Protesters line Whiskey Road in Aiken to denounce COVID-19 vaccine mandates

Colin Demarest, Aiken Standard, S.C.
·1 min read

Sep. 18—More than 100 people assembled in front of the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center on Whiskey Road in Aiken on Saturday, waving placards and American flags in protest of COVID-19 vaccine mandates.

The large demonstration was organized by the Aiken Citizens for Freedom, which put together a similar, but smaller, demonstration near a Savannah River Site barricade on Monday. The grassroots group bills itself as a champion for individual rights, liberty and personal choice.

Several people approached by the Aiken Standard on Saturday did not want to speak about their reasons for protesting. The demonstration earlier this week, in New Ellenton, focused on vaccine rules at the Savannah River Site, a Department of Energy complex, as well as President Joe Biden's demand that companies with more than 100 employees require vaccination or regular testing.

Protesters on Saturday were both heckled and cheered. A few passersby shouted at those along the road — "Get the shot!" — while noticeably more provided support with horn honks and pumped fists.

The Aiken Department of Public Safety was present and kept an eye on things.

The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective; serious complications are rare, and long-term side effects are extremely unlikely, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

More than 380 million doses were administered in the U.S. between Dec. 14, 2020, and Sept. 13, 2021.