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Riverside County Sheriff Bianco defends 2014 Oath Keepers membership BY CITY NEWS SERVICE
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iverside County Sheriff Chad Bianco, who has been an outspoken opponent of COVID-19 mandates and recently said he would not enforce a vaccine requirement for deputies because he considers it tyrannical, confirmed this week he paid for a 2014 yearlong membership in the antigovernment Oath Keepers militia group. Bianco’s name first emerged in connection with the Oath Keepers through a data hack of the organization’s website, first reported by USA Tuesday. Hackers then made public the names and addresses of purported members of the organization, including what USA Tuesday reported as more than 200 active or retired law enforcement officials. Bianco confirmed to the paper that he paid for a membership to the group in 2014. Contacted Tuesday by the Southern California News Group, Bianco said, “I found an email
from 2014 where I joined for a year. I don’t even remember it. It was an email saying, `Thank you for joining.’ I paid for a year’s membership.” “I’m not ashamed of what I did in 2014,” Bianco told SCNG. He denied having any involvement with the Jan. 6 breach of the U.S. Capitol, saying, “I have been vocally against what happened there. What they did -- the few that went into the building -- was completely wrong and against the law and they should be held accountable for it.” But he dismissed the description of the Oath Keepers as an “antigovernment militia,” and pointed to what he called far-left militant groups like antifa and Black Lives Matter, which he said have committed acts of violence and vandalism without any backlash from the media or FBI. “Why was this not done with antifa and Black Lives Matter?” Bianco said. “I lost faith in the FBI a long time ago. The line workers
are first rate. Their administration has no business carrying a badge. They strayed from nonbiased law enforcement a long time ago.” Bianco told the news group that Oath Keepers is a group that supports the oath he took as a peace officer and sheriff -- to defend the constitutions of the United States and California and to protect against all enemies foreign and domestic. “In today’s politically toxic environment, if you support the Constitution of the United States of America you are evil -- you’re branded as some evil, right-wing conspirator,” he told SCNG. Bianco has been Riverside County sheriff since 2018. He has made headlines for his adamant stances against COVID-19 mandates throughout the pandemic. The sheriff refused to assign any deputies to enforce the state’s mask mandates last year, and he rejected Gov. Gavin Newsom’s stay-athome orders, calling the
lockdowns a violation of “constitutional rights.” Last month, he issued a lengthy statement saying he would not enforce a vaccine mandate for sheriff’s deputies. “The government has no ability and no authority to mandate your health choices,” he said. “As your sheriff, I have an obligation to guard your liberty and freedom.” Bianco, who along with his entire family recovered from coronavirus infections last winter, emphasized that “I am certainly not anti-vaccine; I am anti-vaccine for me.” “That decision should be made in consultation with your doctor after discussing the potential benefit and the potential negative side effects,” the sheriff said. “It is time our government and our politicians come to the realization that the only reason they exist is because `we the people’ formed our government to secure the blessings of individual liberty and freedom.”
Sheriff Chad Bianco. | Photo courtesy of RCSD
Disney on Ice returns to Southland in time for holiday season Courage leads the way for Disney’s most adventurous characters when “Disney on Ice presents Dream” skates into the Southland this holiday season playing Anaheim, Los Angeles, Ontario and Long Beach from Dec. 8 – Jan 2. Dream Big features Disney characters such as Mickey, Minnie, Miguel, Moana, Elsa, Belle, Genie, and more highlighting all the magic of Disney’s tales through figure skating.
Join Moana and Maui on a voyage to restore the stolen heart of Te Fiti. Explore the Land of the Dead as Miguel from Disney Pixar’s “Coco” brings the festivities of Día de los Muertos to the ice. Get tangled up in Rapunzel’s quest to see the floating lights. Travel to the kingdom of Arendelle with Anna, Elsa and Olaf in a retelling of the sisterly love that saved a kingdom. And discover the strength,
bravery and kindness that inspired generation after generation with Jasmine, Ariel, Aurora, Belle and Cinderella. Guests are encouraged to monitor the venue websites at Honda Center Reopening Policies, STAPLES Center SAFE, Toyota Arena COVID Response and Long Beach Arena Reopening for health and safety policies, including face covering and entry requirements, which are subject to change.
Guests looking to purchase Disney on Ice souvenirs can take advantage of a new contactless shopping experience with touch-free payment and digital purchasing options. Guests can pre-order items prior to arriving at the venue. Once ordered, guests can pick up their purchases at a contactless pickup station during the show. Additional information can be found at disneyonice. com/tickets.
Moana and Maui sail away to an adventure. | Photo courtesy of Disney on Ice