Lake County Republicans Host "Without Masks" Fundraiser

Deerfield, IL -- In the wake of Republican National Committee Chairperson Ronna McDaniel's positive test for coronavirus, Illinois' Tenth Congressional District Democrats (Tenth Dems) is urging caution after McDaniel recently headlined a large, unmasked fundraiser in Lake Forest, Illinois.

Video of the large, September 18th gathering was posted the next day by Lake County Republicans on "the official Facebook page for the Lake County IL Republican Central Committee." It can be viewed on Tenth Dems' Facebook page, where it was saved in case Republicans removed the video.

The video literally contains a self-described "trigger warning" stating, "Some viewers may be offended or even outraged by people laughing, smiling and having a good time. And who support the great President Trump! Without fear and without masks!"

Held at a large estate decorated with Trump-Pence yard signs, the GOP fundraiser featured Republican candidates and officeholders, the RNC Finance Chairperson, and RNC Chairperson (Ronna McDaniel).

The RNC Chairpersons addressed the audience, which Lake County Republicans bragged was "standing room only," indoors and unmasked. Lake County Republican Organization Chairperson and Illinois Republican Party Co-Chairperson Mark Shaw stood beside McDaniel.

Moving outside, the large, closely-packed, unmasked crowd heard the RNC Chairperson McDaniel speak "about President Trump's re-election campaign." Shaw, according to the video, "recognized candidates and office-holders" at the event.

The unmasked Republican crowd, the video boasts, "chanted, 'FOUR MORE YEARS! FOUR MORE YEARS!'" According to CDC guidelines, people should "[a]void singing, chanting, or shouting, especially when not wearing a mask and within 6 feet of each other."

Local Democrats urge Lake County Republican leaders to be responsible and take COVID-19 seriously, not just for their own well-being but for the health and safety of everyone in Lake County, especially those who did not choose to participate in their super-spreader event. Wearing masks and social distancing should be encouraged, not mocked by those who call themselves leaders. With over 208,000 dead across the country, COVID-19 has been devastating, and Lake County Republicans should not brazenly make the situation worse for the people of Lake County.

Tenth Dems is an all-volunteer, grassroots group that works to support and elect Democrats at all levels of government in and around Illinois' 10th Congressional District.