David Guerrera of the Cortland Police Department.
As she shouted, a man drove her blue SUV around downtown, making at least two loops.
Guerrera urged citizens to stay calm if they encounter her and to call the police.
“Don’t get upset,” he said. “Don’t take actions into your own hands.”
Officers were looking for the woman this afternoon and planned to advise her not to continue shouting at city citizens, Guerrera said.
“If need be, she will be ticketed,” he said, noting she is violating a city noise ordinance by using an amplifying device without a permit.
The woman’s actions surprised and frightened four local women enjoying coffee on Bru 64’s patio this afternoon.
“It almost felt like The Purge,” said Emily Tracy, referring to the dystopian film franchise in which murders and other crimes are legal for 12 hours. The woman’s megaphone and the stares of everyone nearby reminded Tracy of the horror films, Tracy said.
Hannah Polanko-Baker, who was sitting with Tracy, agreed the actions were frightening.
“Especially with everything going on,” she said, referring to recent controversies over the postponed Back the Blue mural and the damaged Black Lives Matter mural at the intersection.
But if the woman behind the megaphone was trying to change their minds about wearing masks, social distancing and getting vaccinations, her actions had the opposite effect. The women at the coffee shop said they are only more galvanized to follow the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s suggestions.
“If anything, she made it more clear,” Tracy said, referring to the necessity of taking COVID-19 precautions.
All four wondered aloud about who has the time and gas money to drive around the city yelling through a megaphone out of their van windows.
“Who has the time to go around shouting out their window?” asked Mary Fluger.
“It’s a waste of gas,” said Tracy.
