She's the ICU nurse who silently stood in protest at the Phoenix rally to reopen Arizona

[demmiblue]

It was her scheduled day off from the intensive care unit at a hospital in Phoenix, where she takes care of patients who have contracted COVID-19.

She found out that morning that a rally was planned at the Arizona Capitol building. People weary of schools and businesses across the state being closed because of the new coronavirus were going to call for closures to be lifted and the state to be reopened.

Lauren Leander texted a few nurses she knew, seeing if anyone wanted to join her there.

Leander had seen photos of medical workers at similar rallies in other states, their presence serving as a counterweight to calls to reopen businesses. She was inspired to do the same at the rally in her home state on Monday.

"That was the kind of action we could take against something like this," Leander said.

She would spend the next few hours standing silent, her facial expressions partly hidden behind her medical mask. Her body standing rigid in surgical scrubs.

Leander said she heard a stream of insults from rallygoers. People accused her of being an actor. Or, if a real nurse, one who performed dentistry. Or performed abortions.

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2020/04/21/icu-nurse-who-stood-masked-and-silent-rally-open-arizona/3001723001/

[ck4829]

1. K&R

[bronxiteforever]

2. K&R for humanity. To the Greatest page.

[BComplex]

3. Looks like that asshole with the flag is trying to intimidate her.

Didn't work, did it creep?

[keithbvadu2]

8. What a he-man!

What a he-man!

[NNadir]

33. Hopefully, that cowardly ignorant asshole didn't infect that brave educated young woman.

The behavior of these people is going to reduce their numbers, that's for sure, which is good for the humanity this young woman represents courageously.

[BComplex]

42. So true that.

If this behavior gets rid of all of these assholes, the world would be a better place.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

83. I fervently wish.

[Fritz Walter]

55. And he'd better hope that she doesn't have to care for him

When — not If — he needs treatment. He could hear her say, in a professional tone, “Where do we keep the catheters with barbs? The pediatric size.”

Karma...

[NNadir]

59. You know what? She is clearly a caring highly ethical professional, and I'd guess...

...she'd treat that asshole with the best medical care she could possibly provide.

However, I would certainly not object if that asshole, a wart on the universe for sure, proved unresponsive to the best care possible.

It is true however, that overwhelming the system can lead people to need to make decisions about who to save and who not to save.

If I were that asshole, I wouldn't tempt fate, but clearly, as I am happily not that asshole, I would guess that he is too stupid to know that tempting fate is not a good idea.

[Fritz Walter]

61. I used to work with health care professionals

That was decades ago, but more recently I have been on the receiving-end of their professional commitment to caring.

But, I also recognize that it takes a serious, heavy — and lately, overwhelming — toll on them. Humor is an essential coping mechanism for them. I’m sure that more than one emergency room/department has a sign that reads “Illegitimi non Carborundum” posted, even if only in the break room.

It’s a matter of keeping one’s balance: enduring abusive, even combative patients, while giving them the best possible care. And keeping a grasp on their own sanity.

She deserves a medal, not verbal abuse from this anal cyst!

[NNadir]

62. You got that right, very much so. n/t.

[ck4829]

85. Nope

[SKKY]

4. Respect!

[LAS14]

5. K & R

[musclecar6]

6. Good for her

Just more MAGA morons acting out thinking they are cool. Some of those idiots not observing social distancing may very well wind up in the ICU

[Ferrets are Cool]

7. It takes REAL bravery to face this shit head on...

many of us THINK we would/could...few, very few of us do.

[FormerDittoHead]

74. At first I read that as, "It takes REAL bravery to face this shithead on...

I'm thinking that works either way, however.

[Ferrets are Cool]

75. 😉

[MFGsunny]

9. Unending RESPECT. And it's very likely she also VOTES.

More power to her!

[DanieRains]

15. Republicans Are A Disease

I have a sign on the back of my van.

It says "Republicans Are A Disease".

They smashed my windshield.

I replaced my windshield.

The sign stayed.

They slashed my $250 dollar tire.

Put on a new tire.

The sign is still on my van.

F Them.

If no one is in their face they think they are winning.

[MFGsunny]

27. + 100,000,000,000 You're a hero to me for sure! n/t

[trueblue2007]

82. Republicans Are MONSTERS. #TrumpIsTheAntiChrist

[DesertRat]

10. "Leander said she heard a stream of insults from rallygoers"

Deplorables

[Aviation Pro]

11. Give her a staff

“You shall not pass!”

[Marrah_Goodman]

12. this!

[FailureToCommunicate]

32. Yes! And: "FLY you fools!"

[Louis1895]

13. It would be interesting to have a recording...

...of the comments hurled at her as she stood there silently.

[Lucinda]

38. +1

The video would be powerful

[gademocrat7]

14. K&R!

These people are despicable.

[Tetrachloride]

16. I wish I could have been there.

[niyad]

17. KNR. It absolutely pisses me off that these Astro-turfed, putin-led covidiots cause our, s/heroes

to spend their precious time
-time that they should have been able to spend. .oh, I don't know. . Resting, eating, breathing- having to deal with the brain-dead.

[iluvtennis]

26. Ditto. nt

[crickets]

29. Same here. Bless Lauren Leander & co. for the bravery to stand them down. nt

[tblue37]

44. Not to mention possibly exposing her to the virus. nt

[Beartracks]

79. Astro-turfed, for sure.

[BlancheSplanchnik]

84. Definitely. Gullible angry idiots acting out against the rest of us adults.

[cayugafalls]

18. The Trump re-election bus was there. This was a campaign rally.

The division in this country will never be healed.

How do we get it back? These people view us as animals. It is sickening.

[ffr]

19. Ironic that rallgoers have found their motivation from Russian troll farms

But it's an American who has been put in a position of having to put her life on the line at work. That is the definition of a hero. Rallygoers should be flogged in public for tearing down the moral fabric that holds this once great nation together.

Lauren is a leader and looks the part in every way. What a wonderfully proud human being with a heart of gold

[llmart]

20. What a brave, brave woman.

The other "thing" in the picture is a stupid coward.

P.S. Democrats need to take back the flag. Somehow these idiots have been able to co-opt our flag as theirs.

[BlueIdaho]

41. YES,yes, a thousand times YES!

Let them have the confederate flag - it’s more fitting for a bunch of traitors!

[Pepsidog]

21. Mini Tiananmen_Square action. Powerful statement making Trumpanzees look foolish as usual.

[DENVERPOPS]

45. We all saw the brave kid standing in front of the tank.

What you didn't see was what happened after that in the square.
Horrific what took place after that picture.........

[Pepsidog]

46. I have read accounts about how the government ran over protestors with tanks and they were using

hoses to spray down and clean up from the massacre.

[DENVERPOPS]

50. Yup

The square was blocked off from public view, the entrances were completely closed off after armored vehicles entered the square and the Chinese Gov't had the vehicles machine gun down every last protestor. It reportedly was a complete blood bath. It was reported that the vehicles with tracks then ran over all the dead protestors.
It took the Chinese gov/t two months to clean up the carnage and sanitize it to the point they could re-open the square to the public, with no evidence of what they had done.......

[AllaN01Bear]

22. she could have made faces behind that mask.:)

and you notice that the guy waving the flag needs to shed some pounds . i wouldnt want to get her upset at u.

[greenjar_01]

23. She got some guns on her, too

I think some of the dudes there would be in trouble if she started hooking off on them.

[marble falls]

24. What a contrast in maturity. "The child will teach the man." Bless all those who take care of us.

[rockfordfile]

25. Those people are anti-American yet.

[Sloumeau]

28. She's a Total Hero. :)

[Roy Rolling]

30. objectivity

I applaud the attention she’s getting, with the “man bites dog” story.

But seriously, newspaper, calling them People weary of schools and businesses across the state being closed because of the new coronavirus were going to call for closures to be lifted and the state to be reopened. is worthy of the front page of Pravda.

If it still exists.

[saidsimplesimon]

36. RT is a putin propaganda machine.

Some people, even on DU, have used them as a source. So no need for Pravda when you have your own reality show.

Sorry, off topic, thanks for reminding me that we need to be vigilant in demanding "truth and facts" not spin from any media source.

[usaf-vet]

31. It makes no difference what kind of health care provider she is/was. She CARES for patients.

Whereas the CULT member standing holding the flag is nothing but a puppet of the orange-man AKA WH chief racist.

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

34. Wish I could have stood with her - not to counter-demo but just be a witness nt

[Kashkakat v.2.0]

37. THe American Society of Friends developed Nonviolent witness strategy and it was used to

good effect (and was successful) here in WI during the anti treaty protests and assaults against Ojjibwa.

No yelling back, no engaging. Just documenting.

Just like that photo accomplishes - no words, but it speaks volumes.

[Liberty Belle]

35. Deplorable idiots.

I cannot think of a word negative enough to describe these hateful, selfish, stupid people.

[cp]

39. Power of nonviolence

Lauren Leander stands tall. Her silence is eloquent. Her presence is powerful.
Thank you.

[zentrum]

40. May her mask protect

.....her from this pathetic Goon.

[lunasun]

43. Those people are the scum of America. They talk about their rights to protest yet insult her for

standing silent in protest to their movement

[Beartracks]

80. Ignorant snowflakes.

[LuckyCharms]

47. That's a portrait of bravery right there.

Much respect for this nurse.

[Liberal In Texas]

48. Mask or no, wish she wasn't so close to the nutjob.

That guy is more likely to be infected than you or me.

[niyad]

49. Is it my imagination, or does it look like that covidiot is about to strike Lauren with that pole?

[LuckyCharms]

51. It's really quite an amazing photo.

I looked at it for a long time.

My impression was "A rapist using the American flag for justification".

[niyad]

53. A truly frightening, and posible, thought.

[Lock him up.]

52. If that idiot catches the virus, she could be the one who would...

... provide the care he'd need to get him healthy again instead of dying!

Good job, Faux Noi$e & hate radio.

[rickford66]

66. Be a shame if she accidentally stuck the ventilator in the wrong end.

[jmbar2]

54. Reminds me of the Fearless Girl statue on Wall St.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fearless_Girl


I hope that this becomes one of the iconic images of this point in history. She is magnificent.

[DURHAM D]

56. One little tweak -

Link to tweet

[Lady_Chat]

81. +100

[BayAreaAtLast]

57. I know a young physician who works with her!

Here is his FB post about her (he doesn't mind it being shared):

This is Lauren. She is a good friend and an ECMO/ICU nurse at my hospital. She is one of our best. An incredibly kind human and a badass nurse. Today she stood up for healthcare workers as protestors descended upon the State Capitol. She stood in silence as people called her a ‘fake nurse’ & ‘paid actor’ amongst other horrendous things. Ironically, she has spent many days in the Covid ICU caring for our sickest patients. She stood for those who are on life support and have no voice of their own. She stood for the 42,604 Americans who have died so far. She stood for her colleagues; nurses, therapists, techs, janitorial staff, doctors and security amongst others. She stood up for those very protestors who hurled obscenities at her. When they inevitably contract Covid-19 and transmit it to their loved ones, Lauren will be one of the first faces they will see when they are admitted to the ICU. She may also be one of the last faces that they ever see. When in their ignorance and hubris, they have caused the demise of their own mother or father, Lauren will be standing in silence next to them yet again, this time in mourning. She made us all incredibly proud today.

We extend an invitation to those who believe that they are being stripped of their civil liberties or that this is a giant hoax or that healthcare workers and the media are sensationalizing this pandemic for our own vested interests. To those who would turn a global pandemic into a twisted partisan issue. To those who foolishly believe that this virus discriminates based off of political ideology, race, religion or creed. We invite you to come spend a day in our Covid ICU with our nurses, therapists and physicians. You will spend the day wearing an n95 mask which will pretty much cut off circulation to your face. Don’t worry, you will get used to the sensation after a while. You’ll also get used to the dull constant headache that becomes a fixture after you have spent the day rebreathing CO2. You will learn how to don and doff PPE each time you interact with one of your patients. You will learn to live with the constant uncertainty of wondering if you have already caught the virus. If tomorrow will be the last time that you see your loved ones for the immediate future because you will need to start self quarantining. You will learn the familiar subtle change in tone of the code bells prior to a ‘Code Blue’ being called on the overhead. As you rush into a strangers room, you will gaze upon their lifeless eyes and blue lips. You will frantically begin to perform CPR, painfully aware of the fact that with each chest compression, you may potentially be aerosolizing the virus. You will watch as we place invasive central lines, arterial lines and chest tubes. You will stand at the head of the bed with us while we intubate a Covid-19 patient, inches away from their mouth, always cognizant of the damage that can be done with just one cough. You will stand next to us when we tell a husband over the phone that his wife has passed away, surrounded by strangers in space suits. The worst part of it all, he will not be allowed to see the love of his life to say he loves her one last time because of the infection risk it poses to him and other members of the public. You will stand in silence as you listen to another human express the deepest level of anguish possible, the tone of his cries seared into your memory.

Perhaps then you will understand.

[NNadir]

63. Very, very, very powerful. It probably deserves its own thread. n/t.

[BayAreaAtLast]

64. Good idea...thanks!

[NNadir]

65. It will, it should, rush right to the Greatest list. I'll look for it. n/t.

[Kali]

73. wow

[trickyguy]

58. A picture is worth....well, in this case I'm speachless. What a brave woman and

what a creep with the flag. This is a priceless teachable moment.

[sheshe2]

60. Thank you, Lauren.

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

67. I admire her patience and steadfastness

I'd have been tempted to grab that pole and shove it up the guy's ass.

[burrowowl]

68. What courage!

[warmfeet]

69. Courage is what we need.

Good to see it. Let us remember it. We can hold good actions to account, just like we should hold bad actions to account. Let us remember the good actions, as well as the bad.

[jimlup]

70. Wow! I stand in awe!

I have a new hero!

[The Wizard]

71. The Flu Klux Klan

also know as Trump's Brownshirts need to be physically confronted by the normal people in this country. One thing bullies do not like is fearless adversaries. Trump is a punk acting like a tough guy when in fact he's a coward who'd be the first to turn and run when challenged.
Tough guys don't have to bluster like professional wrestlers.

[tavernier]

72. WHY IS THERE NOT A STATUE TO HER???????

They could’ve easily killed her or run her over or spit on her which would’ve been the same as killing her. She is a hero... please... this nurse represents all of us. I am a retired nurse from almost 50 years of nursing and I am so proud of her.

[Stinky The Clown]

76. A badass woman being badass!

Thank you, Lauren Leander!

[Blue Owl]

77. Covid-19 likes that flag-waving fuckstick

Wanding the virus right into his airways...

[Hermit-The-Prog]

78. She deserves safety glasses and a face shield. She deserves respect and our help.