‘Where’s the National Guard?’ See hundreds gathering for a block party in Florida
Block parties are a great thing, unless you’re in the middle of a global pandemic.
The Pensacola Police Department responded to a community get-together Easter Sunday at the Attucks Court housing complex.
Police spokesman Mike Wood told the Miami Herald that “hundreds” of people gathered to celebrate the holiday, and it took two hours to get them all back inside.
“Officers were sent out to educate them,” Wood said, adding no citation was issued. “It was an organized party. As the crowd got larger, they had them disperse.”
Officers talked to them about social distancing recommended by the CDC to slow the spread of the deadly coronavirus.
In video shared on social media, people are standing shoulder to shoulder, drinking, chatting and laughing. Few are wearing face masks.
The large group, which included older people and kids.
The video by a Facebook user with the handle Tadarious Archie was shared almost 90,000 times.
Many commenters were appalled by the way the guests ignored the health risks.
Wrote a Twitter user with the handle @stashnblue: “Hundreds of young people and children having a block party in the street in Pensacola! Where’s the National Guard? Willfully disrespecting the authorities. I’m embarrassed for our country.”
Earlier this month, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis ordered that there should be no more than 10 people at social gatherings.
Wood added that in the coming days and weeks, more officers will be out on patrol monitoring the area for people who “tend to gather in warmer months.”
A call to Attucks Court went unanswered Wednesday.
