RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) - Dozens of Rapid City residents and business owners filed complaints against. the city council president Monday for her social media posts and supporting a website they say targets those who are opposed to a mask mandate.
Tonchi Weaver brought almost 100 complaints to the city attorney’s office accusing Laura Armstrong of “abuse of office, illegal activity and cyber bullying” related to her posts on social media sites. Weaver is asking the city council to remove Armstrong from office, the Rapid City Journal reported.
Many of the complaints refer to Armstrong’s support of a Facebook page called “Caring Businesses of Rapid City,” which Armstrong said promotes local businesses that have followed CDC guidelines during the pandemic. Others say Armstrong has posted on sites that include lists of Rapid City businesses to avoid due to mask requirements.
Armstrong said many of the complaints are “grossly misstating the facts” about the website that is meant to protect the most vulnerable members of the community.
“It’s unfortunate this public service was misconstrued and is being manipulated into a misinformation campaign,” she said.
South Dakota had for months been among the worst states in the country for virus outbreaks per capita and currently has the seventh-highest death rate, according to Johns Hopkins University researchers.
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