A UCLA anesthesiologist had his camera rolling as officials escorted him out of the UCLA Medical Center in Westwood this week. Christopher Rake said the issue was over his refusal to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
“They are escorting me out of the building,” he said calmly as the video began. “This is what happens when you stand up for freedom and you show up to work, willing to work, despite being unvaccinated. This is the price you have to pay sometimes.”
On Aug. 5 Gov. Gavin Newsom issued one of the toughest vaccination mandates in the nation, requiring all healthcare workers to submit proof of full vaccination against the virus by Sept. 30.
Until then they would be subject to mandatory weekly testing.
The University of California Vaccination Policy follows a similar guideline, but states that anyone not vaccinated will not be allowed to physically access university locations or programs, unless an exemption is granted.
But in recent months, Rake made it clear that he had no interest in the vaccine or applying for exemptions to the policy.
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“I have told my workplace I will not take the religious exemption,” Rake said in a video tweeted by Samuel Braslow.
“I’m standing on the constitution and I’m standing on human rights and I’m standing with all my friends who are atheists. I’m standing with everybody who can’t claim that exemption.”
The new video isn’t the first time Rake has made headlines. Three weeks ago The Daily Bruin, UCLA’s student newspaper, shared videos of Rake telling a crowd mandatory vaccines were a step in government control of freedoms.
This week, as he was escorted out of his workplace, Rake said he was “willing to lose everything” for the cause, including his life, job and paycheck.
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