FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 9, 2020
Contact: Austin Bailey
(501) 944-4939
[email protected]

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas voters have the power to hold leaders accountable for their failure COVID-19 response. That’s the message of a new video released today.

“The goal of the video is twofold,” For AR People spokesperson Austin Bailey said. “We’re putting negligent lawmakers on notice. More importantly, we’re reminding voters that they have far more power than they might think to fix this mess.”

While a handful of elected officials rose to the challenge from the beginning of this pandemic crisis, many pushed back against efforts to protect constituent lives and livelihoods. For example, instead of rallying behind a mask mandate to protect their families and neighbors, extremist lawmakers like Bob Ballinger and Trent Garner used COVID as a political football. They encouraged constituents to ditch masks in the name of personal liberty.

Now, a posse of anti-science, anti-life lawmakers is suing the state in a reckless attempt to dissolve the governor’s much-needed statewide emergency declaration. Instead of working to protect constituents, these lawmakers are putting Arkansans in grave danger by trying to erase mandates for masks, social distancing and other public health safeguards.

Arkansans are dying senselessly. We deserve lawmakers who fight for us, not against us. On November 3, Arkansas voters have the power to hold failed leaders accountable.

About For AR People:

Arkansas’s state motto is “The People Rule.” But for too long, many of our state politicians have been operating in the shadows, prioritizing interests of the wealthy and powerful over interests of the people. They put partisanship and deep-pocket campaign donors ahead of us, the voters.

For AR People is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that advances a responsible democracy in Arkansas by educating the public about issues that impact our daily lives and holding politicians accountable. We provide opportunities for Arkansans to speak up for their values, like transparency and accountability, in state government and build a stronger state that works for everyone.