SE North Carolina News

In New Hanover County, strict COVID-19 shutdown rules caused a grassroots citizen uprising that resulted in local leaders reversing some of their restrictions.

A week before Easter, county leaders restricted access to local beaches, the sale of non-essential items like clothes or vehicles, and boating access, which meant fisherman could not fish, according to the Civitas Institute:

The fishing restriction is pertinent because the right to fish was added to the state constitution in 2018, so cutting off access to fishing through closing the boat ramps and marinas was seen by many as an infringement of their constitutional rights, according to the Civitas Institute.

John Buechele, a local boater told the Civitas Institute, "To take away somebody’s ability to go fishing, to take their family out on the boat, people who are already together, I think is appalling."

In compliance with the county's stay-at-home restrictions, local stores would only sell items deemed, "essential for health, sustenance, shelter, mobility, & hygiene," according to the Civitas Institute and that only contributed to additional frustrations amongst the community.

Wilmington Councilman Clifford Barnett Sr. told the Civitas Institute, “I’ve gotten a number of calls from people who have tried to buy let’s say hospital uniforms. That’s in the clothing department, but it’s an essential.”

The tipping point was around Easter when Wilmington Police forbade drive-in church services for the holiday, according to the Civitas Institute.

Rev. Dante Murphy told the Civitas Institute, "We’re not talking about putting 500 people inside of the church here, we’re talking about a parking lot worship service where people will stay in their cars."

Coastal Legal Counsel, a law firm in Wilmington, challenged the ban on Easter church services, saying it violated the First, Fourth and Fourteenth amendments of the United States Constitution, according to the Civitas Institute and on April 9, the Wilmington Police reversed course and alerted local churches Easter services could go on as planned, but by that time, the flood gates were already open.

Elected officials were inundated with complaints from an online grassroots group called #ReopenNC. 

Complaints from church members, business owners, boaters, and shoppers, led to boat ramps and marinas being reopened and local residents were once again able to purchase goods deemed non-essential, according to the Civitas Institute.