Health Freedom Idaho is an
anti-vaccine group that also opposes
health regulations, such as
mask requirements and restrictions on the operation of businesses due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.[1][2][3][4] Founded sometime shortly before October 2016, the organization describes its mission as including "preserv[ing] our freedoms in regard to the health care of our choice."[5][6] While the group's activities have mainly taken place in the
Boise area, the organization has a northern chapter.[7]
As of 2020, the organization was headed by executive director Miste Gardner Karlfelde.[6][12] Sarah Clendenon formerly served as co-executive director, and Sarah Walton Brady previously served as an executive committee member.[13][14][4][1]
Faith healing
In 2016, Health Freedom Idaho opposed proposals to remove a "
faith healing" exception from Idaho state law; under the exception, parents and guardians who invoke a belief in faith healing can refuse to seek medical treatment (including emergency medical treatment) for ill children.[10][15][16][6] Several Health Freedom Idaho members attended a meeting of the Children at Risk of Faith Healing working group to provide testimony against changing the laws under discussion.[10][15] The working group included state legislators and was formed at the request of then-governor
Butch Otter to examine the Idaho laws.[16][15][6] In the five years prior to the hearing, there were several cases of children dying in such circumstances.[15] The working group ultimately opted not to submit a recommendation to the Idaho Legislature on whether or not to change the laws.[6]
Anti-vaccination activism
Heath Freedom Idaho engaged in anti-vaccination activism and has
anti-vaccination materials on their website, although they have stated that they are not an anti-vaccination group.[1][2][17][18][4]
In November 2016, the group falsely claimed in a blog post that the
flu shot increases risk of
fetal death.[3] This post would go on to circulate widely on
Instagram in 2019.[3]
During Idaho's 2017
legislative session, Health Freedom Idaho advocated a bill at the state level that would allow parents to provide a letter written by the parent to exempt their child from vaccination requirements rather than using a school-provided form to do so.[18] Some anti-vaccination activists, including Health Freedom Idaho's Sarah Walton-Brady, opposed the use of school forms that included a field for parents to acknowledge that "I am aware that my child may contract a vaccine-preventable disease."[19] The bill died without receiving a hearing in the Senate.[18] In January 2018, an Idaho Senate panel introduced a bill similar to the 2017 bill with the support of Health Freedom Idaho, which never received a hearing.[20]
In 2019, Heath Freedom Idaho opposed a new state administrative rule requiring students entering 12th grade to get a
meningitisbooster shot.[21] The rule was ultimately adopted.[21]
COVID-19 related protests
Health Freedom Idaho has organized, co-organized, and participated in several protests of health measures taken by the Idaho state government and the City of Boise in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic. These have included protests of the stay-home order issued by
governorBrad Little in April 2020, of mask orders issued by the City of
Boise, and of emergency legislation considered by the state legislature related to mail-in voting and protection from COVID-19 related liability for businesses and government bodies.[22][4][1][23][24][25][26][8] They also organized a demonstration at a hospital in protest of the hospital's decision to require staff to be vaccinated against COVID-19.[27]
Some protests included demonstrations outside the homes of officials, such as those of governor Brad Little, the health officials participating in a Central District Health meeting, and a police officer who arrested former Health Freedom Idaho member Sarah Walton Brady for refusing to leave a park that was closed due to the pandemic.[1][31][32][33] Other locations of demonstrations included the
Idaho State Capitol, outside the Boise City Hall, and a park.[2][25][23]
Some demonstrations included setting a fire in which masks were burned, and the
open carrying of firearms was noted at some protests.[25][34][8][5][28][7][4]
One of the more distinctive demonstrations was a self-styled special legislative session called by Health Freedom Idaho and other organizers in opposition to the governor's response to the pandemic.[2]
Another notable protest occurred on August 24, 2020, at the Idaho State Capitol. The demonstration garnered national media attention after participants broke a glass door and entered an area of the House Gallery reserved for legislators with health concerns. Health Freedom Idaho members heckled legislators and several were arrested.[22][4] Some participants carried weapons while participating in this protest of a special legislative session to consider
bills on early voting and shielding businesses and government bodies from
legal liability related to COVID-19.[22][4]
Health Freedom Idaho's executive director also urged group members to participate in a protest of Biden's visit to the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise on September 13, 2021, a demonstration was on behalf of several causes, including opposition to the
vaccine mandate announced by President
Biden the previous week.[35]
^
abcNorthrup, Craig (June 10, 2020).
"'Something to think about'". Coeur d'Alene/Post Falls Press.
Archived from the original on November 3, 2021. Retrieved April 17, 2021.