Three People Arrested At Psalm Sing, Multiple Others Cited

This is a developing story. Updates coming.

Moscow, Idaho–At a psalm-sing doubling as a mask-mandate protest, three people were arrested and five people received citations. 

There were about 200 people there including families with children. 

Gabriel Rench, Rachel Bohnet, and Sean Bohnet were arrested in front of City Hall, apparently due to violating the city’s recently extended mask mandate. The Bohnets supposedly refused to show their ID to the police when asked.

Jesse Broussard also received a citation.

Broussard said, “We are here because we are frankly fed up with wearing masks. With 400 cases and zero hospitalizations, this is not an emergency. The flu is worse than this every single year. Now it is ‘Okay what’s next?’ Forced vaccinations? We are not giving in. So we hear mandatory masks and it is a good time to stand up.”

Broussard complained that the Moscow Police Department were not being consistent because only a few people were arrested or cited out of the whole group.

Prior to the psalm sing, the City of Moscow spray painted spots on the pavement to guide social distancing. For the most part, the attendees ignored the spots and did not wear masks. 

Sharron Shannon who attended the event was shocked by the police’s behavior. “You guys have been doing a fantastic job. I have lived here for six and a half years and I have never lived in so much peace. You know you want to raise your kids here.”

She said that one time “the police stopped by my house, gave me a hug, a cool police coin that was made this year, [and] a mug that said MPD; it was so cool and we loved them.” 

Shannon continued, “But now the same guy is standing out here writing my friend citations and taking people away for what? Not social distancing? Seriously? That is not an actual crime! It is a petty mandate. It is a lot to process. I can’t believe it.”

Before the psalm sing, Pastor Douglas Wilson of Christ Church gave a warning that the police may give citations to anyone who does not practice social distancing. The psalm sing was organized by Christ Church.

There were roughly 10 MPD officers who stood in front of the event. Most of the attendees left after the last song. However, a few attendees lingered and verbally engaged with the police. 

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