Arizona Removes Vaccine Freeway Message Being Compared To Communist China
Arizona has pulled a COVID-19 vaccine freeway message that a lawmaker compared to one that could be used in communist China, but state officials insist it was not due to any particular concern and that they would continue to encourage vaccines.
“Our overarching point with these messages is clear and unchanged: Arizonans should get the COVID-19 vaccine,” CJ Karamargin, a spokesman for Gov. Doug Ducey, wrote in an email Tuesday, AZ Central reported.
Three messages encouraging Arizonans to get the COVID-19 vaccine are still in circulation on the digital billboards, Karamargin said. They are:
- “Join 3 million Arizonans Get Vaccinated”
- “5.3 Million Doses And Counting Get Vaccinated”
- “It’s Your Shot to End COVID-19 Get Vaccinated”
“Messages are constantly re-evaluated to make sure they convey the point we want … No one specific complaint was part of this process,” Karamargin wrote, the outlet reported.
The spokesman stated that the messages on the freeway digital billboard routinely rotate.
Senator Kelly Townsend who is a Republican from Mesa posted a photo of the freeway sign questioning its message.
“Seen in Communist China today. Oops, I mean Arizona,” Sen. Townsend wrote to Twitter.
“Want to return to normal? Get vaccinated,” says the message the Arizona Department of Transportation’s digital billboard she took a photo of.
Seen in Communist China today.
Oops, I mean Arizona. pic.twitter.com/7dCiZsi7UQ— Senator Kelly Townsend (@AZKellyT) May 6, 2021
The senator also responded Tuesday about the removal of the messages, “For those who didn’t understand, this was posted after being contacted by many Arizonans who felt it was a veiled threat as in ‘If you want us to let you live normally, get vaccinated.” One Senator contacted ADOT telling them to take it down b/c it was inappropriate, & they did.”
For those who didn't understand, this was posted after being contacted by many Arizonans who felt it was a veiled threat as in 'If you want us to let you live normally, get vaccinated." One Senator contacted ADOT telling them to take it down b/c it was inappropriate, & they did. https://t.co/A6WO5vKUlF
— Senator Kelly Townsend (@AZKellyT) May 11, 2021
