Fear should never destroy our courage to stand against a government that threatens our freedom and allows tyranny to flourish. Our constitutional rights have been set aside without clear and defensible reasons for doing so by state and local governments, caused by a virus that has so far taken only 175 lives in San Diego County, just eight of whom had no underlying medical conditions.

The risk of being infected with the novel coronavirus and the disease it causes, COVID-19, is certainly a concern, but more concerning is the overreach by Gov. Gavin Newsom, and the heavy-handed and arbitrary restrictions on businesses, public spaces and personal protections.

We have been bombarded with dizzying daily virus updates and given worst-case scenarios, then seen coverage that explained, contradicted or challenged what we were told were the most recent facts. We have been urged to shelter in place to slow the spread of the coronavirus, with initial projections of it killing up to 1.7 million Americans, and we did.

But even with cases remaining stable, local officials became reckless with their newly discovered power and continued to pursue even more unreasonable restrictions. In Encinitas, Mayor Catherine Blakespear defended the ticketing of sunset watchers and closing trails, parks and beaches as ways to save lives and to keep us safe, and claimed these activities are dangerous to others nearby.

The irony of it all was that residents were forced to walk or jog where no sidewalks existed, along busy roads, risking getting hit by a vehicle. At the same time, doctors and scientists told us that sunshine, exercise and fresh air were necessary to strengthen the immune system and to help fight illness.

As punitive actions grew in harshness for noncompliance, I witnessed the detrimental effects on friends and local businesses and was convinced as were many others that peaceful rallies were not only justified but necessary. Arrangements were made and what I assumed would be just a small group of frustrated residents quickly grew into a very large Freedom Rally at Swamis in Encinitas.

Read more about coronavirus restrictions and protests in San Diego County:

In return, I was treated like a criminal even though Im always law-abiding, hardworking and active in my church and have been named in a local magazine for my professional and personal success.

What I find most disturbing is the intolerance by neighbors for expressing my First Amendment rights. Across the state, we see county supervisors, health officials, mayors, city councils and members of law enforcement doing what the governor insisted, without regard for the Constitution or We the people.

I have been met with fear-based tactics, public shaming, virtue signaling and bullying by the same people who urge tolerance and treating each other with respect and dignity yet leave no voice for someone who disagrees with what is happening.

Living in a vacuum, surrounding ourselves with only people who mirror our views, and censoring those with dissenting opinions is a recipe for disaster, not to mention a gross act of cowardice. Mob rule might be a convenient way to exact justice when you find yourself on the right side of the outcome. But its a slippery slope, and our entire culture and Constitution were built as a platform to guard against the resulting collapse.

I was personally characterized as a selfish, shallow person, impatient to return to beach sunbathing, and angry about the inability to get my hair and nails done nothing could be further from the truth. Some of these virtue signalers even contacted former employers and my church fellowship in an attempt to destroy my livelihood and reputation.

Coping with coronavirus

The pandemic sweeping the globe has changed everyones lives, and we want to hear how its changed yours. If youd like to write an op-ed for us on a subject related to the virus, make it 700-750 words and send it to us with your name and a phone number so we can reach you.

My closest friends own salons and are hairdressers, estheticians and personal fitness trainers, and they have been the most severely impacted and the focus of the news today. They and many of the local business owners I have talked with are afraid to speak out for fear of similar retaliation by people attempting to destroy their livelihood or governmental regulatory agencies punishing their businesses.

These people have families and bills, and cant risk arrest. Its distressing to think some may not have a place to go back to work. This should spur every American into action. Join a rally and demand the reopening of our state.

Thankfully, my livelihood is not at risk, which is why I have the privilege to focus on restoring California to normalcy not the new normalcy, the old one the one that aligns with our constitutional freedoms.

Freedoms that many Americans died to preserve. As Thomas Jefferson said, When government fears the people, there is liberty. When the people fear the government, there is tyranny.

Curtis lives in Encinitas.

Read more:
Commentary: We protested the coronavirus restrictions in Encinitas. Here's why. - The San Diego Union-Tribune