Texas Governor Greg Abbott rescinded the state’s mask mandate on Tuesday and allowed businesses to reopen at 100 percent capacity. Naturally, leftists over on Twitter - including many prominent ones - were quick to accuse the Republican leader of "racism," xenophobia, and outright murder.
This endangers the entire country and beyond. We are in a pandemic. We know that COVID spread isn’t neatly contained by state borders, and explosions in COVID cases can increase the likelihood of new COVID variants to develop or spread to new places. It’s dangerous.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) March 2, 2021
This is bat shit crazy @govabbott and you know it. As if you didn’t already have enough blood on your hands. SMFH. https://t.co/8cldcYfT2Y
— Bun B (@BunBTrillOG) March 2, 2021
It is the idiotic Governor Greg Abbott who is exposing Texans to COVID by lifting the mask mandate -- not President Biden.
— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) March 4, 2021
You're in WAY over your head.
You need to resign, @GregAbbott_TX. https://t.co/w6fsWEIsXm
I’m so angry ! I live in Texas. Our hospitals are slammed . Only California has more Covid cases than Texas . Removing the mask mandate And opening Texas now is premeditated murder . God save is all.
— Sean Turner💛 Wear a mask! (@allareblessed) March 3, 2021
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich blasts Texas Gov. Abbott for rescinding the state's mask mandate and rolling back other Covid-19 restrictions, calling the decision "mystifying," "ridiculous" and "ignorant." https://t.co/96YxgitwFB
— NBC News (@NBCNews) March 4, 2021
He didn’t even wait. He opened Texas, ended the mask mandate, and blamed Latino immigrants all at once. Guess he wanted to save time and skedaddle before anyone could start asking tough questions.
— Arlina Aquino (@AquinoArlina) March 4, 2021
Yesterday @GregAbbott_TX announced ending Texas’ statewide mask mandate. If you really cared about protecting Americans and Texans from COVID, you’d reinstate the CDC-recommended mandates.
— David Gray (@_dagray) March 3, 2021
Living in Texas now that Governor Abbott has rescinded the mask mandate and allowed businesses to open to 100% capacity, I fear that the Texas GOP is trying to kill those of us who aren't vaccinated yet (and won't be vaccinated for weeks or months).
— BlissInTexas (@BlissInTexas) March 3, 2021
I dread this COVID-19 Summer.
Related: FINALLY: Texas Gov. Abbott Rescinds Statewide Mask Mandate, Says Businesses Can Fully Reopen
The mask mandate being lifted, the power grid being shut off — all of these DECISIONS will disproportionately hurt and kill Black & Brown people, poor people, disabled people and the elderly. When you mock "Texas" as an abstraction, remember the marginalized human lives here.
— ॐ Anna Rajagopal // אלונה ✡︎ (@annarajagopal_) March 3, 2021
Rewritten for accuracy:
— Jenny dissents (@StilettoKitten) March 5, 2021
"I just announced Texas is OPEN 100% to killing it's constituents
EVERYONE
I also ended the statewide mask mandate to ensure this happens"#TexasMaskMandate #Texas https://t.co/uQHtbFXtka
In response to the removal of the mask mandate in Texas, I’m going to double down by cutting off my head.
— Christopher Breakell (@breakellgarbage) March 3, 2021
Target & Best Buy, HQ'd here in Minneapolis/St Paul are saying their stores will enforce a mask mandate in Texas. A lot more courageous than their weak Governor.
— Mike - mask it up 😷😘🇺🇲🆒️🥃 (@Mike_Olmstead) March 5, 2021
#AbbottFailedTexasAgain #AbbottResign The right word is Neanderthal for Abbott stupidity in dismissing Texas 😷Mandate. Ok, you want to open business - I get that. BUT why stop 🛑 Mask safety. Not a big deal to require masks in public. pic.twitter.com/5GoGjFgtYk
— Elle Law (@ElleLaw4) March 4, 2021
While only time will tell whether Texas lifting its mask mandates will result in a spike in COVID cases, it's worth pointing out that many other states - including Florida and South Dakota - have come under fire for not shutting down their economies and forcing people to abide by draconian restrictions, only to wind up faring better than Democrat-led states like California, whose COVID death rate has ranked among the highest in the nation despite harsh shutdowns.