Disappointing week.

We have spent the last two years not missing a day during the entire pandemic, keeping two essential businesses open, employing 30+ people and serving an entire island and visitors in the safest way possible.

Ray’s has given nearly four thousand COVID vaccines over the last year and hundreds of COVID tests.

On Monday, 12 people entered Ray’s Pharmacy without masks. They were probably unvaccinated. This was a smaller group of 30+ people that went to the market, Orcas PT, Con’s Pit Stop, Orcas Christian school and I’m sure many other businesses and organizations to protest masking requirements for children and I assume for the rest of us.

I fully support the freedom to assemble, freedom of speech and people right to question. I do not have a public opinion on how people live their lives and I respect people right to choose.

But to have unmasked and potentially unvaccinated people storm into Rays and Con’s , chanting and carrying signs saying things like down with Big Pharma, with 20 more people congregating outside the entrance, surrounding customers and blocking access to the store, crosses a line and is unacceptable. While the event seemed to take hours, in reality it was less than ten minutes, I should not need to continuously ask people to leave private property or have to face this group alone.

Their right to assemble and free speech does not outweigh Ray’s right to follow the law, protect our customers, employees and our families.

For those involved, your actions were unacceptable, unwanted and disgraceful. For those who entered Ray’s and Con’s unmasked, please never come back.

This community has always respected each other. Monday was not a day of respect.

Many business owners and employees who have been working so hard to serve the community, deserve respect from folks, to be able to work in a healthy and safe environment.

Rick Hughes

Ray’s Pharmacy