An individual wearing a master chief's Navy dress blues stood in the surf at Emerald Isle in North Carolina to protest beach closures enacted to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Some are crediting his protest with the lifting of beach restrictions shortly after.
Today, a fully dressed Navy Master Chief stood in the ocean after the town in Emerald Isle, NC ordered the beaches closed.
3 hours later, the town re-opened the beaches to the public.
Thank you for your service Master Chief. 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/prgtDE6E8Q
— Derek Utley (@realDerekUtley) April 18, 2020
The individual was not identified and has not been confirmed as a Navy master chief — but this hasn't stopped witnesses from thanking him for his service.
The sailor stood in the surf behind a sign that read "LAND OF THE FREE." The smaller-scale protest was one of many held across the country over the weekend as individuals resist stay-at-home orders and restrictions implemented in an attempt to slow the spread of COVID-19.
According to Business Insider, the sailor stood in the water for no more than ten minutes. He was approached by law enforcement who asked him to leave the closed the beach. He refused but left of his own accord shortly after.
Emerald Isle reopened its waters for all recreational activities on Saturday advising that social distancing measures be taken.
The Navy has been hit disproportionately hard by the virus with 1,240 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of Monday morning. The majority of the service's cases have been identified among crew members of the USS Theodore Roosevelt.
—
Reach Elizabeth Howe on Twitter @ECBHowe.
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